Satoshi Nihonyanagi
Welcome to my blog, Green Tea Club !
I'll show you all the beauties and goodies in Shizuoka through this blog.
If you have any inquiry, please feel free to post your messages on it.
Hope to see you around in Shizuoka !
Main content starts here.
07/20/2011 [Wed]
Shimizu Lantern Floating Festival [Shizuoka]
On July 16, in the evening, I drove in Shimizu, Shizuoka City by chance and hit upon an idea to visit Tomoe River for Lantern Floating Festival. Lantern Floating is kind of our traditional ceremony to thank our ancestors and to wish the safety of our families. I still remember that I used to make lanterns with the paper and bamboo frame in my house with my grandfather about 30 years ago. A festival of my good old memories. Anyway, I visited the festival reminiscent of my childhood. There already were lanterns in the water of Tomoe River. Impressive and fantastical.
Walking around the river with taking pictures, I could feel something unusual then. Soon, I found it out. Lots of lanterns not for their ancestors but for the victims of Japan Earthquake 2011. Everlasting. I just wondered how many lanterns had been sent out in the river.
We write on the lantern our wishes basically for our family or health.
At 20:30, people flocked around the bridge. See the picture anyway. Fire on the bridge ? Maybe a car crash ? Nope. Since a few years ago, in addition to the quiet lantern floating ceremony, they do something very bustling. Hand-held fireworks ! This is also a kind of traditional fireworks in Japan. Though no flowers open in the night sky, it has a distinctive taste. Launchers laid, ignited, and men hold the launchers up to let the fire go high, which looked to me as though a dragon flies up to the sky ! Stunning sound of blast follows after that. The pulse of blasting came into my body. It lasted for 30 minutes with thousands of people around. Here I attach 2 videos for the Lantern Floating and Tezutsu Hanabi fireworks ( hand-held fireworks ) for your better understanding.＾＾
Video for Lantern Floating
Video for Tezutsu Hanabi fireworks
For Japanese (380KB)
A larger Tezutsu Hanabi fireworks for Suwa Shrine is going to be held in Kosai City on July 22 & 23. I will visit it on July 22 ! Hope I can see you around.＾＾
Have a good day !
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Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 10:05 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
07/15/2011 [Fri]
Numazu Goyotei Memorial Park [Numazu]
After fully satisfied with Numazu Port, I visited “Numazu Goyotei Memorial Park” which was established in 1893 and was used by successive emperors and imperial families of Meiji, Taisho, and Showa Era for 77 years until it was abandoned in 1969. Considering the moderate climate of Shizuoka, spectacular Suruga Bay right in front, and splendid seafood landed in Numazu Port, maybe I can tell why they chose this place for the resort villa.＾＾
They say that Goyotei villa had 3 mojor mansion houses. That is, Main house, West annex and East Annex. Sorry for the Main villa burnt down during the war. Currently, a History Museum is instead open on the site.
Now, the West House has become its main attraction. It used to be used as a villa for the Meiji Emperor’s grandchild ( that is, Showa Emperor ) and is now renovated, keeping the original palace architecture to the utmost extent. Of course, you can walk through the house ! I did, surprisingly commodious, almost got lost. I wonder how many servants were there. Historically, in Japan or China, we used to use the word “Nanmen ― Facing to the south” for the emperors. I was not sure then if his room was facing to the south but I found one outstanding point that indicated his room. Can you guess what it was ? The height. They stayed in one-step higher room than other servants. It also tells our culture.＾＾
Furniture and household goods are left almost as they were. Breathtakingly gorgeous. Especially, emperor’s throne ! Real one. The Imperial crest of the chrysanthemum can be found everywhere ! What did he think of sitting on the throne ?
In about 5 minutes after leaving the West house, I found a café named “Shume”. Shume is an old Japanese job title that is said to handle ruler’s horse. The stable beside it tells that. I stepped into Shume to have a coffee and Heda salt gelato. Believe it or not, the gelato was fantastic. The sweetness of salt, you know ?＾＾
I walked for a while again and found History and Folklore Museum on the original site of Main villa. There, you can learn the history of fishery industry and fishing equipment of Numazu Port. By the way, I’ve heard that the Main villa was 10 times as large as the museum. Can you imagine ?＾＾；
Further 10 minute walk finally took me to the East house. It was used as a study room for the Emperor’s grandchild. Stepping into it, I saw many large Japanese rooms which are currently used for public communications. In the back garden is a house for tea ceremony. This has indeed a very historical atmosphere for the reproduction of “Taian” in Kyoto designed by Sen-no Rikyu.
There are lots more in Imperial Villa Park. It took me more than 2 hours to walk around taking pictures. Please be sure to have a leaflet of foreign languages such as English and Chinese at the reception desk.＾＾
Have a good day !
doc in Japanese (1218KB)
Numazu Goyotei Memorial Park
Access from Numazu Sta. ： 15 minutes by bus to “Goyotei-mae”
Open Hours ： 9:00 – 16:30（ Open 7 days a week except the year-end and new-year days ）
Admission ： ￥400 for adults ／￥200 for children
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“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 16:00 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
07/14/2011 [Thu]
Information about Mt. Fuji Climbing [Information]
Finally, all of 3 trails have become open to the top ! Please make your best plan among 3 routes from Shizoka; Fujinomiya Route, Gotemba Route, and Subashiri Route.
Information about Mt. Fuji Climbing
As for Fujinomiya Route, they have finished the radiation measurement in 8 points including the top of Mt. Fuji. All proved safe for our health.
Now, instant introductions about 3 routes are as follows.
Fujinomiya trail ・・・ Most popular among 3 routes and the best for beginners.
Gotemba Route ・・・ The longest trail among 3 routes. Very popular for Osuna-bashiri.
Subashiri Route ・・・ The only trail with the nature. This route meets Yoshida trail from the 8th.
For those who try Mt. Fuji for the first time this year, please refer to the instructive video offered by Shizuoka Prefectural Government.
http://www.youtube.com/user/shizuokapref#p/c/2/kX3jHdEvqrs
Enjoy your summer ! Have a good day !＾＾
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“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
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Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 10:32 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
Numazu Fishing Port ― for shopping, eating, and viewing [Numazu]
I stayed in Numazu Tokyu Hotel on the day before visiting Numazu fish market INO because otherwise I could not be in time for the auctions. I took a plan then with breakfast. To my delight, there were some choices for breakfast. In the hotel restaurant, or fish market ! I took the latter because I had to check out there by 5:30 the next day.
With that reason, I visited the designated fish restaurant “Maruten” in Numazu Fishing Port for breakfast after enjoying INO. It’s so popular that we have to wait in line for lunch or dinner. What’s waiting me for breakfast ?＾＾
There already had been quite a few people in front of Maruten even though it was only a few minutes after 7:00. The breakfast was stunningly gorgeous ! Maybe too luxurious for breakfast.＾＾； “Maruten-don” the No1 dish of Maruten. Fresh sashimi of tuna, salmon, horse mackerel, shirasu baby sardines and, best of the best specialties from Suruga Bay, sakura-ebi shrimp, and more !
← Maruten-don♪
After enjoying the breakfast, I went to “Numazu Goyotei Memorial Park” ( I’ll report it next time ) and came back to Numazu fishing port again for lunch.＾＾
First, I stepped in “Shinsen-kan”, the fresh market for shopping. Sort of shopping mall for seafood. I bought some “Himono”, dried seafood originally for preservation and a specialty of Numazu, for my family and headed for a restaurant nearby. Yes, Sushi !
shops and restaurants in Shinsenkan
This time, I stepped in “Isomaru” only because it seemed not expensive.＾＾ I was astonished, when I got in there, because the sushi chefs were ladies. I took 2 sets of assorted sushi. They cost less than ￥1000 ! Believe that ?＾＾
So, what’s up after lunch ? “View-o”, the humongous water gate for Tsunami tidal waves ! I would dare say “the guardian of Numazu” ! See how huge it is ? The upper corridor is open for tourists. You can expect spectacular 360°panoramic views from there ! The height of 30m allows you to look into the far distance; the cities, beautiful sea, magnificent mountains, and maybe your hometown.＾＾ Kidding aside, the scenery is fantastic, especially in the evening. Maybe, for dating. Could be so romantic if God feels good on the day.
doc in Japanese (914KB)
Numazu Minato “Shinsen-kan”
Access from JR Numazu Station ： 10 minutes by bus, or 30 minutes on foot
Admission ： Free
Open Hours ： Basically 9:00 – 16:00 ( or 17:00 )
Closed ： Basically the second and fourth Tuesday every month
Large-scaled Watergate “Viewo”
Access from JR Numazu Station ： 10 minutes by bus, or 30 minutes on foot
Admission ： ￥100 for adults ／￥50 for children
Open Hours ： 10:00 – 21:00
Closed ： Basically every Tuesday
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 10:21 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
07/12/2011 [Tue]
Inspection for radioactive substances at swimming beaches in Shizuoka [Information]
Result of Inspection (65KB)
Shizuoka Prefecture reported, on July 7, the result of the inspection for radioactive substances of the seawater and beaches of 42 swimming resorts in Shizuoka. No violating radiation detected. The detailed results are as attached.
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 10:29 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
