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2015年4月30日木曜日

Ehobashira, the pillar connects the relationship with god (Saikoji temple / 西光寺, Nagano city / 長野市)

Nagano city is just having an event called "Gokaicho", an special event held once a seventh year.
The event is held at temple named Zenkoji, but I visited Saikoji temple before.

People can see and touch the pillar called "Ehobashira" at temples in some the temples near the Zenkoji temple. Saikoji temple has it.







You can see a white rope is tight to the top of Ehobashira.
It is connected to statue of Budda in the temple.

If you touch this pillar, it is said that you are connected with gods of Buddism


The white goes towards to the temple...


Connected to the five colored ropes, green, yellow, red, white and purple.


Enters inside of  temple.




When I visited Saikoji temple, I didn't know that huge earth quake had struck Nepal.
If I can go there right now, I will pray Budda and Gods for their safe.


2015年4月29日水曜日

Pray for Nepal

I've seen a lot of heartbreaking situation in Nepal in the news.

I remember the earthquake in Japan four years ago.

I was at office in Tokyo that day. I could't go back home until next night, and really scared and afraid for few months. It was huge tragedy for Japan, but I think I was still lucky not get injured or lose no one in my family.

As a lot of people in the world helped us, Japan is getting healed little by little.

What can only I do for people in Nepal are a little donation and to pray.

Wishing for the people in Nepal get saved as many as possible.





2015年4月22日水曜日

The dance for gods (Gokoku Shrine / 護国神社, Matsumoto / 松本)

I came across to see "Miko", women who serves gods, where practicing dance.
It's kind of way they pray gods.









They where so beautiful in the warm sunlight.







2015年4月20日月曜日

Temple and Mt. Fuji in the twilight (Kodosan temple / 孝道山, Yokohama / 横浜 )

If the weather is good and the air is clear, you can see Mt. Fuji from quite far places.

I found that I can see Mt. Fuji from a temple near Higashi-Hakuraku station, 2 stations from Yokohama station by Tokyu Touyoko line.


The temple's name is "Kodosan".
It's about 10 minutes uphill walk from Higashi-Hakuraku station.





If the weather is good, I will recommend you to look for Mt. Fuji.






2015年4月19日日曜日

Cherry blossom, dandelion, and pansy. Spring found all over the places!!

Cherry blossom,










Dandelion,


Pansy,


Spring can found all over the places!






The history of Oinari-san

Few days ago, I wrote about "Oinari-san".

http://four-seasons-japan.blogspot.jp/2015/04/oinari-sama-messenger-of-god.html

Japanese people are familiar about them with it's symbol, red gate called "Tori-i".





The start of their history is about 1300 years ago.
From ancient times, foxes are thought as one of the holy animal.
There two reason why the foxes thought as harvest god's messenger.

* The first reason is they captured and ate the rats.
   (Rats where harmful which eats rice.)

* The second reason is their tails shapes seemed rice grain.



In the ancient Japanese history book, "Nihon-shoki" said as edited in year 720 A.D., "Fushimi Inari" shrine appears. "Fushimi Inari" shrine is settled in Kyoto, the head temple of all Inari shrine in Japan.

"Fushimi Inari" become the most popular tourist spot between foreign traveler in Japan which trip adviser searched, so you may heard about it.

When it become Edo era, about 1600 A.D., not only the messenger for harvest, the foxes become the messenger of  "Merchant's god".

Now, it is said 32,000 Inari shrines in Japan, not including individual person's and company's shrines.

Not all shrine have foxes, but it maybe fun to look for them if you see red gate, "Tori-i".


I couldn't find fox in this roadside shrine, but cat was cute.
(It's shrine at "Eno-shima".)


2015年4月15日水曜日

Oinari-san, the messenger of god

The foxes are believed as messenger of god in Japan.
We call this messenger "O ina ri san".



Their name is written like this in Japanese.



We add "O" before the one's name with honor.
"ina" means "rice plant".
"ri" means "package" or "porter".
"san" is also added to the name superior people.





Adding "ina" and "ri" can understand as "person who brings the harvest".
They seems little scary, but meaning of their name are the one who brings happiness.




I saw and took pictures of them, but didn't know their history. Who they are.
I would like to study and introduce about them in some times from today.

2015年4月14日火曜日

Swans and ducks are also beautiful with sakura

It's so cold and rainny in Japan today.
Cherry blossom around here will gone with this rain...

I've found swans and ducks near the castle, so I will upload their pictures today.


As though there where a lot of people to see the flowers, swans seemed not afraid of those people.








I went quite near to him (her?).


Their wings where beatiful.


The duck seemed little lonesome. He should come with friends or family next time.






2015年4月13日月曜日

Full bloom cherry blossom in the daytime

Yesterday I've uploaded the cherry blossoms in the night time.
Today's picture is in the daytime.

The place is the same, near the Matsumoto castle.








I think seasons in Japan is clearly divided.
Spring, summer, fall and winter, each season has their character.
One of the reason why I started to write blog is to introduce this Japanese beautiful seasons to foreign people.



For me, it's hard to say which season is the best, but I think most of Japanese people loves spring time and Cherry blossoms.


I've seen a couple, taking a picture in Kimono.
It must be the picture for memorial for their wedding. They were so beautiful.



It was little cold this year, so the flowers keeping their beauty longer than usual.



We feels loneliness when cherry blossoms fell, but it is so beautiful, seems like a flower storms. 
I wish that I won't miss and can see it.







2015年4月12日日曜日

The cherry blossom and castle in the night.

The cherry blossom are in full bloom at last...
It was cold this year, so it took little time to get to full bloom.

I went to Matsumoto Castle to see the cherry blossom in the night time.






Matsumoto is the city in the Nagano prefecture, it takes about 2hours and half from Tokyo.
There were a lot of people near the castle.


Cherry blossom are called "Sakura" in Japanese.


We say watching cherry blossom "Wacthing Yo-Zakura".


I saw Alp-chan, the caracter of Matsumoto city, too.


It's great to see the Yo-zakura with Japanese sake.
Please try it!!

2015年4月10日金曜日

Tips going to Tokyo DisneySea: vol.4 (Meals and Snacks)‏

The reason why I always goes to DisneySea is I can drink alcohol.
Not all of the restaurants serves alcohol drinks, so I searched each of them.
(This information is April 9th 2015 present.)

There where no English web page for restaurant, so it will be happy if this helps you.

<<Mediterranean Harbor>>

* Cafe Porto fino(Italian restaurant): Serves alcohol drinks
   - Heartland Beer (620 yen)
   - Italian Beer (620 yen)
   - Wine/small bottle (620 yen)
   - Wine/half bottle (1540 yen)





* Gondolier Snacks (Ice cream and snacks): No alcohol drink

* Zambini Brohters's Ristorante(Italian restaurant): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (600yen)
  - Kirin Frozen Beer/only in summer (700 yen)
  - Wine/a glass(520 yen)
  - Wine/bottle (2040 yen)

* Magellan's (Restaurant which have course menus): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (770 yen)
  - Heartland Beer (720 yen)
  - Heineken (720 yen)
  - Guinness (720 yen)
  - Samuel Adams Beer (720 yen)
  - Magellan's selected wine/a glass probably(860 yen)
  ... and others

* Magellan's Lounge (Restaurant & Bar): Serves alcohol drinks
  - a variety of cocktails (from 760 yen)
  - a variety of whiskeys (from 650 yen)
  - a variety of  brandy (from 860 yen)
  - Kirin Beer (770 yen)
  - Guinness Beer (720 yen)
  - Heineken (720 yen)
  - Hoegaarden White (870 yen)
  - Samuel Adams (720 yen)
  - Tasting wine set/three glass wines (1630 yen)
  - Magellan's selected wine/a glass (860 yen)
  - Magellan's selected wine/a bottle (3600 yen)

Mamma Biscotti's Bakery (Hamburger & Sandwich): No alcohol drink

* Ristorante di Canaletto (Italian, course menus): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (770 yen)
  - Itailan Beer/Peroni Nastro Azzuro (670 yen)
  - Ristorante di Canaletto's selected spmonte/ (\720)
  - Ristorante di Canaletto's selected wine/ a glass (\820)
  - Ristorante di Canaletto's selected wine/ a glass (\3600)
  ... and others

* Refrescos (Snacks and soups): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (600 yen)
  - Special cocktails (Unscheduled drink)

<<American Waterfront>>

* S.S. Columbia Dining Room (Steak and salad, course menus): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (770 yen)
  - Kirin Dark Beer (720 yen)
  - Sparkling wines/ a glass (from 1030 yen)
  - S.S. Columbia's selected wines/ a glass (860 yen)
  - S.S. Columbia's selected wines/ a bottle (3600 yen)
  ... and others

* Cape Cod Cook-Off (Hambuger & Sandwiches): No alcohol drink

* Cape Cod Confections(Sweet snacks): No alcohol drink

* Sailing Day Buffet(Buffet): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (720 yen)
  - Krin Frozen Beer/only in summer (820 yen)
  - Seasonal Cocktails (520 yen/650 yen)
  - Wine/ a glass(650 yen)

* The Teddy Roosevelt Lounge (American restautant & Bar): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (770 yen)
  - Krin Frozen Beer/only in summer (870 yen)
  - Heartland Beer (720 yen)
  - Kirin Dark Beer (720 yen)
  - Samuel Adams Beer (720 yen)
  - Heineken (720 yen)
  - Kirin dry cider  (720 yen)
  - a variety of cocktails (from 760 yen)
  - a variety of whiskeys (from 650 yen)
  - a variety of  brandy (from 1080 yen)
  - a variety of  wines (from 980 yen)

* Delancey Catering (hot dog): No alcohol drink

* New York Deli (Hamburger & sandwich): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (770 yen)

* High Tide Treats (Sweet snacks): No alcohol drink

* Barnacle Bill's (Sausage & snacks): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Budweiser (620 yen)
  - Hot red wine (680 yen)

* Papadakis Fresh Fruit (Cut fruits in the cup): No alcohol drinks

* Liberty Landing Diner (Snacks): No alcohol drinks
   => Pork rice roll and Miso cream soup (only in winter) seemed delicious.
       I will try it next time.

* Restaurant Sakura (Japanese restaurant): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (770 yen)
  - Kirin Frozen Beer/only in summer (870 yen)
  - Harvest Moon Schwarz (770 yen)

  - White wine
      Mannes wine Lunaris Koushu Sur Lie glass (620 yen)
      Mannes wine Lunaris Koushu Sur Lie bottle (2880 yen)

  - Red wine
      Mannes wine Muscat Bailey A glass (620 yen)
      Mannes wine Muscat Bailey A Bottle (2880 yen)
      Mannes Solaris Shinsyuu Chikuma river Merlot Bottle (3290 yen)

  - Rose wine
      Rosé d'Anjou (1650 yen)

  - Sake
      Restaurant Sakura private label Kizake/pure sake (920 yen)
      Yanagi (700 yen/980 yen)

  - Shochu
      Touzan/wheat shochu (720 yen)
      Reigetsu/Spanish potato (720 yen)

  - Plum wine
      Gin no Ume (770 yen)

<<Port Discovery>>

* Seaside Snacks (Snacks): No alcohol drink

* Breezeway Bites (Meat pie and Apricot pie): No alcohol drink

* Horizon Bay Restaurant (Steak and salad): Serves alcohol drinks
   - Kirin Beer (620 yen)
   - Heartland Beer (620 yen)
   - Budweiser (620 yen)
   - Wine/small bottle (620 yen)
   - Wine/half bottle (1540 yen)

<<Lost River Delta>>

* Expedition Eats (hot dog): No alcohol drink

* Tropic Al's (Sweet snacks): No alcohol drink

* Miguel's El Dorado Cantina (Mexican restaurant): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (660 yen)
  - Kirin Frozen Beer/only in summer (700 yen)
  - Corona (620 yen)
  - Wine/glass (520 yen)
  - Wine/bottle (2040 yen)

* Yucatan Base Camp Grill (Smoked meals & Mexican foods): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (600 yen)
  - Wine/glass (520 yen)
  - Wine/bottle (2040 yen)

* Lost River Cookhouse (Chiken leg):  No alcohol drink but... this snack matches so much with beer. Buy beer at other restaurant. You should try this. This is my most favorite snack in DisneySea.

<<Arabian Coast>>

* Open Sesame (sweet snacks): No alcohol drink

* Casbah Food Court (Curry restaurant): No alcohol drink

* Sultan's Oasis(Snacks): No alcohol drink

<<Mermaid Lagoon>>

* Sebastian's Calypso Kitchen (Hambuger, sandwich, pizza): No alcohol drink

<<Mysterious Island>>

* Nautilus Galley (Snacks): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (600 yen)
  - Kirin Frozen Beer (700 yen)

* Refreshment Station (Snack): No alcohol drink

* Vulcania Restaurant (Chinese restaurant): Serves alcohol drinks
  - Kirin Beer (660 yen)
  - Shaoxing rice wine/Chinses rice wine (620 yen)

I always goes to Yucatan Base camp. It's tasty and not expensive.





Take this coin and changes to beer.



Ita-daki-masu !!!