Sweet Plums(Ume Matsuri in Mito)

It was bad windy rain for sakura today.
They've just bloomed.
Some sakura tree is in full blossom and another tree is in bud.
I hope wind does not blow cute pink sakura petals.

I didn't to go to see sakura today, since the weather was not good to go to park.
Maybe next weekend.
I think it's not too late to see sakura.

Anyway, many people get busy during spring to catch the best timing to see blossoms.
So, I post some pictures I took in Mito Ume Matsuri in the middle of March.

It was so beautiful.
White, pink and red blossoms.
Light sweet smell.
I could feel spring has really come.

ume trees in Mito Kairakuen
which are known the best garden to see ume.
3,000 trees in the garden.

Early Spring in Tsukuba

Japan is enjoying beautiful spring right now.
Spring always comes with flowers... no doubt the most famous spring flower is Sakura,
but Ume(plum) is also so beautiful.

Ume starts to bloom from February, before Sakura blooms from late in March or early in April.
So, we can enjoy Ume blossoms first and then go to see Japan's symbolic flower "Sakura".

I visited mount Tsukuba again in early March to see Ume during Ume Matsuri(plum festival).
There are many famous Ume watching spot such as Japanese garden and mountain.
In Mt.Tsukuba, white, pink and red pretty Ume flowers are scattered beautifully.

plums in Tsukuba mountain.
it was so beautiful in nature.

Takayama-5 (Last Day in Takayama)

It was the last day in Takayama, so sad to leave this beautiful small town.
The bus was scheduled to leave to Tokyo at 3 pm.
I still have time. So I decided to go to folk village area again.

I walked from teddy bear eco village(museum).
beautiful view of the Northern Japan Alps from yukonooka park.
3,000m class mountains appeared.

Takayama Vending Machine

I found local vending machine at Takayama bus center.

shin hodaka ropeway is
one of the most popular sightseeing spot in takayama.
great view of the northern japan alps is fascinating.

★Shin-Hotaka Ropeways by japan-guide.com

Takayama-4 (Shirakawa-go)

"Long, long ago, in a certain place, there were a granddad and grandmom.... "

In Japanese old story, a certain place is always a small village.
A thatched roof, a sunken fire place, laundry in a creek.
People work at a paddy field, man goes to a mountain for firewood gathering,
woman goes to a creek for laundry.

My mom read me a book every night when I was a little girl.
There were also animals in a story, such as monkey, fox, bird, dog, tanuki(Japanese raccoon dog).
Goddess and some kind of sprits or fairies appeared too.
It is amazing for little kids.

Shirakawa-go is a small, traditional village known as a UNESCO world heritage site.
It is so beautiful, spotted "gassyo-zukuri" farmhouses covered by snow remind me such a small village in a story.

from view point, 10minutes by shuttle bus
you can see the same view as postcard.

Takayama-3 (Hida Furukawa)

It was New Year's Day.

Many stores and restaurants, museums were closed.
People have traditional food at home, some people go back to their hometown to spend a couple days with family.
Some people go to shrines.

I was worried about dinner, I didn't want to miss my first dinner in 2014.... so I made a reservation for dinner at pension where I stayed.
OK, one problem was solved.
But another problem was... where should I go?

I went to the shrine on New Year's Eve.
Museums might not be open for today.
Train? No holidays for train!

I decided to go to Hida Furukawa by local train.

local JR train, takayama honsen.

Takayama- 2(Higashiyama Walking Course)

I had snow everyday when I was in Takayama.
Snow was cleaned up in Town, but piled about 30cm or more in a rural suburb.

I started to walk from morning market in front of Takayama Jinya.
Because next day was New Year, local farmer was selling traditional New Year's ornaments at the market.
From morning market, I walked to "Sanmachi" old town and then went to the ruins of Takayama's former castle in Shiroyama park via the Higashiyama Walking Course.

morning market

Takayama- 1(Takayama Jinya)

Hida-Takayama is a mountainous city in Gifu Prefecture. In the central Chubu region in Japan.
People call "Small Kyoto"... Takayama is a beautiful, small city with living traditional culture.

Access to Takayama is not easy, I mean there is no direct express train from Tokyo.
First we should to go to Nagoya(1 hour 40minutes by Shinkansen Nozomi), and then change to JR limited express to Takayama(2 hours 30minutes).
So, at least 4 hours in a train!
Another option is taking a highway bus.
I should be packed more than 4 hours in a bus...

But it's worth going!

at parking area near takayama.
I took bus to takayama.
snowed mountains in front of me.
I was so nervous to walk on icy ground like her.

Tsukuba Mountain

Tsukuba mountain has two peaks, Mt.Nantai(871m) and Mt.Nyotai(877m).
The mountain is located in Ibaraki and easy access from Tokyo.
You can take Tsukuba express from Akihabara to Tsukuba station. It takes only 45 minutes.
And then take local bus to Tsukuba shrine bus stop(40 minutes).

a view from mt.nantai

Inbanuma

I went to Inba numa just because I want to enjoy walking on Sunday.
Inba marsh is located near Narita city. The marsh is known for windmill and beautiful sunset.

It's not easy to access to the marsh if we take train not a car, because we should to walk to the marsh about 20 minutes(at least) from the nearest station. (Sakura or Usui station/Keisei line). Another option is taking bus from the station.

people enjoy walking/ jogging around the marsh.

Makuhari Beach

I don't know why, but I think sometimes people intend to go to beach.
Maybe because of sea breeze, sun shine, walking on the sand.... sound of waves...
Relaxed.
Spending time on the beach is priceless for me.

It's not Hawaii nor Bali, but Makuhari.
The city is known for Makuhari Messe(the international convention complex) and Chiba Marine Stadium(baseball team "Chiba Lotte Marines" home stadium) also has beach.
It's about 30 minutes from Tokyo to Kaihin Makuhari station by JR Keiyo line.

swimming is not allowed in makuhari  beach.
maybe you can enjoy jogging or bathing in the sun.

Odaiba Night View

Spending romantic night in Tokyo?
Maybe Odaiba is one of the beautiful spots with romantic night view.

Odaiba is a man made island in Tokyo Bay. Daiba means "fort", and you can see an old  bronze cannon in this historical island.

Now Odaiba attracts people as shopping and entertainment district.

DECKS Tokyo Beach shopping center.
2 min. from odaiba kaihin koen staiton by yurikamome line.
shopping, gourmet and entertainment place.

Machida Squirrel Park

Machida city is a suburb Tokyo, about 40 minutes from Shinjuku station by train(Odakyu line).

The city has nice residents area with new houses and apartments, many universities and schools, big park with green, so it seems be comfortable live in Machida.

And one another thing that make this city very unique place in Machida is Machida Squirrel Garden.

”リスはともだち　まちだ　リス園”
squirrel is our friend, machida squirrel park

Chiba Zoological Park

It's a small zoo in Chiba city, about 50 minutes from Tokyo by train.

The nearest station is "Dobutsukoen" station of Chiba Urban Monorail.

You can see many animals such as kangaroo, penguin, reindeer, elephant, giraffe... and much more.

But the most famous animal in this zoo is lesser panda. Lesser panda named "Futa"（風太） has family, and people come to the zoo to see them.

But, why they are so famous?

"stand up!" but this is not "futa".
one of his family.

Cute Things in Nikko

Let me introduce something cute that I found in Nikko!

☆HC Nikko Ice Bucks

Ice Bucks logo vending machine

HC Nikko Ice Bucks is the only professional hockey team in Japan.

The Bucks based on Tochigi Nikko Shimofuri Ice Arena.

I became curious, since Bucks's advertisement everywhere,

Even on a vending machine!

Nikko- 3(Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Waterfall)

Visiting old shrines and temples, enjoying local foods, hiking in marshland. 
Is there anything I've forgot?

Yes!
Don't forget to visit  a beautiful lake in mountains.
It's Lake Chuzenji.
And you can also find Kegon Waterfall near the lake. 
Though there are several waterfalls in Nikko, this Kegon waterfall is the most famous one.

lake chuzenji

Nikko- 2(Senjogahara Marshland Hiking)

One thing that I really wanted to do in Nikko is Hiking.
There are several hiking courses in Senjogahara Marshland that lie to the north of Lake Chuzenzi.

70 minutes by Tobu bus to the bus stop "Yutaki" where I started to walk.
The crowded bus left Tobu Nikko bus stop and headed to Yumoto Onsen.
It was beautiful view from bus windows... Irohazaka Winding Road, 1200m above the sea Lake Chuzenji... lushly green mountains.

My hiking plan is Senjogahara Marshland Nature Trail hiking. Start from Yutaki and head to Akanuma. After taking break start walking again to Ryuzunotaki bus stop.

a sign in nature trail

Nikko- 1(Toshogu Shrine)

Nikko.
About 2 hours from Tokyo by train.
A town in Tochigi Prefecture.
Toshogu Shrine. Other shrines and temples, beautiful Lake Chuzenzi, Kegon Waterfall, Senjogahara Marshland locate in Nikko National Park.

I thought Nikko is a perfect destination for Golden Week Trip!
Sightseeing traditional shrines and temples, lovely famous sleeping cat carving in Toshogu, hiking in marshland, fresh country air... Aren't they wonderful?

OK. Let's go to Nikko!

a lovely wooden bridge "shinkyo(sacred bridge)" was constructed in 1636.
this bridge stands at the entrance to shrines and temples.

Cats Paradise- Enoshima- Island

It was 10 months ago, since I visited Enoshima Island last time.
It was in June, rainy day.

This time in April, sunny day. Enoshima Railways is still lovely, and the island is lovely too.
There was a lot of people in this small island since we are in Golden Week in Japan.
(We have many holidays in early May. It called Golden Week).

Everywhere crowded, yes. But it is a good opportunity to go out!
So I headed to Enoshima Island for letting my friend know lovely Enoshima island.

beautiful Southern Coast near caves.
there is nothing but ocean.

Showa Kinen Park

Only 30 minutes from Shinjuku by JR Chuo Line(Ohme Limited Express), you can find a 163 hectares-huge park.

Showa Kinen Park that was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Emperor Showa's reign locates in Tachikawa-city.

I went to the park on Saturday to watch Sakura.. because I thought this was last chance on season.
A low pressure area was coming to Tokyo, it was remarkably low, so Sakura would lost their pretty petals after storm passed.

cloudy sky, very windy, but still beautiful view with sakura