Unique Design of Seikantei

When you step into the house, you will feel the calm and majestic traditional Japanese house. Wood construction, old window glass (the glass type is different from our glass window right now, and can not be produced anymore), shouji (sliding door), and tatami mat… what a lovely house! You can also see the carefully designed garden from the big window. In my opinion, the rain drops made the graden even more beautiful. 

The construction style is called sukiya-zukuri. Compared with the usual traditional building style shoin-zukuri, sukiya-zukuri is not too formal, more of a free and playful type of construction. You can see the uniqueness of this bulding in several places.

What captured my attention at first was the uguisu floor. The wooden corridor was made with a technique that will make the floor let out a sound like uguisu (Horornis diphone) cry, thus the uguisu floor name.

There are also the previous owner living room at second floor. There is a fusuma (sliding door) to separate man and woman rooms. The sliding door knobs have different ornament. Made from cloissone ware, the square tough-looking one (left picture) is for man, and the delicate oval one for woman.

 

The former Odawara neighborhood were flourished for their tea ceremony (sadou) culture. The storehouse that was built in 1941 (16 Showa) now used as a small gallery that shows the former owner of Seikantei, some old photos, and also how to make a delicious tea! Talking about tea, the building also preserve the traditional fireplace for the tea ceremony.

Traditional Japanese house also have tokonoma. Tokonoma is a place to put calligraphy, flowers, potteries and so on to decorate the house. The calligraphy at Seikantei tokonoma is so hard to read (sometimes even Japanese can’t read it). That’s why there are little explanation board to read what the calligraphy means.

Event at Seikantei

When I visited Seikantei it was almost the time for Tanabata Festival. So I wrote a wish on tanzaku (a paper strip) to put on the bamboo tree outside Seikantei. I wrote : Wish I could go to Japan again! (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)

Not only in Tanabata, Seikantei also do events according to the seasonal events such as Hina matsuri (doll festival) or Otsukimi (moon sight-seeing in Autumn) concert. For more information about events at Seikantei please refer to Seikantei website or send an email for them.

For this July Seikantei display some works from Kashiwagi Art Foundry. Cute wind chime in front the entrance welcomed us with happy chime and some were displayed at the Seikantei shop too.

Relax and Enjoy at Seikantei

You can also use the cafe part for free!! Come here to enjoy the calm atmosphere and scenery while having your lunch. Please keep it clean when you bring your food here! You can also order drink and sweets from the cafe menu.

I ordered matcha set when I went to Seikantei. The matcha was served with uirou (traditional Japanese sweets). The uirou was matcha flavor. The combination of uirou sweetness and maccha light bitterness was a perfect combination!

Thank you for reading this article. If you visit Odawara, please come and enjoy the traditional building, Seikantei! Have a good day ♥

-Vivi-

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Anjin Beach Fireworks Festival

At first I thought the festival was fireworks only so I went over there in the evening. When I got the event list, I was surprised because this festival is actually a big festival! From 2015 August 8^th until 10^th, there were many event and performances. Though I didn’t see it, the event on August 8^th was tourou-nagashi (floating lantern at river) at Matsukawa River and closed with some fireworks. The next day, August 9^th was taiko or drum battle at Nagisa Park and this one was closed with fireworks too.

To see the fireworks for main event, you can buy a seat for 2,000 JPY, but I got it for free as a gift from the last Tarai race which I won as the best costume participant! I got the tickets to see the fireworks from Nagisa Park. (Left picture, my tickets. Right picture, program schedule.)

When we head for Nagisa park it was very crowded we barely find where the park is! But we finally made it and to my surprise, we sat  really close with the fireworks and it was awesome! Of course I have seen fireworks many times in my life. But this one is exceptionally big fireworks. It was 1 hour of non-stop 10,000 fireworks shoot up to the sky! I tried my best to take some pictures, but this kind of event, can’t be portrayed by pictures only. You need to see it with your own eyes ٩(^ᴗ^)۶

If you have some extra cash, you can also send message fireworks! I don’t know how much it costs, but I bet pretty expensive because the personal message fireworks were as big and beautiful as the festival fireworks.

Even without ticket you can enjoy the fireworks for free of course. The street in front of Nagisa Park was closed for cars. People are crowding that area, bringing their own picnic mat and food, waiting for the fireworks while chatting and enjoying the festival. Many people also wore yukata (light kimono for summer) they looked gorgeous ♥ I am a bit jealous, I want to go to fireworks with yukata too (^～^)  

Here are some photos (sorry, it is a bit dark) around the festival. There were many food stalls and also lantern hanging all over the place. The lantern were hand made and had many beautiful or cute drawings.

I am sorry for this article is rather short because I only came for the fireworks… Make sure to search the festival date next year if you want to see another program on different days. Also,  buy or rent a yukata when you go to Anjin fireworks to get the best experience of Japan summer festival!
(By the way, I finally wore yukata for my last article of Lantern Floating Festival at Fuji Kawaguchi Lake! Please read it too, thank you.)

PS. If you come by train, make sure to buy your return ticket in advance. After the festival was over, the line to buy return ticket was really long, so keep that in mind and buy the ticket before you go for the festival.

-Vivi-

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Trekking Preparation

Before starting the adventure, we need a proper preparation! I rented a climbing shoes from Sora no Shita, an outdoor equipment rental shop. (The brown shoes on the left is my friend shoes and the right picture is me with orange shoes.)

From July to early September you can rent and return trekking or mountain climbing equipment at their branch stores at : Kawaguchi Lake Station store, Fuji Yoshida branch store, Mount Fuji Subashiri-guchi Go-gou-me store, and Mount Fuji Fuji-no-miya-guchi Go-gou-me store. As long you are in Japan, they will ship the equipments you need to your house or hotel you are staying. Besides from mountain climbing, they also rent another outdoor activities equipment such as camping and BBQ tools, very convenient!

Outdoor Rental – Sora no Shita
TEL : 0555-73-8850
Website : http://www.soranoshita.net/

Trekking Start!

We start our tour in front of Gotenba station and by bus we head to Mount Fuji Gotenba-guchi Shin Go-gou-me. The climbing area from Gotenba-guchi Shin Go-gou-me area mainly sand and not usual soil. This is because Mount Fuji erupted long time ago, the lava and scoria made the are around here sandy compared to other area. Making it more challenging than normal trekking!

I don’t have any trekking or mountain climbing before so started from Go-gou-me as the first time perfectly fit me. Our starting point Gotenba-guchi Go-gou-me is 1,440 m above sea level. From that point, you can see not only the majestic scenery of Mount Fuji, but also Mount Futago and Mount Hoei. 

Although the weather when I went for trekking was bright at first, as we proceed to climb the mountain, its getting more and more cloudy. Sometimes it will suddenly clear but suddenly we were covered in fog. Therefore, I am sorry because my picture is cloudy and misty.

Our Tour Checkpoints

There were 3 main places we visited in this trekking program. Futatsuzuka Shitazuka, Makuiwa, and Suyama Otainai.

The first place is at Futasuzuka Shitasuzuka (lower part of Futago Mountain). We reached there after approximately 1 hour climbing from our starting point at Gotenba-guchi. There is a monument over here for the famous Japanese gods, Izanagi and Izanami.

We continued to Yotsuji to take a break. At there, we opened our bento boxes that were given before we started trekking. Delicious bento made from Gotenba local ingredients. Yotsuji area’s slope is not to steep and also it is an intersection for climbers who are heading for Fuji-no-Miya area.When we were there, other tour group also rest at this area, then some mountain climbers crossed over, and there were group of elementary students came for field trip. Because Mount Fuji are only open in summer (too cold and dangerous to climb in other season), I think everyone want to enjoy the best of Mount Fuji as soon as possible!

After we finished our bento, we felt our body re-energized from the exhaustion and ready to continue the tour! We started to get in the forest part and the path is easier to go through than the first sandy part. Our tour guide explained about plantation around there too. About leaves that is called hotaru-bukuro (fireflies-pocket) because it was used to put fireflies when children caught it, and many new knowledge for us about trees, flowers, and plants around Mount Fuji forest.

After get down some extreme slope area, we reached Makuiwa. Makuiwa was made from the pile of lava and scoria stream when Mount Fuji errupted. I think the view of rock cliff covered by many trees over there was very pretty. 

From Makuiwa we continued walking past the Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) and Himeshara (Stewartia monadelpha) for around 1 hour. Then we arrived at our last place in this program, Suyama Otainai. There is a hole over there and it was big enough to go inside if you bend over. Inside the hole, there is a shintai (object of worship in Shinto). The legend says that a princess named Konohana Sakuya was pregnant in one day and give birth to her baby inside of the hole. That’s why the statue in this place is believed as a symbol of easy childbirth.

After Trekking

We ended our trekking course at Suyama Otainai Entrance (around 40 minutes walking from Suyama Otainai). Everyone get on the bus and head for the onsen to relax our body after the trekking. I need to come home ealier so I couldn’t go to the onsen and get down near the Gotenba station to go home.

It was a very tiring experience (especially because I kinda lack of physical strength). Even so, I had a new experience, learned many new things about vegetation around Mount Fuji and also the legend surrounding it, and even though its a bit cloudy, I saw many beautiful scenery. I am glad I was given chance to go for this trekking tour! For the next chance I will prepare my strength thoroughly and try to challenge myself until Mount Fuji top! Wish me luck! 

You should challenge yourself climbing mount Fuji if you come to Japan in summer too!

Lastly, I got this pretty Mount Fuji Cloud Series pin as a souvenir. Only 1,000 JPY for 4 cute pins!

Thank you for reading this article ♥
You can also read the blog from Mikuriya no Tabi about our trekking tour by clicking here.

-Vivi-

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Parade

The festival was held for 2 days but I went at the second day only. At the first day was the main yassa odori contest, but don’t worry they also danced on the second day, only it was shorter compared to the first day. There were many groups, and all of them wore colorful costume. The dance ware also various. There were slow but firm traditional dance from older groups, and also energetic dance full with lively shouts and clapping from teenager group.

After an entertaining parade from yassa matsuri contestant, there were 2 omikoshi procession too. I think it were smaller and lighter than the one I saw in Kibune Matsuri (that one looked so heavy). But at one of the omikoshi, there were 3 girls standing while waving paper fan, which of course made it heavy again (´ ˙○˙ `)

The last part from the parade were dashi (festival car).  I think Yassa matsuri has the most dashi from all festival I have visited. Each dashi also have different design and everyone at dashi were giving their best playing music while cheering and shouting. For this matsuri, the festival car were real cars and not pulled by people like the one in Ajiro matsuri. Some of the festival cars were decorated with traditional way of hanging many lanterns. But some of the festival cars went for a more modern decoration. Especially dashi from elementary school, it was full with big cartoons painting. The member who played music at that dashi were 6^th grader so it will be last time for them participating in an event together.

After very long dashi parade, there was yassa matsuri winner announcement. The winner was a group with white outfit and colorful eyelashes. They were very excited won the competition. The leader shout at the microphone while her teammates cheering for her from below the stage.

Fireworks

To close the event, there were fireworks! It was a pretty big fireworks show. There were approximately 6,000 fireworks shoot up the night sky for 30 minutes, non-stop! I got pretty comfortable place to enjoy the fireworks too! Here are some pictures of the fireworks

On my way home, I stopped in front of a mall where all the festival cars gathered. The festival were not finished yet! There was a stage where some local artist sung. I only watched briefly though because I need to go home. But everyone at that place seemed having a very good time ٩(^ᴗ^)۶

It was a warm entertaining summer night! If you come to Japan, don’t forget to visit Yugawara to enjoy the onsen (hot spring) and see Yassa matsuri! Thank you for reading this article.

-Vivi-

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Be a Cat

“Neko Odori” event venue is in Kannami city, Shizuoka Prefecture. To go there, you can take the train using Tokaido line to go to Atami and then transfer for train goes for Ito or Izukyu Shimoda. Kannami is only 1 station away (approximately 7 minutes) from Atami station. For this event, there were free shuttle bus that will bring you from station to event venue.

When I arrived at Neko Odori festival, I was surprised! Everyone wore neko-mimi (cat’s ears) and put on cat’s make up. Somehow I felt like a weird person in the middle of cats!

But I suddenly found out that there was make-up corner! This festival is awesome! (＾▽＾) You can pretty much see it from the picture. People gathered around tables filled with make-up kit. Try to experimenting with their own face or their friend’s face. Some people prefer natural light make-up and just drew some whiskers and heart shape on their face. Some people prefer bold make-up with white paint all over the face and many shades of colorful eye-shadow.

If you want to paint your face white, you can ask for the make-up team help. There were 3 types of face painting, a little around mouth or cheek, paint only half of your face, and paint ALL your face white. Moreover, the make-up team will make you over for FREE!! !

There were also various performance on the stage. Musical performance, balloon art, karate, and many more.

Balloon art performance draws the attention of children for sure. They were trying their best to answer the quizzes to get the balloon, especially the last big balloon! One of the question was, “What is the height of Mount Fuji?” They were trying their best to guess, 76 m, 100 m, or even 10m!!! (It is actually 3776 meters though.) Their answers were just so funny! o(≧∇≦o)

Cat Competition

There were dancing and cosplay contest at Neko Odori festival. The dance contest was called “Neko-ja Neko-ja Contest”. There were many groups taking part in the contest, and mostle girls though. They perform various dance genre, and there were contestant from different age range. From cute elementary students, univerty students, even from 30 years old! Everyone were doing their best to deliver their best performance.

Next it “Nari-kiri Neko” Cosplay contest. There were more girls than boys in this competition too. Last year winner also came in this year cosplay competition! By the way, I personally like the youngest contestant. He looked so cute with bright yellow outfit and matching red boots.

Closing Ceremony

We are getting near to the closing event of Neko Odori festival… As it got darker, more and more people came to the festival venue. The Neko Odori team started dancing on the stage. Gradually, contestant from Neko-ja Neko-ja dance contest also join in and started dancing. As the dance getting more and more lively, they invited all the spectator to dance together and it became a big joyous dancing party! It was amazing (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

Finally, the long awaited winner announcement! Neko-ja Neko-ja dance winner were the group wearing black-purple outfit. I forgot the group’s name, but they danced sexy and cute cat dance!

For the cosplay contest, the winner was last year winner. This is her 2nd victory! She said she will participate in the next year event again. Anyone wants to challenge her next year?

After the winner announcement, suddenly everyone gathered around the stage. Then, the MCs, contest winner, and staff started to throw free snacks! I was caught in the middle of people trying to catch the snack so I am sorry the picture is a bit blurry. By the way, I get 2 snacks!

The festival was closed with beautiful fireworks coloring the night sky. After that, everyone get in line to get on the bus to go home.

I love this festival, all people from the performancer, staff, stall’s merchant, and spectator everyone were having fun. For me one of Neko Odori strong point is that no matter boy or girl, young or old, everyone can fully enjoy this festival! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

Thank you for reading this article ♥
We wait you on next year’s Neko Odori festival! Have a nice day.

-Vivi-

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Kibune Matsuri

According to the history of Kibune Matsuri, it was said that a man named Hirai no Okina (Old man Hirai) went to the seashore and found a glittering boat. When the boat was examined, there were 12 wooden statue at the boat and a note that said : If you preach to these gods, the village will prosper. Hirai no Okina started building a shrine with the help from other villagers. Until now, the story become the base of Kibune Matsuri until now. Since around 1,100 years, citizen of Manazuru hold the festival every year, wishing for better development and offering gratitude for their live.

(For the complete story about Kibune Matsuri please refer to this website – it is in Japanese language.)

At the seashore there were grand boats with very beautiful design. I missed the moment when the boats sailed through the sea. I took picture of the boat the shore though! Which one do you think better, day or night?

From the Kibune Shrine until Manazuru seashore, there were many stalls. Many types of stall were there but the most popular was kaki-goori or shaved ice! The street across Manazuru also decorated with lanterns. It didn’t give any effect at daylight, but when it turned to night, the lanterns filled the city with soft fantasy-like light.

Kashima odori and Hana-dashi

Kashima odori (Kashima dance) is a kind of ritual to cast away evil and also wishing for the citizen’s safety and big catch at the sea. This dance is a special culture along the western side of Samigahara bay, from western side of Odawara until Izu-Kitagawa.

When the dancers were performing the ritual, some of the members will take babies or kids from the parents and bring them closer to short stick the dancers hold. I don’t know the detail, but I am pretty sure it was to give the children blessing or some kind of divine protection.

I have seen dashi or festival car in previous matsuri I went (Matsubara Shrine and Ajiro Bay Festival). But hana-dashi in Kibune festival was different. It’s not a car, more looked like a giant pole. The height is about 3 m with weight approximately 60 kg. Even to pick it up is already a hard thing to do. Moreover, when a person pick it up, there are some special movements up-down left-right that they must do and it seems so tiring!

Omikoshi

Under the schorching sun, the omikoshi (portable shrine) marched troughout the town. It seemed very exhausting. Even I wore my hat, the heat and sunlight were unbearable… However, the omikoshi group fascinated us with their determination to do their best carrying omikoshi.

The omikoshi at Kibune festival was also special. The design looked like usual omikoshi. But the procession was different.

At the first day I went there (7/27), they bring the omikoshi to the sea! The omikoshi surely became heavier because of the water and that day was very hot too, looked so hard. The weight of omikoshi is also said can be up to 1 ton!

Continuing to the next day (7/28), I went to see the final event at night. Not only the omikoshi, there were also trucks with people singing and dancing, enjoying the summer festival. The fireworks were also shoot at that time and all the hype blend together while the omikoshi bringer proceed to Kibune shrine.

As you can see in the photo, Kibune shrine stairs are high and they need to bring the omikoshi all way up those stairs until reaching the shrine! This final part is a bit dangerous, the omikoshi was too heavy and everyone was surely tired after marching throughout town. Sometimes it looked like the omikoshi will fall down (it seems there were times when people bringing the omikoshi did fall down as there was an ambulance standing by too). But in the end, they reached the top of the stairs!!! Everyone was safely arrived at the shrine. Not only the omikoshi-bringer, all of us spectator were very happy too when the omikoshi reached the top.

Kibune matsuri will be one of matsuri where you can see the traditional culture of Japan, feel the spirit of everyone doing their best to succeed the matsuri, and put an important value to the sea. It gave me a nice summer night impression. Please come the this seaside town when you visit Japan too. Thank you for reading this article. ♥

-Vivi-

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Ajiro

Ajiro means wickerwork in Japanese. You can go there by JR Ito Line.It is a small town located 3 station from Atami. It was my first time went there too! From the train window I could already see the beautiful sparkling sea.

When you go out of the station, there will be a Suijin River. Walk along the river and you will see the sea. From there you turn right and walk straight for another couple of minutes and you will reach the festival venue. I turned left that time so I got a bit lost　 (#ﾟﾛﾟ#) Here are some pictures from Ajiro. At the sea, there were people swimming too. I started to feel ‘so this is Japan summer’!

Ajiro Bay Festival

The festival started under the sunlight with the smell of salt water. There were various performance from local school students, guest performer, and taiko (drum) performance.

There were 2 guest performers. The first one was Nia with his crystal ball pantomime and yoyo trick performance. The next one was Miu Mochizuki. She was singing Japanese and English songs. She also sang my favorite summer song “Kimi ga kureta mono”!

All the people of Ajiro were doing their best to deliver the best performance for families, friends, and audience at the festival venue. Not only playing music, for the elementary students they participated in poster contest and the winner was announced at the Bay Festival. Everyone tried their best to put the festival spirit into their drawing.

There were various stall at the festival. Okonomiyaki, takoyaki, choco-banana, and many tasty Japanese food vendor. The kids were gathering around ‘sakana-sukui’ stand! It is a goldfish catching game and you can take the goldfish you catch. As the night went, more and more people came. There were many beautiful girls at the Ajiro Bay Festival. Everyone were doing their best wearing cute accessory and came to the festival with their best apparel.

Omikoshi and Dashi

Actually, Ajiro Bay Festival (July 21st, 2015) is the last day from Ajiro Matsuri. At July 19th and 20th, the Ajiro Matsuri was held at Ajiko Shrine. That time, there were special dance called ‘Kashima Dance’. Too bad I didn’t get the chance to see it… But if you get a chance you should go see it next year!

At the Bay Festival, the Omikoshi and Dashi were lined around the venue. After all the performances are over around 08.00 p.m., the parade started with omikoshi (portable shrine). It was a different type of folk song with the omikoshi from Matsubara Shrine Procession at Odawara. The peopel who bring the omikoshi swing the omikoshi up and down, up and down.

Following the omikoshi, one by one the dashi (big festival car) started to move too. At first all the 5 festival cars form a line and parade together around the streets. Little by little they started to split and go to each own neigborhood. The festival car team took a quick rest at each of their posts. As I followed the parade trough the town, I see all the house at this area were decorated with lantern and shide (some kind of talisman from white paper in zig-zag form, a Shinto tradition). Its shine the night with soft pretty light.

The parade still continue! And more fierce this time! After the rest the festival car team started to pull the big festival car again. But this time, the are running across the narrow street!!　Σ(゜ロ゜;)

Unfotunately, I couldn’t see the parade until the end. The are not much train stop at Ajiro station so I need to get back earlier. But as a closing for this article, here are the beautiful night scenery from Ajiro.

Thank you for reading this article. ♥ Stay tuned for more articles and let’s meet at next year’s Ajiro Bay Festival!

-Vivi-

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Tōrō Nagashi (Lantern Floating)

Tōrō Nagashi Matsuri at Kawaguchi Lake was held since 1981. Japanese believe that the ancestor spirit and people who passed away will come back on obon day. Not only lantern, people will also float offerings to show their respect for the spirit. This is an important part of Japanese culture. A festival to respect the deceased and also a festival where everyone hoping for better future. 

Mount Fuji Kawaguchi Lake Lantern Floating Festival is held at Oishi Park (I visited it too in this article about Herb Festival). The reception desk to participate in making lantern opened from 4 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. The admission price to make your lantern is…. free!!! To give a chance for everyone to float the lantern, for family or groups you will be given only one lantern. By the way, even though it is free, you are welcome to give donations to help the festival be better next year.

When you register, you will be given an andon or paper to put on the lantern. Everyone gathered around the table, decorating their andon with colorful marker provided. It was very fun! People were not only making prayer or wish, some people also draw beautiful pictures of mount Fuji and tōrō-nagashi event.

Mostly people pray for the deceased family member and write their hope for the health and happiness of their family member and important person. But of course you can just write anything that you want on your lantern, like hoping to win a lottery or hoping for the world peace o(^▽^)o

After finished decorating the paper, we took the LED “candle” and sink it a little in the water bucket on the table. Just sink it for 5 seconds and the LED is on! Then set it on the tourou-doudai or lantern base. After put on the andon at lantern base, set a little fin on the back of the lantern and it’s done!

Then, we go to near the lake to float the lantern, praying all the precious wishes written on the lantern could be come true…

Other Event and Performance

For families with little kids, there are family corner. It is a place for little kids to fold origami or draw pictures along with their parents. 

Near the family corner is the souvenir shop. I bought some souvenirs and also ice cream! There are 3 flavors available, vanilla, blueberry, or vanilla-blueberry mix. I ate blueberry flavor ice cream, it was delicious!

The opening ceremony started from 4:30 pm. It was started by lit a big torch on the stage, and the people who lit the torch float their lantern. When it gets darker around 6:30 pm little boats started came out at the lake. A prayer started and everyone lowered their head in silence and prayed while a group of monk chanting shōmyō (Buddhist prayer by chanting the name of Buddha). The night continues with music orchestra mixed with prayer chanting.

There was also an ukiyoe performance by Miyuki Ueda. It was interesting watching her because the canvas was very big, she kept moving while painting and it looked as if she was dancing. After some time working on her ukiyoe, she called 3 kids to the stage to helped her finished the painting. It was a beautiful painting of cute animals bringing lantern to the festival.

I also received postcards after filling a questionnaire. It was also a drawing by Miyuki Ueda. I thought I only received one postcard. But when I got home and checked the postcards, I actually receive 3 different designs! It is so pretty, I like it very much ♥

Last Lantern

Before going home, once again, we went to make one more lantern (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)

It was dark already and the lantern lighted up very beautiful so I don’t want to miss this chance!

And with the last lantern I float into the lake, it finished my journey as an intern in this website.

It was an amazing 4 months writing various articles about travel spots and festivals. I hope all the articles I wrote could give you an idea or will help you planning your trip to Japan.

Thank you very much for reading my article up until now ٩(｡•ω•｡)و
Sayonara everyone…

-Vivi-

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Tarai-nori-kyōsō is a festival held every first Sunday of July at Itō, Shizuoka Prefecture. The participants will paddle wooden bath tub down the Matsukawa river from Ideyu Bridge until Fuji no Kaijou Yoko (approximately 400 meter)!

Tarai Race (Tarai-Nori-Kyōsō)

The whole race divided into 5 types of race which is kids race, team race, international race, tourist race, and common individual race. Common race is the race for Japanese people, they came from many places. Near places like Shizuoka or Kanagawa prefecture, or farther place such as from Tokyo or even Chiba prefecture! Tourist race is for people who spend night(s) at local ryokan (Japanese style hotel). The participant of this race will wear yukata (kimono for summer) or happi from the ryokan where they stay while racing.

International race is the race for foreigners and I compete in this race too.　Kids race were the cutest! Little kids try to paddle that wooden tub with all their power!! o(〃 ＾▽＾〃)o

If posible, people who participate in Tarai race are expected to wear unique costume. (That is why I also wearing my costumes!) For this reason, group race is probably the most interesting to watch! Many groups dressed up as flashy and unique as they can. Skeleton costume, maid costume, Yokai watch costume, big afro wig and many more!

Group race were also interesting because not only you have to maintain your own balance, you need to synchronize it with your group member too. Can you imagine if  one of their wooden tub flipped over? (◎v◎)

My Tarai Experience

It was my first time participate in Tarai race and I was very nervous! What if I lose? What if my tub flipped over? But most important, its been raining lately, what if the race get cancelled?! Luckily, the race was not cancelled. The river was still safe for the race to be held!

My friend and I were very eager and enthusiast for this event because we already prepared special costume! My friend made a kunoichi (female ninja) costume for me with her amazing sewing skill and lend me her cosplay wig too. To complete my look I also wore tabi (Japanese traditional shoes) which I also wore when Matsubara Shrine Omikoshi Procession.

It was five people per each race. I aapply for international race and there were also many other foreigner participants from USA, Germany, France, etc. Under the cold rain we prepared ourselves for the race.

….and the starting command was fired!!!

The men holding our tub let go, and we start paddling. I try to paddle with all my strength and I was…. VERY SLOW! Hahahaha. I tried my best to paddle and also maintain my balance but for some unknown reason my tub kept turned around and I need to turned it back to the front so I can start paddle again.

Despite being the last in the race, some spectators encourage me from the riverside and shout “ganbare!!” (fighting!!) and it made me happy. I finally reached the finish line!!I might lost the competition but this experience was so amazing and I am glad to participated. If I can come to Japan, I want to participate in this race again! Here is last photo of me soaked after the race (^v^)

After the Race

Too bad it was raining so after the race is over everyone rushed back to their hotel room or went back to the station…

After reached the finish line, the race participant will get a ticket to Saboten park and an onsen ticket! The onsen ticket are different for each race to prevent all of us get crowded in one onsen. I got Yamaki ryokan, so my friends and I went to the ryokan to warm our cold body. Here are the pictures from Yamaki ryokan!

We also have delicious ramen for lunch at a little restaurant near the Matsukawa bridge. Yummy!!

Tarai Prize

After specially preparing costume for this race, we do hope to win the best costume award. Too bad, we were at the onsen when the winners are announced. After asking to the staff that are cleaning the area, we were told that the certificate and prize of the winner will be send via pos after 2-3 days.

After waiting, the 4th day, we tought we were lost, maybe someone showed up with better costume? Finally a phone came, informed us that we won the best costume award and they want to confirm my address! The picture below was taken few days after the telephone. I won a certificate as the “best costume” participant! (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑ I also get a ticket for a firework event next month.

By the way, if you won for the fastest participant, the prize also include some money (around 5,000~30,000 JPY!!!). Recommended for you who are confident with your paddling skill!

Thank you for reading this article. Please come and join the next Tarai Race!! ♥

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Bagatelle Garden

Bagatelle comes from French word means “lovely little thing”. Kawazu Bagatelle Garden, filled with the little beautiful roses. This garden was already blooming since 50 years ago. But just this year’s spring, on 28th April 2015 they were open after renewal.

I visited the garden under the light drizzle. Though the sky was gray, the roses are blooming vividly! 

Sometimes there is a special event at the garden. When I went over there, they held stepladder observation! You need to wear helmet provided by the staff then you can climb the stairs to get a different point of view of the garden from the high. Other event can be seen in their website over here : http://bagatelle.co.jp/ There are rose class that teach you how to grow rose, or an event when you will be guided to your birthday roses, etc.

Here ar ethe photo I took from the ladder top I can even see the sea from there!

Roses

When is the best time to see the rose? All year except winter! Rose will keep growing even after the flower petal fall down, it will grow again in a few months. So you can come whenever you want. But of course, the best time with most blossoming roses will be around May-June and October-November. 

This time I was accompanied by the garden director, Takeo Yamamoto. He showed me around and gave me explanation about roses. For example, They need to maintain the roses branch. When the petals already down, the will cut off that branch to make the rose plant grow new branch. Sometimes, they will not cut the branch and let it be to took the seed from it. Do you know that it is also not possible to make a blue rose?

There are so many roses over the garden. But there are particularly two types of roses that piqued my interest. First one is this yellow rose. It was named “Izu no Odoriko”. It is become a symbol of friendship between Paris and Izu (Bagatelle garden) at 2011. Izu no Odoriko is also a novel title by famous Japanese writer and Nobel prize winner, Yasunari Kawabata. The next picture is Yves Piaget rose that are usually used to make perfume. If you smell this one you will find a fragrance like your perfume!

Cafe and Shop

After strolling around the garden, you can spend your time in the cafe. You can sit either inside or in the open air. It was a little cold when I went over there so I order a hot coffee to keep me warm~

There are souvenir shop with many roses goods. The shop goods are rose perfume, rose jam, and other rose/flower stuff. Accessories and cute umbrella, many cute things for girls! Buy it as a souvenir for your girlfriend or your mother!

For you who loves gardening there are many seedling for you to buy and raise at your own garden too! Take home and grow your own little beautiful flowers, your own bagatelle!

-Vivi-

Here are the bus time table. Please note that the bus operates at limited time only.

※2015 April 28^th~2015 June 22^nd
※2015 October 20^th~2015 November 20^th
※2016 February 10^th~2015 March 10^th

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※ Please make sure the info you see is the latest in advance.