KONACHA, Green tea at SUSHI restaurant

Hello!! KONNICHIWA!!

How are you doing??

Green tea is known as Japanese tea in the world, but usually taste a little bit different when we drink out side of Japan... do you notice that??

Some of my friends who come and visit to Japan, always become like Green tea even they didn't like green tea in their country. That is also reason quality or taste of tea is different.

So I always bring tea bag of Green tea when I stay long another country because I miss Green tea taste.

Also lots of my friends love green tea at SUSHI Restaurant, have you notice different with normal green tea?? They are powder tea not leaves.

This is normail Green tea.

This is powder tea at SUSHI Restaurant.

Amazon.co.jpで詳細を見る

Powder one is taste strong and making very easy, so I always recommend to bring back in their country when my friend leaving Japan.

Somebody who miss Green tea or powder tea at SUSHI restaurant, you can buy from Amazon anytime!!

TORAYA CAFE, AN (Red bean paste)

Hello!! KONNICHIWA!!

How are you doing??

As you know Japanese foods are very popular for good diet in the world these days.

Then naturally some of my friends start to change eating behavior by trend.

Do you know "AN(Red bean paste)"??

I wrote about "OSHIRUKO" that is sweets used "AN" before.

 http://japanesephilosophy007.blogspot.jp/2016/01/japanese-food-oshiruko-sweet-red-bean.html

"AN(Red bean paste)" is used lots for sweets and known as low calorie and low fat in Japan.

So some women choose them when they want to have sweets for healthy eating behavior.

TORAYA is traditional Japanese sweets company makes lots "AN(Red bean paste)" product and they are very popular here long years as one of high class Japanese sweets company.
These years TORAYA started cafe style business that use "AN(Red bean paste)".

TORAYA  opened 3 cafes in Tokyo, Roppongi Hills, Omotesando Hills, Aoyama then They will open new cafe in Shinjuku in next weekend!!

People who loves Japanese sweets or want to try something new, Don't miss it!!


TORAYA CAFÉ・AN STAND

Opening day ; April 15th, Fri 2016

Adress ; 5-24-55, Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

TEL：03-6273-1073 ※from April 15th

Open ：9:00〜22:00 (21:30 L.O.)

※ You can also take-out

※Access：JR Shinjuku St, New South exit (Shin-Minami guchi) 2F in NEWoMan.

https://toraya-prd.s3.amazonaws.com/__/_files/toraya/pdf/press_release/20160229_234.pdfv

 

Tokyo Skytree

Hello!! KONNICHIWA!! How are you doing?

Tokyo Skytree has opened for 4 years in March.

Have you ever been there?

http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/

Tokyo Skytree is the tallest tower in the world, full height 634.0m, so you can see it between buildings when you walk in Tokyo area.

Unfortunately it was a bit cloud when I visit Tokyo skytree, so I couldn't get nice view from top but lots shops and restaurants in there, so still you can enjoy inside of buildings for sure.

They have ticket counter for foreign customer, so if it's very crowded there, it's better to use there.

Up to semi-top by high speed elevator.

View from Top

Clear floor!! 

Night time looking

OHANAMI(HANAMI), Flower viewing

Hello!!Konnichiwa!! How are you doing??

Spring has come in Tokyo.

Have you ever heard "OHANAMI(HANAMI)"??

If you google "OHANAMI(HANAMI)" you will see lots cherry blossom pictures.

"OHANAMI(HANAMI)" is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers, especially cherry blossom. 

From the end of March to early May, cherry blossom"SAKURA" bloom all over Japan, usually from the island of Okinawa. 

"OHANAMI(HANAMI)"  means looking cherry blossom"SAKURA" but lots Japanese people enjoy party or picnic with looking them under trees in day or evening.

But unfortunately cherry blossom season is not so long, just only last a week or two. so if you come to Japan around end of March or early April, let's enjoy OHANAMI!!

SAKURA in Yoyogi Park in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

SAKURA festival in Yasukuni Shrine

SNOW in Tokyo!!!

Hello!! How are you doing??
It was snow in Tokyo area in the last Monday morning!!

Of course we have few snow in the winter, but it become less by less cause of global warming or some reason in central Tokyo.

Every time when we have snow here, one of biggest worry is transportation!!
Lots people in Tokyo use train or subway go to office or school, so trains not working means dead of social activity here!!

But as we worried, lots trains delay or stopped and lots people fulled at station or town...
Some people who left home much earlier than usual like getting the first train, they got office on time but if we left home usual time some people took hours more than usual.

I will show some of example.....

It started rain Sunday night.... then about midnight rain changed to snow.....


5 a.m.

news about Tokyo snow.



















6 a.m. at Shibuya by twitter

7:28 am in Keio line from twitter.

described this picture like zombies on this train lol

7:38 a.m. at Denen Toshi line

This person waiting to come inside of station...
described this situation as if people are waiting on queue in comic market!

8:24 a.m in Machida station??

This picture described waiting people behind rope like starting point of horse race.

8:35 a.m. at Mizonoguchi station on Denen toshi line

9:25 a.m a station on Denen toshi line

9:32 at Kokubunji station

10:10 at Chofu station

others

The end of waiting line in the supermarket next to station!

Until next station..... 70mins on Chuo line!!

Next train is 17:46 after 9:40 !!!

Weather forecast says this Saturday also snow.... if somebody want to see these, morning train!!
Of course weekday morning is recommended but lots people upset with this..... so be careful!! lol

SNOOPY MUSEUM TOKYO

Hello!! How have you been?

Sorry I couldnt write for a while since I had a cold these days.

Well, do you know this year is 65th anniversary year of SNOOPY?

Some event or special goods are also provided in Japan.

SNOOPY MUSEUM TOKYO is the biggest event and the most I want to go!!

According public information by media, that will open around Mar. 2016 to Sep. 2018 in Roppongi, Tokyo.

Here is image of museum. from (C) 2015 Peanuts Worldwide LLC 

If you like SNOOPY, can't wait to be there, can you??

SNOOPY Museum website here.
http://www.snoopymuseum.tokyo/

STAR WARS with ZEN

Hello!! How are you doing??

I found very very interesting book today, that ZEN WISDOM FROM STAR WARS!!

Of course this book is written by Japanese but similar one English below.



I am also not well known about ZEN,  but ZEN is base of force.

IF these books are interesting, I will introduce you again after reading!

Somebody who want to know about ZEN, please access to wikipedia here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen

Decoration for New Year in Japan

KON NICHIWA (Hello)!!
OGENKI DESUKA(How are you doing)??

Today is just about the day to take off decoration for new year in Japan.

I will tell you about "SHOUGATSU KAZARI" (SHOUGATSU; new year, KAZARI; decoration) today.

SHOGATSU KAZARI
What is SHOGATSU KAZARI??
They are decoration for new year and usually decorate before 31st Dec.
Some different kinds of SHOGATSU KAZARI, for entrance, door, etc.

KADOMATSU : Pine decoration
Usually they decorative gate of house, put both side like this.
This shows welcome to God for new year.
But these days, it's not so often can see in Tokyo because lots house is smaller than before and lots apartment here in Tokyo,

SHIMEKAZARI : Sacred Shinto rope with festoons

This is made by twisted straw rope with fern leaves, an orange and other items of good omen.

Usually that on a entrance door.

KAGAMIMOCHI ; Round rice cake
Two rounds of rice cakes and an orange on top.
Usually it decorate in Japanese room.

These 3 are famous and popular OSHOGATSU KAZARI,  and if you come to Japan around new year, you will see everywhere.

Some people stop traditional celebrate for any event here, maybe not only here though.
That's why some people doesn't know the meaning of each decoration.

Long time ago, lots people make these by themselves at home, but these years lots people buy them at shops.

Not traditional way to decorate but these are very popular among young generation family!

ポケモンセンターオリジナル ミニ門松 お正月2016

posted with amazlet at 16.01.05

ポケモン (2015-11-14)
売り上げランキン
グ: 4,042
Amazon.co.jpで詳細を見る

Pikachu Japan New Year Lucky Rice Cake Version 8"" Plush Toy Pokemon

posted with amazlet at 16.01.05

ポケモン (2015-11-14)
売り上げランキング: 3,911
Amazon.co.jpで詳細を見る

HATSUMOUDE - New Year's visit to a shrine in Japan

Hi! How are you doing??
I went to "HATSUMOUDE" yesterday.
It was very very crowded with lots people but this is one of new year event for us!!
at Kanda Myojin (Ochanomizu, TOKYO)

  Can you see lots people on a line to the under hill?

I will introduce you about HATSUMOUDE today!

HARSUMOUDE is the first time visiting to temple or shrine into next year.

It's pray for appliciation for last year or safe and peace for new year.

The way of HATSUMOUDE.

Go and pray at temples or shrine, getting a charm, an amulet, windmill at shrine office, writing hopes or goal of year on wooden plaque.

 Wooden plaque

The last year's charm, amulet brings with you and enshrine to temples or shrine.

Depends places, privide sweet fermented rice drink (AMAZAKE) or sacred sake.

HATSUMODE is whichever fine, temples or shrine.

Generally we say "HATSUMOUDE" for visiting there between 1st day to 3rd of Jan., but at same time some people think whenever during Jan. is fine or the first time of year is "HATSUMODE".

Some temples or shrines set temporary shops like summer festival, so these days "HATSUMODE" seems new year event for young people.

The Best 10 of Popular "HATSUMOUDE" temple or shrine in Japan.
(the data of 2006, because stopped counting data)

MEIJI JINGU (Shibuya-ku, TOKYO) 3.05 million people http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/index.html

NARITA SAN (Narita-city, CHIBA) 2.72 million people
http://www.naritasan.or.jp/english/index.html

KAWASAKI DAISHI (Kawasaki-city, KANAGAWA) 2.72 million people http://www.kawasakidaishi.com/english/index.html

FUSHIMI INARI TAISHA (Kyoto-city, KYOTO) 2.69 million people
http://inari.jp/

ATSUTA JINGU (Nagoya-shi, AICHI) 2.32 million people
https://www.atsutajingu.or.jp/en/intro/

SUMIYOSHI TAISHA (Osaka-city, OSAKA) 2.26 million people http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/index.html

SENSO JI (Taito-ku, TOKYO) 2.2 million people
http://www.senso-ji.jp/

TSURUGAOKA HACHIMANGU (Kamakura-city, KANAGAWA) 2.13 million people http://www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp/

DAZAIFU TENMANGU (Dazaifu-city, FUKUOKA) 1.93 million people http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/en

HIKAWA JINJA (Saitama-city, SAITAMA) 1.87 million people
http://musashiichinomiya-hikawa.or.jp/index.html

Still HATSUMOUDE time in Japan, or when you come to Japan around new year time why don't you HATSUMOUDE!?