Kurt's 753

Japan celebrates boys who turn 3 or 5 years old and girls who turn 5 or 7 years old during this autumn time. We happened to stay next to Hiei Shrine the day before, so we decided to dress up in kimono and join this festivity. Biggest thanks to mom for dressing both of us. It is so much work, but really worth the effort, especially that I could wear her kimono from when she was just married.

Cherry blossom Japan

 

Monocle kid's first day of school

 

My friend Chika had prepared her son for the first day of school. Pretty.

Photo credit: Chika Yamazaki

Imari porcelains from Sweden

Of course these are originally from Japan, but I managed to buy these off of Bukowskis Market's auction from Sweden. It's assessed to be from 18-19th century and genuine Imari from Kyushu. I got it for an incredible deal, because the auction happened to end at an inconvenient time and there was no bidding war. Funny (and nice) how these old Japanese stuff can be more easily and cheaply (re)purchased in this part of the world!

The plates would go super well with these lacquer bowls as the most recent and appreciated gift from mom.

Old Japan in Yunishigawa

 

 

Icicles and broomsticks

Perfect snow and mountain view in Yunishikawa

Yunishikawa is the land of the fallen samurais of Heike from almost 1000 years ago. It makes sense that they hid here, as it was so deep in the mountains and snow that nobody could possibly chase after them. It was like time had stopped, just here.

Perfect cafe break near Nikko Toshogu

 

This Lancatlague Cafe in Nikko was a perfect break from the sightseeing and the sequence of nice Japanese food.

Lancatlgue Cafe Nikko
Address: 4-1 Yasukawacho | 2 Fields, Nikko 321-1432, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Phone: +81 288-53-1193

Nikko Toshogu in Tochigi

 

Nikko Toshogu was as magnificent as a World Heritage should be. It's a common destination for school trips, but now as an adult you can really marvel at the grandiosity of the place. Interestingly, it looks a lot more glamorous than the shrines in Tokyo, perhaps because it was meant to show off the power of Ieyasu or that was the trend back then? It was like a little city in itself, with multiple buildings and at different levels of the mountain.

A shrine in the mountain near Mount Fuji

 

 

A beautiful shrine in the mountains near Shosenkyo in Yamanashi.

Kosaku in Yamanashi

I have been the most committed customer to this place Kosaku since childhood. It used to be one of the few options in Isawa Onsen, where we own a hotspring place. Now it's become one of the few more places to go to. They serve hoto, a thicker version of udon noodle in a miso based soup. My favorite is pork hoto, but I also like their ozara, which is a colder version hoto with tempura on the side. Yum!

Kosaku
Address: 73-3 Isawacho Kubonakajima, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi
Phone: +81-55-263-5421

Japanese new year food "osechi"

 

Like during Christmas in the west, you are not supposed to cook food the first few days of January once new year starts.  This is one example of such food called osechi with a lot of festive colors.

New year visit to Hie Shrine in Akasaka

Happy new year! It's been a traditional family gathering this new year, and we paid a visit to the Hie Shrine in Akasaka to make new year wishes for the family. Thanks for the wonderful and eventful 2014 and looking forward to more in 2015!

As with most Japanese shrines and temples, there were street venders selling some yummy pancakes and noodles. Good food to eat outside in the super cold weather.

Beautiful susuki covered mountains

Noshiyu ryokan

Kurokawa Onsen (in my dictionary) is the most perfect little hotspring town (in the world). The ryokan Noshiyu is an agglomeration of everything traditional, comfortable, and chic paying tribute to genuinely old and traditional things and scenes.





The lounge was particularly nice to spend time to relax..