AKITA - Godzilla Rock and beautiful coastline

Akita may be famous for its summer lantern festival, the Japanese ogre Namahage 👹 of the Oga Peninsula, Nyuto hot springs in the mountains, and the Akita Komachi brand rice.

However, Akita has much more than that!

First, the coastline of the Sea of Japan is just beautiful.

And on this coastline in the Oga Peninsula, there is a tourist point called the "Godzilla Rock."

Godzilla Rock was gradually carved by the strong wind along the coast, and is formed by several rocks.  

You will have to move around the rocks to find the right spot and angle to take the perfect picture.

And...here it is!!  Something you expected?? 😎

Click below to watch the coastline of Sea of Japan, and the Godzilla Rock Drone image on our YouTube channel, Ichigo Ichie in Japan.

Location of the Godzilla Rock

Approximately 50 km from Akita City on the National Road 101.

This Road is highly recommendable as it will take you all the way to the Godzilla Rock on the coastline!

When you approach the rocks on Road 101, you will see a sign directing you to a narrow ramp towards the rocks.

The rock is located at the tip of Shiosezaki, near a lighthouse.

NAGANO - The 200 year old house

This house was my grandmother's famliy's house.
My grandmother grew up, and my father was born in this house.

History

The family's documented history goes back more than 400 years to the Edo era.

My grandmother's brother's family now lives in this house, protecting the family history and traditions.

This house was built more than 200 years ago on an immense land covering more than 2,500 square meters and served as a home to a wealthy family of salt wholesale merchants during the golden Genroku period of the Edo era.  Until recently the family owned a farmland planting apple trees.

The house is designated as an important historical building by Iizuna Town, and thus the family is not allowed to make any alterations to the exterior appearance of the house.

Entrance of the house (outside).

Entrance of the house (inside).

A path in the house for vehicles to pass through to deliver
 goods to the storage in the premises.

Storage warehouses.

Calligraphy passed down through generations.

Private garden for the main building.

Location

The house is located in the current Iizuna Town, and was strategically built in the central area of the Mure-Juku (Juku=post station) on the Hokkoku Kaido, or the Hokkoku route that connected Echizen (current Fukui prefecture) and Edo (current Tokyo).  This route was developed for travelers going to the buddhist tepmle, Zenko-ji, in Nagano.

Juku, or post stations, were created during the Edo period, located on the Edo Five Routes or one of its sub-routes.  These post stations were places where travelers could rest during their travel on these routes.

I remember when I first visited the house more than 25 years ago, the bathroom was "botton style", as we call it in Japanese...the toilet where it was a hole in the floor with no flushing function.  Now, it is fully reformed with the newest Japanese toilet technology.

This house has seen the small village develop over the course of 200 years, and seen the family grow generation after generation.

It is really overwhelming...in a good way of course, to step into the house and have this sensation of slipping back in time...of 200 years!

Iizuna Town is located approximately 20 km north of Nagano City and is famous for its apples, hot springs, and its mountains open for skiing in the winter.

It is also home to the beautiful St. Cousair Winery.
Click here to visit St. Cousair Winery's official website in English: St. Cousair Winery

TOCHIGI - Tobu World Square

We headed up to Tochigi, to visit the Tobu World Square.

This trip was actually to realize Grandma's dream of visiting the "mini world", as she calls it.

She said that the park was much more than what she had imagined it to be, and was very much satisfied. 😊

Tobu World Square is an open air architectural museum with mini replicas on the 1/25 scale of 102 famous buildings from all over the world.

The park is divided into 6 zones: Modern Japan, Americas, Egypt, Europe, Asia, and Japan.
The buildings are so detailed, you will truly be amazed!

Here are some tips on how to enjoy your stay at the park:

1. Enjoy the details.  The park is maintained manually, so you will not be disappointed!  Also note that the park will change with the four seasons...in the spring you will be able to enjoy the cherry blossoms, and in the winter, the changes in the color of the leaves!!

2. Look for the people on display.  Find Audrey Hepburn filming "Roman Holiday" at the Rome exhibit, Princess Di's wedding ceremony at the London exhibit, and the West Side Story dancing crew at the New York exhibit...and many more!

3. Purchase a "Play Card" at the Play Card vending machine.  The card is 1,000 yen, and it brings the displayed dolls to life at 15 sites!  By swiping the card at the designated sites, you can activate the dolls and see them come to life.

4. Participate in the stamp rally and get a free original post card.  Simply pick up a stamp rally sheet at the entrance and find the stamps at the entrance/exit of the park, and at all six areas.  After collecting all the stamps, show the completed sheet at the information desk and you will get a park original post card for free!  I chose the Neuschwanstein Castle post card, as this is a place that I would one day like to go visit. 😊

Another good thing is that we were able to get great discounts on the tickets.

I will explain more below!

Access

Address: 209-1 Kinugawaonsen Ohara, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture 321-2593

By car: 20 minutes off the Imaichi Interchange on the Nikko Utsunomiya Toll Road
By train: 1 minute walk from the Tobu World Square Station (Tobu Kinugawa Line)
By bus: direct bus from Tokyo Station (Tohoku Express, or the Tohoku Kyukou Bus)

There is abundant public transportation that can take you there, so please check the Park's official site for the best way for you to get there.

Click here for the official website: Tobu World Square Official Site

Opening hours

Open throughout the year.

Summer: 9:00 - 17:00

Winter: 9:30 - 16:00 (Dec 1 - Mar 19)

Admission Fee

Purchase at the gate
Adult: 2,800 yen
Child: 1,400 yen
Child: age 4 years up and up

Dont't forget to look for discounts on the tickets.  Please see below for some examples:

Purchase in advance
Purchase in advance at convenient stores, ticket shops, etc.
300 yen (adult) / 200 yen (child) discount per ticket

Official online coupon
Print out the coupon from the official website.  Click here to access the coupon page: coupon page
Note that the page must be printed out!  Coupon display on your smartphone is not valid!
200 yen discount per ticket

Palsystem coupon site:
If you are a Palsystem member, you can purchase your tickets at a great discount on the Palsystem coupon site.
1,000 yen (adult) / 400 yen (child)  discount per ticket

If you are up for it, don't forget to enjoy the hot springs and the breathtaking nature in the Nikko Kinugawa area!

Have a pleasant journey! Bon Voyage!

SalvarSalvar

TOKYO - Koala's March Cake only in Nakano, Tokyo

"The only place in the world that sells Koala's March cake!"

On my way to the famous Nakano Broadway, I passed by a Lotteria shop in the Nakano Sun Mall Arcade and saw this sign.

Koala's March is an all time favorite koala shaped biscuits with cocolate cream filling marketed by LOTTE.

Koala's March Yaki (cake) is inspired by this bite size snack...a koala shaped cake filled with rich chocolate cream.

Comes in three basic filling flavors:

GHANA chocolate cream (made from LOTTE's famous GHANA chocolate)
Custard
Azuki (sweet red bean paste)

It seems like they offer seasonal flavors, which this time was Choco Banana, or chocolate cream + banana flavored custard cream.

From September 12, 2017 to November 2017, they are offering autumn flavored filling: Hokkaido Kabocha (pumpkin).

I think I will have to go back and try it out!

TOKYO - Hydrangea Festival at the Fuchu Kyodo no Mori Museum

Many Japanese enjoy the four seasons admiring the flowers representing each season.

Just like the Sakura blossoms (cherry blossoms) are considered as the symbol of the arrival of spring, Hydrangeas lighten up the rainy season and reminds us that summer is just ahead.

From end of May to beginning of July, the Hydrangeas become the main attraction in many parks, just like in the Fuchu Kyodo no Mori open air museum.

We were able to make it to the "Ajisai Matsuri", or Hydrangea Festival on its last day at the Fuchu Kyodo no Mori Museum.

Ajisai Matsuri

May 27 - July 2, 2017

10,000 Hydrangea in full bloom throughout the park covering approx. 140,000 square meters!

Visit our YouTube channel "Ichigo Ichie in Japan" for our video at the Hydrangea Festival!

A little about Fuchu Kyodo no Mori Museum...

Location 

32- 6 Minamicho, Fuchu, Tokyo

Access

10 minute drive from the Kunitachi Fuchu Interchange on the CHUO Expressway

20 minute walk from the stations below:

  FUCHU HONMACHI station on the Musashino and Nanbu JR Lines

  BUBAIGAWARA station on the JR Musashino and Keio Lines

  KOREMASA station on the Seibu Tamagawa Line

Admission fee (museum)

Adult: 200 yen

Child: 100 yen

Child 3 years of age and under are admitted free

Parking

Free (400 cars)

Open hours

9:00 - 17:00 (entrance gates close at 16:00)

Points

This museum is actually a family friendly park!

An open air museum featuring replicated historical buildings from the Fuchu and Tama area of Tokyo representing the Meiji and Edo era

Full of flowers and plants collected from all over Japan

A large "man-made lake" which is a water area for kids to play in on hot summer days

And...a planetarium with many different shows for all ages (additional admission fee required)

FYI we are planning to upload a video focusing on the park itself soon!

KANAGAWA - Travelling back in time at Sagamiko Park

Sagamiko Park is a state owned park located on the banks of Lake Sagami.

This lake was used in the 1964 Tokyo summer Olympics, and is famous for fishing, lake cruising, and for the seasonal scenery: cherry blossoms in the spring, fireworks in the summer, colorful leaves in the fall, and winter illumination.

This park has this kind of lonely, quiet, melancholic atmosphere, contrary to the happy lively image that your usual park may have.

However, I like this park, because...it is hard to explain, but this park gives me this nostalgic feeling that brings me back to the good old 80's.

Actually, the old buildings and the antique arcade games in this park remind me of Tom Hank's movie "Big."

Our 3 year old son enjoying the antique game machine!

The park staff are all friendly and warm, which also gives us another reason to go back.😂

The park is a 10 minute walk from the JR Sagamiko station.
By car, it is 2 km off the Sagamiko Higashi Interchange, or 4 km off the Sagamiko Interchange both on the CHUO Expressway.

Street performer Mr. Pika at Inokashira Park on a Saturday afternoon

An early summer Saturday with no big plans, I took my 3 year old son for a walk in the Inokashira Park.

In between the rainy days, today was a hot but sunny and pleasant day.

I took some pictures with my old Android phone...wishing I had a better camera with me to capture the park on this great day...!

Inokashira Park on the weekend is full of interesting people.

We came across a street performance, Mr. Pika's "Ganmen Kamishibai", or face kamishibai.

Mr. Pika's handmade kamishibai and his unique costumes attracted the kids as they sat and listened attentively to his crazy story.

The kids laughed, criticized Mr. Pika's costumes (or should I say, they were honest😆), danced, sang and yelled at the top of their lungs with Mr. Pika, and at the end, they all went home happy and satisfied.

My son with the orange cap sitting in the front

And apparently, Mr. Pika has a YouTube channel!

This belly button song was my son's favorite.

You have to be there to understand the unexplainable charm of this song 😅