Itsukushima Shrine; A Shrine Floating in the Ocean

Do you want to know an another mysterious spot of Japan? Yes, I have a good one to introduce you. It's the Itsukushima Shrine, a floating shrine in the ocean. Well, it's actually not floating, but sometimes Itsukushima Shrine is covered by the ocean water and sometimes not, depending on the high tide and low tide. The shrine shows completely different faces depending of the tides.

Itsukushima Shrine is located in Hiroshima of Japan, and it's an another world's cultural heritage of Japan, which set by the UNESCO. Itsukushima Shrine is build in D.C.593. Itsukushima Shrine is said as one of the three most scenic spots of Japan. Other two are Matsushima and Amanohashidate. Itsukushima Shrine is know as "Miyajima" in an another name.

At night, the shrine will be lighten up. As you can see from the photo below, it's amazingly beautiful and mysterious.

Itsukushima Shrine has wide precinct inside, and you can walk around there.

Based on the color of red and white, Itsukushima Shrine takes you to an another wonderland of Japan. Itsukushima Shrine is a popular sightseeing spot for domestic and foreign tourists. 

If you've never been there, Itsukushima Shrine may be the one you don't want to miss to visit.

See you nest time!

Photo by (c)Tomo.Yun

http://www.yunphoto.net

Tokyo Tower's Milkyway Illumination

 The most remarkable symbol of Tokyo is definitely Tokyo Tower, as everybody knows.

Let me tell you about Tokyo Tower a little bit.

---------------------------------------------------

Official Name: Japan Radio Tower

Street Address: 4-2-8 Shibakouen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 

---------------------------------------------------

The heights of Tokyo Tower is 333m. Total cost is 30 hundred million yen.

It's a tower which was completed in one and a half year with personnel of 219,335 people.

Now, Tokyo Sky Tree is the tallest building (634m) of Japan, but until then, Tokyo Tower was the  tallest building of Japan for 51 years. 

From the distance, Tokyo Tower's height is obviously high enough. 

As obstacle markings, the painting of Tokyo Tower is colored alternately white and red of the vertex, and this color has been established as a symbolic color of the Tokyo Tower.

Although the role of the Tokyo Tower is no longer in use now, Tokyo Tower is still a popular tourist spot as an observation tower. The view from the observation deck of the tower is great.

In fact, it is possible to see the Tokyo Sky Tree from the observation deck of Tokyo Tower. 

Some people say that it's a better view to see the Tokyo Sky Tree from the Tokyo Tower's observation deck rather than viewing the Tokyo Sky Tree from close position because the Sky Tree's lighting up is beautiful from Tokyo Tower. 

Also, sometimes Tokyo Tower changes its lighting color during special lighting up period. 

During the period of June 1st to July 7th, Milky Way lighting up event is held as regular annual event. 2014 is 10th anniversary, so this time it's a special one.  52000 of lights bulb will illuminate the Tokyo Tower imaging the Milky way. 

If you are planning to come to Tokyo, don't miss the chance to see the special Tokyo Tower that only seen for now.

-------------------------------------------------- 

Tokyo Tower's Milky Way Illumination 

-Lighting period: June 1 (Sun) to July 7(Mon) 

-Lighting time: 5pm to 10pm

-Lighting place: 1st floor observation deck

                     Outside stairs to the large observation deck

                     (about 600 steps) 

-------------------------------------------------- 

See you next time!

A Mysterious Wonderland of Kyoto

  Have you heard of a mysterious wonderland of Kyoto, Japan? All the Torii, a gateway at the entrance to a Shinto shrine, has very mysterious atmosphere, but this one I introduce this time is super extraordinary. It is a shrine called "Fushimi Inari" located in Fushimi city in Kyoto. 

Inari shrine, is a Shinto shrine that enshrine the god of fox. Inari Shrine is placed all over Japan, and Fushimi Inari is the headquarter of all the Inari Shrine scattered in Japan. Fox has been considered as an animal with a deity in Japan since ancient times. Therefore fox is worshiped as a god of food, agriculture, encouragement of new industry and commerce here in Japan. 

The difference between common Inari Shrine and Fushimi Inari is the numbers of the Torii gateway. Fushimi Inari has extraordinary numbers of Torii gateway, and this is called ""A Thousand Torii." 

The reason that Fushimi Inari has this many Torii gateway is because believers dedicates Torii gates as votive offerings. Once you get entered to Fushimi Inari, you will be a lost child of mysterious wonderland, and it seems to A Thousand Torii gateway takes you to another world...

 Let's take a look...

  Are you interested in Fushimi Inari, now? You can check out Fushimi Inari's travel guide from the LINK. Not only Fushimi Inari, Kyoto has several nice n' traditional spots, so you may want to take a look at them as well. 

See you next time!

The Great Buddha of Ushiku;The World's Largest Bronze Buddha Statue

 As Japan's hidden sightseeing spot, there is a Buddha statue called "Ushiku Buddha," located in Ibaraki Prefecture of Japan. Ushiku Buddha is the largest bronze statue defined by Guinness World Records. Ushiku Buddha is 120m high (height of Buddha = 100m, pedestal =20m). The height of the Statue of Liberty is 33.86m (from its leg to head top), so Ushiku Buddha is the height of three times the Statue of Liberty. Now you can imagine how tall it is.

 It is possible to get inside of this Buddha statue. People can reach the height of the Buddha's chest, which is ground 85m. There are small windows there, so that people can watch the outside from there.

 Also, inside the Buddha statue, there is an exhibition room to show the history and to learn about the Buddhism.  The 1st floor is "The world of lights (Infinite light and infinite life)." There is a room of contemplation. 

 On the 2nd floor, it's "The world of thanks-gratitude." There is a space called "Buddhist prayer" to perform the Sutras with feeling of gratitude to Amida. 

 On the 3rd floor, it's "The World of the Lotus Sanctuary." It's a world of gold, surrounded by about 3,300 bodies of the womb of the Buddha.

On the 4 and 1/2 floor, there is a room of the Mt.Grdhrakuta.  Buddha's ashes (Remains of the Buddha) are enshrined here, you can worship. In addition, there is a window in all directions overlooking the North, South, East and West.

 The view from outside has very tremendous impact, and inside is the mystery world of the Buddhism.  Because it is the statue of the worth a look, I want you to watch it once when there is an opportunity.

Spin The Tree Tops!

 As one of Japanese traditional toy, there is a Koma, which means a top. On New Year's Day, Japanese kids play a Koma since long ago. I would like to introduce a Koma shaped like a tree today. In my previous article, I introduced the apple Kendama that made by More Trees Project, which Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto leads. This Koma is also created by them as well.

 As you can see, this tree Koma looks like a trees in the forest when it's not in use, but when you play, it becomes a spinning top. This tree Koma is called a handstand Koma. If you spin it with the green part down, and while continuing rotate, it becomes upside-down and look like a tree spinning because of centrifugal force.

It's a simple but great idea, don't you think? With this top, kids will be delighted to play, and even adults shows smiles in their faces. Products that make people smile is always good.

If you held even a little of interesting, I recommend to play with Tree Koma. 

Thank you for reading.

Tokyo's Retro Shopping Street; Yanaka Ginza

Wanna visit Tokyo's the best-kept secret place? If you are looking a good place not many people know about, "Yanaka Ginza" in Taito-ku, Tokyo is my recommendation.

Yanaka Ginza is a downtown in Tokyo that has a retro shopping street. In recent years, Yanaka Ginza is often used as filming location of drama, and TV programs and magazines introduce this town as hidden sightseeing spot. Because of that, Yanaka Ginza is tend to be popular, recently.

The closest station of Yanaka Ginza is Nippori station. If you take the west exit, then go down the Goten slope, Yanaka Ginza is right there. There are about 60 of small shops in the street, such as places to eat and accessory shops. Each shop has unique appearance.

What you probably want to do in Yanaka Ginza is an eating tour.There are several butcher selling croquettes and fried cake of minced meat as their side menu. You may want to find your favorite shop.

The one I bought today is a specialty of Yanaka Ginza, called "Fukunyan Yaki."
It is a grilled bun with two colors chocolate inside, and as you can see, the shape is like a cat.
It looks cute, and it tastes good, so people stop by.

Furthermore, there are stray cats walking free in Yanaka Ginza. The retro town's atmosphere matches with cat walking around, so you will feel peace. Just by looking the view, people shows smiles in their face. So I do.

In addition, there is a temple of about 60 near the Yanaka Ginza, so you may enjoy a day just to explore the Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi area.

In particular, Sudo park has a nice garden, and at Nezu Shrine,  azaleas are blooming beautifully. Those are recommended.  Also in Nezu Shrine, there is a torii that prolonged long, so you would be overwhelmed by them as a thousand torii of Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto.

Finally, there are many shops that sell leather bags in Yanaka Ginza. Men's bag shop T-style went there one day to shoot some photos of the bags with the retro downtown cityscape in the back. It was the first time for one of the staff of T-Style to visit Yanaka Ginza, and since then, the staff became a fan of retro shipping streets.

I hope you like the retro street of Tokyo. You can feel the history.

Kamakura, The Seasonal Tourist Spot

Kamakura is a place an hour away from Tokyo by train. Kamakura is known as one of the traditional tourist spot because there are many temples and Japanese style buildings in Kamakura, so that many people take day trip to Kamakura.

Today's article introduces Kamakura.

Above picture is Tsuruoka Hachiman Shrine, which close from Kamakura station. Most of the events and ceremonies of the shogunate era were all done here. In "Space of Maidono(Square dance hall) " in the center of the Tsuruoka Hachiman Shrine, people have wedding ceremony sometimes, and maidens dances a dance when the season of  Kamakura Festival.

When people come to Kamakura, first thing that most people do is to visit Tsuruoka Hachiman Shirine. Now, Hydrangea is in full bloom, so to see Hydrangea at Tsuruoka Hachiman Shrine is recommended.

 Kamakura is well-known as a tourist spot, and Kamakura shows different faces depending on the season. Especially in June, All the Hydrangeas are in full bloom in Kamakura area, so many people come to watch them.

Let me introduce the recommended course of Kamakura sightseeing. starting from Kamakura station.

First, take Enoden line from Kamakura station to Hase station. Take a 10 minutes walk to Kousoku temple, then Hase temple, Goryo Shrine, Jojyu temple, Gokuraku temple. In this course, the distance between all the temple and shrine is 10 minutes by foot.
Especially, Hase temple is popular sightseeing spot. 2000 of Hydrangeas will be in full bloom and temple behind the sight. That's just amazing view.

In addition, you can see the Yuigahama beach from Hase temple. People have lunch seating on a bench by viewing the Yuigahama beach. If you go further deep, you will meet the Hase Kannon, the big statue of the goddess. Kamakura has many temples and shrines, but Hase temple is the most recommended spot to visit.


Next, I would like to introduce the recommended food in Kamakura.
That is Kamaage Shirasu（straight-from-the-pot young sardine which is freshly boiled）.

Sirasu is a specialties of Kamakura. A lot of food courts serve Shirasu as their specialties.
You may want to try these rare menu if you have chance to visit Kamakura.

Also, there are stores selling Japanese style sweets and Japanese pattern of accessories around Kamakura station. You may want to check them out as souvenirs before you go back home.


A online bead shop Beads Mania of our store sales beads kit of Hydrangea motif using beautiful 15 different colors of beads.

The season of  Hydrangea is the rainy season in Japan. Rain make us down sometimes, but we can feel radiant while we are looking at the beautiful Hydrangeas blooming in the rain.This bead kit was made upon such a wish.

It's about a month left until Hydrangea falls. After that, Japan becomes summer!
Japanese tourist spots shows different faces every four seasons. In June, Kamakura is the most hot spot to visit, so please try go there if you have chance.