Category: Nature

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Hotel, Japan Technology, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Restaurants, Tokyo, Travel, Work

Business Trip to Toyama

Posted on by sonokotchi

I was in Toyama from 30 October – 3 November 2019 for business trip.

Originally, we plan to go to Toyama by Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) but it was suspended because the railway was damaged by Typhoon 19.

I had a confidence that a Japanese railway company, JR Nishi Nihon (JR West Japan) will do their best to recover the line; in fact, it started its operation on 25 October 2019, meaning JR Nishi Nihon recovered Hokuriku Shinkansen in two weeks.

However, I was worried that it might take longer to recover to affect our business trip; therefore, we flew.

We safely arrived Toyama Airport.

There are four flights in a day between Tokyo/Haneda and Toyama.

It’s either two flights in early morning or 2 flights in late evening for convenience of business people.

Therefore, we arrived Toyama early on 30 October 2019.

We couldn’t check in so we dropped our luggage at hotel and walked to Toyama Station.

We took a taxi to visit Toyama Castle before going to exhibition hall, Toyama Techno Hall, for preparation for our participation in T-Messe 2019.

We climbed to Castle Tower.

There is a nice garden.

We had to make a move; we returned to Toyama Station area for lunch.

We had our lunch at Shirohacha.

Then went to exhibition hall, Toyama Techno Hall.

There is a vending machine for ice cream so we decided to take a break; I had a salty caramel.

We finished booth set up and returned to city centre to check in at hotel: Comfort Hotel Toyama Ekimae.

We went out for dinner at Chohachi.

I really enjoyed local specialty: Shiroebi (Japanese glass shrimp).

This Shiroebi no Oshizushi (Japanese glass shrimp pressed sushi) was awesome!

Work hard during day time and enjoyed nice dinner at night.

Yagura Zushi

Kappo Ogawa

I also had crab at Sakanaya Dojo Toyama Ekimae Store.

Honestly, a casual dining place like Izakaya in Toyama serves very fresh, delicious seafood and very reasonable!

On last night, I had two dinners with different people.

After eating a quick dinner at Sakanaya Dojo Toyama Ekimae Store, I went to a train sushi restaurant.

I already had a nice seafood at Sakanaya Dojo so I thought I’m gonna have few sushi to accompany them.

But big NO.

After queuing for some time, we managed to get a table at Mawaru Toyamawan Sushitama Toyama Eki Store.

It was also awesome!

I enjoyed fresh seafood very much in Toyama.

I also enjoyed watching cute Murata Seisakusho (Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd) cheer leader’s cheering while working.

Murata Seisakusho is Japanese leading machinery and parts company.

By the time leaving Toyama, I start liking Toyama.

Now I want to go back to Toyama for seafood, Onsen (hot spring) and nice sceneries.

I started missing Toyama and feeling melancholic but soon I get excited finding Star Wars wrapped aircraft at Haneda Airport!

The END

Posted in Feelings, Nature, Place, Tokyo, Work

Typhoon 15

Posted on by sonokotchi

I had a mission to conduct and I started it with a hectic day.

I received 10 companies to participate in Tokyo Game Show and I also organized events such as networking/pitching and tow dialogue sessions with Japanese gaming companies prior to their participation in the trade fair.

Unfortunately, the Day 1 – arrival to Tokyo on 9 September 2019 was hit by Typhoon 15.

Typhoon passed Tokyo in early morning around 3 – 5 am.

Many commuters were affected by Typhoon 15 in the morning of 9 September 2019 because many train stopped its services to avoid passengers’ conferment.

On the other hand, I was worried mission members’ flights get cancelled; nonetheless, I started receiving a news that they safely arrived – I was relieved.

The weather recovered quickly and train operators started the service.

However, my delegates at Narita Airport were not fine.

They reported public transportations were out of service.

I couldn’t believe this because there are many: 2 train lines (JR and Keisei), 3 bus operators (Airport Limousine Bus, Keisei Bus, Access Narita) and taxi.

I thought some will recover by afternoon; but no.

There wasn’t any news on TV or anywhere about losing public transportation in and out of Narita Airport due to tree branches covering rail ways and highways and broken electricity poles.

They ended up staying over night at Narita Airport.

These photos are taken by delegates.

I tried to arrange a bus for them; however, highways were closed…

They took early train to Tokyo and arrived at networking venue.

Thank you all for rushing to the venue.

I was so happy to see you all!

Posted in Choco-chan, Feelings, Food, Friends, Gadget, Nature, Place, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel

Driving to Hayama, Kanagawa on Sunday

Posted on by sonokotchi

My car is going to be 16 years old in October 2019.

It is recommended to improve safety of the car and install a drive recorder to protect myself from dangerous drivings.

It’s time for me to get a new car and expected it to be delivered end of August.

I love my car; I’ve been driving it for nearly 16 years.

I decided to go for a drive to Hayama, Kanagawa.

It takes 60 km or one hour to reach Hayama from Tokyo.

I had a nice late lunch at ESMERALDA together with Choco.

The restaurant is located near beach.

There are many people swimming there.

Food is delicious.

I guess it’s peach season; these are peach menu.

Of course, dessert.

The place is famous for Hayama Marina, a boat house.

It was a nice driving day.

By the time we returned to Tokyo, it was dinner time.

We decided to go for light dinner, but ended up eating well because food is good.

This is my first time to dine at Osteria Nakamura Roppongi.

They are thoughtful; they served by two plates to avoid our works to share among us.

Foods are good.

Drinks are good.

And desserts are good.

I wonder when would I lose weight…?

Posted in Feelings, Japanese Culture, Nature, Tokyo

Typhoon 10

Posted on by sonokotchi

Typhoon 10 is passing Western Japan.

It is non-recorded Japanese summer holiday season this week.

We call it Obon and Chinese call this Ghost Festival.

This is not stated as Japanese national holidays on the calendar though many companies and factories close during this period.

Japanese Government doesn’t support any religion; however, Obon is one of important Buddhist ceremonies and majority of Japanese are Buddhists.

Japanese corporates close during this season so that employees can freely take a break.

The week is ending and so as Summer Holidays.

Many people plan to return to Tokyo from their hometowns on Friday and weekends.

Due to this large sized typhoon, flights and trains (Shinkansen) stopped the service to avoid any coming disasters such as blackout.

According to the news, people started to return earlier to Tokyo by changing their plans.

The clouds are moving fast in Tokyo as well.

A frog is also surprised with this weather.

He couldn’t move. hahaha

Posted in Art, Choco-chan, Family, Feelings, Food, Japan Technology, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Restaurants, Tokyo

Tokyo Midtown Roppongi Loves Summer 2019 (Suntory)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Suntory is sponsoring events at Tokyo Midtown Roppongi under the theme of Loves Summer.

My niece and I enjoyed cooling down at the stream.

The roof changes in various colours such as blue, green, pink, white, etc.

Choco waited for us patiently. Good Boy!

The park turns into a nice Japanese Style Opened Air Restaurant: Roku Midpark Lounge.

We can purchase drinks and food to dine here.

Soon I will try their Japanese craft gin – Roku.

There is a light and mist digital art show at the garden of the Tokyo Midtown Roppongi.

I watched it with Choco and Choco seems to enjoy it, too. hahaha

Our evening walk would be fun.

Posted in Art, Family, Feelings, Nature, Place, Tokyo

Tokyo Midtown Summer Loves 2019 (Stamp Rally)

Posted on by sonokotchi

My niece came over to spend long weekend with me.

We participated few programmes at Tokyo Midtown Roppongi under the theme of Tokyo Midtown Summer Loves 2019.

We visited an exhibition introducing beauty of creature and arts with these beauty at 21_21 Design Sight.

We found a stamp rally table so we decided to participate in collecting six stamps of insects to gat a glittering sticker sheet at Tokyo Midtown Roppongi.

We visited six places to collect six stamps.

Unfortunately, a sticker sheet is for children only and I couldn’t get one.

My niece happily put them on her favorite Precure (the Pretty Cure).

Posted in Diving, Exercise, Feelings, Friends, Gadget, Health, Nature, Place, Shop, Tokyo, Travel

Ideal Week

Posted on by sonokotchi

Usually, something will come up and I won’t be able to complete my week like this.

Nonetheless, I managed for a week and this is my ideal week.

Monday, 3 June 2019, Exercise at Tipness Roppongi

Tuesday, 4 June 2019, Exercise at Megalos 0+ Ebisu

Friday, 7 June 2019, VoltBox at Megalos Hibiya

Saturday, 8 June 2019, Spa at May’s Garden Spa

Sunday, 9 June 2019, Diving at Bommie Diving Shop, Ito (Tateyama), Chiba

It has been 11 months since my last dive.

Fishermen feed sharks and stingray to protect fish from them; therefore, there are many and I really mean MANY sharks and stingrays at the East Bouy Point.

I was hit by sharks and stingrays.

There is a cute frogfish.

I use old iPhone 5 as my camera so it’s not equip to take a small creature.

This is the best shot for a frogfish.

On the other hand, my friend recently bought a Panasonic TG-5 and took a nice photo using microscope mode. Ta~da~

There are many different designed cute seaslugs.

But my photos are not sharp and clear enough.

Shall I buy a camera so that I can take photos like these? hummmmm

Posted in Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Movie, Mt. Fuji, Nature, Place, Travel

Trip to Australia (Day 6)

Posted on by sonokotchi

There is an itinerary for Day 6 for Trip to Australia: returning to Tokyo by JL 774.

One day is used as follows:

Departing Melbourne at 0:05 hrs by JL 774

Arriving Tokyo at 9:05 hrs.

If this is official tour programme, I should enjoy my journey.

I like the design of amenity bag.

JAL collaborated with Tatsumura Textile Co Ltd (Kyoto).

The crane is corporate logo for JAL and it is a good luck charm for Japanese culture.

I like the design!

I have my UNIQLO down jacket but I prefer to use their cardigan which is soft and warm.

Sayonara Melbourne.

Sayonara Australia.

My seat/bed was made to make my flight comfortable.

I comfortably watched the movie: the Mule.

While watching the movie, the supper was served.

After hours, I asked for Jangara Ramen.

Yes, the flight serves Jangara that I like.

However, it wasn’t porky enough but satisfactory as inflight meal.

Wow, there is a corporate logo on the soup spoon.

After hours, breakfast was served before landing.

I decided to have Japanese for breakfast.

I requested a cup of coffee because soon I will drive back to house.

I can see clearly that we are approaching Narita Airport.

Boo boo, landed…

It was a fun trip.

I had good laughs with tour mates and I managed to reach to the summit of Ayers Rock.

I hope you enjoyed reading my post on reaching to the summit of Ayers Rock on Day 3 of Trip to Australia.

I should consider planning to go to Mt. Fuji.

Hummmm