Castletown Komoro Festival

They held a Joukamachi (castletown) Festival in Komoro 19-23 this months
This is Komoro station.In June many swallows come to the nests under the roof.

 

imageimageComing out of Komoro station you turn left and you will find Honjin building where some exhibitions are held.One of them was exhibition of kimono made of old cloths.At the entrance they arrange wild flowers in the area.What most impressed me was that Ms Nakazawa collected old cloths and made them into Furisode(long sleeved kimono) and she said it took 15 years to do so.

imageimageMs Nakazawa.Please enjoy her

 

beautiful kimono and obi (belt) all in different style.

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imageimageAfter kimono I visited Sake brewer and bought a Sobachoko.Sobachoko is dip container for soba.(japanese typical noodle and Nagano prefecture is well known for good soba).This is Sobachoko I bought.Surprisingly he is from Karuizawa and a sort of sake connaissurer.Loving sake and choko (for sake) he now opened a shop in Karuizawa. Interesting!Regret I don’t drink alcohol.

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imageYoung people exhibit their works and run cafe.

imageWhen I was looking at the map thinking where to go next I was spoken to see the old house open only for the day.The house was built in Edo era(17-18 century).I was interested in the skylight and it was installed in Edo era did they possibly get glasses? As I wondered skylight was installed later and they became popular in the area.There were houses of three stories and these houses have tower like skylight to reach the roof of three storied house.

imageThis is Soba restaurant built also in Edo period.

I finished my day trip by having Unagi kabayaki don(eel). to Japanese

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Nomura, judo expert

nennga0971mr tadahiro Nomura won a gold medal of Judo class 60 kilos at Atlanta Olympics.But his article for gold medal was less than 1/4  large as Ms Tani who won a silver metal in women’s 48 kilos.I was shocked as they did not treat him as champion.Needless to say he became a goldmedalist three times in three concesutive  Olympic Games, isn’t it great!

Who is more selfish,Ishikawa or Fukui?

According to the newspaper, above two prefectures are In battle for deers.In ishikawa prefecture 2800deers live whereas in Fukui 35,000 lives. Ishikwa plans to make a fence of  24kms long to prevent Fukui deers to come into Ishikawa  and  give damage to  vegetables. Knowing Ishikawa’s plan Fikui was furious. Fukui said deers who can not enter Ishikawa remain before the fence and eat vegetables and bring such damage to Fukui.

This is about what is going on. Who do you think is more selfish.

Its nothing  but laughing matter, I thi nk.

 

Sumi’s MimiMini Exhibition

Hello! Sumi again. I am going to hold MiniMini  exhibition at Kutsukake terrace,nakakaruizawa. One thing new this time is I tried to make black and white prints out of my face enlarged postcard siza to A4. Looks different and hope you will enjoy them.

Free post cards are on the shelf of information corner toward library.

Place:Kutsukake Terrace within Nakakaruizawa Station Premises.

Open: 24 hours (stations opening hours) 1st August to 31st August 2015

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Thank you!!

 

 

 

 

Kusatsu Onsen 草津温泉

Onsen, that’s everybody loves both foreigners and Japanese.When they learn Onsen and pronounce Onsen they may be nearer to Japanese culture.Here is Onsen, Kusatsu is one of three Onsen in Japan.Right in centre of the town hot water spurs and you will be surprised with its amount.

Pity I missmed several shots including Ryokan-Japanese style hotel. We spent a couple of hours in the centre of the town and then from Kusatsu station hotel’s shuttle bus sent us to the hotel.Where I stayed called TOKINONIWA-季の庭 was the most favourite hotel for the year in Kusatsu.Before I knew that this hotel is favoured,I could see that their way of OMOTENASHI – hospitality differs from other we stayed.They do not select guests but they seemed to know what will please guests.This is very important point. Many hotels think they offer luxurious rooms, amenities and … They knew how guests can relux and enjoy. It’s including small surprises!!This is extremely distinguishable of this hotel management.

imageMoss in the garden

imagePart of the garden.ROOM:On entering guest room area which is divided by sliding dorrs we can select Yukata-cotton kimono & Obi-wide belt and even pillows.Each room provides Samue-room wear which mostly priests wear and Dotera-kimono style gown.Our room consists of 1 living room(tatami), 1 bed room (tatami & matress),tiny garden leads to open air bath. TV is hidden behind small rood/paper made sliding doors.BATH: They say there are 23 different baths.BeforeI go to the bath my daughter who already finished taking a bath advised that there are free ice candies.So good! Here are their OMOTENASHI(hospitality) : 1.free ice candies.2.free some Japanese/Chinese refreshment such as Niramannjuuニラ饅頭,Nikumann肉まん and Misodennraku.味噌田楽。This start17:30 to 18:30pm.First dinner start at 17.50 we missed them. Next time! Then 3.surprisingly at 10 o’clock they offer Ramen, of course free ramen.We like Ramen and now its popularity is becoming worldwide.You can eat as many ramens as you like between 10:00 to 11:30 pm. In Japan there are many who finish drinking alcohol with having ramen. After alcohol ramen taste so good. When they offer ramen at 10:00 pm menas that people can happily go to bed.I was really impressed and more impressed when I see guests enjoy eating ramen.Wakuwaku Dokidoki  Now MEALS: Dining room is divided by partition like private room so we do not have to see others.This is very good to keep privacy.

image      This is starters

.imageCup of soup.It is season of wisteria, in Gumma and Nagano area you will see lots of wild wisteria.imageSashimiimageEggplant etc

imageMain dish of beef steak.You can select as you like among 4 menuimageRolled cabbage,quite soft and tasty.Of course there was desset but I did not take photoimageBreakfast for startimageBits of bits

imagePlain omelet, you can also select among menu

All of us really enjoyed and we will be back again in the near future! Recommendable hotel for foreigners as well.

 

Lake New Town レイクニュータウン

Lake new town modeled lakes in Switzerland.Along the lake there used to be a department store and swan shape boats on the lake but now all renovated matching to the landscape.Once you enter the gate it is Swiss village.

image Houses in sober colour.

Lakes in rain     imageimage Backside of the

sober houses facing the lake.

imageIt was 18th April I visited the garden and they have just finished transplant roses.Very well arranged and I could imagine these roses at their best in June.imageimageimageimageimageimageimageDaffodilsimageLotus roots in water.

imageShops far end of the lake which really made me feel I am in Switzerland.image Wooden bridge looks a bit slipperly but protectedimageLow headges.imageimageView just entered the gate.I went to Lakenewtown again in May and found roses have grown so much.I will be there again in June to enjoy roses.I will report you again.

 

 

Best Cherry Blossoms of this year ベスト桜花賞

image A few days ago I heard that cherry blossoms just started to bloom in Kushiro, Hokkaido. Kushiro is located very north so you can imagine that most cherry blossoms are gone by this time in Japan. However, there were drooping cherry blossoms in Karuizawa, Nagano pref and five of them are drooping their branches to the ground. They reminded me of some kind of dog.

image You can see a few trees behind.

image If I went there a week before they surely look more beautiful.

In this space there are variety of cherry trees and therefore you can enjoy them for quite some time.This is a spot I found in Karuizawa. Even during Golden week there were noone there.

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image Dandelions’ yellow are matching to..

 

My sincerest condolences お悔やみ申し上げます

I quite often think these days that we face risk where we go.Then, where we should go, go within where you can take your own risk.Of course, if you are in the airplane,you leave your life to pilot.When I went to London often I even remembered pilots’ name and techniques for taking off and landing on.Yet, you still leave your life to pilot.

What surprised me most at this earthquake Himaraya there were about 1000 people at the base camp of 5300 metres above sea level.At first I thought my hearing deteriorated to hear 1000. 100 was acceptable figure to me.

If 1000 people stay there, accordingly the surroundings are polluted.Mountains do not like themselves to be polluted, they like to or we should show respect mountains as sacred places. Now in Japan the limit of existence of village is social matter.Sooner or later these villages will disappear.And 1000 is population of these 3-4 villages I do not know what I am writing, even I should write or not, sorry.

Lastly I would like to express my sincerest condolences.