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 !
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01/16/2012 [Mon]
Shuzenji Onsen Spa Resort ― Asaba [Izu City]
Shuzenji, Shizuoka Prefecture, is definitely one of the most historic and traditional onsen resorts in Japan and today I will introduce the most prestigious ryokan there. That is, Shuzenji Onsen “Asaba”. Its history can be traced back 500 years. It started as an inn of Shuzenji Temple, and since then, its history and tradition have been taken over to this day.
Walking from Shuzenji Temple through “Tokko-no Yu” and “the Pathway of bamboo forest”, you will find a large gate as one you see at a temple. A huge noren curtain and luxurious looking foyer could be seen through the gate.
This is Asaba ryokan Inn.
Stepping inside, I was welcomed by an Okami ( mistress ) in Kimono and other Nakai ladies, which made me feel just as if I had been the master of the inn.
A large pond could be seen over the foyer. On that day, I was so lucky that I could see a magazine model on a boat to shoot pictures. Just like an image of a painting. I felt so excited to look around.
There was even a Noh stage beyond the pond. It can be used to play noh performance or have a wedding ceremony, I heard.
So, what’s inside the ryokan. There are 17 rooms in total and 5 onsen bathroom including open-air spa, inner bath, and family onsen. Some rooms have the private onsen bathroom. Please inquire when you make a booking.
“Asaba thinks much of the harmonization with nature”
The manager told me in an interview. Seasonal charms such as flowers, trees, birds, and singing of insects should be always around us. Of course, meals are to be cooked with the best selected ingredients of the season, or of the time to be served in Kaiseki style. Some guests come several times in different season, he said. They go so far as to cook rice respectively by rooms, as an aside. This is the supreme Omotenashi, don’t you think ?
Asaba, believe it or not, doesn’t have the website, by the way. That means no information can be obtained through the internet. Still, this is also one of the traditions Asaba has been upholding until now. Still it’s also true that they have almost full guests every day only by word of mouth. No exaggerated ads are required for real quality. Asaba is such an extraordinary inn you will get into very soon.
Shuzenji Onsen “Asaba”
Access ： JR Tokyo → JR Mishima → 30 minutes by Izu-hakone Railway to Shuzenji station → 10 minutes by taxi
Reference Rates ： ￥40,000 〜 ￥80,000／adult with dinner and breakfast ( tax and service fee included )
Booking and Inquiries ： By phone（ communicable in English ）
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“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 09:02 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
01/05/2012 [Thu]
Shuzenji Onsen spa resort − Arai Ryokan inn [Izu City]
Shuzenji is an onsen resort directly connected with Japanese tradition and there are lots of ryokan inns by the Katsura River that flows in the center of the town, all of which were killingly loved by old cultural figures. “Arai Ryokan” is one of the oldest inns in Shuzenji and, believe it or not, 15 historic architectures have been registered as national cultural treasures. A definite prestigious ryokan, established in 1872, one hundred years before I was born, of the era called “Meiji Period” in Japan.
Seishu-ro on your left
Walking through the gate, I was very impressed by the autumn leaves marvelously going well with the architecture. I heard maple leaves of the Arai Ryokan’s inner garden had turned red fastest in Shuzenji. Another architecture seen on your left at the entrance is called “Seishu-ro”, which was built in 1881, the oldest building in Arai Ryokan, and is needless to say one of the registered national cultural treasures. I could feel the magnitude of history laden for years and years. Casually equipped calligraphic writings and paintings are all works of old cultural artists. You will also find a creek flowing in the lobby and stones shaping the Japanese archipelago. Everything is “Japanese”. I would rather say this lobby was created by old cultural workers.
I felt very comfortable walking on the wooden hallway and just wondered if the old men had also walked on the same floor. A decent pond, actually a part of Katsura River, was in the courtyard and I saw beautiful carps swimming gracefully. Guest rooms stand around the pond.
The guide exceptionally showed me one of the rooms. Astonishing ! I opened the window and found the Katsura River right in front of me and the red symbolic bridge. Beyond the river is the Chikurin-no Komichi, the bamboo pathway. I felt myself a little bit superiority seeing visitors passing by.＾＾
You can’t understand Arai-ryokan without seeing the onsen bathrooms. There are 4 onsens around the pond and one open-air bath a few minute walk away. Especially, the “Tempyo Dai-Yokudo” bathhouse in the picture is well known as an architectural masterpiece built in 1934. Dynamic cypress pillars looked so impressive.
As you can see from the picture, the lengths of pillars are all different and you know why ? It’s to strengthen the seismic capacity. That is the very wisdom of old people !
You can enjoy the guided tour of cultural properties of Arai-ryokan even if you are not staying overnight. Guide in English is available with request in advance. Please come and visit Arai Ryokan to stay or see the real Japan’s culture and history.
Arai Ryokan
Access ： JR Mishima Sta. → Izu-hakone Railway（ 30 min ）Shuzenji Sta. → #１bus to “Shuzenji Onsen” ( 10 min ) → 5 minute walk
Reference room rate ： ￥30,000 〜／adult ( with dinner and breakfast )
Inquiries ： by phone or e-mail
Arai Ryokan Guided Tour ( by NPO Yukihiko Mokuho Kai )
Guide fee ： Visitors ＝ ￥1500（ with tea and snack ）／Room Guests ＝ ￥500
Scheduled time ：10:00〜／15:00〜 ( basically twice a day ）, 16:00〜 ( for guests only ）
Inquiries ： by e-mail
For Japanese (748KB)
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 11:38 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
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 !
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 10:05 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
07/05/2011 [Tue]
Mt. Fuji Opening Ceremony for Subashiri Route [Oyama Town]
July 1st is the day for the ceremonies of Mt. Fuji Climbing, traditionally held in Fujinomiya, Gotemba and Subashiri of Shizuoka Prefecture on the same day every year to pray for the safety of climbers.
I went to “Fuji Sengen Shrine” for Subashiri trail in Oyama Town to join the Ceremony. I felt so excited because I’d never been there. You know, new experiences always enhance our intelligence and sensibility.
It was overcast, about to rain. The ceremony was solemnly performed in Shinto main hall, starting with a long whoop of Shinto priest. Many concerned people got together in it to listen to him, to make a vow, and to give thanks to God. It lasted for about an hour and, believe it or not, hard rain came down on the shrine right after the ceremony. How fortunate we were not to have such a rain as that during the ceremony !
After the ceremony all carried out, I drove up to the Subashiri 5th station, where I saw quite a few people walking already in a climbing suit and boots in spite of foggy weather. The shop-men were so vigorous, which delighted me much !
Subashiri Trail is often introduced as the only one with abundant nature among 3 trails in Shizuoka. It will take about 6 hours to the top.
The current condition of Mt.Fuji Climbing, as of July 1st, is as follows,
Fujinomiya Route ： As far as New 7th station.
Gotemba Route ： As far as 6th station.
Subashiri Route ： As far as 7th station.
＊Private cars are restricted to the 5th station every weekend and other predetermined days. Please refer to the notice from here.
The opening ceremony was also held in Fujinomiya and Gotemba as well on the same day. They have respectively traditional way of it to pray for the safety of visitors from the world. These pictures are of Gotemba, by the way. I wish you try all routes to enjoy the distinctive atmospheres of each trail. I will also try Mt. Fuji climbing, or hiking, at the end of this month.
To those who has a plan for Mt. Fuji Climbing.
Be sure to get prepared enough for the climbing. The god won’t help people who don’t pay respect for the spirit of Mt. Fuji.
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 09:16 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
07/01/2011 [Fri]
For Buddhist training – Kasuisai – 2 [Fukuroi]
After Zen meditation, I headed for “Shojin Ryori”, the Zen Vegetarian Cuisine that is very popular here at Kasuisai Temple. Shojin Cuisine is a meal for Buddhist monks with no meat or fish, even in a soup stock. Each flavor might be felt too simple but it can be also regarded at the same time as the ultimate cuisine because it makes the best of its original taste. Each and every vegetable such as carrot, potato, and bamboo shoot is meant to be individually a main dish.
I saw many visitors enjoying Shojin cuisine in a room despite a weekday. Telling you the truth, I’m not good with vegetables, but once I tasted it, I could tell that the sweet flavor infiltrated into my body that brought me an inexplicable relief.
After Shojin Cuisine, I walked around the temple. First comes a Hondo main hall. Here, I advise you to look around carefully to find the Tokugawa family crest as in the picture. It can be found everywhere in the temple !
Tokugawa Family Crest
Next one is a main hall of Shuyoji Temple that was originally located in Mt.Akiha, allegedly believed to have 1300 year history. It enshrines Akiha Sanjakubo, considered as a god of fire protection, and many people still come all the way from a distance to worship it. A story says that he transformed himself as a figure below by supernatural power gained after the rigorous Zen training.
Akiha Sanjakubo
This is “the best washroom in Japan” in Kasuisai temple. “Ususama-myo-o”, the god of fire is said to burn out every filthy thing.
Ususama Myoo in the middle of the washroom
That is, it’s indicating please keep the washroom clean. I don’t think anyone can get it messy right in front of this beautiful god. By the way, believe it or not, this washroom is for both men and women. Don’t get confused if you see a lady behind you.＾＾
They say that there are 33 spots to see in the temple. Stamp-rally is held every day and you will have a small gift only if you can collect more than 20 stamps on the reverse side of the map on the right. The washroom above is No18. I’m sorry I could not report all of them here. Go ahead and try !
Kasui-sai
Access from JR Fukuroi Sta.： 10 minutes by bus from #1 to “Kasui” and 5 minutes on foot.
Admission ： Free （ ※ ￥500 to get inside the temple ）
Open Hours ： 8:00〜16:30 ( 7 days a week )
Shojin Cuisine ： Take ( ordinary course ) ￥2000／Take-jo ( upper ordinary ) ￥2500／Matsu ( deluxe course ) ￥3000／Matsu-jo ( upper deluxe ) ￥3500
＊ Prior booking necessary
Zen Meditation ： Every Saturday Application from 12:30／Zen meditation from 13:30（ 30 min×2 ）＊ No reservation necessary
Zen monk experience ： Overnight course／One-day course Please inquire us for further question
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 14:45 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
