I spotted a Geisha

Must have been the best of my luck to spot a Geisha (or geiko in Kyoto dialect) while we were roaming around the narrow roads going somewhere Maruyama-koen and Yasaka-jinja.

I did only one shot. In fact, I stole this shot. And this is the best angle I could get. The Geisha was posing for another photographer (to her left), and I positioned myself to her right, distant from the pro photographer. I was not so sure if the photographer was paying for the shot, so I quickly took my one-second chance to press the shutter. Besides, my memory card was already full and I only had one shot to spare.

Anyway, this was my first time to see a real Geisha. Usually, I only see them in Japanese movies. They look so gentle, and I wonder if they are comfy with their rather elaborate kimonos.

Geishas, for those who are not aware of who they are, work in Japanese teahouses and entertain gentlemen of considerable means or their patrons. Not all young ladies could be one, for it takes talent and skills to master the traditional fan dance, and other forms of visual and performing arts, notably the shamisen performance. According to Lonely Planet Japan (pp. 344, sorry no online link), there are only about 1000 geishas and maikos (apprentice geisha) around, with about 200 found in Kyoto. And this number is ever decreasing.

My research also tells me that not all interested gentlemen can see a performing geisha. First of all, one needs about $3000 to spend an evening with one or two geishas. Secondly, one needs a referral or introduction of an established patron in order to be entertained. Ows, could there be some "exclusivity" in here?

So, if you are a gentleman with some money to spare, and a friend who knows the way, then go for it -- that is, if you are interested in the first place. Better yet, contact Peter for a walking tour.

As for me, I am more than happy to have this single shot. ;)

Two of the historic sights in Kansai

See related entries: Nara, Kyoto (Parts 1, 2 and 3)

More about Todaiji from JapanGuide.com
More about Golden Temple here and here.

Haven't I told you about our Kansai spree yet?

Probably, you are overwhlemed by my foodie stories and other photos of our Hokkaido escapade. Now, I'm gonna lure you of the must-see places that we visited during our 4-day galore in Kansai.

Briefly, Kansai is just like Tokyo on the west side of Japan. Prices are still high, although comparatively lower than in Tokyo. Surprisingly, I didn't shop much. In fact, I didn't buy anything except for some diapers and baby milk for my toddler, and of course, oatmeal. ;)

While we greeted the New Year with a bang, our first night of the year was spent in Honmachi, a place somewhere between the Kita (North) and Minami (South) area of Osaka. If I were to describe our trip around Kansai, I would say it was such a walking saga. Read on to find out why.

To our luck, almost all shops were closed on the first two days of the year -- except Starbucks, I guess. On our first night, we strolled around the place somehow exploring the cityscape at night while in dire search for a nice place to dine. Probably, we didn't mind walking at all until we reached the next station, hoping there were some shops open. Sure enough, Pepper Lunch was the only shop open at that time (aside from Starbucks, of course).

The next morning, we headed to Kyoto. Again, in trying to explore the place, we volunteered to walk till we get to the next station (the oppposite side of the last night's stroll) where we departed for Kyoto -- and back.

On the third day, we went to Nara, and got back to Namba early afternoon. Perhaps, our strolling never got tired of us (or the other way around?) that we decided to walk again from Namba to Honmachi. That's 2 stations away, mind you. Of course, we're a bit exhausted already but looking for shops where we could buy baby products was our goal this time. Halfway through our walking saga, our luck had us enjoy our tonkatsu dinner --but not diapers and baby milk. So, that night, we gave Luke fresh milk instead, while observing him for any signs of allergy (none so far, thank heavens!).

Come fourth day -- our last day, strolling was only between sightseeing places, thanks to our friend who knows the way. ;)

In short, our Kansai tour was not only highlighted by sightseeing (see Kyoto adventure, Parts 1, 2 and 3) but also some sort of unplanned/forced wandering in search of food shops (first night) and baby essentials (2nd and 3rd night).

And oh, in most of the places we went to, toilets are not baby-friendly, and toilet paper not supplied. Just for the record. ;)

Hokkaido sceneries

Can't get enough of this beautiful place, eh? Here are some photos to lure your eyes with. Hokkaido exhibits a calm, peaceful place to live in -- no rush hour, no crowded places, no cramped houses here and there, no skyscrapers -- a countryside-scape that is truly amazing!

Hokkaido foodie photos

As promised, here are some photos of our Hokkaido galore. Enjoy! ;)

Okunomiyaki and takoyaki are both trademarks of Kansai region, but we had the chance to munch them all in Hokkaido as our friend is of Kansai origin.

Check out sites about Genghis Khan and Hokkaido.

Highlights of our Hokkaido trip

Note: Pardon for this long overdue post. I have nothing but a few lame excuses for procastinating. I know you are eager to hear what we did, what we ate, where we went, so I won't keep you waiting. ;)

To start off, I must say that this was the first and the grandest (in terms of expenses) vacation we ever had here in Japan. Some friends even wondered why on earth did we want to have a vacation in the coldest part of Japan on the coldest month of the year? Many reasons, the most significant of which (at least for us) are to chase snow, and feast on Hokkaido's superb dishes. Not only did we achieve these, we also had grand time with our friends who unselfishly accommodated us in their house.

Food, food, and more food!
We ate at home during our entire stay in Hokkaido, but it was as if we were eating out because the dishes served to us were truly superb. The likes of Genghis Khan barbeque, chawan mushi, soba, tempura and lots more I forgot what they are called. And oh, grilled mochi with seaweeds! Of course, we always had soup, different kind each day.

We went with our friends for their grocery shopping, and my eyes (not jaw) dropped as I get to see the low, low prices of seafoods and vegetables. Pumpkin, for example, was only 50yen -- about 1/3 of the price here in Tokyo. A pack of bean sprouts was goodness gracious 10yen! Crabs, lobsters, prawns and many fishes and fish eggs were, if I'm not mistaken, about half the price in Tokyo. Not to mention, they were all sold FRESH (not seemingly fresh)! Oh, it makes me want to stay in this part of Japan and devour on all those. ;)

There is only one thing I find more expensive than in Tokyo -- my baby's milk! But no choice, I had to buy a few boxes.

Shiny, white snow
Meter-high snow welcomed us when we arrived in Fukagawa. It was a fine day when we arrived there but I felt I was freezing to death. Walking on snow needs an extra care so as not to slip (it melts when the sun is up the whole day).

We played on the snow, tried to make a big snowman which turned out to be a snowdevil (that's what our friends call it). My son and I tried to make snowball. It seems so easy to make one when we watched the Teletubbies, but in reality, it was rather difficult I gave up in the end. My son enjoyed it though not minding his already wet and very cold gloves. Our friend patiently made a snowhouse, and according to him, it was warmer inside.

Just the sight of snow makes me warm inside. I don't know why, but I am kinda happy to experience such a wonderful thing and endure the very cold weather, at least for one week. On a fine day, the rays of the bright sun shine through the snow below and produces a sparkling array of stars down.

Oh, we also went tobogganing twice. Hubby enjoyed it the most. Afterwards, we headed to the onsen.

Onsen
What a comfy feeling to bathe in natural hot spring overlooking the sky and falling snow, while having a nice chat with your friend? At first, I thought I could not endure the 41-degree hot water, but as I slowly immersed myself, I started to feel good. My friend and I hopped from one pool to another, inside then outside, and back.

After almost two hours insde the onsen (that includes bath, shower, dressing up, and a few sips of tea or water), going out didn't make us feel cold anymore.

New Year's Eve
We went to the shrine near our friends' house and waited in line for our turn to hit the gong. Striking the gong is the Japanese way of waking up the townspeople and saying, "Hey. it's already 2007!" At the strike of midnight, many people suddenly showed up and queud up for their turn to show those striking power. ;)

Photos coming up in the next post! ;)

More from Chichibu City

I didn't go to Chichibu, but dear hubby did, as part of the annual tour organized by the University of Tokyo where he is currently studying (and hopefully finish by next spring).

This is a late post, so pardon me for it. But no matter how delayed it is, I find the photos worth sharing.

Chichibu is located in the western part of Saitama Prefecture. It is a mountainous area and is famous for its brewing industry, notably sake. Check out Wikipedia for more info about this suburb place.

Now, for the photos:


Wondering where this road will lead you? The yellow arrow sign actually tells you to "brace yourself, folks!"


Got any idea now? Yup, there is a road in the middle of the mountain, I mean inside the mountain.


See? A yellow bridge bridging the mountain ranges of Chichibu.


The color of nature. So cool ... so bright! Simply awesome! ;)

Yoyogi Koen in Shibuya

Sorry for this delayed post. It must have slipped my mind to post it right after we arrived home from our strolling at the huge and forest-like Yoyogi Koen, located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

We visited the park at a time when the leaves were just starting to change from the cool greens of summer to the awesome shining colors of autumn.

Here's a brief yet interesting description from Japan-Guide.com:

Yoyogi Koen (Yoyogi Park) is one of Tokyo's largest city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. It is a great place for jogging, picnicking and other outdoor activities.

Although Yoyogi Park has relatively few cherry trees compared to other sites in Tokyo, it makes a nice cherry blossom viewing spot in spring. Furthermore, it is known for its ginko tree forest, which turns intensively golden in autumn.

Before becoming a city park in 1967, the area where Yoyogi Park is located today, served as the site of the olympic village for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and before that as a residential area for US military personnel.

When we visited the park a month ago, roses of all colors abound around the entrance gate, freshly welcoming visitors and inviting them to a grand tour of the wide park proud to have numerous ginko tree species that brighten your rather gloomy day -- right in the heart of the thickly-populated Shibuya area.

It is just too bad that we aren't able to go see the trees transform in autumn colors. Maybe next time. ;)

More colorful and vibrant ...

Our friend, Rich-san, is one of the luckiest persons in the world for having the chance to work in one of the biggest and well-maintained parks/gardens in Tokyo. More than that, he is a photographer with a very keen eye for best subjects to aim his trusted camera at.

The last time we visited the park, he shared to us some of his shots, and I'm sharing them here with you. Enjoy! ;)

The colors of autumn

I was almost getting desperate and frustrated that it's already December and most leaves have fallen rendering the tree dead-like, yet I haven't even seen the wonderful colors of autumn leaves!

Well, that was only almost. Before all leaves get to fall, I got MY chance to see and experience the vast colors of autumn -- where else but in our favorite koen, Shinjuku Gyoen National Park! (We visit this park once a month, I guess)

This is my first autumn in Japan, and firsts have to be good and beautiful. It is, indeed! ;)

More photos below:






Note: Cross-posted in my G.A.N.D.A. blog. ;)

Visit to Shinjuku Gyoen

Among others, Japan is known for its neat and wide parks across the nation. In Tokyo alone, you would find at least a small yet cozy park in almost every corner, where you can briefly take a rest from a long walk. And many, including myself, would (initially) wonder why this modern society takes a big step at keeping huge parks despite its nation's relatively small land area. I guess, one would have to personally experience the peace and calmness that these places give to their visitors, like us.

Last Monday, since it was a holiday (Health and Sports Day, Taikuu no Hi) and the weather was terrribly good, we booked ourselves to breathe through the greens and cool breeze in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, right at the heart of Tokyo. What more, a Jap friend of ours who works in the Garden, paid for our entrance fees. ;)

The place itself is wide and well-maintained, giving visitors the valued time to appreciate and commune with nature -- in the midst of the hustle-and bustle megacity of Tokyo. It is a classic example of a modern western landscape garden, and thus having the stature as one of the most important gardens of the Meiji era.

The large garden exhibits three distinct but blending styles of landscape:

English Landscape Garden: A wide lawn, dotted with zelvoka, tulip poplars and other large trees that create a sense of openness in this garden.

French Formal Garden: This beautifully symmetrical garden features central rose beds flanked on either side by rows of sycamore trees.

Japanese Traditional Garden: A stream winds its way through this circuit style garden. It also includes Kyu-Goryo-Tei (also known as the Taiwan Pavilion) and two teahouses known as the Shouten-tei and Rakuu-tei.

The Garden boasts of its luxurious sights throughout the year. It was all fresh green when we went there -- the awesome color of summer. At this time,

The trees turn a lustrous shade of green, and refreshingly cool breezes blow through the woods. The roses in the French Formal Garden and in front of the Greenhouse bloom in early summer, and the water lilies of the Middle Pond draw visitors with their white and pink flowers. In high summer, the songs of hte cicadas swell into a lively chorus, and dragonflies laze over the wide lawns.

Soon, the colorful autumn leaves will decorate the whole place. And yes, we'll visit this place again to witness the gold-yellow-orange-red colors of autumn, most especially the annual "Chrysanthemum Exhibition associated with the Imperial Household" slated on November 1-15.

Click here for more photos.

Enjoy nature at its best! ;)

Picnic and fun at Odaiba

Everybody has been busy going here and there. It is a season to enjoy one's [very limited] freetime with family and friends in this weeklong holiday. As for us, we spent our whole day yesterday at Odaiba, together with some Pinoy friends. As we had expected, our "pasyal" was so much fun -- the kids got along well playing all the time, while we, the mothers, spent most of the time talking about our life and all other things while taking care of our "bulilits." The daddies also had their own enjoyment.

To start off, we met at Nishi-nippori station of the JR Yamanote line. 'Twas just funny that our friend who kindly reminded us to be there ON TIME was the one who arrived the latest. Surprisingly, we were the first comers when in fact we were the farthest from the station (about 45minutes from the house). We looked a lot like a very big family all set for a grand picnic each carrying a basket (or backpack) full of foods. So we started our journey, rode the train and got off at Shimbashi, where we transferred to the Yurikamome monorail going to Odaiba-kaihin-kouen (Odaiba Seaside Park) station. Here's my first glitch of the day: I was getting a ticket at the ticket machine when it suddenly gone crazy and out of service after I dropped a 100yen coin on it. Amidst the crowd, we asked the help of the staff and told us to stay put and wait for the machine to spit out my coin. I waited till the machine went back online but no coin appeared. To make the story short, I didn't get my coin back because, according to the staff, "I left the line without waiting for the coin to appear." Well, somebody might have been lucky enough that day to unexpectedly receive 100yen. "It is just 100yen," said the staff. JUST 100yen??? Hey, my 100yen can go a long, long way, you know, especially so in a bazaar. ;)

It was my 3rd time to visit Odaiba so I somehow knew what to expect from the place. Despite this, though, I still enjoyed every hour of our stay there as if seeing the place for the first time. Who would not enjoy such a riot company -- noisy and in an upbeat mood, laughing our hearts out, moon-walking while stopping in every corner to have our [crazy] pictures taken, feeding our already full tummies, filling our eyes with the awesome sights, and feeling the cold breeze amidst the sunny day.

Now, let's talk about the place. Odaiba is one of Tokyo's best spots with a unique ambience to offer its visitors. It is said to be a reclaimed area in Tokyo Bay which was first developed towards the end of the Edo period (1603 - 1867) as a strategic geographical protection against possible enemy attacks from the sea. The development was greatly affected, though, during the "bubble economy" period. Not wanting to waste whatever had been started, the place was redeveloped and "purpose" realigned to now serve not only pure business ventures but what has come to be widely known as a shopping and entertainment district. I would personally say that this place is kinda 'mini-USA" having its own version of the San Francisco Bridge (called the Rainbow Bridge) and the Statue of Liberty. There is also a "Little Hongkong" inside the Decks Tokyo Beach (a shopping mall) as well as the Venus Fort, a for-ladies shopping center with an ambience of the Rennaisance-period Venice, Italy. Hey, you don't need to travel around the world to see these things, because it's all here! Other "must-see" and "must-experience" in Odaiba are found at Japan-guide.com.

Our route? We got off at Odaiba-kaihin-kouen station, and walked our way through the all-woodplanks road to Decks Tokyo Beach until we reached the front of the beach overlooking the Rainbow Bridge. We found a nice shaded place where we shared our "sari-saring baon". We had adobo, tortang talong, kare-kare and tamago sushi, and crema de fruta for our dessert. Afterwards, the kids went playing at the beach while the "bulilits" soundly took their afternoon naps. There was never-ending chatting while nibbling with some "chichiriya". Then, we breezed through the nice parks on our way to the Palette Town where the kids excitedly rode the biggest Ferris Wheel in the world. For 900yen, you'll get to see most of Tokyo from above through a 16-minute ride in the slow-moving Daikanransha. Before and after getting there, we stopped at the MegaWeb (car showroom) where latest -- and old ones too! -- Toyota car models are displayed. Test driving is allowed as long as you have a valid driver's license, which none of us have, so we just took pictures of our pick. There was even a 10-minute showcase of a car of the future which, to me, looked like either a movable bedroom or a one-of-a-kind vacuum cleaner or probably an elegant sofabed with tires. No, I don't -- and won't -- dream of a car like that.

It was getting late and some of our friends left early. With only three families left, we walked down the park while witnessing the awesome sunset. At 6:35pm, we took the sea bus (aka Tokyo Water Cruise and SuijoBus) and cruised the calm waters to Hinode Pier. Yes, I was -- and still am -- afraid to ride a boat. But for experience's sake, I tried it this time. I'd say it was an experience with all the nice sights and lights I saw from the window. Well, I did not have the chance to go up in the open deck because I was carrying Luke. Besides, it was so cold up there.

After that 20-minute sea trip, we took the train from JR Hamamatsucho station to get home. We arrived home a little past 9pm, exhausted, hungry, sleepy but happy and satisfied.

Lure your eyes with more pictures at my Flickr account.
More facts about Odaiba at: Tokyo Essentials, Sugihara.com, JNTO, Odaiba Decks

Greenery Day and Golden Week

Today, April 29th, is Japan's Greenery Day (Midori-no-hi), a holiday that marks the start of the most-awaited Golden Week. April 29th used to be the birthday of Emperor Shouwa, and following his death in 1989, this day has become a day of nature appreciation since the late emperor had a strong fascination for nature and plants. In patronage to this holiday and for self-enjoyment, we went strolling at the splendid 14-ha Ueno Zoo in downtown Tokyo. The weather wasn't cooperative, though, so we arrived home earlier than expected. Nevertheless, we enjoyed what we had seen there so far. Check out my other blog for some stories.

So, the Golden Week has finally arrived. Why golden? According to Web Japan, it was "first used by movie companies to get people to take advantage of the "golden" opportunity to go see a film. The term gradually began being used by other people to refer to this string of holidays."

Yup, string of holidays. What are these holidays, by the way? Here's a detailed description from Japan-Guide.Com:

April 29
Greenery Day (Midori no hi):
April 29 used to be the birthday of Emperor Showa, who died in the year 1989. After his death, the day was changed into a national holiday for environment and nature, since the emperor loved plants and nature. From 2007, this national holiday will be renamed Showa Day, while Greenery Day will be moved to May 4.

May 3
Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi):
On this day in 1947, the new post war constitution was put into effect.

May 4
"Between Day" (Kokumin no kyujitsu):
According to Japanese law, a day which falls between two national holidays is also declared a national holiday, unless the "between day" is a Sunday, in which case it will be just a regular Sunday. From 2007, Greenery Day, currently celebrated on April 29, will be moved to May 4.

May 5
Children's Day (Kodomo no hi):
The Boy's Festival (Tango no Sekku) is celebrated on this day. Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life. The Girl's Festival, by the way, is celebrated on March 3.

Golden Week is thus one of the busiest holiday in Japan. Especially so in this year, it will be a 10-day g-r-a-n-d vacation to many. Most people travel on this season, either around Japan or overseas (check out Japan-Guide.com's 2000 survey). As for us, we have no grand plans but we want to see some nice places around.

More about Golden Week at: Web Japan and Go Japan

Have a wonderful week everyone! ;)

Spring means cherry blossoms

There is one important thing about Spring that I haven't mentioned in my earlier blog. Well, that's intentional. ;)

In Japan, the start of the SPRING season is marked by the globally-famous sakura and hanami. Sakura is the Japanese cherry blossom characterised by its awesomely pink flowers, a vibrant canopy, and a grandeus sight one could but only marvel in wonder. Hanami (hana=flower), on the other hand, is cherry blossom viewing which is a traditional Japanese way of welcoming the season. Ever wonder how hanami is done? Japan-guide.com has a handful of facts and info about this, and so with the different varieties of cherry trees found throughout Japan.

Many people, Japs and gaijins alike, thus watch out for the forecast on when to best do hanami. Since cherry blossoms normally last for about a week, you don't want to miss your chance, do you? As for me, sad to say (and I mean I AM REALLY SAD! waaahhhhh!!!), I missed this year's hanami. We still have one more spring to go, anyway.

And oh, one more thing. In case you are interested to know the best places for doing hanami in Tokyo, here is a list of the major ones. So you know where to go when you plan for your next year's hanami.

PS: The picture was taken two Springs ago, at the Imperial Palace. My smile is as pink as the cherry blossoms, isn't it? ;)