The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (立山黒部アルペンルート) is one of the most scenic mountain routes in Japan, weaving through 3,000m-high mountains. It has wonderful seasonal features, and is a perfect destination for nature-lovers. In the past, only a small number of skilled mountaineers could enjoy such features. However, the opening in 1971 made it possible for all of us to go deep into nature. A unique and spectacular route through the Northern Japan Alps which is traversed by various means of transportation including cab… Read more

Inuyama Festival (*山祭り) A dozen lantern-decorated traditional floats with puppets paraded at Inuyama, Aichi-ken on April 02/03, 2016. p.s. Kumamoto Airport and JR regular train services to/from Kumamoto resume partial operation from April 19.… Read more

Gion remains dotted with old-style Japanese houses called "machiya", which roughly translated means "townhouse", some of which are "ochaya=tea houses". These are traditional establishments where the patrons of Gion from the samurai of old to modern day businessmen have been entertained by geiko in an exclusive manner for centuries. Inside the ochaya is a private and closed world where the evening's entertainment may include cocktails, conversation, and games as well as traditional Japanese music, sin… Read more

41 dead, up to 7 missing in Kumamoto quakes; 95,000 people evacuated　/ Mainichi April 17, 2016 A series of strong earthquakes that hit Kumamoto Prefecture starting on the night of April 14 have killed a total of 41 people, while at least seven are reported missing. (Police officers from Osaka engage in search and rescue operations in the village of Minamiaso Kumamoto Prefecture on Saturday) The magnitude-7.3 earthquake that struck the Kuma… Read more

A powerful earthquake (M 6.5) rocked southern Japan on Thursday, with an even larger tremor (M 7.3) hitting on Friday. As of now the death toll is in the single digits with roughly 1000 reported injuries. Those numbers will likely rise but as of now it seems that the fluid situation could have been a lot worse. One of the more visually shocking images is the damaged Kumamoto-jo, a majestic castle dating back to 1467 and is a powerful symbol of the Kumamoto region. http://blog-imgs-87.fc2.com/s/k… Read more

www.breakingnews.com/topic/earthquakes/ At 16:25 UTC/ April 15 ( 01:25am April 16 Japan Time), another earthquake hit Kumamoto. The epicenter moved to Northeast toward adjascent Oita-ken and this Magnitude 7.3 quake was stronger than the First one hit Mashiki-town of Kumamoto last night(21:26 April 14 Japan Time ). Death totaled to 22 by now. Then Mount Aso erupted at around 08:30am(2hours ago) but the relation with the earthquake not known, yet. Kumamoto Airport's infrastructure was severely damaged due to this Second quake, which now declared largest than the Great Hanshin Kobe Earthqua… Read more

Youtube https://youtu.be/Let1p6XV6J4… Read more

Gion (祇園, ぎおん) is a district of Kyoto, Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine. The district was built to accommodate the needs of travelers and visitors to the shrine. It eventually evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan............ The geisha in the Gion district (and Kyoto generally) do not refer to themselves as geisha; instead, Gion geisha use the local term geiko. While the term geisha means "artist" or… Read more

Maiko (舞子) at Kyoto, Shirakawa (京都 白川)… Read more

Fushimi Castle (伏見城 Fushimi-jō), also known as Momoyama Castle (桃山城 Momoyama-jō) or Fushimi-Momoyama Castle in Kyoto Fushimi-ku (ward). The current structure is a 1964 replica of the original built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi begun in 1592. (Due to technical problems this story will be re-appeared later after the problems solved. Very sorry.)… Read more

Your heart throbs ..... whenever you are unwrapping a gift ....… Read more

work in progress......… Read more

Smiling Maiko under Weeping Sakura Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto… Read more

A New "Sakura" called "Kitano Sakura 北野桜"(Not official yet)at KItano Tenmangu, Kyoto This 8m-tall Sakura Cherry tree planted 120 years ago just in front of the Shrine Office was found on April 08, 2016 as possibly a new Sakura species. (At time of opening it is pure white, and gradually it becomes Pink) Kitano Tenmangu Shrine : 京都 北野天満宮 KItano Ten… Read more

Suwa taisha (諏訪大社), or Suwa Grand Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in Nagano prefecture, one of the oldest shrines in existence　 in Japan over 12************. It consists of four building complexes, the Mae-miya (前宮 = old shrine), the Hon-miya (本宮 = main shrine), the Haru-miya (春宮 = spring shrine), and the Aki-miya (秋宮 = autumn shrine). (This is one of the four complex, Harumiya) Like other old shrines in Japan, Suwa Taisha does not have a ******(本殿=main hall) : that normally enshrines its "Kami". This i… Read more

Takada Castle Park, Joetsu-city, Niigata-ken (4,000 Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees) 新潟県 上越市 高田城公園 Sakura Cherry Blossoms opened on 03rd, fully bloomed 07th and pink petals now already started falling... 　It was a cold day today.. It even snowed in Niigata-city, 130km North East of Takada Castle. ＊＊＊ Sakura (Somei-Yoshino) Cherry Blossoms (Full Bloom shown with date in bracket) ＊＊＊　 March 19 Opened - Fukuoka(March 29), Nagoya(March31) March 20 Opened - Gifu(March31) March 21 Opened - Tokyo… Read more

Takato Castle Ruins Park (高遠城址公園, Takatōjōshi Kōen) is reputedly one of the three best locations to see cherry blossoms in Japan, along with Hirosaki Castle(Aomori-ken) and Yoshinoyama(Nara-ken). The park is located on a hill in "Ina" City of Nagano-ken(prefecture), about 60 kilometers south of Matsumoto-city. About 1500 cherry trees of the pinkish Kohigan variety stand across the park's compound, providing great cherry blossom… Read more

Takato Castle Ruin Park, Ina-city, Nagano-ken (高遠城址公園 長野県伊那市) Illuminated 1,500 Sakura Cherry Blossoms during evening My Blog tomorrow is on Takato Castle Park… Read more

Japanese New School Year(high school) starts from April (some from September) Happy young girls with new friends new environments fresh air .... no need of uniform today .... New fresh girls spent nice spring holiday at various places ...… Read more

＊＊＊ Sakura (Somei-Yoshino) Cherry Blossoms (Full Bloom shown with date in bracket) ＊＊＊　 March 19 Opened - Fukuoka(March 29), Nagoya(March31) March 20 Opened - Gifu(March31) March 21 Opened - Tokyo(March31) March 22 Opened - Nagasaki(March30), Kumamoto(April02), Wakayama(March31) March 23 Opened - Saga(March31), Matsuyama(April03), Hiroshima(April02), Matsue(March30), Tottori(March31), Kyoto(April02), Osaka(April01), Nara(April02), Kofu(April03), Yokohama(April02), Maebashi(April01), Kumagaya(April01) March 24 Opened - Miyazaki(April05), Kochi(April02) March 26 Opened - Takamatsu(April… Read more