Mountain in Tokyo

Finally summer has gone and autumn is here!

And the typhoon is coming to Tokyo soon.But I'm alright because I bought new great headphone,so I'll be at my place in this weekend with my favorite music:)

By the way,do you know there is a mountain in Tokyo?

Takao mountain is low,only 599m,it's shouter than Tokyo Sky Tree.But many people go to the mountain because it's easy to go from city.

Actually I didn't climb up there,

Just getting a cable car:P

Only few mintes later from the station,there is a great landscape.

I had to walk to the shrine at the top of the mountain.

When I arrived the top,two Tengu greeted us.But their faces looked like angry with something.

I don't know how many shaved ice did I eat in this year.

The cable car station.

There is a beer garden near there,and people was waiting to open even though it was still 3 pm:)

I'm thinking where should I go in this season.I'd like to see colored leaves and take a hot spring.Although I'm finding Japanese style hotel with great view of colored mountain,almost hotels are already full.Everyone think the same:/But I never give up to find nice place.

Have a nice weekend:)

My trip report -Osaka-

Last two days of my short summer vacation,I traveled to Osaka with my friend.Osaka is the biggest city in west of Japan.This is my first time to visit there in my life.Actually I was not interested in Osaka before.Because everything I want is in Tokyo.And I know Osaka is more popular city than Tokyo for foreign travelers.I had no idea why Osaka is!
Then,I decided to go to Osaka and I watch the town by myself this time!!!!

Osaka is very famous for food,like Tako-yaki,Okonomi-yaki and Kushi-katsu.Last trip(that was alone),I ate only dessert because I couldn't go into a restaurant alone:/
So,this time I asked my best friend to travel with me.That choice was great!I spent nice and funny time with her while traveling:)

First of all,we got on Shinkan-sen!I didn't want to experienced heavy traffic jam any more.
We choose "Hikari" which is the fastest train to Osaka from Tokyo.

Beautiful rice field,taken from window of the train.

2 and half hours later,we arrived at Shin-Osaka station and then,go to eat Okonomi-yaki in Doyon-bori.

We went this resraurant:mizuno(美津の).A chef baked okonomi-yaki in front of us.Of course,they were very nice:)

After that,we couldn't eat Tako-yaki soon,so we walked around towns.

Anyway,it wastoooooo hot temperature><
We went to watch a famous comedy show.In Japan,almost comedian came from Osaka.So almost non-Osaka people think people in Osaka are funny.But Osaka people get angry when we say like thatXD Although Japan is small island country,our characteristic vary by region.

Tako-yaki:)It was great!

At night,we went to a famous tower:Tsuten-kaku.
This is called the Eiffel Tower of Osaka.If French person read this article,please don't get angry.haha

Around this tower,there are many kushi-katsu restaurants.That is fried pork like BBQ.
Osaka people seem to really like this food.Even junior high scholl students were in the same restaurant and ate them without alcohol(of course:/)
I thought this food is like fast food for local people.

The next day was almost the same,just eating and walking....
But this trip was really fun!!!!

At last,Osaka is totally different atmosphere from Tokyo.
The towns and people were very energetic and a lot of people are there because Osaka is smaller than Tokyo.

I'd like to go places I've never visited.

Thank you for reading:)

In this week,my friend will come to Japan from Belgium.I'll show her around Tokyo:D
I'm so excited and I'll post about it in August.
This summer is pretty busy><

See you and have a great summer////

My trip report -Nikko-

The other day,middle of my short summer vacation,I went to a national park of Nikko.The place I went was not famous area of Nikko,so I didn't see any monkeys and waterfalls.
I hiked around "battlefield".That is just name,actually nobody fought there.

According to traditional story,It is said that once upon a time,a dragon fought against centipede there.
Both of them were Gods of mountains who transformed as another creatures.

Although I think the winer was of course a dragon.....

Biiiiig festival in east of Tokyo

Today was my first time to see this festival.It is held once a three years.
I'm so excited to see it because the shrine which is center of this festival is close to my working place.
I've heard sounds of people were practicing the festival many times while working in this month.
(Previous article about this festival eve is here)
People carries mobile mini shrine,called "mikoshi",with calling out "Wasshoi!Wasshoi!".
The sound I've heard was that!

Although I've seen carrying mikoshi festival usually,this is really unique to pour water on mikoshi!!
A lot of people was absolutely soaked to the skin!

Some people wore an happi coat...I don't know what should I say it in English!

That is written by "祭" means festival on their back.Including a cute dog!

Firefighters joinedXDXDXDXD!!

I've never seen such a great festival.
I'd like to say thank people for carrying heavy mikoshi;)
Today was so much fun!!!

Thank you for reading and I hope your summer will be also nice;)

Big festival eve

11th of August,a fireworks festival of Tokyo Bay was held!

But the weather forecast said it was going to rain.

So I gave up to see that,and stayed at my place at night.

However,suddenly I heard huge noise from outside.

Unfortunately,I couldn't see the fireworks clearly because of clouds.

And it was too far from my place:/

With a new attitude,I went to a shrine which is the biggest one in Tokyo.

That is close to my living and working place.I often go to pray there,like New year's day and the first day of work a year.

The next day,very big festival will be held around this shrine.

One of my co-worker,she loves this festival since she was born.And she carries mikoshi(mobile mini shrine) every times of the festival.

Some stalls already opened:

Mikoshi were in everywhere only this season around my place.People who carry it had a party by mikoshi and drink a lot!They looks so excited!!

Also I am excited!

My trip report 3 -Gifu- last day

2nd day of my trip.

I woke up early and took a hot spring again.When I stay at a hotel,I take a morning bath.

Although I was going to next place,I wanted to see a morning market which is held everyday.

In the market,flowers and vegitables are sold by local people.

I spent longer time than I thought.So I ran to the bus station in a hurry to get a bus to next place.

I didn't want to make a mistake like first day though,I always forgot time.

About one hour later,I arrived a place I wanted to visit the most.

Passing over this loooong bridge......

This place is called  "Shirakawa-go".

People who lived there built their unique houses.

Shirakawa village gets a lot of snow  in winter and also it's very hot in summer because surrounded by mountains.

People who lived there couldn't grow rice well,so they grew silkworms and sold silk to get food.

Inside house:just between roofs

These houses makes me nostalgic for old Japanese landscape.

I reminded an animation I often watched:Old stories of Japan.

When I walked around there,the theme song played in my head all the time.

It took over 8 hours from Tokyo to see THIS landscape for oneself:)

I looked down the village for few hours,then I was about to forget time to leave there.

But I didn't forget this!!

One hour later,I arrived at Takayama bus station,and more one hour later,I had to get a bus to Tokyo.

I think normal person wait the bus to Tokyo at the bus station for an hour.

But I went to sanmachi again and had a seat at a nice cafe:)

And of course I ordered this><!!!!

After eating,I ran to the bus station in a hurry AGAIN!!

If I missed the bus,I had to stay one more night.Actually I already missed Tokyo and people.

I got the bus to Shinjuku station and got caught in heavy traffic again...

Although I booked seats for two persons because I wanted to do things I like in a bus,it was too long,over 8 hours again.

Finally,I arrived at Shinjuku station at midnight and all subway already closed.

In taxi,I remembered the old village.Probably people there already sleep,but people in Tokyo still awake and everything is illuminated.

I felt my trip was like time slip..It was great trip:)

I'd like to visit the village in winter again.It must be beautiful landscape to be covered with a lot of snow.

But next time,I'll chose fast train!

My Gifu trip report finish!

Thank you soooo much for reading my (stupid) trip report!