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.
09/22/2011 [Thu]
Event Information in October [Event Information]
Hi, everybody, how are you doing ? We are doing very fine, too busy recently, though. Some of you may know we’ve just had a catastrophic typhoon throughout Japan. Shizuoka was no exception.
Generally, in Japan, September is regarded as the season of typhoon since old times but the last 2 typhoons were so fierce and intensive that many people were involved in water accidents to death, lots of houses were destroyed by landslides, and, in some towns, everything were swept away by river flooding. Currently in Shizuoka, some damages still remain. Crazy wind prostrated street trees and traffic signs. Mountain soil blocked some roads, which has made a town isolated. Some areas were blacked out. Many houses were flooded above the floors. Most of them are so serious. Still, we do our best to start over again.
Now, here is the event information in Shizuoka in October.
Event Information in October
Please feel free to contact us for further information.
Have a good day !
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Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 17:48 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
09/21/2011 [Wed]
Krin Distillery [Gotemba]
Do you like Whiskeys ? If yes, today’s information would worth a million dollars for you. In Gotemba City, we have a whiskey plant “Kirin Distillery” where anyone can enjoy the tour free of charge with 20-minute free tasting ! Be sure drivers are firmly banned from drinking in Japan. You will be strictly punished as a crazy driver !
Now, there are 2 types for the plant tour. One is with a guide, and the other without one. I took the latter. It’s very nice that every guide board has descriptions both in Japanese and English.
I walked through the plant in 30 minutes or so. I’m sorry I can’t show any picture about the plant. Pictures are not allowed in it. Now here I came free tasting ! A lady showed me to the table to serve a glass and crackers. “Then, you have time to taste anything on the counter for 20 minutes. It comes, until 11:50.” I dashed for the counter to take a……grape juice.＾＾； Yeah, I drove there, that’s why, no alcohol was allowed. Whiskey in the barrel attracted me so much. A group of old ladies flocked around it curiously. I watched them pouring whiskey in the glass. It was very brown and transparent as crystal. Must be so nice !
At another bar counter, you can try various first-rate whiskeys for ￥500 or ￥1000. Or there is an official shop beside the bar counter. Not only whiskeys but unique souvenirs are available there.
By the way, do you know the definition of “Whiskey” ? There are said to be 3 major conditions for it.
One is that the ingredients must be grains, another is to be distilled, and the other is to be matured in the barrels. For more comprehension about whiskey, just visit Kirin Distillery and learn with your own eyes.
Have a good day !
Kirin Distillery
Access from JR Gotemba Station ： 15 minutes by car or taxi
Admission ： Free
Open Hours ： 9:00 – 15:30 ( Closed on Wednesdays )
Guide Tour ： From 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00
Join us in Twitter φ(・ω・ )
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
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Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 18:22 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
09/14/2011 [Wed]
Izu Peninsula, originally deep in the sea. [Ito]
Believe it or not, Izu Peninsula was not originally a part of Japan. It came from the bottom of the deep sea. About a million years ago, a submarine volcanic cluster crashed into the land of Japan, which emerged out of the sea-level to form eventually current Izu Peninsula. About 600 thousand years ago. The history tells the fact that Izu is a huge volcanic island and you can find various vestiges from the nature.
“Geo Park” denotes a nationally designated terrestrial heritage. Currently, they’ve been trying to frame Izu for it. Then, what kind of heritage can we find ?
This is “Mt. Omuro” of Ito City, originated from the eruption of 4000 years ago. Also designated as a national natural treasure. You can go up the mountain on the lift and walk around the crater now.
Next comes “Kawazu Seven Falls” that I introduced the other day. Turning your eyes a bit away from the beautiful waterfall, you will find enigmatic cliffs. See the pillar-shaped rocks ? These are called “Columnar Joint”, created by cooled and regularly cracked magma.
The surface is basically shaped hexagonal. And by tracing the flow, we can tell how the volcanic flock formed Izu Peninsula. It is said that the oldest one can be traced back to 20 million years ago !
“Dogashima” that I introduced last year is also one of them. It looks so beautiful from a distance but it’s not only that. Focus your eyes closer, and you will recognize geological layers. These layers consist of volcanic materials, debris flows, and volcanic ashes.
“Nakagi Port” of Minami-izu Town is surrounded by mountain cliffs of Columnar Joint.
Taking up a unique geology, “Muroiwa-do” cave in Matsuzaki Town is definitely a must-see spot. Looks like some kind of ancient ruins, isn’t it ? People used to mine for “Izu-ishi” ( Izu Stone ) to trim off huge square stone. I just wonder, more than geology, how they carried the huge stone out of the cave up the mountain. More mysterious, isn’t it ? ＾＾；
Anyway, you can find lots of geological evidences in Izu Geo Park ( to-be ). So if and when you come to Izu by any chance, be sure not to put your eyes on merely facades of it. Find something distinct to understand these forming histories.
Have a good day !
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“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 09:27 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
09/12/2011 [Mon]
Make your day at Acty Mori in Autumn−2 [Morimachi]
Now, the cottage in “Acty Mori”. It looked rather like real residential houses to me. I talked to a manager to let me in the room to introduce it in our report. Here is the details.
Cottage Acty
Room Charge：
￥10,000 ／1-2 guest(s)
￥20,000 ／up to 5 guests
￥10,000 ／for one-day use
Equipment：kitchen, cooking utensils, microwave, fridge, rice cooker, TV, air-conditioner, bathroom, washroom, 2 beds and 3 sets of futon ( Japanese-style bedding ). BBQ kit available
The bedroom is upstairs. It may be too spacious for 2 guests but couples could enjoy a virtual married life.＾＾ Though these plans doesn’t come with dinner or breakfast, there is some restaurants nearby in Acty Mori. Or soba noodle house is beside the cottage. You can also experience Soba noodle making there !
Camping site is also available a few minute drive away. Don’t let go this opportunity that you can enjoy your days in the great nature !
On my way back, I dropped at a ryokan near Enshu Mori station to have a late lunch. I could have had lunch in Acty but it’s always more intriguing in ryokan, isn’t it ?＾＾ Most of these dishes are of local fish and vegetables. Especially, I liked lemon-soaked tuna sashimi. Fishes all come from Omaezaki Port, he explained. I finished up all of them in no time and had a second rice !＾＾
Iyashino-sato
Access ： 2 minute walk from Enshu Mori Station
Lunch ： ￥790〜
Open Hours ： 11:30 – 14:00
After that, I drop by a Japanese cake shop for the famous “Ume-goromo”. It’s kind of difficult to describe but imagine, manju ( cake with sweet bean paste inside ) wrapped by a sheet of shiso ( beefsteak plant ) used for making umeboshi ( Japanese pickled plum ). Weird, isn’t it ? But it tastes surprisingly good. No wonder it has become so popular !
Eishodo
Access ： 10 minute walk from Enshu Mori Station.
Open Hours ： 8:30 – 19:00 ( closed on Wednesdays )
So what about my report this time ?＾＾ I wish I could report “Otagawa Dam”, “Kawasemi Lake” and “Tomodake House” that I mentioned last time. Maybe someday, I will.
Have a good day !
Acty Mori
Access ： 30 min by car from Fukuroi IC of Tomei Expressway.
17 min by bus to “Acty Mori” from Enshu Mori Sta. of Tenryu-hamanako Railway. ( Transfer to Tenryu-hamanako Railway from JR Kakegawa Sta.)
Join us in Twitter φ(・ω・ )
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
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Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 18:53 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
09/09/2011 [Fri]
Make your day at Acty Mori in Autumn [Morimachi]
If you like to spend a day in the great nature in this coming autumn, “Acty Mori” in Mori Town, Shizuoka, is definitely for you. Located along the beautiful “Ota River” and surrounded by mountains, Acty Mori would surely provide you with unforgettable time and memories.
Mori Town ( or Morimachi ) is known as a little Kyoto in Shizuoka, which has dozens of cultures and traditions for itself and lots of temples and shrines as I’ve ever introduced before. Click here for these information.
Now what can we do specifically in Acty Mori ? Hand-made local crafts such as Japanese paper making, dyeing, Enshu devil-tile, and ceramic art are one of the most popular activities in it. I actually saw kids making Japanese paper fan and other ladies turning and shaping potteries. They looked so serious during the making but when I talked to a girl after her work, she just gave me a big smile as if saying “I made it !”. Impressing.＾＾ You can also purchase made-up products for the gift.
Other activities are as follows ：
Mountain bike, Putting Golf, hiking, tennis, canoeing, harvesting, making soba noodle, BBQ, camping, swimming, and shopping etc.
When I visited there last time, because it was in mid-summer, many families were playing around the water. In autumn, it would become more fascinating with red leaves. Telling furthermore, there is a humongous dam, “Ota-gawa Dam” and “Kawasemi Lake”. On its way, “Tomodake house”, a village of fleeing Heike family can be found. Though only one house stands there, I love the place because it always takes me to the world of more than 800 years ago.
Shopping in Acty is also fun ! Not only souvenirs but local vegetables are sold in the store. Amazingly fresh, needless to say. And very good for visitors for BBQ ! Golf fields are well-cared and lots of limited events has been planned. Cottages are also available if you like to stay overnight. I’ll introduce the details next time !
Acty Mori
Access ： 30 min by car from Fukuroi IC of Tomei Expressway.
17 min by bus to “Acty Mori” from Enshu Mori Sta. of Tenryu-hamanako Railway. ( Transfer to Tenryu-hamanako Railway from JR Kakegawa Sta.)
Join us in Twitter φ(・ω・ )
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 09:53 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
