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

Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage (Day 2)

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 

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

Birthday Sunday

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)

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

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…..

Posted in Diving, Feelings, Food, Friends, Health, Japanese Food, Place, Tokyo, Travel

Lunch & Amazon

I have a lunch buddy now; she joined us last February.

We had Oyakodon, meaning family on rice.


After opening a cover….chicken and egg on rice.

Now you know what I mean: FAMILY ON RICE.


Dessert and coffee are inclusive in a lunch set at Gono Igarashi-Tei, Ginza.


Dessert is wrapped in real sasa leaf.

It’s only a bite, but nice to have a dessert.


I look forward to explore lunch with her.

By the way, my birthday is on 3 March.

I used to be in charge for a project around this time so I didn’t have time to celebrate my birthday for over a decade. 

I asked my boss to change an officer this year and he accepted it.

I don’t have to worry about phone calls and messages on weekends.

That’s great.

I hurt my knees because I fell from stairs while I was busy answering messages to participants.

But this year, I’m free from it!!!

We plan to go for Birthday Diving to celebrate my Birthday in Izu, Shizuoka.

I took a safety precaution to purchase knee supporters.

I don’t know which one to buy; I bought the best seller product on Amazon.

I cannot wait.

I will celebrate 10 times more.

At the same time, yes, I’ll be careful.

Posted in Experience, Feelings, Food, Friends, Gadget, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Tokyo

Summary of My Week

I was rushing to places past few days and returned home after midnight.

I try to blog everyday; but I didn’t have stamina to do so.

Therefore, I decided to upload the summary.

On Friday, we went to Indian Restaurant Khan Kebab a Biriyani @ Ginza.

Sometimes, I get disappointed with food that requires many types of spices.

I understand the restaurant might face trouble sourcing the spices or simply trying to save cost. 

But at this restaurant, I enjoyed every food.


On Saturday, after our field trip to the cutting edge Japanese innovation center TEPIA, we explored Tokyo.

TEPIA is quite interesting to visit.

You can also participate in Japanese innovation.


This is the Nissin Cup Noodle Dancing Robot. 

The robot dances for three minutes while waiting for a noodle.

It’s a nice three minutes timer.


Then we went to Shibuya.


I enjoyed Kebab at Saray Kebab at Shibuya.


I had Kebab rice with humms and cherry drink.

Delicious♪


I also went to Harajuku.

The crepe was introduced in here; therefore, it is a fashion to eat a crepe here.

I ordered one.



I had Angel’s Heart strawberry crepe.

On the show window, there are six pieces of strawberries, a scoop of ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate; but I had only two pieces of strawberries and mainly tasting whipped cream.

There are many crepe stalls; you should try others.

I decided to post bads as well.

I had a bad experience on Friday.

My friend bought watches as sourvenir at Don Quijote Ginza (we call the retails Donki for short).

Before ringing a cashier, we asked if they could set the time to Malaysian time which is one hour earlier than Japan.

Two sales persons said they would do, but we were told we need to purchase them first.

Fair enough, so my friend bought watches.

Then the lady who did cashier started telling me we cannot ask them to set the time because they are busy.

I told her we asked in advance and they said okay, it is not fair that the store asked us to purchase and after we purchase refuse to do what you promised.

She was bitching all the way.

But I kept quiet because I wanted everything to be processed.

Luckily, we asked them to set the time because one of them was out of battery.

This bitching lady needed to process it again, so she was really bitching.

But I don’t understand why she was so angry because the total amount was more than USD 500.

Then later we found out that she punched wrongly.

The amount was overcharged.

There is a tag saying, if you buy four, the price is JPY 2500.

But she charged JPY 1000 each.


Next day, we went back. 

She was there again and told us the store won’t refund if we don’t have every merchandises with its barcode.

The scene was about to get nasty, then a lady cut in.

I explained all the situation by showing a photo of price tag, pointing the actual signage and showing receipt.

This nice lady quickly apologized and processed to refund.

But the bitching lady was still bitching in Japanese.

And a man, I don’t know what’s his position, but he was siding this bitching lady by saying “you are right, you did the right thing” in front of customers.

I don’t understand them.

She overcharged a customer and it’s okay?

When we settle this, the price tag isn’t there any more.

The store must have taken it away quickly.

Luckily, I took a photo before they took it out.

This made me realized I need to write something bads as well, to protect consumers like us.

We went to other Donki, but they assisted us nicely and so as other stores.

Watch out the lady at Donki Ginza 2nd Floor watch section, she overcharges and she thinks it’s right to bitch in front of foreign customers in Japanese. 

She made me shame.

My friends from overseas thought Japanese are nice; but She succeeded to give a different impression to them who visited Japan for first time.

Luckily, they met more Japanese during their stay so they know she is the exceptional case.

After Harajuku, we went to Akihabara and had sushi.

The sushi restaurant strategically uses iPads to assist foreign visitors in many languages.

Too bad I didn’t take any pictures at Akihabara.

Perhaps, next time.

On Sunday, I catch up on my sleep because I need to go back to office as usual tomorrow.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Japanese Food

Ichigo Warabimochi: Strawberry Warabimochi

It’s strawberry season in Japan.
Japanese strawberries are so sweet.

You should try them while you are in Japan because strawberries are fragile, easy to get damaged; therefore, difficult to ship out.

This is ichigo (strawberry) warabimochi.


These jelly are made by warabi (mountain vegetable) starch.

These are usually covered by Konako (soybean powder in gold) and kuromitsu (black sugar).


I enjoyed this light dessert after heavy dinner.

It’s delicious and I like its texture – natural jelly.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Health, Japanese Food, Place, Tokyo

Greedy Night: Hiroshima-yaki Dinner and Massage

I had Hiroshima-yaki at Sanshou, Ginza for dinner.

Sanshou is located at the second floor of Hiroshima TAU: an antenna shop where we can buy Hiroshima local specialties.

Hiroshima-yaki is originated from Hiroshima, similar to Okonomiyaki (Osaka Culture), but it’s with noodle.

I had deluxe Hiroshima-yaki with oyster, squid, shrimp and pork.

A restaurant is simple, but food is delicious♪

My back was so stiff; Googled for massage and went to Roppongi Yuren.


Surprisingly, many Japanese celebrities visited this massage shop; these are their autographs.


The place is small, but clean and homey; customers kept on coming in.

I enjoyed 100 mins body and foot massage.


My massager is good; my body is light now.

Thank you, Mo-san!