The tunnel of barren maple trees protruding from the thick snow is like a gate leading to somewhere magical. I guess this symbol of autumn is also worthy of a glance in winter.
Tag: Japan
Tour Around The Yaeyama Islands
A tour company called “Ishigaki Dream Tours” is offering a tour package for the 3 Yaeyama island: Iriomote Island, Yubu Island and Taketomi Island. Yaeyama Islands is the name given to the archipelago in the southwest of Okinawa Prefecture covering 591.46 square kilometres which also includes Ishigaki Island. And it was a great opportunity for me to further enjoy my Okinawan trip by visiting some of the Yaeyama Islands.
Hyakudan Hina Matsuri
Considered as one of Tokyo’s fanciest display of Hina Matsuri dolls, it is held at hotel’s culturally relevant Hyakudan Kaidan. This is a series of seven traditional rooms linked by a 100-step staircase. It was preserved from the old Gajoen building that was tore down in 1988 because of the constructions done at the Meguro River. It was assigned as one of Tokyo’s tangible cultural properties since 2009 by the Tokyo Metropolitan government.
Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
When they announced that the Universal Studios Japan will open the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I was so excited. So when it opened almost two years ago, I immediately booked my flight to Osaka and went there on its second day of opening. Luckily, it was a long weekend with Monday as a holiday.
Leap Year Snow
I don’t know but I am no longer enjoying the snow. Maybe it’s because the winter here in Hokkaido is quite long (nearly half the year). Or maybe because the rest of Japan is already enjoying the cherry blossoms. I can really feel why the word “Winter” in the “Game of Thrones” is so negative for the House of Starks (lol).
Birdwatching In Tokachi Part 2
To continue my story about our birdwatching in Tokachi yesterday, our next goal was to see sea eagles. We went to Toyokoro, Taiki and finally to Hiroo but to no avail, it was hard to catch a glimpse of this bird of prey.
Birdwatching In Tokachi Part 1
We started our birdwatching at the Satsunai Garden Onsen. Near the entrance of the onsen is the Satsunai River where many ducks are just chilling out in the cold water. The sight of the birds with the foggy water just made it magical.
Hamanaka: Town Of Monkey Punch
Hamanaka is a town located in Akkeshi District, Kushiro Subprefecture. The town is famous as it is the birthplace of Kazuhiko Kato, more famous with his pen name Monkey Punch. And if you love manga or anime, you know that he is best known for his series Lupin III. The Lupin III manga first appeared in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967.
Requiem To The Philosophy Tree
The Philosophy tree (Tetsugaki-no-Ki) is a poplar tree located in an open, wide farmland in Biei town, Hokkaido. Facing the Panorama road, the tree’s slanted stance resembles a person tilting its head to one side thinking about something.
The Whooper Swans Of Hokkaido
The whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) is a large Northern Hemisphere swan in the Eurasian region. They come here in Hokkaido as one of their wintering sites which include southern Europe and eastern Asia. Whopper swans breed in subarctic Eurasia.
The Japanese Cranes Of Kushiro
The Kushiro-shitsugen Marsh serves as the nesting ground of the Japanese cranes. Since 1952, the habitat of these cranes has been assigned as a special natural monument in Japan.
Psychedelic Shisa At Yonekoyaki Craft Center
Yonekoyaki Craft Center is a shop that produces and cells ceramic Shisa. However, the shisa at the Yonekoyaki Craft Center is quite different. Their intense colors made these Shisa so psychedelic looking. Beside the store is a big yard with many of these psychedelic shisa. The place looks like a distorted Disneyland and is an amazing view being highlighted by its foresty backdrop.
Amoj In Wanderland 