Month: March 2017

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food

Surprise Gift: Yoku Moku

Posted on by sonokotchi

My friend gave me a gift.
Yoku Moku is a famous Japanese confectionery maker and their confectioneries are delicious!

This is a special gift edition and these are in specially designed box – so sweet.

In Japan, we call 14 March, White Day.

Japanese commercial sector is so clever. 

Japanese chocolate manufacturers set the trend and culture for girls to send a chocolate to express her feeling on 14 February.

To boost purchasing power in Japan, Japanese retailers created White Day (14 March) for boys to return an appreciation for chocolate.

These gift packages are now consumed by young ladies to reward themselves.

Perhaps, this is why we can still find cute packaged products.

Posted in Beauty, Feelings, Friends, Health, Japan Technology

Self Spa

Posted on by sonokotchi

My friend gave me this nice eye mask, Megurizumu, last Thursday.

My eyes are tired from looking at PC, iPad and iPhone; time to relax.

I lay on the bed and opened a package.

This eye mask will heat to 40C once open the package.


I massaged my head with my own fingers while eye mask was heated for 10 mins.

I cannot write any more because I’m so sleepy.

Good night.

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Pilgrimage, Place, River, Shrine and Temple, Travel, Waterfalls

Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage (Day 2)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Sayonara Kushimoto Royal Hotel.


And I enjoyed varieties of food at breakfast.

Wakayama is the largest production of sour plum in Japan; I tried my first sour plum porridge.


We are at the tip of the Kii Peninsula; therefore, we need to drive back over 200 km.

We stayed in bus for long; but I enjoyed scenery from a window.

I looked at Hashigui from the other side.


The scenery is so peaceful.


First we stopped at Nachi no Taki (Nachi Falls).

This is the tallest waterfall in Japan (133 m).

No. 1 Seigantoji

This is the World Heritage Site.


Main Temple


We can view Nachi Falls from here, too.


This temple is next to Kumano Nachi Taisha (shrine).

There is a simple gate to divide the two.


This Miagatahikosha is for safe travel and safe drive.

Obviously, I love traveling so I need God’s blessing.

In addition, Yatagarasu gets me excited.

This shrine is for Yatagarasu as well.

If you look carefully in a picture, you will find a crow with three legs.

Yatagarasu is used in design of Japanese national football team’s uniform because it plays a role as a guidance.

There is a hope that Yatagarasu would lead a Japanese national team to a victory.

Go Japan!


I also prayed for my good health by writing a wish board and to walk through 1,000 year old tree.




Time’s up!

I rushed back to the bus.

I continued enjoying scenery from a window again.

The water of Kumano River is so blue!


There is a boat to enjoy a river cruise, but we didn’t have time for that.

Perhaps, next time.


This is my lunch today.


I bought my own dessert: sour plum ice cream!


Next is the final destination of this trip.

No. 5 Fujiidera

Last sutra recite at the temple.

I love to visit Temples and Shrines because I can feel and touch real Japanese culture.

Many of them are located at peaceful places (mountain with full of trees, scenic ocean, etc).

I feel refresh visiting these temples and shrines and blessed.



We reached Shin-Osaka Station to catch a  shinkansen back home.



Ate dinner on Shinkansen.


Once I reach home, I take a shower and go to bed.

I plan to visit other 29 temples later this year.

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Pilgrimage, Place, Shrine and Temple, Sunrise and Sunset, Travel

Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage 

Posted on by sonokotchi

Last November I conducted the Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage.

This time, I came to Saigoku (the Western region of Japan) to visit 4 temples in weekend for the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.


Thirty-three temples are located in as many as six prefectures such as Gifu, Shiga, Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama, Osaka and Hyogo.

I departed Tokyo for Osaka by Shinkansen (bullet train) early morning at 7:20 pm.


I had pork sandwich for breakfast.


Last November, I also started the Pilgrimage from here.

Bus departed from here, the same place.


First, we went to No. 3 Kokawadera.

This temple is located in Wakayama Prefecture.

I don’t remember visiting Wakayama; this could be my first trip to Wakayama.

For Shikoku Pilgrimage, we followed the number of Temple; however, for Shikoku, I was told we don’t need to follow number.


This temple is huge and beautiful.

Main temple looks far left.


This is the Main Temple.


Kawazu Zakura is beautiful.


The town is nicely decorated with Hina Ningyo.

Every 3 March, Hina Ningyo is decorated to wish for health and happiness for daughters.

Hina Ningyo is passed down to generations.

This must be antique Hina Ningyo.


We had a lunch box on bus for lunch.


No. 2 Kongoji (Kimiidera)


We climbed many steep stairs to Main Temple.


Main Temple


The ceiling is decorated with celestial maidens.


There is a Pagoda.


We could specially view the largest wooden Kannon today.

I hope you are blessed, too.


Before we check-in hotel, we stopped by to see amazing nature – strange stones: Hashigui Iwa.

It does look like as if these are foundations of bridge.

Hashigui means foundations of bridge and iwa means stones.

Amazing and beautiful.


We reached to the tip of Kii Peninsular to check-in at Kushimoto Royal Hotel.

A room is spacious.



I could see sunset from my room before dinner.


Dinner is nice.

Fresh, delicious and the right portion – not too little, not too much.

Continued enjoying local food at the room: ponkan orange, ume (Japanese apricot) and Kinkan (kumquat) juice, and water.


Wakayama is nice place to visit.

I’m Japanese; but there are still many places to be explored! 

Posted in Feelings, Food, Surprise, World Culture

Surprise Gift

Posted on by sonokotchi

I received a gift; I don’t know what.

It seems it’s from China.

It looks Chinese tea…?


I don’t understand Chinese, but being Japanese, I can understand Chinese characters.

I read it these are Chinese tea that served during 2016 G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China.

It must be delicious.

I look forward to enjoying it!!!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Tokyo, World Culture

Old and New…? Aroma Diffusers and Tsim Sha Tsui, Roppongi

Posted on by sonokotchi

Today, I saw this type of handy electric aroma diffuser for the first time.


And a nicely decorated traditional type.

I might be wrong; I think this is a middle eastern aroma diffuser.

How interesting; these are the same diffuser for the same function.


After walking around the exhibition hall, I became very hungry.

I had a nice dinner at my favorite Chinese restaurant Tsim Sha Tsui, Roppongi.

I will post about this restaurant till I get many LIKEs because their food is so delicious!

Posted in Diving, Exercise, Feelings, Food, Japanese Food, Mt. Fuji, Place, Tokyo, Travel

Birthday Sunday

Posted on by sonokotchi

Woke up early for diving.


Enjoyed typical Japanese breakfast, dried fish is local speciality.


Thank you Minshuku Otsuka, we might come back again.


Took a ferry to reach Hatsushima.


Today, we could see a great view of Mt. Fuji from a diving shop: Sea Front Hatsushima.


After diving at Futatsune, we took a bath, ocean water hot spring at Hatsushima Island Resort.

Nice salty hot spring bath.


I found Iseebi (Japanese Lobster, local specialty) designed manhole.

Cute, isn’t it?


Time to go back…


Sayonara Atami, Shizuoka!


I was caught in a traffic jam, but safely arrived home.


I had a craving for Kohien’s torisoba (chicken noodle).


I tkink I celebrated my birthday 10 times better to compensate my lost birthday celebration.

I’m happy!

By the way, curry is a hidden menu of Kohien.

It’s not listed on a menu, but it’s their popular dish!

Posted in Diving, Exercise, Feelings, Food, Japanese Food, Place, Travel

Hatsushima, then Usami Onsen (Hot Spring)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I came to Hatsushima for diving.

It’s about two hours away from Tokyo by car.



We dived at Futatsune.

It’s cold today (15C in water), but it was fun.

I saw a Japanese angel shark twice; both of them are female.

She is flat and got many freckles.

I also saw a Hatsushima’s idol, Jaw Fish.

He is cute in pink!

Then I saw a group of kibomago (silver-stripe round herring). 

It was nice.

I haven’t started taking photos so you need to find out how these looks by yourself…Sorry…

This was my lunch at Hatsushima.


Hatsushima is a small island.


It is my first trip to Hatsushima and I like it!

I would like to visit again.

Tonight, staying at minshuku (Japanese casual inn) Otsuka, Usami Onsen.

It’s nice and cozy.


It has a nice ocean view from a room.


But be careful; their bath is hot.


After dipping to their onsen (hot spring).

I enjoyed delicious food; I had fugu (blow fish) course dinner.

It’s worth visiting from Tokyo.


There are many dishes; these are some of close up photos that I enjoyed very much.


It’s still 9 o’clock, but ready to sleep on futon.

Good night.

I’m sure I won’t dream tonight. hahaha


Posted in Beauty, Feelings, Food, Japanese Food, Tokyo

My Birthday

Posted on by sonokotchi

I took a day off on my birthday to celebrate 10 times more!

I’ve been in charge of project that takes a place in this time of year for over a decade.

I was too busy not able to celebrate my birthday over a decade.

This year I managed other officer to be in charge. 

It’s nice sunny day.


I had a quality time to beautify myself.


Then I had a nice Tempura dinner at Tempura Mikaku, Roppongi.

We are regular there; we always enjoy their food and conversation with restaurant people.

They are so cute♪

Double Wakasagi (Japanese pond smelt).


If I end my birthday like this, it’s another ordinary day.

My birthday celebration will continue tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. 

To Be Continued…..