Hiking in Kamikochi

It's  a sunny week here in Tokyo even though the weather forecast reported that rainy season has already began.Last weekend,I went to Kamikochi with my family.This is one of my favorite places in my country.It was majestic.

Detail is here:Kamikochi

I've been here many times so far.I went there by car this time,it took me 5 hours to travel from my place,Tokyo.

My parents picked me up at 4 am.I love spending my time in a car eating my mother's best packed meal ever prepared like fried chicken and rice bowls:))She actually got up at 2 am just to prepare our meal.haha..While she started cooking,I went to bed.

Going back to the trip,we arrived at the bus stop heading to Kamikochi.We couldn't enter the vicinity with the use of our car because it was not allowed.This is to protect nature from harmful gas exhaustion.

Upon Arriving at Kamikochi bus terminal,walking along the Azusa river for few minutes and then we reached the famous point,kappa-bashi bridge.
For few details,please see the link below:

**Kamikochi map**

Kamikochi is a popular place surrounded by mountains and people come to enjoy hiking and climbing in this area.

Some people bring their backpacks and stay in the mountain overnight.Camping is not only in the mountains,but we also enjoy it near the Azusa river.

I stayed a hotel near the kappa-bashi bridge.

First day,we walked to Myojin-pond from the bridge along the river.It was a very calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Back to the kappa-bashi bridge and after check in a hotel,we enjoyed coffee time with delicious cake:)))

My family eat the same cheese cake every time at Gosenjaku hotel.I choose mascarpone and strawberry mousse:)))

By the way,there are many kappa around here.I've never seen them of course,because they are unidentified creature.

I've never seen anything like this...

Next early morning,I walked along the river again.The air was so fresh.

And I ate nice Japanese breakfast after walking.After check out the hotel,we walked to Taisho-pond.

At last I found lovely flowers like an illustration.

I spent very relaxed time there.Kamikochi is not close to Tokyo though,it would certainly be worth it.But anyone can't go into there during winter,so you should remember this:)

See you until next!

New year trip

I have to start working from tomorrow though,I don't wanna go:(
　あしたからしごとをはじめないといけないけど、いきたくないです。

I continue write about my family trip again.1st day is here:"Happy new year 2013!"
In the early morning,I went to watch sunrise.Unfortunately it was cloudy.
　しんねんのかぞくりょこうのつづきをかきます。
　あさはやく、あさひをみにいきました。ざんねんながら、くもってました。

I like to watch first sunrise on 1st of January every year.My hometown is near the sea,so I always go to the beach to watch it.But I have no idea where should I go in Tokyo because there are not beach.I was thinking to go to Tokyo Sky Tree in the middle of the night.It would be beautiful if I could watch both the tower and sunrise at the same time.On 31th of December,I ate large pizza and go to bed without alarm setting.It was already around  9am when I woke up.....><I wanna try it next year!

　がんたんにはつひのでをみるのがすきです。わたしのじっかはうみにちかいので、いつもビーチでみました。でもとうきょうにはビーチがないのでどこでみたらよいかわかりません。よなかにとうきょうスカイツリーにいこうとかんがえてました。はつひのでとスカイツリーをどうじにみれたらきれいだとおもったのです。１２がつ３１にち（おおみそか）、ラージサイズのピザをたべてアラームもかけずにねてしまいました。おきたときにはすでに９じくらいでした。らいねんちょうせんしたいです。


I took an outside bath before breakfast.It's already 3rd time to take a bath since I arrived at the hotel:)
If the breakfast is only low egg and rice,I would hate the hotel.

　あさごはんのまえにろてんぶろにはいりました。このりょかんについてからすでに３かいめのにゅうよくです。
もしちょうしょくがなまたまごとしろいごはんだけだったら、このりょかんをきらいになります。

I became one of fan of the hotel.

　わたしはこのりょかんのファンのひとりとなりました。

Japanese traditional new year dish

Ozoni(rice-cake soup)

I can buy rice-cake every time and every where,but it's only January(winter) to eat it.At least I don't eat Ozoni in December.Because Ozoni reminds of New year strongly.When I eat it,that's so new year coming.
My mother's ozoni soup is clear because she don't put bean paste into soup.
We talked about that the chef came from Kyoto because the ozoni soup was white bean paste and vegetables were original from Kyoto.I'm not sure about it though..haha

　いつもどこでもおもちはかえますが、たべるのは１がつ（冬）だけです。すくなくともおぞうには１２がつにはたべません。だっておぞうにはつよくしんねんをれんそうさせるから。これをたべたとき、あぁ、おしょうがつがきたなぁとかんじるのです。

The hotel we stayed:Kane-yoshi.
I promise everyone would have wonderful time to stay here even though it's far from Tokyo.It took over 5 hours to arrive at my place because of heavy traffic jam..

　わたしたちがとまったりょかんはかねよしというところです。
とうきょうからとおいですが、みなさんがここですばらしいじかんをすごせるのをやくそくします。ひどいじゅうたいでいえにつくのに５じかんいじょうかかりましたが。。。

Happy new year 2013!

H A P P Y  N E W  Y E A R !!!

How was your new year?
Long time no see again..
I've backed to my hometown and traveled to hot spring place with my family.
And end of 2012 was really busy at work for me.
Besides work ,I went to Hakone,Seoul and my friend's house.The most interesting was traveling in Seoul.After that,I'm really into skin care.Also taking into hot spring is good for beauty.

Today,I write about our family trip we visited few days ago.
We went to Japanese style hotel where is in Izu;


View Larger Map

There are some hot spring spots which have different names and effects for health.
I enjoyed to care skin of my mother and me with a lot of cosmetics I got in Seoul:)))

The hotel put out excellent dishes,they made us happy:)

Appetizers
What a cute serving dish!

Sashimi

Steamed bread of pumpkin 
This was incredible,juicy meat ball in it!

Menu

Actually I couldn't read it completely 'cause writer's skill was too high.

Probably my grand mother could have done!!

Shabushabu with fish(alfonsino)

Alfonsino boiled with soy sauce

Dessert
Maccha pudding was great.

Although the hotel was not close to my place,I already want to go there again.I felt sure when I ate an appetizer at first time,it would be fantastic new year for my family.And that was true.

Continue to next post about 2nd day. 

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.....

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!