Green Tea season has begun. I guess everyone in Japan already knows AKB48, a group of Moe girl singers, but also here in Shizuoka, a new group was just newly formed the other day. That is “CHA88”. As AKB stands for Akiba or Akihabara, CHA also has profound meanings ! Cha literally means “Tea” in Japanese but this is not only that ! “C” is the initial letter of “Communication”, ”H” of “Hospitality”, and ”A” of Association”. And as 48 says the number of the member, 88 means something. Have you ever heard of “Hachiju-hachi-ya”, 88 nights for green tea plantation ? I ever talked about “Risshun”, the beginning day of spring, remember ? They pick up green tea leaves on and around the 88th day counting from Risshun, which is considered as the best season for green tea in flavor and nutritional value. New tea leaves are picked, in warmer climate, from around mid-April or late April but I’ll bet you like “Hachiju-hachi-ya” better than that. It’s totally different !
Of course, CHA88 consists of 88 members, from late 10s to 70s. They wear aprons and Maid costumes. Slightly Moe, aren’t they ?＾＾；

Now, as for CHA88 activities, they are going to various spots in and outside Shizuoka for PR of Shizuoka green tea. You can find them in such places as roadside stations in Shizuoka, Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport, Ocha-no Sato, and Hamanako Garden Park almost every day. Or on weekends and holidays, you can see them at Hamamatsu Sta., Kakegawa Sta., Shizuoka Sta., Shin-Fuji Sta., and Mishima Sta. They are also meant to appear at various event spots to serve visitors nice and good Shizuoka green tea ! You may see them even in Tokyo or Nagoya. If you’ve got any chance to find them, please feel free to say “Hi” kindly to them. They may not understand English, I’m sure they will smile you back !

By the way, the 88th day from Risshun this year falls on May 2 this year. According to that, a small event is to be held called “Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport “Wind Road” Walking”. It is to take a refreshing walk from JR Kanaya to the airport, 8.8km set up for 88th day. On your way along the course, there are 8 tea spots prepared where you can enjoy various new green tea of Shizuoka. You can also have a small gift after walking. No competition. Keep walking at your own pace. Participation fee is ￥500. Any inquiries, please contact us from here.

Have a good day !

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

After “Reisai”, the annual ceremony in Kunozan Tosho-gu Shrine, I visited “Miho-no Matsubara” to see the “Hagoromo-no Matsu” pine-tree. There were only a few visitors seen despite Sunday due to, maybe, the earthquake and tsunami.
Now, here is a legendary story about this tree. Actually, I know 2 stories about it.
Once upon a time, a beautiful houri came down to Miho beach. She put her plumage ( Hagoromo ) on a pine tree and enjoyed herself bathing in the sea. Then a fisherman came to the tree and took the plumage out of it. She walked to the man and begged him for it saying “I can’t go back to the upper world without it”. The plumage was so beautiful that he couldn’t give it up. Finally, he said. “If you perform a dance of the heaven, I’ll let you have it”. She did as told and went back to her world.

New Hagoromo no Matsu

Old Hagoromo no Matsu

The other story is more fishy and humanly.
Once upon a time, a beautiful houri came down to Miho beach. She put her plumage on a pine tree and enjoyed herself bathing in the sea. Then a fisherman came to the tree and took the plumage out of it. She walked to the man and said, “I can’t go back to the upper world without it”. He fell in love with her at a glance and answered. “Only if you become my wife, I may get it back to you”. She followed his word but the fisherman would not return the houri to her for fear that she might escape. One day, while the man was away from home, she sneaked in the room and took it back from him, and finally, she could reach up to her world.

Now, which legend do you think is more realistic ? Anyway, the pine-tree “Hagoromo no Matsu” has been standing on Miho beach for about 650 years and, by reason of aging too much, another pine tree took it over for the next generation last year. Now the old tree has been preserved carefully under the special observation for recovery.

Miho-no Matsubara is also known as one of the best spots for Mt. Fuji. When I was there, it was hazy outside and I could barely see it, to my regret. On a fine day, you will find the view as in the right picture. Walking along the coast, actually 1 hour or so, you can find Miho Swimming Beach, Miho Aquarium, Natural History Museum, and the training ground of Shimizu S-Pulse of J League, the professional soccer team ! I’ll introduce them before summer.

Have a good day !

Miho-no Matsubara ( Hagoromo-no Matsu )
Access from JR Shimizu Station ： 20 minutes by Shizutetsu Bus Miho Yamanote Line to the bus stop “Hagoromo-no Matsu Iriguchi” and 15 minutes walk.
Admission ： Free

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

Recently, Japan has become settled in a sense. Now, we can tell the whole picture of the earthquake and tsunami and know what to do and care for, or how to live under these conditions. Though radioactive matter is still a big problem, some annual events are being held discreetly to keep our cultures and histories.
On April 17, 1616, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Edo Shogunate, passed away in Sumpu Castle. His body was buried in Mt. Kuno and enshrined as Tosho Daigongen by his will saying “My body is to be buried in Mt, Kuno, the funeral in Edo, and after one year, transfer my body to Nikko to become a guardian of Kanto Area”.

Now, “Tosho” is the god-name of Tokugawa Ieyasu, as called Kunozan Tosho-gu, or Nikko Tosho-gu, which literally means “Lighting in the east”, indicating the east part of Japan, that is, Kanto area including Edo is under his blessing. Or, if his word construed as “Lighting to the east”, because Edo is to the east of Suruga ( Shizuoka ), his soul might be in Shizuoka to see warmly the way his son or grandson administers this country.

By the way, on the anniversary of his death, a formal ceremony “Reisai” is to be held in Kunozan Toshogu Shrine every year. “Reisai” is regarded as the most important event for shrines. And you know what ? Yesterday was the day for it ! I visited Kunozan Toshogu Shrine of the National Treasure and saw the whole ceremony. I don’t explain about Kunozan Toshogu Shrine much this time because I’ve ever written about it twice. Please refer to the report on Jan 21, 2011 and one on Apr 23, 2010.

I didn’t take Nihondaira Ropeway this time to walk up the 1159 stairs to the shrine. It was a little bit physically hard for me but spiritually refreshing for its panoramic view.
At around 10:30, all attendees assembled around the main hall. The ceremony started solemnly with the sound of Shinto flute and a shout of Shinto priest, which continued for 15 minutes or so, followed by “Shunki-no Mai” dance by a priestess in gorgeous costume, praying for the world peace. After the Mai dance, Shinto ritual began. There came the 18th descendant of Tokugawa Ieyasu in a historical costume. 300 spectators around. He had the very image of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Modest and decent. I can’t actually explain what is to what but all his demeanors somehow made me feel the air of Ieyasu.

After the Shinto rituals of 1.5 hours, at around 12:00, we all walked up to the place of his original grave-site to pray for him to rest in peace. And there, all attendees took some commemorative pictures with Mr, Tokugawa and all ceremony of 2 hours came to an end. It was very fun to me to feel our culture in a historical spot like Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. Such kind of annual ceremonies are held in many shrines. Anyone can join it. If you’ve got interested, please inquire us.

Have a good day !

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

Wisteria in Rengeji Park Fujieda

We are having quite strong earthquakes these days. Almost every day. I really wish to see many tourists around, but on the other hand, I feel still worried about them to have some problem during sightseeing, like, unexpected earthquake strikes and causes the interruption of trains and other transport services.
In May, we have GW ( Golden Week ), the longest holidays in the year. It’s because some national holidays come together by chance. Showa Day on Apr 29, Constitution Memorial Day on May 3, Greenery Day on May 4 and Children’s Day on May 5 fall on week-days this year. Some would take a paid-holiday on Monday or Friday, or both of them and have 10 day off ! Now that Japan’s nuclear disaster has been raised to level 7, I wonder few people like to travel around Japan, right ? Still, I will introduce some events that are to be held in May in Shizuoka.
Due to the earthquake, some major events have been called off, to my regret. But I’m fully convinced that’s the right path to take because there still are many things that we should cost on. Anyway, if you’ve got any chance to come to Shizuoka this season, please refer to information below.

Event Information in April ( called-off information as of Apr 13 )
Event Information in May ( called-off information as of Apr 13 )
Sightseeing spots and condition for Sakura cherry blossoms ( updated on Apr 12 )

By the way, some days ago, I dropped at a park beside my apartment. There I saw a young group of ( maybe ) a company enjoying Yozakura, the night Sakura watching, surrounding BBQ. In a place as this ！？ I looked around again. Yeah, maybe not too bad, actually. I did not see until then how nice the park I had walked through every day was. It’s called “Kiyomizu Park”. Maybe no guidebook tells about it. In the park, Mt. Yatsu stands that is very popular among hikers. I walked up halfway. There I saw an stunning view ! I know some night view spots better than that but this one also worth one of them.

So, I live in an apartment beside the park. No ding-dong ditch, s’il vous plait.＾＾；

Honestly, we can’t say we are safe enough now considering the situation happening these days but if you are coming to Shizuoka, ask us freely for any information through our website. I believe everything goes well.

Have a good day !

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

Everything is getting better in Japan. Temporary interruption of electric power will not be implemented for the time being since Apr 8, and the matter of nuclear power plants seems to be getting for the better.
We are having ordinary days in Shizuoka and a staff of us went to see various flowers in spring last weekend. Let me introduce some, because you know, the lives of flowers’ are very transient and we can’t let them die for nothing. They must be seen by many people, right ? So, introduction of flowers, today !＾＾
At Yoshida Park in Yoshida Town, Tulip Festival was held between Apr 3 – 10. You know the floral word of Turip ? “Affection” and “Love”. They called for a charity drive for the people in Tohoku area. Though the festival itself has been already finished, you can enjoy a hundred thousand of Tulips until late Apr. Admission free.

Next come Sakura cherry blossoms in “Mt. Kompira and along Seto River” ( in Fujieda City ), and “Ieyama-no Sakura Tunnel” ( in Shimada City ). As you can see from these pictures, Sakura is also in full bloom now ! Please make sure of the conditions of each spots in Shizuoka from the list of Sakura Information.
Sakura makes us feel very happy, doesn’t it ? In Tohoku area, Sakura buds have not been opened yet, or are just in the beginning of blooming, I wish they also feel happy from it in the coming days.
Lives of Sakura cherry blossoms are particularly short. Its transience is often likened to our lives. Anyway, this week is the best time for Sakura ! After the windy weather of the spring, cherry blossoms will be blown off to the ground. Go for it now and feel happy !＾＾

Even in the circumstances that few people go out for depression due to the earthquakes, she said she had seen hundreds of people walking along the Sakura street. Maybe they came for vigorous spirits from Sakura, I surmise.

By the way, a new campaign is starting from today. It’s still not well prepared, though. I think I can inform you about it in the near future. Don’t miss the next repot !

Please open here for Sakura Information
Please open here for Event Information in April

Have a good day !

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾