2017年11月8日水曜日

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Megurogajoen is the hotel which is famous for 100 ...

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Megurogajoen is the hotel which is famous for 100 ...: Megurogajoen is the hotel which is famous for 100 step stars, 100 dan kaidan in Japanese. left.steps right entrance of exhibition All...

Ikebana, Japanese flower arrangement at hotel Megurogajoen

Megurogajoen is the hotel which is famous for 100 step stars, 100 dan kaidan in Japanese.
left.steps right entrance of exhibition
All room, celling, wall, and poles are decorated. some are painted, the others are curved.
wall were painted like old style kimono, pillar were carved like 3D!

the reason why I went there is that the hotel has held flower arrangement event, Ikebana. 
one of Ikebana which was in this term.

This one looked like two ladies in painting is looking down flowers!












I heard these decoration inspired Hayao Miyazaki's animation, Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi.
those are elevaitor's door. Paintings were made from shell's inside.

In hotele, there is pound. paintings are on the walls. mood like film!


somehow, flower arrangements are matched to mood. 
the event is held untill 26th November. entrance fee is 1500 yen. in the hotel, there are cafes and restaurant. but this hotel is kind of luxury one. I saw cafe's mune is so so. 

In ftont of cafe, there is waterfall and bridge!


Ikebana is type of flower arrangement, but it could say art!
aw cafe's mune is so so.
Ikebana is type of flower arrangement, but it could say art!
flyer of Ikebana
PS.fee is 1500 yen! 




2017年9月23日土曜日

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Enjoy watching full moon- Ostukimi, the event of a...

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Enjoy watching full moon- Ostukimi, the event of a...: the event of autumn, tsukimi is that we enjoy looking up full moon. it is said the moon of september and october is one of the biggest in ...

Enjoy watching full moon- Ostukimi, the event of autumn

the event of autumn, tsukimi is that we enjoy looking up full moon. it is said the moon of september and october is one of the biggest in year. Japanese people thank God for crop. Ostukimi dango, kind of moti, sanpo, which is put on Ostukimidango, Susuki, the plant of autumn, and some autumn vegitables we preparfor decoration.
the first pic is that I have done in lesson. the others
are that I did later. I don't have any decoration tool, so just did my belongs.
under the full moon, shade fall down to ground. I love this event the best!

2017年9月10日日曜日

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Tokyo has a lot of beautiful area in countryside.t...

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Tokyo has a lot of beautiful area in countryside.t...: Tokyo has a lot of beautiful area in countryside. this area is in Ome, western side of tokyo. Last weekend, l went to a cafe, charaku .  it...
Tokyo has a lot of beautiful area in countryside.
this area is in Ome, western side of tokyo.
Last weekend, l went to a cafe, charaku画像に含まれている可能性があるもの:飲み物、食べ物
it's beside of river, so we can see great scenery!
the photo of old style house is soba noodle restaurant, Tamagawa-ya.画像に含まれている可能性があるもの:家、空、屋外、自然
I saw peoples on the boat in river. this river'name is Tama. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of cafe and boat.

Fresh air, surrounded by woods and river make you happy definitely!
Mitake is famous for Mitake mountain. On the top of mountain, there is small town of shrine. I had a cup of coffee there after going to shrine. it's so tasty I've eve drunk so far!

2017年9月2日土曜日

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : The event of Semtember Chouyou no Seku

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : The event of Semtember Chouyou no Seku: The decoration of September's event, Chouyou no Seku The most important thing of this decoration is kiku flower. In...

The event of Semtember Chouyou no Seku



The decoration of September's event, Chouyou no Seku


The most important thing of this decoration is kiku flower. In Japanese, kiku also means listen and hear. this event is for old peoples. so we should listen many things from them. Like Haiku and Waka, Japanese poem tends to have a lot of meaning in one words.
September is the month which is heading to one year's left term. old people are at the climbing down point of their life.
The red bag was used to use for medition in Edo era.
A white one on kiku flower ball is cotton.
Cotton gets spirit from kiku flower and we sweep our boby to get knowledge, like knowledge from old peoples.
the white plate is filled with Sake which has floating pieces of kiku flower. we drink it,
it also means getting knowledge from them.
the event's day is 9th September.
3/3 is girl's day
5/5 is boy's day
7/7 is man and woman's day
9/9 is old people's day!

2017年7月23日日曜日

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Obon, One of Japanese traditional event which mean...

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Obon, One of Japanese traditional event which mean...: In Japan, there are s lot of traditinal event. Obon is one of that. To welcome back our ancestors, you should get ready decorations. Abo...

Obon, One of Japanese traditional event which meaning welcoming dead ancestors

In Japan, there are s lot of traditinal event. Obon is one of that.
To welcome back our ancestors, you should get ready decorations.
Above picture is some of that. Ancestors come to on the seat and 2 days stay there.
They come there by riding cucumber horse, and go back by eggplant cow. As descendants, we burn branch on the plate beside entrance. Dead ancestor get notice smoke which their descendants fire. And trail that to right home.
The seat means on the water. Dead people can't come back on the ground. They usually live in heaven, we call there, higan, means that world. So to meet them and stay this world, we ready place, Nakasora. Nakasora means the middle of living world and heaven. The seat is made by using water grass.

Each vegetables has also meanings.  In these kind of event, temple and shrine, we use five color.
White, red, blue, purple, yellow. This is basic one. All color have meanings.

In this Obon's decolation, White is peach, red is water melon, yellow is grape, purple is eggplant.
And blue is cucumber. Old days, Japanese people said blue which color was green. This weird calling is still remain in traffic signal. When I was a kid, my mom told me when a traffic signal turns blue, we could start walking. But there isn't any color of blue in traffic signal as all country alike.
I was confusing! Hahaha.

An ogre means fire. Fire should be put right side, and flower should be put lest side. In this decoration, instead of real flower, I put a paper which has flower print.

After two days stay, they go back to heaven. And we used to all Obon decorations  shed into the river. People believed   over the sea, there is a heaven.

Talking of me, I ate watermelon which was used above decoration. I washed it with salt to cleanse before eating.

It was soooo delicious.


2017年7月9日日曜日

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : cafe and Onsen and Antique shop in Tokyo-

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : cafe and Onsen and Antique shop in Tokyo-: Surrounded by woods, river, and Onsen-hot spring. This is Iwakura onsen in Ome, Tokyo. Japanese style hotel in Iwakura onsen. In myt...

cafe and Onsen and Antique shop in Tokyo-

Surrounded by woods, river, and Onsen-hot spring. This is Iwakura onsen in Ome, Tokyo.
Japanese style hotel in Iwakura onsen.


In myth era, a famous man, Yamato Takeru visited here to cure his injured.

I went there last week to have teatime with friends. But before that, I have been there to enjoy lunch and bath.

The cafe I went last week is named Cafe Yuba. In front of it, there is a pond. The cafe has balcony, so could enjoy food or teatime outside with seeing pond and hearing bird's sounds.

Cafe's door and stone statue close by.


Iwakura onsen has some hotel. If you want, you could only enjoy lunch and bath without staying all night.
Inside of cafe and cake and tea.

Thins area is next to Saitama prefecture. Within 15 minutes driving, you could get to Moomin Park  

Moomin family's house and Moomin's lake house in the park, 
We can go into Moomin family's house which has small furniture for Moomins.


After teatime, we headed to go there, but on the way, we glanced at the signboard which was written here is an antique shop.
Left above:The shop's outside, Left below: many Buddha statues are there.
Right: these are stuffed turtle which used to be put in pharmrcy

It's small, but amazing things in it!!!!

Big statues, big bases, paintings, furniture, and so on.


Not only Japanese things.

It's like a museum. Since this area is countryside, just driving is very fun.
Breath natural air, feel green.


Spend the time there where the old legend still left.

2017年7月8日土曜日

Kanda Myoujin- Kanda shrine at Kanda ―ward off bad luck

Nagoshi no Harai means  the ceremony about warding off bad luck in June and December in shrine. It's famous in Kyoto and Osaka erea. But some shrine do in Tokyo.

I went Kanda Myoujin, one of the big shrine in Tokyo at the end of June.
 Above: left-the gate of shine, middle-statue of Daikoku, kind of God, Right-water fall in shine
Below:the old cafe next to the gate and showcase.


There is a big ring made from straw which people could walk through into there.
Above-left;the main gate of shrine,right:the well where you wash
Below:inside of shrine,and right side of shrine. 

Each time you visit shrine, you should wash your hands and swipe mouth at the well.

Then there is a big straw ring.. At first you should stand at the middle of it, and then start to walk like 8. You should begin your walking from lest side ring.
The straw ring is named Chino-wa.

Left and right to the middle is the one term. Three term you should keep on walking.

I guess there are many people who do same as you. If you don't know how to do, just fallow them! Haha!

This is the ceremony for health throughout summer to autumn.

I'm not a believer of Shinto, Japanese old religion, but like almost Japanese people like, I believe  something spiritual in nature. Japanese people traditionally believe there are Gods in nature.

This ceremony is kind of that. The change of season, people tend to lose their physical condition.
So Nagoshi no harai includes hope to spend the days in healthy.

Nagoshi mieans spending summer. Na is the word which shortened Nastu, summer.

Goshi means Kos, spend.  No means of, Harai is that go off, brow off.

I just heard there is a Japanese sweat that the people who did it eat after this ceremony.

Minastuki is the name of it.

If you are interested, take a look a link showed.

The white parts means ice, Azuki, Japanese sweat beans are on the top.

Azuki is believed to ward off bad luck.

This is that people has kept doing from myth era.

If you want to go, please check this link. Next time is in December.

It's ok not join is, just take pictures.

2017年6月4日日曜日

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Shiofune Kannon t...

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Shiofune Kannon t...: Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Shiofune Kannon temple full of blooming flower, Az... : Shiofune kannon temple is in Ome where is west sid...

Antique market at Takahata Fudow temple in Hino

Takahata Fudow temple is in Hino C where is eastern side of Tokyo.
Each third Sunday, an antique market is hold. You cold check the day here.

http://kanagawa-antique-market.crayonsite.net/p/3/



This temple is popular in east area of Tokyo. During new year days, people come to here to greet God. New year greeting is called Hatsumoude.

Hatsu means first, moude means go. There is long long queue in front of main house, Odou.


In the market day, stallman take their stuff, Kimono, statue, vase, dish, and so on.

Some one is sold just 100 yen, 500 yen, but another one is sold over 10.000 yen.
Left:woods statues are One of  '7 god, new year day's god who give fortune to you.
Right:mede by real far!

Left:It's also real pig's face! scary. Middle:shape of moon bear, monkey actor. In ancient Japan, monkey was god.
Right: silver cake server. few shop sell European goods.  
Left:old Japanese  summer good.
Right:They are like real mice.



You could negotiate with master of stall.


There are a few way to go. Using monorail, Using Keio train or car.

I saw some foreigner there, so stallman might speak in easy English. Even I listened French too.

A pagoda is beautiful, the mood of temple is nice. there are some food stall too. Yakisoba noodle, Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki stall, I saw.
Left:pagoda. Right: there is a pond and bridge and little shrine in the Island.

Left below :shrine of female god, Benten.
:
Takoyaki! Tasty!!


Under the Pagoda, there is underground to have break. There are tables to eat, and free tea and water server too.

After eating, you should  return your trash where you bought.

The temple is next to mountain. I heard there are path in the mountain. You could enjoy walking after shopping too.

The parking is free. It's opened from 7 to 4 o'clock.

If you take there by train, there are some restaurant,
Getting on the monorail make you exciting.   

A pond has Koi and red bridge. Pray to Japanese God! It's deffinitly fantastic day! 


2017年5月13日土曜日

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Shiofune Kannon temple full of blooming flower, Az...

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Shiofune Kannon temple full of blooming flower, Az...: Shiofune kannon temple is in Ome where is west side of Tokyo. It's countryside. Mountains, river, and banboo woods are there. In t...

Shiofune Kannon temple full of blooming flower, Azalea

Shiofune kannon temple is in Ome where is west side of Tokyo. It's countryside.
Mountains, river, and banboo woods are there.

In this season, it is holding flower festival.
This temple was built by a legend woman who was said that she ate mermaid's meat a long long time ago, like over 1000 years ago.

In Japan, there are a lot of this type of stories. She was said she was born in Wakasa, the old name of prefecture next to Kyoto, Fukui.

She had walked around Japan, so she might had be "they", shrine maidens.

She was said she could live forever, because of mermaid's meat. Old Japanese people thought it make people live forever.

Her name was Yao bikuni. Yao means 800, bikuni means sister, maiden.

Shiofune Kannon temple was  built in around 650.

It has a festival of Yamabushi. Yamabushi is a kind of monk who do strict training in mountain.

In the festival, they walk on the fire!!!

Back to the topics if flowers, this flower's name is Tstustuji, kind of azalea.

It has many color, pink, white, purple and red.

Round shape is old Japanese garden style.

This area is not so close to station, so scenery has still old Japanese mood, like it used to be.

Among the flowers, there are small path.




On the hill, there is a big statue of standing Buddha.









This is a bell you can ring after paying 100 yen.

The sounds of bell reflect in the hill.










The entrance of temple
Don't forget about the trees of entrance.







Most of shrine have two tree which are worshiped like god. If you see old tree tied with white rope, people believe these tree are belonged by God.

In old ages, people worshiped big stone as a god. It's nature beliefs like whole human has in their instinct.

Even Flowers don't bloom, the atmosphere of temple is nice.
 

2017年5月6日土曜日

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Temple Fukagawa fudou

Tokyo beautiful@ -Fun, Amazing : Temple Fukagawa fudou: Using Sobu line from Tokyo sta, within 15 minutes, there is a temple Fukagawa fudou . In front of Fukagawa Fudou To Fukagawa Fudo...

Temple Fukagawa fudou

Using Sobu line from Tokyo sta, within 15 minutes, there is a temple Fukagawa fudou.
In front of Fukagawa Fudou


To Fukagawa Fudou, there is narrow path.

Most of all temple and shrine in Japan have this kind of pass which there are cafe, store and restaurant.

This kind of path is called Sandou.

San-dou means birth canal.   San means birth, dou means path of baby going from uterus.

The famous Sansou is Omotesandou in Aoyama and Harajuku.

Omotesandou is birth canal of Meiji Jingu shrine.







By the way, this is a branch temple of Narita san Shinshouji temple in Chiba, next prefecture of Tokyo.

As I wrote yesterday's blog, there was a man who rebelled against emperor over 1000 years ago in Kanto erea. Kanto area is Tokyo, Saitama and Kanagawa and so on.

His name is Masakado Taira.

Narita san Shinshouji temple was built to surrender the ghost of him in 939.

In 1881, it was thought the temple was needed a branch in Edo.

So Fukagawa fudou was built.

The house of temple was renovated newly.

In this temple, there is an amazing beautiful tunnel!!!


This is the scenery of it. There are many many many small Fudou Myouou,  kind of Buddha, made from woods and being put them into boxes of crystal!!!


Couldn't close your mouth!!  How many buddha are there!!

This tunnel was built for pray. So some of them have someone's name.






The well(Left)/Smoking vase,
people let their head close to it to get smoke to brain.
 becouse this smoke make us smarter!  (Right)





The rule of visiting temple or shrine, at first you should wash your hands and mouth at well.


In front of them, there must be a box for coin and bell over your head.


You could buy Omikuji, a fortune paper.(Left)/Coin box is the brown one which a boy was trying to(right)


Throw your coin to the box, clap your hand twice and close your eyes.

In your heart, you should tell who you are, where you from, and say your wish.

After that, take a bow and leave there.
These kind of monster protect shrine.


If you go to Fukagawa fudou, there is a entrance of inside of temple next to the coin box.
Take your shoes, and there is a map.

There is a stone bridge which has light reflection of old India's letter, statues of buddha, roomm,

and crystal tunnel!!

You could definitely feel sanctuary here!




Since this area is old place, there are some interesting shrine, cafe, and so on.

Tomioka Hachimangu is also famous around here. Once a month, they hold antique market.

It's just 2 minutes from Fukagawa fudou.

I went an antique market, it's fan!

After going to there, you could enjoy eating sweats!