It's still chilly, but the plum blossoms are beautiful.

Beautifully decorated Yokohama China town during chinese new year using red lantern, chinese hoardings and lantern dragons.

At my home. hinamatsuri doll festival 🎎 of the first verse Katya 📸 with the Hina doll I got from Jitoba in the background May ❣️ you spend every day with a smile

Location Nagasaki Event "Spirit Boat Procession" Put the deceased's favorite things and photos on the spirit ship An event that is poured into rivers and seas. At that time, firecrackers are set off grandly on the way.

This photo was taken at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. 📸 When I visited for the first time, I was attracted by the beauty of the five-storied pagoda on the site and took this photo. We were able to get a glimpse of 1500 years of history.

Mr. Mejiro today. It was through the screen door, but I was able to take a good picture.

There is a climbing kiln that bakes pottery in Awaji City, Awaji Island. Only once a year in February, firewood is put in for 4 days without sleeping, the temperature is raised, and a large flame burns from the kiln in the back. Many works by potter Koichi Maeda are born in this kiln. There is such a scene in the morning drama Scarlett, and a time full of passion is wonderful, and slowly cools down over time, and a new work is born. The attitude of sparing no effort and working hard towards the goal was cool, and I learned a lot from it because I keenly realized that I have to face various things and work hard. I am very grateful that I made an appointment last year and had a valuable experience.

The title is "Dancing Yosakoi Flag" I hope that one day there will be a special four days where you can feel the enthusiasm of the dancers and the audience again.

[English／日本語] February 22 is "Cat Day" in Japan. In Japan, February 22 is "Cat Day", and there is a lot of excitement as people upload pictures of cats on social media. Do you like cats? Or do you prefer dogs? In this article, I would like to talk about the pet situation in Japan. 1 Cat boom In Japan, many people have always owned dogs, but in 2017, the number of cat owners surpassed the number of dog owners. The reason for this is that Japan is an aging society. Dogs have to be accompanied on walks, and elderly people who are worried about their physical strength tend to choose cats that don't need to be walked. Also, more and more people are keeping pets because they are spending more time at home due to the influence of Corona. I wonder if it's the same in your country? 2Can international students have pets? Very few international students have pets. To own a dog, you have to pay several hundred thousand yen at a pet store and also have to get shots. In addition, most apartments in Japan do not allow pets. However, sometimes people keep hamsters, which are relatively cheap and do not have as long a life span as dogs and cats. I heard a story about a Japanese language school that had a problem with a student who suddenly decided to return to his home country and asked them to take in his turtle. Pets are life. It is important to keep them responsibly. 3 If you miss your pet... Some people who used to have pets in their home countries may become stressed out because they cannot interact with their pets during their long stay in Japan. Recently in Japan, there has been an increase in the number of cafes with cats and dogs, where you can casually interact with cats and dogs for just a fee and a drink. In addition to cats and dogs, some of these animal cafes also have birds and reptiles. Please try to use them. Our school does not allow pets in the dormitories. However, there are cat cafes and dog cafes around the school. There is also a zoo just a few stops away from the school. If you are an animal lover, I think you will enjoy your study abroad experience at our school. February 22 is "Cat Day" in Japan. Shops selling miscellaneous goods put cat illustrations on products, and people get excited posting them on social media. Do you like cats, or do you prefer dogs? This time, I will talk about the pet situation in Japan. 1 The cat boom In Japan, many people have traditionally kept dogs, but in 2017 the number of cats kept exceeded the number of dogs. One reason is Japan's aging population. Because dogs need to be taken for walks, elderly people who worry about their strength tend to choose cats that do not require walks. Also, because people have been spending more time at home due to the impact of COVID-19, more people are getting pets. Is it the same in your country? 2 Can international students keep pets? Very few international students keep pets. To buy a dog at a pet shop costs several hundred thousand yen, and vaccinations are also required. In addition, most apartments in Japan prohibit keeping pets. However, some people sometimes keep hamsters, which are relatively inexpensive and do not live as long as dogs or cats. I heard a story about a Japanese language school that was troubled when a student who suddenly had to return home asked them to take in his turtle. Pets are lives. It is important to keep them responsibly. 3 If you miss your pet... Students who had pets in their home countries can become stressed during a long study abroad period if they cannot interact with animals. Recently in Japan, cat and dog cafes have increased, allowing casual interaction with cats and dogs for just an entrance fee and a drink. Some of these animal cafes also feature birds and reptiles as well as cats and dogs. Please give them a try. Our school forbids keeping pets in the dormitories. However, there are cat cafes and dog cafes near the school. There is also a zoo a few stations away from the school. If you love animals, I think you will enjoy studying abroad at our school.

It is said that the Hinamatsuri began about 1,000 years ago among the aristocrats of that time during the Heian period. At that time, on the day of the snake at the beginning of March, the "Kamimi no Setsuku" is held to pray for a disease-free life, and on this day, an onmyoji fortune teller They called and prayed, and they put simple dolls made of paper and plants with alcohol and offerings and threw them into rivers and the sea on their behalf. At that time, the dolls were called "Hiina", and it is believed that this "Kamimi no Setsuku" and "Hiina Play" came together to form the Hinamatsuri as it is today. In this way, I would like to decorate the peach festival that has been handed down for a long time with the children and pass on to future generations a meaningful event that wishes for the healthy growth of children.

The shrine and its nearby area at China town, Yokohama were well decorated with lights and lanterns before the Chinese new year. It looks very beautiful and charming.

Just some more photos to wrap up our trip to Nikko. I took a bunch of photos of different monuments and buildings that seemed important or had lavish decorations. I can't make out what the writing on the monument says but I can at least make out the kanji for heart 心. I also liked the golden palanquins inside the the building in the forth photo, although I'm not sure if they were used at some point or are simply for decoration. The other photos are from Futarasan Chugushi Shrine 二荒山中宮祠神社 located in front of Lake Chuzenji. Unfortunately we didn't have time to go inside the shrine but I was at least able to take some nice photos of the torii gate. Apparently it has a kagura hall as well and the entrance to Mt. Nantai is located inside the shrine as well. And finally, just an assortment of food that I haven't posted yet. All of it tasted great. It was definitely a trip I'm never going to forget!

It's a hina festival. At the former Yoshida residence.

Some more photos from our trip to Nikko. There were so many awesome monuments, landmarks, and buildings that it'd be impossible to fit it all into one post. I was so glad that I had my mobile battery with me because I was taking so many photos that I was just burning through my battery lol. I really liked how the incense burner looked and I tried looking up how old it was but I wasn't able to find anything about it, only the one in front of Tokugawa Ieyasu's burial site. I would have liked to use the chozuya as well, but unfortunately it was closed off due to covid. I also liked seeing the sake barrels as well as they always brighten up shrines. The "Ippon Toro" lantern was interesting as well. I'd never heard of Empress Tofukumon'in before either, so it gave me some interesting things to read about Japan's Edo Period. Apparently she helped rebuild prominent temple in Kyoto and collected art and pottery from famous artisans of the time and even those of the past. Some buildings I'd have to look at a map to know their names but there was definitely no shortage of decorations. Unfortunately we weren't able to take photos inside some of the main buildings, but a few of them had ceiling paintings done by famous painters. Many of them were birds, and I'm not an expert, but I think they were mostly cranes and they were all really beautiful.

Yangguji Temple Hanachozu When I came here two years ago, there was no "Yes, Kyoto, let's go" logo on the ladle, but in the past few years, it has become a hot topic on SNS and has changed. As usual, hydrangeas were laid out, and many tourists came. I shot simply with telephoto, compression effect, and no unnecessary objects.

Famous Dragon Dance during Chinese New Year Festival at Yokohama's famous China Town. The dragon dance is very cute, funny and interesting. It was a vibrant and colorful festival.

Continuing on from yesterday's post... On the second and final day of our trip we woke up and ate a light breakfast followed by some udon and soba at a nice little restaurant on the way to the Kirifuri Highlands 霧降高原. We were originally planning on hiking up to the observation deck around 880 meters up the mountain, but it proved to be a little farther than we thought it would be an had to stop at around 650 meters as there was a massive staircase to reach the observation deck and not everyone in the group was up for the challenge lol. Not having the proper gear didn't help much either. Most people had on snow shoes and they could easily trek through the snow but wearing just boots or tennis shoes we were a bit under-equipped and decided it'd be better not to overdo it. We got to see some really amazing views and talk to an 85-year-old man who told us what gear we should buy if we're planning on hiking in the snow, about how the dam located on the mountains across from us rises and falls during the day/night, and how this was his ~60th time climbing the mountain but the woman he came with has done it more than 300 times. She had to turn back early that day, but those are some impressive numbers! After enjoying the outdoors we headed over to Nikko Edomura/Edo Wonderland 日光江戸村 and had a blast exploring the theme park. We arrived at about 2pm so we got a nice discount on our all-day passes. Walking around we got to see all of the different buildings that gave the theme park its Edo-Period-feel. We also got to see the oiran procession 花魁道中 which was really awesome as well. It seemed like they tried to make it as accurate as possible too. The way the courtesan walked was in the traditional figure eight style which, from what I've read, is not easily done, so I assume that this is a sort of special type of profession as she was doing it to my untrained eye perfectly. One funny thing was that the girls in red in front of the courtesan had to slouch somewhat because they were too tall and the theme park obviously can't employ children to play the role like they would have traditionally. We also got some temporary "tattoos." They got some cute Nyan-mage tattoos and I got a Shinsengumi tattoo lol. After that we watched a really awesome performance inside of the ninja theater, but we weren't allowed to film or take photos so I don't have anything to post unfortunately. It was really cool seeing the ninja actors jumping off of rooves and fighting though. On top of that we also tried out the ninja maze where I was unfortunately the last one to make it out as I got unlucky and hit a dead end at the last part of the maze. This was a really fun experience as there were a lot of hidden and revolving doors that you had to find to escape the maze. We also did the shuriken experience and I managed to get 3/5 but I gave one of my shuriken to my girlfriend in the hopes that she would stick one in the target but unfortunately she wasn't able to lol. I guess I was technically 3/4 because of that. Overall the whole trip was a blast and we got to make some awesome memories out in Tochigi. I definitely recommend it as a travel destination!

I came to see the Hina Festival dolls at the Ono Private Kokokan, and quite a few of them were grandly lined up on the Hina altar and were in front of the entrance, which was a masterpiece.

Vibrant and colorful attire, graceful performers ,jolly faces .... Every good things were present during the 38th Samba festival of Asakusa.

Took a trip out to Nikko, Tochigi over the three day weekend and had an incredible time. The purpose of the trip was to celebrate my girlfriend's sister's college graduation so we wanted to make it as memorable as possible. I don't have enough room to fit this into one post so I'll post the rest throughout the week. We started out from Tokyo and had lunch somewhere Nikko Toshogu Shrine. I'm not sure if Yuba is a local specialty but it seemed like literally every single restaurant in the area was selling it so I'm assuming that was the case. It was my first time trying it and it was pretty interesting I guess you could say. It tasted alright with the soy sauce and radish but I think I prefer normal tofu instead. Either way it was a nice experience. After eating we headed out to Nikko Toshogu Shrine nearby and man was it amazing. Everything was so lavishly decorated that I couldn't stop taking photos. The pagoda was incredibly beautiful as well and the snow covering the Nikko area made everything even more beautiful. I was lucky enough to get a really nice shot of the corridor full of lanterns while no one was walking through the area as well. I also took a photo of the torii gate at the top of the steps as it had a very strong presence and signaled the end of the long journey up the steps to reach the inner shrine. Unfortunately the main gate was undergoing repairs so it was completely covered in tarp and surrounded by staging so I wasn't able to get a photo of it, but I did get some really cool shots of the main shrine. I tried as hard as I could to get some good photos of the grave of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and while I think the photo of the gate isn't bad, I think I'd need a better camera to get a good shot of the crane and his tomb. That being said it was still really awesome to see. After checking out the shrine we headed out to Kegon Falls and I managed to get some really nice videos and some decent photos as well. I can't post the videos or I would. It was really awesome seeing the icicles surrounding the waterfall and all of the frozen scenery as well. Even just taking the lift down to the waterfall was an experience. After we left the waterfall observation deck and went back up the elevator we got some suiton 水団, flour dumplings in soup and shared it between the three of us as a light snack before dinner later that evening. We also visited Lake Chuzenji and admired the scenery there for a bit as well. We didn't spend a ton of time here so this photo was the best I could do. I like that I was able to get the sign in the shot though so I can't complain. After enjoying the view of the lake we headed to our hotel and ate dinner and had some wine. The place we stayed at was called "Lamb Chop" ペンション・ラムチャップ日光. The food was great and service provided by the the owners was top notch, so I definitely recommend checking it out if you're looking for a place to stay in the area. After dinner we headed back to our room and I was so exhausted I fell asleep almost instantly. And that was the end of day 1! I'll post day two tomorrow since this post is getting quite long now!

Currently, most people are wearing masks because of the coronavirus, but in Japan many people have long worn masks from February to April, so foreign tourists are often surprised. The reason for wearing masks is "hay fever." Especially at this time of year, people allergic to cedar wear masks. Many international students are troubled by hay fever. This time, I will tell you about this hay fever. 1. One in three international students develops hay fever? According to some data, one in three international students develops hay fever for the first time after arriving in Japan. Also, among international students who develop hay fever, those in their third year rank first, followed by first-year students in second place. International students may have no one around them with hay fever in their home country and may not know what hay fever symptoms are like, so at first they may mistakenly think they have a prolonged cold. Unlike a cold, hay fever causes strong runny nose symptoms, itchy eyes, and an itchy nose. If this sounds familiar, first consult a teacher at your school. 2. Hay fever relief products So how do Japanese people get through hay fever season? Most people take prescription or over‑the‑counter medication. Besides medication, many products to relieve hay fever symptoms are sold in stores at this time of year—for example, pollen-blocking glasses and soft, high-quality tissues that won't irritate the nose. Sales of air purifiers also increase at this time. For people who do not have money or who do not have time to go to a hospital, some people find that applying a little petroleum jelly inside the nostrils can help ease symptoms. Also, lack of sleep and alcohol consumption are said to worsen hay fever symptoms. Be careful to maintain a healthy lifestyle. ★Extra: In Tokyo, it is said that one in two people has hay fever. The topic of hay fever is also a chance to become friends with Japanese people. When someone who never had hay fever before gets it, people who have had hay fever for many years are said to say, "Welcome ☺." Please try talking to them!

Although the samba dance is from Brazil but I saw it 1st time in Tokyo at Asakusa area. It was from 38th Asakusa Samba carnival in 2019. I was really very excited and happy to see it. Unfortunately from 2020 because of corona the event is not happening but I wish this 2022 I could see it again.

This is a shrine visit at Ebisu Shrine in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. We wish for the healthy growth of the baby and visit him around one month old. Even after that, there are many people who visit milestones in their lives, such as Shichi-go-san and adults. Visiting the temple is the first of them, the first appearance to God. It's kind of reassuring to think that there is a god watching over you.

Kawazu cherry blossoms have blossomed

Things made by humans from the past to the present Nature is all good I wish ☺️ I could leave it for the future

I Mt. Konpira climbed to the top for the first time!! I have a lot of muscle pain and it hurts. I'm😁 glad I was able to climb it. Revenge Success ✌️😆

Festival held in Nagasaki City from October 7 to 9 [Nagasaki Kunchi] It is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. The float in the photo is [Kokkodesho] It is a popular votive dance among Nagasaki kunchi. The rough skill of throwing a float high into the sky and grabbing it with the thrown arm outstretched, masculinity, and bravery of shouting There is no doubt that it will be full of charm that will hook the viewer. I think that other votive dances are also unique and very enjoyable festival events. There are many stalls, and there is no doubt that both children and adults can enjoy a fun time! !! I wanted to capture the power and dynamism of the moment when I threw it high into the sky, so I shot with the shutter speed down. I think I was able to capture the movement of the hand and the expression of the bearer well in my own way.

Take a 😆 walk in the Bikan district of Okayama Prefecture I don't know anything about the old days. Just walking is exciting A place ☺️ I love no matter how many times I go Nothing but ♡ happiness to eat and drink delicious

On the occasion of Chinese new year the Yokohama China town was well decorated during pre corona situation in 2019. It was my first chance to enjoy Chinese new year in China Town. It was really a great fun. Wish after corona it will be back in full form.

[English/Japanese] Snow is predicted to fall in Tokyo this week. In Japan, many tourist destinations like Hokkaido are popular for winter sports, but snowfall in Tokyo is relatively rare and the city is not prepared for it. As a result, even a 5 cm accumulation of snow can cause various problems. In this article, I will explain how to cope with snow in Tokyo. 1 Transportation When it snows, train schedules are often disrupted. Trains may be cancelled or services reduced, so you may be late for work. On snowy days, try to leave home earlier than usual. Roads can also become congested, and few people buy snow tires for such infrequent snowfall. Consequently, many people drive with regular tires on snowy days, which can lead to slipping accidents. Try to avoid walking close to cars on snowy days. 2 The day after it snows Unlike in Hokkaido, snow that falls in Tokyo has a high moisture content. For that reason, roads are often icy the day after snowfall. With so many buildings in Tokyo, sunlight may not reach some streets and the snow may not melt even after a week. Some people slip on the frozen roads and suffer serious injuries. On the day after snowfall, try to walk along sunlit routes. 3 What to wear What you wear the next day matters more than what you wear while it is snowing. Roads become very slippery, so wear long boots or other slip-resistant shoes. Also wear gloves because ice can cut your hands if you slip and catch yourself with them. A hat is necessary to protect your head. A backpack or other hands-free bag is also a good idea. If you don’t have boots, a life hack to reduce slipping is to stick adhesive bandages to the soles of your sneakers. Give it a try. Many students at our school come from warm countries. Some, seeing snow for the first time, have overdone it playing in the snow and caught colds. Enjoy snow play in moderation. This time, we plan to spread a snow-melting agent in front of the dormitory. If neighbors are struggling with shoveling, let’s help them out — it’s also a chance to make friends with Japanese people. Also, it’s best not to go outside too much on snowy days, so finish your shopping as early as possible! Snow is predicted to fall in Tokyo this week. In Japan, many tourist destinations such as Hokkaido are popular for winter sports, but snowfall in Tokyo is not that common, so the city is not set up to handle snow. Because of that, even just 5 cm of snow can cause various problems. This time, I will tell you how to deal with snow in Tokyo. 1 Transportation When it snows, train timetables often get disrupted. Trains may be suspended or their frequency reduced, so you might be late for work. On snow days, try to leave home early. Roads can also get congested. Very few people buy snow tires for snowfall that may or may not occur in a year. For that reason, many people drive on ordinary tires on snowy days, and some cause slip accidents. On snowy days, avoid walking close to cars whenever possible. 2 The day after it snows Snow that falls in Tokyo differs from that in Hokkaido in having a higher water content. Therefore, the day after snowfall, roads are often frozen. Tokyo’s many buildings block sunlight, and snow may not melt even after a week. People sometimes slip on frozen roads and sustain serious injuries. On the day after snow, choose streets with sunlight when you walk. 3 Clothing What you wear the next day is more important than what you wear while it is snowing. Roads are very slippery, so wear wellingtons or other slip-resistant footwear. Also wear gloves because ice can cut your hands if you fall and use them to brace yourself. A hat is necessary to protect your head. For bags, a backpack or similar hands-free option is best. If you don’t have wellingtons, there’s a life hack: sticking adhesive bandages to the soles of your sneakers makes them less slippery. Try it out. At our school, many students come from warm countries. For some, seeing snow for the first time led them to play too much and catch colds. Keep snow play moderate. We plan to spread de-icing agent in front of the dormitory this time. If neighbors are having a hard time shoveling snow, let’s help — it’s also an opportunity to become friends with Japanese people. Also, because it’s better not to go out much on snow days, complete your shopping early!