I feel down because I feel I’ve done something stupid…
I’ve done these to uplift my feeling.
1. Get some fresh air to calm down
2. Exercise for 30 mins
3. Take a bath for 20 mins.
I try to go to bed early tonight.
Sleeping is the best medicine.
Month: July 2018
Weekend Trip to Kyoto (Day 3)
I had Namafu Manju which are made by flour gluten for breakfast.
There are Matcha (green tea), shiro miso (white miso) and koshian (red bean).
We could stay till noon but we checked out to explore Kyoto.
First, we went to Sanjusangendo (Sanjusangendo Temple).
There are 1.001 Juichimen-Senju-Sengen Kannon (11 Faces-Thousand Arms-Thousand Eyes Kanzeon) Buddhist deities.
We are not allowed to take any photos inside of Main Hall so you need to visit to see them with your own eyes.
These are amazing.
I sat at outside of the Main Hall to enjoy peaceful moment.
This is where I sat.
This is the view from the Main Hall.
There is a nice Japanese garden.
There is a spiritual well.
A Buddhist monk dreamed about this well.
Water is cool and delicious.
This well never dried up and never too much.
The sound of welling is like sound of sobbing; therefore, this well is called Yonaki Sen (the origin of Night Crying).
This water can also calm down night crying babies.
After spending peaceful moments at Sanjusangendo, we took a lunch break at Maeda Coffee at Kyoto National Museum.
I had a Roast Beef Don (roast beef rice) with salad set and Torarin (Kyoto National Museum’s Character) Uji Matcha (Uji Green Tea) Cappuccino.
We continued exploring to Toyokuni Jinja (Toyokuni Shrine).
It’s a beautiful shrine.
This shrine worship Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Japanese Shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi.
Hideyoshi was farmer then he climbed up the ladder to become Shogun who unified whole Japan for the first time.
He used gourds for his symbol when he was just a horse-riding worrier.
He added a gourd one by one after he won a war.
That is why gourd is a symbol of success and there is a gourd vine.
Next to Toyokuni Jinja, there is Hoko-ji (Hoko Temple).
Hideyoshi built a large Buddha, but it broke when Fushimi Large Earthquake hit the area in 1596.
The bell is from the original from Hideyoshi era.
We can see two white boxes on the bell.
These words triggered a war between Toyotomi and Tokugawa.
Tokugawa won and started Tokugawa era: Edo Jidai (Edo Era).
Next, we visited Yogenin (Yogen Temple).
This place looks peaceful from outside, but this Temple is known as Chitenjo (Blood Ceiling).
This temple is built to calm down warriers’ souls who lost their lives by harakiri because of losing a war.
The floorings of Fushimi-Jo (Fushimi Castle) are now used as ceiling.
We can see Taisho (Master) of body, hands, feet, etc.
This temple is decorated by arts of famous Japanese painter, Tawaraya Sotatsu (Sotatsu Tawaraya).
We are not allowed to take photos here so I can only share partially with these postcards.
There are other places to pray: Byakue Benzaiten.
Bishamonten
Shirataka Ryujin
At last, we visited Hojuji (Hoju Temple).
The Main God is Migawari Fudomyo.
This Fire of God replaces bad fortune for us.
I quickly pray to other Gods and Goddess.
This is a mark for 100 times payer.
I thought we might not able to visit many places today; but we did.
I bought a Kyoto Cuisine obento (packed food) for dinner.
Weekend Trip to Kyoto (Day 2)
I had obento (packed food. Actually, I bought sandwich this time) for breakfast last night.
I had Amanoya Tamago Sando (Amanoya egg sandwich), Azabu Juban, Tokyo and Jiichiro’s Baumkuchen – a souvenir from Mom’s friend.
For Amanoya Tamago Sando, I recommend to eat this as soon as possible because it surely taste better when it’s fresh and fresher the better.
Oh, I should introduce one of services that this hotel provides to hotel guests during our stay.
The hotel provides a free mobile to call, access internet and to obtain sightseeing information.
Foreign tourists surely appreciate this service.
Today, I visited a friend; I had nice lunch while we chatted.
I returned to Kyoto and enjoyed shopping at JR Kyoto Isetan, Kyoto Station.
Why shopping in Kyoto?
In Tokyo, I have things to do — mainly house keeping — and there are too many people at a store that would make me feel tired to do shopping.
Here, I could take time to pick clothes. hahaha
I had a dinner at Kyoto Cuisine, Kyo Yasai Ryori Sepporai (Kyoto Vegetable Cuisine Sepporai), Kyoto Station.
I enjoyed Kyoto local vegetables very much!!!
After dinner, I went for a walk: window shopping at Porta, shopping area at underground of Kyoto Station.
Window shopping is my favorite way of exercise!
I walked for an hour easily.
Weekend Trip to Kyoto
Typhoon 12 is approaching to Tokyo, but I’ll be in Kyoto when a typhoon hits the area.
I had dinner on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train).
Arrived Kyoto on time.
Kyoto Tower
The hotel, Kyoto Century Hotel, is conveniently located next to Kyoto Station.
I’ll take a bath and rest…
Today’s Flower Arrangement
There is a project in Japan: Sakura for Tokyo Summer Olympic 2020.
Sakura is a symbol of Spring in Japan.
Therefore, it is impossible to admire Sakura in Summer.
There is a group of people to make this idea possible.
It is still an experiment.
We are lucky to have an opportunity to arrange Sakura with Summer flower.
Socks for Office Shoes
Perhaps, this is not new for many of you; but me.
It’s been hot and it’s too hot to wear a stocking.
I bought these socks for office shoes at Mujirushi Ryohin (No Brand Good Quality), Tokyo Midtown Roppongi.
This store is also known as Muji.
Muji sells simple and functional lifestyle products such as clothing, kitchen goods, bed linens, etc
Experiment
It’s been hot in Tokyo, between 35C to 39C.
Furthermore, we experience heat island phenomenon; wind blows but wind is hot…
Nowadays I sweat easily so I bought Natsusama Sheet (lowering fever sheet) for children to apply it at back of my neck to cool down.
It works!
I sweat, but less now!!
Wednesday is Movie Day for Ladies
Toho Cinemas offer a special rate for ladies on every Wednesday.
Normal rate is JPY 1,800 (USD 18) for adult, but for special rate for ladies on Wednesday is JPY 1,100 (USD 11).
Three of us went to watch Star Wars Han Solo at Toho Cinema, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya.
We were greeted by Godzilla.
We watched it at Screen 8.
I should enjoy ladies movie night n very movie way: hot dogs, pop corns, coke and red wine.
I had a glass of red wine while watching the movie.
I enjoyed watching as if I were at home.
This movie theatre is recently opened; therefore, it designed nicely.
There is enough gap between seat rows so heads won’t disturb our view. Great!
I might come back for Mission Impossible Fallout.
It seems the premier viewing for Mission Impossible Fallout was played here and Tom might have been here….
Disney Saturday
I am posting back dated event because it crashed so I was demotivated to upload last week.
This page is next day of Disney Friday.
I spent over night at the Hotel Dream Gate Maihama to enjoy both Disney Sea and Disneyland.
This hotel is literally gate to the Dream Land: Disney Resort.
Rooms are efficiently functional.
Space is not big, but comfortable enough.
We didn’t feel tight though we are three of us in a room.
We had a breakfast at Becker’s Coffee shop.
I bought two days pass (it’s cheaper than buying two one day passes).
Two of my friends needed to buy a ticket; therefore, they skipped the breakfast to get a ticket at the gate.
They called to inform us that the gate will open 30 mins earlier than opening hour at 7:30 am because too many people are already waiting at the gate under strong sunshine (there is no shade to protect us from strong sunshine).
No wonder there are many people at JR Maihama Station at 7:00 am.
I think they knew Disneyland might open earlier.
We rushed to get there and …. wow so many people!
The gate opened at 7:30 am.
We started with It’s a Small World.
It opened recently after renovation.
Let’s Go!
Many Disney characters joined to receive us there!
Star Tours also reopened recently and it’s AMAZING!
I don’t get board riding it again and again because there are 6 gates, meaning 6 different episodes!
I enjoyed 3 episodes🎶
Next, Stitch Encounter.
We, audience, can interact with Stitch if we are lucky.
Now time to get wet at Sansui Summer Beat!
We’ve been enjoying Disneyland since early morning so we decided to take a break by taking an early lunch.
We ate at Alice’s Wonderland!
Indeed, we are at Dream Land…
After lunch, we continued with our Happiest Celebration, the classic Haunted Mansion.
we also went for a fun ride: Splash Mountain.
It’s so hot so we took a break again to enjoy Nashi Ice Kakigori (Pear Ice Shaved with Ice Cream).
We cooled down and rested at the Country Bear Theatre.
Jungle Cruise…
Every captain has different story; I never get board riding it.
After cruising, it was nicely time for Dreaming Up Parade.
After a party, we are pumped for fast ride: Big Thunder Mountain!
One of us are not good at fast ride so we decided to take it slow by catching Mark Twain Riverboat.
This is my first time trying this ship.
Lastly, we went to get a spot to watch Celebrate Tokyo Disneyland Show!
This show collaborates with Cinderella Castle, projection mapping, fire works, smoke and fire!
This is MUST to watch!
I would love to come back again!
Tokyo Station Now
Before exiting from JR Tokyo Station, there are small shop lots.
Each of them sell cute and attractive stuffs!
I enjoyed window shoppings there.
Specialized shop for JR Higashi Nihon (East Japan).
Train lovers should stop by to check it out their merchandises.
Across from this shop, there are other specialized shops for traveling, household, lifestyle, food and Japanese traditional products such as chopsticks, towels, etc.
I found portable tea and coffee brewer that I bought as souvenirs from Denmark. (Bottom Shelf)
Wow, these reached to Japan!
These are delicious and recommended to buy.
sonokotchi 