Yamate in Yokohama, Kanagawa

Yamate is located in Yokohama city, 30 minutes from Tokyo central station.
The area is famous as foreigners' neighborhood from 1860’s. Some of those classic houses such as a former British diplomat's house were designated as the important cultural assets of Japan and open to the public.

↑Ehrismann Residence by Antonin Raymond, Czech architect

↑Diplomat's house by J.M.Gardiner, American architect

 

↑Bluff No.18

 

↑Japanese residence built in 1909.

Without admission, you can enter inside those houses.
The architecture is really interesting.
For those people interested in architecture as well as history of opening Yokohama port, it must be very good place to visit.



＜Guide Memo＞外国人が洋館に興味あるかといえばNOでしょう。
ただ横浜（みなとみらい、中華街など）を案内することはあるので、時間調整でドライブすることはあります。（私は2度山手をバスで案内しました。）
洋館はどれも素敵。中も無料で入れます。これまたかなり素敵♪
万が一、建築とかに興味があり、ウォーキングでまわるなら、2時間～3時間要

Tokyo Sky Tree had NO Damage

The Tokyo Sky Tree, which is under construction, had no damage by the massive 3.11 earthquake, and its construction work has been continued.
The tower reached its full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft) in March 18th just after the quake and has become the tallest tower in the world.

This photo is taken just on the gound of Tokyo sky tree.　It is huge...

This photo is taken from Asakusa, located within walking distance.

Tokyo sky tree is already a very popular tourist destination among Japanese people.



＜Guide Memo＞地震にもびくともしなかった東京スカイツリー。
構造上の被害なし。けが人なし。
地震後も工事は続行。地震から1週間後の3月18日、ひそかに634M達成。
浅草から10分の距離です。散歩道はさほど面白くもないけれど、天気が良ければ、アサヒビールの横を通り、散策もいいかも。

Small Japanese Garden in Sensoji, Asakusa

Sensoji temple in Asakusa is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo dates back to 628.
It is a must place to visit and most visitors enjoy the main temple and Nakamise shopping arcade on its ground.

↑Inside the main temple

↑Besides those, small Japanese garden is recommended.
Some of visitors skip or miss the garden. But it is absolutely beautiful.
Not so many people are there, so the garden is like your private garden, in which various kinds of plants including sakura or cherry blossoms and Japanese koi or carps can be seen.

↑The stone bridge was built in 1618 and the oldest stone bridge in Tokyo.



＜Guide Memo＞FITの時は、ここは、必ず案内します。
境内と仲見世の雑踏と違い、静かな小さなお庭。
小さいながらも、お庭の中で、東京最古の石橋、朝倉氏の彫刻を見ることができます。
鯉は、どのゲストも喜びます♪

Nadaman Shinjuku,Tokyo

Nada-man is a very famous Japanese restaurant.
Nada-man in Shinjuku is located on the 14th floor of Odakyu Department store.
We can choose a counter specialized in Templa, Sushi, Teppan-yaki, which has an elegant atmosphere.
Also, you can choose a table and you can order whatever you want.

This is a templa lunch at ￥2,980 excluding 10% service charge.
The appetizer includes salad, jelly like food made of devil’s tongue and egg soup.

The main includes two small prawns, a white fish, mushrooms and vegetable Templa.

This is a Kakiage-Templa, a mixture of vegetables and prawns.

The desert, sherbet is included in templa lunch, and coffee is not.

Food Taste:★★★
Food Volume:★★★
Atmosphere: specialized counter ★★★★, table ★★★
Hospitality:★★★★



＜Guide Memo＞なだ万新宿店、立地がいいです。新宿駅直結小田急デパート14階。
ランチは、2500円～。雰囲気は、カウンターの方が◎。ウェイトレスさんは、みな着物きて、接客◎。
ランチにお金を使えるゲストには、なかなかいいレストランです。
量は、女性にちょうどいい。男性には足りないかも。

Hyobaku Matsuri Festival in Sōunkyō, Hokkaido

Sōunkyō is a range of gorges located in Kamikawa, situated in the Daisetsuzan National Park.
It is one of the most popular hot spring resorts as well as waterfalls and magnificent cliffs scenery.

From January to March, another popular attraction is Hyobaku Matsuri Festival.

Many ice statues and objects are constructed, some of which are colourfully illuminated.
The admission is free.

It is absolutely impressive and worth visiting.

The view in day time around Sōunkyō.

＜Guide Memo＞
はじめていった冬の層雲峡。夏よりも素晴らしい景色に感動。
地元のガイドさんも、層雲峡の雪景色は圧巻だと言っていました。
氷爆祭りは、本当にすばらしい。
北海道各地で行われている雪まつりに行ったことがないので、比較ができないのだけれど、
行く価値あり。イルミネーションが感動的。
JTB、近畿日本ツーリスト、日本旅行、沢山の旅行代理店がスポンサーになり氷爆を作っています。
ここの彫刻は、水を自然な形で固めたもの。
彫刻は基本的にはしていません。
自然にできた氷に美を楽しめます。

Tancho-Cranes in Kushiro, Hokkaido

Tancho-Cranes became Natural Heritage in 1935, and were appointed as Special Natural Heritage in 1952.
They are large cranes and the second rarest cranes in the world.
I went to Tsurumidai feeding area.
 They are really beautiful! I was so impressed.

 

Tancho-Cranes dance is performed to show love and find a partner.
Unfortunately I could not see the dance.
It usually can be seen from the mid-February to the beginning of March.I would recommend going somewhere to see Tancho if you are in Kushiro in Hokkaido.
Besides Tsurumidai feeding area, we have other places for the wild life.

Admission Free

 [＜Guide Memo＞
タンチョウは、本当に美しい。
写真がうまく撮れていなくって残念。。。
テレビで見るより、写真で見るより、実物は圧巻です。
釧路に行くことがあれば、ぜひ立ち寄った方がいいと思います。
野生動物に興味があるゲストには、おすすめです。
鶴見台入場無料。釧路市街から車で25分。

Snow Monkey, Nagano

Zigokudani-Onsen is the only place where monkeys enjoy hot springs.
They are wild monkeys and soak in hot springs to survive in such cold winter of northern mountain.

Wild monkeys act in group and monkey’s society is hierarchical.
A big one is the boss in Zigokudani monkey’s group.

Baby monkey’s are so lovely and so sweat.
I would strongly recommend visiting this place!




＜Guide Memo＞気温が高く（5度くらい？）、日が差している日は、お猿さん達お風呂に入っていません。
1匹しか入っていない日がありました。地獄谷は、雪の日、寒い日がおすすめ。
ただし寒い日は、10分で凍えます。暖かい日は、1時間以上滞在可能です。