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Kyoto has 17 World Heritage cultural properties, one of which is Saihoji.
The nickname for this temple is “KOKEDERA(Moss Temple)”.
This is because there is a very beautiful moss-covered Japanese garden here.
Visitors come to this temple on the outskirts of Kyoto for its beautiful garden.
KOKEDERA is a Zen temple, and before seeing the garden, visitors first do sutra copying and pray to the Buddha.
And the gardens are beautifully maintained, and people enjoy strolling through them.
Only people with reservations are allowed to visit this beautiful temple.
Making a reservation is difficult, and during the tourist season, it becomes even more difficult.
In the past, this temple could be visited at any time, just like any other temple.
However, too many tourists caused damage to the beautiful garden.
Furthermore, noise is not appropriate for this quiet temple.
And now only those who have made reservations can come here.
However, there are a few days a year when child visits are possible.
In this way, KOKEDERA maintains its elegance.
My small travel agency can help you with reservations and explain the etiquette.
Reservations are difficult to make, but can be challenging.
Concierge for your travel
Because of Corona, cruise ships have developed a negative image in Japan, which is unfortunate, but it is also true that they have a strong following.
The Nippon Maru used to sail around the world, but now it cruises around Japan.
Most of the clients are older Japanese. They are cruise fans.
Cruise lines take all possible measures to protect their customers from corona.
What a surprise, twice a corona test! Despite the fact that most of the clients have been vaccinated!
First, about a week before boarding the ship, you will have your first inspection. A test kit is sent to your home.
And on embarkation day, the clients first go to the Rose Hotel in Yokohama.
This is also the corona testing area, where everybody waits for the test results.
A delicious Chinese lunch box will be served, and a quartet of musicians perform.
The staff of the Nippon Maru all wear masks and face shields at the same time, and there are disinfectants throughout the ship.
Of course, all the clients wore masks.
There are two dining rooms on board, as well as cafes where you can relax, but all of them keep a good distance from each other.
Every infection control measure you can think of has been taken.
And when it comes to cruise travel, food is very important.
I was very pleased with the food on the Nippon Maru.
The staff who serve us are also very kind. They are Japanese and Filipinos, and of course they speak good Japanese.
The wine selection is done by the famous sommelier Shinya Tasaki.
I was fortunate enough to hear Mr. Tasaki speak at an onboard event.
He does his best work by discussing with the Nippon Maru chefs.
Of course, the chefs provide their clients with the best cuisine.
Japan is an island nation, and cruise travel takes advantage of that.
My small travel agency makes arrangements for the Nippon Maru.
All the documents are in Japanese, but I can help my clients.
You can talk to me about anything that concerns you.
Japan Cruise on the Nippon Maru
The unique work of the famous architect Kisho Kurokawa, the Nakagin Capsule Tower, still stands in Ginza 8-chome, Tokyo, and can be seen from the Tokyo Metropolitan Highway.
It was decided to demolish the building next year because it is very old and no major repairs have been made since it was built in 1972.
The Nakagin Capsule Tower will only be visible for a short time.
In a capsule of about 10 square meters, the most modern bathrooms, shelves and other necessary items were built into the capsule like a puzzle. There are 140 of them attached to the tower.
The round window is a feature of the building, which was inspired by a tea room.
Each capsule was supposed to be removable, so that when it became obsolete, a new capsule could be inserted or the entire capsule could be transported.
In fact, however, no capsules were removed.
Each capsule has its own owner and there is a management company. There were differing opinions because of the high cost required for repairs.
They had sought sponsors to maintain the site, but were unable to do so due to the Corona pandemic and had to make the difficult decision to sell the property.
The exact schedule for demolition next year has not yet been determined.
So there is still a chance to visit the Nakagin Capsule Tower.
My small travel agency can arrange an English speaking tour of the Nakagin Capsule Tower.
We will be able to offer the tour in October 2021, but we are not sure if we can do it in November, so we need confirmation.
If anyone is interested in joining the tour, please contact us as soon as possible.
Nakagin Capsule Tower(Regular Tour every Wednesday)
Nakagin Capsule Tower(Private tour)
Summer in Japan is very hot.
Over 30-35 degrees Celsius is normal and it can get as hot as 40 degrees Celsius.
The humidity is high, so air conditioning is essential.
I would not recommend traveling to Japan in the summer.
But if you are in Japan in the summer, be sure to try the summer foods.
It will be a little cooler that way.
Kakigori(Shaved Ice) is one of the most popular summer foods in Japan.
It is a sweet treat made of shaved ice topped with fruits and syrup.
Kakigori has a long history.
In an essay written by a writer a thousand years ago, she describes eating kakigori.
A thousand years ago, there were no freezers, so the ice that formed in winter was stored in primitive refrigerators called “himuro.”
They were brought to the imperial palace in the summer and eaten with sweet syrup.
The syrup is said to have been extracted from a sweet-tasting plant.
Over a thousand years, Japanese kakigori has evolved and can be enjoyed in a variety of flavors.
There is also a store that specializes in kakigori.
They are very tasty, so you should not eat too many of them.
●In my small travel agency, I can make restaurant reservations.I will suggest a restaurant that suits your needs.
https://kaguyareisebuero.com/contact/
●In my online Japanese course, you can talk in Japanese about a topic of your choice. Depending on your needs, I can also supplement this with English or German.
https://kaguyaclass.com/
In Toshima-ku, Tokyo, there used to be a famous residence where famous manga artists such as Osamu Tezuka, Fujiko Fujio Ⓐ, Fujiko F. Fujio, Shotaro Ishinomori and Fujio Akatsuka lived. Unfortunately, the Tokiwa-so was demolished in December 1982 due to age. It was a two-story wooden building constructed in 1952, shortly after World War II.
Today, a small monument stands on the site.
After that, local citizens who loved the Tokiwa-so began to talk about the possibility of restoring it. Many donations were collected, and on July 7, 2020, the restored site was opened as the Tokiwaso Manga Museum of Toshima City. It was originally scheduled to open in March of that year, but the opening was postponed due to the Corona pandemic.
The reconstruction of the Tokiwaso is extremely elaborate, and every detail is reproduced exactly as it was then. It is truly “otaku.” (Here: faithful to the original) The community restrooms and kitchens give the illusion that the young manga masters will come in at any moment. Famous works were created in each room, which served as a place for manga artists to work and live. Even the scenery you see from the windows has been designed to make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
By the way, special exhibitions are often held on the second floor of the Tokiwaso Manga Museum. You should not miss these, as there are some valuable manuscripts on display. Until September 5, 2021, the exhibition “Tokiwaso and Tezuka Osamu: The Time of Kimba the White Lion” will be on display. You can see Tezuka Osamu’s precious handwritten manuscripts up close.
Osamu Tezuka, as you know, is a manga master known for many works such as “Astro Boy”, “Kimba the White Lion”, “Black Jack” and “Phoenix”. I believe that almost all manga artists and animators working in Japan respect Tezuka Osamu.
Currently, the Tokiwaso Manga Museum has a system in which reservations have priority.
Reservations can be made through the website.
Toshima City Tokiwaso Manga Museum
https://tokiwasomm.jp/
●In my online Japanese course, you can talk in Japanese about a topic of your choice. Depending on your needs, I can also supplement this with English or German.
https://kaguyaclass.com/
There are many hot springs in Japan and they are very popular with tourists.
But most of the time people with tattoos are not allowed to bathe in the big baths.
Why is that?
Japan has a long history of tattooing.
In ancient times, tattoos were known to be used as amulets in Japan.
And in the Edo period (1603-1868), there were people who had tattoos as fashion statements.
Even in old ukiyo-e paintings, there are pictures of men with tattoos, which are very beautiful.
But tattoos were also used to denote sinners. For this reason, some people rejected tattoos.
Japan used to be a closed country, but it opened up during the Meiji period.
The Japanese government of the Meiji period considered tattoos an international embarrassment and banned them.
But there were also people who got prohibited tattoos.
For example, the Yakuza (the Japanese mafia).
Tattoos thus became the symbol of the Yakuza.
For the operators of a hot spring it is impossible to reject yakuza directly.
For this reason, they decided to ban tattoos.
This is to protect the guests.
Meanwhile, some hot spring facilities welcome tattooed guests.
There are also facilities where small tattoos are not a problem as long as you cover them with a sticker.
If you have a tattoo, you should check beforehand.
My small travel agency can arrange accommodations that meet your needs.
https://kaguyareisebuero.com/contact/
●In my online Japanese course, you can talk in Japanese about a topic of your choice. Depending on your needs, I can also supplement this with English or German.
https://kaguyaclass.com/
Every year at the end of June, a “CHINOWA” is placed at the shrine.
It is a ring made of plants and is large enough for one person to pass through.
The plant is CHIGAYA. It is a tough grass in the Japanese rice family.
The worshippers pass through the CHINOWA once to the left, once to the right, and once again to the left, before proceeding to the shrine.
In this way, the impurities of the past six months are purified.
On June 30th, there is a ritual called “Nagoshi no Oharae” (summer purification ceremony), where the priests offer prayers.
They pray for everyone’s health.
Jindaiji Temple is located in Chofu, a suburb of Tokyo.
Nearby, there is the Jindai Botanical Garden.
Therefore, you should take lots of time here to enjoy the walk.
This temple was founded in 733.
The specialty of this place is soba noodles.
There are many soba restaurants around the temple.
The soba here is exceptional.
Nezu Shrine is an old shrine in Tokyo.
It is so old that we do not know when it was founded.Supposedly, it was 1900 years ago.
By the way, this shrine is most beautiful in April.
The azaleas bloom in abundance, looking like red and pink candies.
Every year, many visitors come here, but this year was different.
That’s why it’s so quiet.
To make studying kanji more fun, we’ve uploaded kanji videos to YouTube.
The cherry blossoms of 2021 bloomed earlier than usual.
The Kawazu Zakura, famous for its early blooming cherry blossoms, also bloomed earlier than usual.
Kawazu is a quiet town in the Izu Peninsula of Shizuoka Prefecture. The Kawazu Zakura is a cherry blossom that was born here.
Kawazu is a quiet town on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Every year, the area is crowded with many people.
This year, however, the Sakura Festival in Kawazu has been cancelled.
The cherry blossoms are very beautiful, but there were no people to enjoy their beauty and it was very quiet.
In addition to Kawazu, there is another place where you can enjoy Kawazu Zakura.
It is Minami-Izu.
In Minami-Izu, a Sakura Festival was held, albeit on a smaller scale.
I got a nice message from my customers.
Thank you very much!
It was originally booked for a different destination, but due to the coronavirus situation, it was changed to a safer destination.
Shimoda in Shizuoka Prefecture is safe. The area is also designated as a UNESCO GEO Park.
My client enjoyed the beautiful sea and the lovely daffodils.
The beautiful photos were taken by client.
・・・・・
Schliesslich war alles gut. Mir hat es sehr gefallen in Shimoda.
Gestern war ich am Shirahama Strand und heute am Narzissen Festival.
Ich danke Ihnen für all Ihre Bemühungen.
・・・・・
I got a nice message from my customers.
Thank you very much!
They are two ladies travelling to Fukui.
Autumn is the season for crabs. They enjoyed the food and sightseeing.
The lovely photos were taken by customers.
・・・・・・
Sehr geehrte Frau Sugie,
ich wollte mich kurz melden.
Wir sind wieder zurück in Tokio!
Die Reise nach Fukui und Kanazawa war sehr schön, alles hat gut geklappt!
Die Stadt Fukui hat mich an Deutschland erinnert und das 21 Museum in Kanazawa ist grossartig!
Vielen Dank für Ihre Bemühungen!
I got a nice message from my customers.
Dear German family living in Tokyo. Thank you very much!
They traveled around Shikoku in a rental car.These lovely pictures were taken at that time.
・・・・・・
Vielen herzlichen Dank für die Organisation unserer Reise. Hinter uns liegen sehr schöne Tage!
Besonders Ihre Hinweise auf das Deutsche Haus in Naruto und auch der tolle Ryokan an der Kazurabashi waren wertvoll.
Die Hotels haben uns gefallen und auch das Mietauto war gut.
・・・・・・
Takaosan is a 599 meter high mountain.
And it is located in Hachioji, Tokyo.
It is a mountain that is easy to visit from the city centre.
Many travellers like to hike in this mountain.
In this mountain there is an old temple.
It is called Yakuo-in and was created in the 8th century.
The symbol of this old temple is a Tengu.
It is a kind of Japanese youkai or genie.
The Japanese consider the mountains to be mystical.
That is why we think there is a Tengu here.
I write my blog in easy Japanese.
https://cafetalk.com/column/read/?id=163877&lang=en
Of course, I write about traveling in Japan.
If you have a request for my article, please let me know.
I will be giving Japanese lessons for our Japanese fans via Skype.
I studied Japanese literature in the doctoral class and my specialty is ancient Japanese literature.
My university is also known for researching Japanese language teaching.
That’s why I studied Japanese linguistics.
My professor is the author of the most famous dictionary in Japan ‘DAI-JIRIN’.
I taught Japanese to a Czech woman using the teaching method ‘Survival Japanese.
Now I’m a travel professional, and I want to teach Japanese to travelers.
Unfortunately, the Japanese do not speak English so well. It is the same as in Italy.
Japanese for travel will help foreign travelers find their way around Japan.
If you want to enjoy a hot spring at a Ryokan or try a delicious traditional meal at the local restaurant, all you need is a little Japanese.
I use the teaching methods according to ‘Survival Japanese’.
This means that speaking is more important than grammar.
If you want to talk to the Japanese immediately, then learn it with me.
If you would like some advice on your trip to Japan, I will be happy to answer your questions.
I am a travel professional and know all of Japan.
More information
https://cafetalk.com/tutor/profile/?id=236346&lang=en
Tokowa-so is an apartment with legendary manga artists.
It was dismantled in 1982 due to ageing.
But the locals wished to rebuild the building.
After a long time, that dream finally came true this year.
It is a manga museum that faithfully reproduces Tokiwa-so.
Surprisingly, the cost is financed by donations.
All the manga artists in Japan respect Tokiwa-so.
That’s because this apartment is the source of Japanese comics.
Toshima City Tokiwaso Manga Museum
https://tokiwasomm.jp/en/
There is a very beautiful scenery in Toyama Prefecture.
Toyama is famous for its Tateyama mountain range.
In addition, this prefecture faces the sea.
From Amaharashi coast, you can see the sea and mountain range at once.
It’s like a magic trick.
You can go there by local line.
But car rental is the best.
Because there is a nice “MICHI-NO-EKI(road station)” there.
It is a facility for drivers.
It’s great to have a cup of coffee here while looking at this beautiful view.
Takaoka is a city located in Toyama Prefecture.
It’s not very famous for tourists, but the city is very good for travel.
From here you can go to Gokayama and Shirakawa-go.
There is also a good place to access Kanazawa.
It is also easy to get to Amaharashi-coast.
Of course, there are a few things to see in Takaoka as well.
Takaoka Castle Ruins is now a beautiful park.
There is also a temple that is a national treasure in Japan.
And, after all, it is the Great Buddha that is unique.
This Great Buddha is said to be the most beautiful man in Japan.
