Category: Family

Posted in Beauty, Family, Feelings, Food, Friends, Health, Movie, Place, Shopping, Shrine and Temple, Travel

Trip to Taiwan (Day 3)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Unfortunately, it was raining in the morning.

But it didn’t discourage me to enjoy Chinese breakfast at the Grand Hotel.

First, I visited National Revolutionary Marty’s Shrine to pay a respect for people who lost their lives for the WWII.

A war will create many victims and they are all victims.

We should not start any war.


Next I went to National Palace Museum.


There are so many great things there and I could share some great master pieces with you.

I have no idea how these were created.

This is must to see at this museum: Jade Cabbage.


And a set of carved openwork concentric ivory balls with cloud-and-dragon decoration.

There are 24 layers and each layer/ball can move! 

There are many more.

I don’t mind to visit the museum again to spend more time admiring these arts.

Next, I visited Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan.

He is a Mascot of Taipei 101.


It is 101 floors building and it takes only 37 seconds to reach observation floor, 89F.

There are many unique buildings in town according to Feng Shui.

There is a twisted green building that is currently under the construction.



It’s lunch time!

I really look forward for Din Tai Fung (Dim Sum) and I enjoyed, really enjoyed every bites!

Their XiaoLongBao (soup dumplings) is highly recommended! 

MUST EAT!!!

I ate five today. hehehe



I requested additional dessert.

I wanted to try a famous Taiwanese style Mango Snowflake Ice.


Since I didn’t have time to eat there, I asked for a take away.

It supposed to look like this.


It’s so Mango because ice is not normal water ice, it tastes Mango!!! 

And it’s so soft and melt like snow!

A take away style is like this.



After lunch, I visited Longshan Temple.


The stone curving on pillars are just amazing.

I’m here to pray, but at the same time, I get anazed by these breathtaking arts! 


After praying, I watched the ceremony of changing the guard at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.




Last stop was Jiufun.

This little town is located in the mountain because it used to be a gold mining town.

Now it became a hot tourist spot because it’s traditional looks and there is a rumor that Mr. Hayao Miyazaki, Japanese Animator, got an inspiration from this town to design a town for a story of Spirited Away.



We need to go up stairs to go to a main road.


A main road is narrow.


I tried Taiwan’s Stinky Tofu!!! Mmmmmmmm

I think trying once is enough for me.

To my surprise, many people, even youngs, like these Stinky Tofu. 


Well, I love Chinese tea and one of my missions for this trip is to get nice Chinese tea.

This tea house strictly controls quality of products and I love their products: smooth, delicate, nice aroma and delicious.

I bought varieties of tea and even bought new kinds.

Chinese tea is like herbal medicine; it can assist to detox, beautyfy and slimming.

After tasting Chinese tea, my skin improved drastically.

My parents already asked me to mail order before I open my tea.

I haven’t touch my stock! 

I can enjoy them for quite some time.


I continued to walk the town.


I reached the building/area that Mr. Miyazaki got inspired…

This is a tea house, but in the movie, it’s a bath house.

If you watch a movie, you can easily spot the scene.




I left Jiufun for dinner for a nice Taiwanese local food at Shin Yeh, Taipei.

It’s very delicious or was I too hungry…? hahaha

Earlier I achieved one of my missions.

Now I’m achieving another one: to try papaya milk.

My friend recommended me to try papaya milk.

(Hummmm, same friend recommended to try Stinky tofu…ahhh.)

Papaya milk is nice and I also recommend it to you.

I also tried a nice dragon fruit smoothie; it’s not a guava juice.


Guava Juice is the name of shop. hahaha

Posted in Beauty, Family, Feelings, Food, Movie, Place, Shopping, Travel

Trip to Taiwan (Day 2)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I checked out the hotel early to walk to the International Terminal, Haneda Airport.

I usually plan to buy new cosmetics at the airport to cut tax; these are new cosmetics.


I bought these to improve my eyebrows.

 I look forward to trying them on tomorrow. fufufu


I also bought black and blue mascaras and a Quattro Eye Shadow (Tisse Smoky) that I often use – this could be my third one.

It takes 3.5 – 4 hrs to reach Taiwan and I enjoyed the movie, The Man They Called Pirate…


And brunch while I was boarded.


To my surprise, the Taipei Songshan Airport is located in the city.


How convenient! 

It takes only 15 mins from the airport to reach major places in Taipei. 

It was still early to check in to a room so we went to a fortune tell.

I’m lucky because there are a quite number of fortune tellers who are able to communicate in Japanese.

Then we went to Xingtiangong Temple to pray.

We returned to the Grand Hotel; this hotel has three names: in Taiwanese – 圓山大飯店, in Japanese – Maruyama Daihanten (we pronounce Chinese characters in Japanese way) and in English – the Grand Hotel.

There are many good luck charms, Dragons, as many as 220,000 – 230,000 in this hotel.

Since this hotel is so unique, we had a special tour.

This hotel is GRAND because it was a former State Guest House.

This hotel received many VVIPs.

Well, there is a mysterious 85 m man-made tunnel which could be a secret escape tunnel.

However, we don’t know why this was made.


A room is also nice.



And the view from a room is nice overlooking a whole Taipei.


Tonight, we had dinner at the Golden Dragon Restaurant, the Grand Hotel.


I enjoyed these food with a Taiwanese local beer, Golden Medal Taiwan Beer.

After dinner, we took a hotel free shuttle bus to Shilin Night Market.

I’m so surprised to find many Japanese characters on products and Japanese confectioneries, health and beauty cares.

It was an interesting day. 

Good night for now.

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Food, Place, Shopping, Tokyo, Travel

Trip to Taiwan (Day 1)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I am so stress out in the office and I can use some get a way.


My trip to Taiwan starts tomorrow; however, since we need to check in at the airport early, we decide to stay at the airport hotel, the Park Royal Hotel.


Usually, we don’t have much time to explore Haneda Airport, but after I checked in, I went out.

I didn’t know there is a bridge, Nihonbashi that we can actually walk on.


Shopping and restaurants area is nicely decorated as Little Edo (Tokyo).


I had salad and gratin for dinner @ Bon Gout, Haneda Airport International Terminal.

This restaurant is delicious and reasonable.


I’m full and shops are already closed.

It’s time to go to sleep.

I cannot wait to reach Taiwan🎶

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 Beauty, Family, Feelings

Mom is a Beauty Adviser

Posted on by sonokotchi

Mom likes to introduce me what she thinks good for her.

We are genetically similar so whatever works on her should work on me.

She gets a point.

She highly recommends me to use Kerastase Densifique.

According to her, it prevents hair loss and gives vital to hairs.

I started using from last Sunday.

It’s been few days and I agree with her; I think my hair gets tension and fluffy.

I also recommend this to others!

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Shopping, Tokyo

Anahachimangu (Anahachiman Shrine) @ Waseda, Tokyo

Posted on by sonokotchi

I went to Anahachimangu to get a good luck charms.


These are good luck charms for a smooth year: smooth relationships, smooth money transactions, etc.


I need to place a round good luck charm on a wall according to an instruction at midnight of 3 February 2017.

It has to face this year’s good luck direction: North- Northwest.

After a prayer and getting good luck charms, we went to lunch at Sanchoan.

Mom and I shared a “Yuzu soba ((facilitating) smoothness soba)” and Tonkatsu (pork rice bowl).

There is a rumor that this restaurant is a founder of tonkatsu.

I came for a good luck soba and their famous tonkatsu!


And I had Taiyaki for dessert.

This is a Japanese traditional desert in a shape of Tai (red snapper).

I bought one in traditional style and one in modern style, croissant taiyaki.

Both are delicious with a lots of sweet bean filling!


After lunch, we went to 100 yen shop Can Do (a dollar shop).

This is our routine because there isn’t any 100 yen shop in my area to shop consumable products cheap.

And the shop has many innovative products that I ended up buying MANY products.

A beauty part of 100 yen shop is I don’t feel guilty about it.

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Music, Place, Tokyo

Classic Concert @ Suntory Hall, Akasaka 

Posted on by sonokotchi

I had dinner at Wolfgang Puck at Ark Hills, Akasaka before concert.

It’s Tokyo branch of American restaurant and serves nice pizzas!


The concert was held at Suntory Hall, Ark Hills, Akasaka.


My parents are members of Tokyo Symphony Orchestra Monthly Concert.

Dad couldn’t go today so I went with Mom. 

Music was dynamic and enjoy the concert.

<Today’s Programme>

Conductor: Mr. Kazuyoshi Akiyama

Piano: Ms. Yu Kosuge 

1. Les Offrandes oubliees by Olivier Messiaen

2. Piano Concerto by Akio Yashiro 

3. La Tragedie de Salome by Florence Schmitt

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Travel

Trip to Izu (Day 2)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I woke up and looked outside.

Sun was about to rise.


I quickly went to an open-air bath to wait for sunrise.


Today, it’s our lazy day because we don’t have a car to go out.

This isn’t my first trip to Izu during Year-End and New Year holidays.

The traffic in this area is terrible during holidays because there are many visitors/cars from Tokyo, but a road is narrow and there is only one lane!


Usually, it takes only 2.5 hrs for 160 km, but it will become 8 hr journey during holidays.

I tried three times/years and I gave up; it’s so tiring to drive 8 hrs alone! Sob sob.

This is why we don’t have a car.

There aren’t any places that we can go by foot in the area. Hummmm

Ate brunch at 8:30 am. 

This is actually breakfast, but needed to eat for lunch as well because we cannot go out. hahaha

Our accommodation plan includes a complementary himono (local specialities, dried seafood) and a can of beer from Koshien (a store in front of Atagawa Station).

After breakfast, we made a brief trip to Atagawa Station by a hotel shuttle bus.

A shuttle bus meant to send off their hotel guests to a station, but simultaneously, a bus can send us to the station and take us back!


Yes, we managed to get aji no himono (dried horse mackerels) and beers.


That was the most active thing that we did today.

Other hours, dipped in onsen (hot springs: there are five different baths),


Free Massage,


Foot Bath,

Dinner,

It is a custom to eat soba noodle on New Year’s Eve to wish for long (as soba) life. 


After dinner, we have no choice, but to spend New Year’s Eve in very traditional way.

I’m watching Kohaku Utagassen (Red and White Singing Battle) on NHK.

Red Team (women singers) and White Team (men singers) compete their performances.

Every year, it starts at 7:15 pm and ends at 11:45 pm.


Then I plan to watch Yukutoshi Kurutoshi (Year Going, Year Coming) from 11:45 pm till midnight.

Temples gong a bell for 108 times to purify our 108 sins by midnight to welcome New Year.

We watch lives or listen to gongs throughout the nation for 15 mins.

These sounds are actually the countdown to welcome New Year.

The sound of gongs calm us to welcome New Year peacefully.

Another one hour to welcome 2017…