Nissin is known as a major player of instant noodle maker and its product, Nissin Cup Noodle, is globally loved.
This Nissin produces locally famous and sold instant noodles.
These two are good examples, Maneki no Ekisoba: Kitsune (Fried Tofu) and Tempura (Tempura Waste – Deep Fried Tempura Batter).
Since after the WWII (year 1949), the noodle shop, Manekino innovated and started serving a noodle dish at the Himeji Station that people can enjoy quickly and deliciously by using Chinese style noodle – ramen and Japanese traditional dashi soup.
As same as other instant noodles, take out soup powder and toppings.
Open and put those back in the bowl.
Add water and wait for four minutes for this.
TempuraKitaune
Next time, I should try the actual Maneki no Ekisoba at the Himeji Station.
It’s Japanese National Holiday, Health and Sports Day, today which I believe it was created for Tokyo Olympics.
It supposed to be Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony Day today.
It was National Holiday, Ocean Day, yesterday making this weekend long (4 days) .
I thought the town would be crowded with visitors and I would be glued on TV.
Japanese government launched Go to Travel Programme on 22 July 2020 to stimulate tourist industry by excluding Tokyo residences.
The government subsidies traveling cost for transportation, accommodation and coupons to use in the visited area.
However, the policy is changing even after launching.
On the other hand, the number of new case is shooting, recording 366 in Tokyo yesterday.
And the number increased not only in Tokyo but also other areas such as Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and many more.
All governors are worried after this long weekend coz many people are traveling with Go To Travel Programme
I’m enjoying long weekend with my niece and we don’t mind to stay in because we haven’t seen since New Year due to the COVID and we have so many things to do!
We’ve been playing games by creating and changing game rules.
I want her to eat healthy so I try to cook as many as I can and she volunteered to help me making dumpling!
We are having so much fun staying in!
I’m not qualified for Go To Travel Programme and it’s better to avoid crowd.
We decided to stay in but we are having so much fun!
I’ve never thought we would spend Olympics Opening Ceremony Day like this.
I like how I’m spending today though it’s different from what I imagine last year – being with family.
The State of Emergency was lifted; weather is getting nice so decided to go to Moto-Hakone for Onsen (Hot Spring).
Choco found his stay over goods at the entrance so he got excited.
On the way to Moto-Hakone, we stopped to get our lunch and I had my BigMac and Ramune Shake.
Ramune shake (Japanese traditional soda flavored shake) is seasonal and limited menu.
It finishes serving either finishing the ingredients or serving duration.
We arrived Moto-Hakone early so that we stopped at Ashinoko (Ashino Lake).
Some people are enjoying fishing.
I could see a fish, very peaceful.
We checked in at Caro Foresta Moto-Hakone Lucia at 3 pm.
This time, I have chosen a western style room.
There are welcome Onsen Tamago (Hot Spring Boiled Eggs) and cookies for Choco.
These Onsen Tamago were boiled at Ohwakudani: the origin of natural Onsen.
These eggs are also known as good luck because we believe one egg can bring us longer life, 9 years, by eating it.
The air is fresh there.
This hotel is dog friendly and I was busy using facilities for Choco.
First, he exercised at the Dog Run (Dog Playground) at the entrance.
Hakone is famous for Onsen (Hot Spring).
The hotel is equipped with Onsen facility for Choco as well!
He had his first Onsen of his life and it was Iou Onsen (Sulfur based Onsen).
I also dipped myself at Onsen.
After refreshing, I had a nice French for dinner.
All dishes are delicious.
I got so excited when I received the dessert plate!
There is Choco!
After dinner, I took Choco for Indoor Dog Run.
This Indoor Dog Run is opened for 24 hours.
Both of us got tired and slept well.
First thing I did on the next day was dipping in the Onsen.
In the morning, I found a dog greeting me from outside!
I had a nice Japanese breakfast.
After breakfast, I took Choco to the Wood Dog Run.
Again, I took him to the Dog Run at the entrance and Indoor.
The check out time is 11 am; therefore, we rest in the room before checking out.
Choco must have so much fun because he slept in the car on the way back to Tokyo.
I had a big breakfast so I had a late lunch at Misoichi, Nakameguro Shop.
I had a basic Miso Ramen with toppings of corns and butter.
I like it!
After unpacking and resting, went for late quick bite to say hello and congratulate reopening after Stay Home Request to our friend, Sushiya no Goto (Goto’s Sushi Shop), Roppongi.
It’s nice to see smiling face of Taisho (Master) and Mama san (Madam).
Yesterday, Prime Minister Abe announced a plan to declare the State of Emergency for One Month (8 April – 6 May 2020) on today, 7 April 2020 for following prefectures:
Tokyo Kanagawa Saitama Chiba Osaka Hyogo Fukuoka
JPY 108 trillion Economic Measure etc
By reflecting case records.
Tokyo alone recorded as follows:
117 cases (4 April 2020) 145 cases (5 April 2020) 83 cases (6 April 2020)
We cannot identify the source for about 90% of cases.
My office has decided to work from home today and tomorrow.
This declaration is still requesting bases for self-restraint and doesn’t have any legal enforcement such as an arrest or fine.
Essential services will continue to operate.
We can still go out freely to supermarkets, convenient stores, drug stores, even office as need it.
I don’t have any Corona Tsukare (Corona Depression) because I’ve been commuting office every weekdays and I also had few Corona Sokai (Corona Evacuations) on weekends to enjoy fresh air when premises in Tokyo closed for weekends.
In Roppongi alone, two major shopping complex, Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown Roppongi, closed last two weekends.
Events for Ohanami (Sakura viewing) are cancelled not to create the cluster.
I don’t feel suffocated by Jishuku (self-restrain) or no social life (gyms have been closed, flower arrangement classes have been cancelled/rescheduled, of course no dinner/lunch appointments, etc).
However, I’ve been feeling uncomfortable commuting to office by taking public transportation, subway.
These trains/subways cross other state of emergency prectures (states) such as Kanagawa (Yokohama), Chiba and Saitama.
I won’t have enough distance among other passengers.
It’s not crowded as rush hour train but we are about 50 cm apart or even next each other if I take a seat. (Ooops, I didn’t think of this).
And they are all strangers.
Do we need to take a risk…?
I expressed my worries to my boss because my job can be conducted at home.
Though the declaration of the state of emergency is effective 8 April 2020, the situation is serious now.
I’m happy that I’m free from the stress of catching public transportation today and tomorrow.
I’ve been cheering me up by putting springy nail colours.
Mirage & Day Dream
Walk in a park with Choco for his walk and Ohanami.
Nonetheless, I’m excited to work from home.
I woke up as usual.
Since I can save commuting time, I took a bath to increase my body temperature to enhance immune system.
Started detoxing
Two Carrots and One Apple
Brewed coffee for starting work.
My father gave me a voucher for Starbucks which validated till 13 April 2020.
I went to Starbucks last weekend but three Starbucks that I visited were closed.
I believe Starbucks might extend the validation date, but I was hesitated to go through the process or even to request for it.
Starbucks was opened yesterday so I bought a French Roast Coffee beans.
I received complementary drink, Kenya and sample of Columbia.
I brewed Columbia and I should start working. hahaha
This town is known for Gyoza (fried Chinese dumpling).
In fact, this is my first time to try Utsunomiya Gyoza at Utsunomiya.
There is Gyoza Dori (Gyoza Street).
There are many Gyoza specialized shops and Ramen (Japanized Chinese style noodle) and Gyoza restaurants.
The lamp is also in shape of Gyoza.
I queued and had my Gyoza at Goku, Gyoza Dori, Utsunomiya, Tochigi.
Niku (Meat) Gyoza and Jumbo Gyoza
Then proceeded to Nikko, Tochigi.
In Nikko, visited Kegon no Taki (Kegon Fall).
Today, there is a lift to go down to watch Kegon no Taki in front of it.
It’s very cold there and we can still see some snow.
We drove by Chuzenji-ko (Chuzenji Lake) and enjoyed the view from window.
Recently, we enjoyed warm temperature and suddenly its temperature dropped; therefore, we could see some steam from lake which makes lake look more scenic and mysterious.
We drove through woods on the way to Oku-Nikko, also very scenic.
We drove farther and reached Sengokugahara (wetland) where believed God of Mountain conducted battles.
There is another lake, Yuko (Yu Lake) at the entrance of Oku-Nikko area.
We finally reached Oku-Nikko Kogen Hotel.
We can stay this nice Washitsu (Japanese style room) together with Choco.
I went to dip in onsen (hot spring) before dinner.
There are two sections: Lower (bigger) and Upper (smaller).
Both equipped with indoor and outdoor/open-air bath.
UpperLower
It’s cold there; so that dipping in Onsen felt really nice.
I became thirsty after dipping in onsen so I enjoyed drinking cold Wakimizu (spring water).
After getting some rest, we had dinner with local sake made for Oki-Nikko Kogen Hotel.
I went to futon (Japanese style bed) early.
Next morning, I woke up with a surprise.
According to weather forecast, it predicted snow in Kanto region.
However, in few days, we will welcome April – Spring.
There could be some snow but I didn’t expect it to be thick.
Well, I was wrong….
It continued snowing and no sign of weakening.
I became panic because I came with normal tyres, not snow tyres.
To calm myself down, I went for morning dip.
It was still early and there were no one.
I supposed not to take any photos at the bath, but it was so romantic.
Quickly got ready and went to breakfast.
There are many varieties of food and there is an egg and bacons in the pot.
Continued monitoring snow and consulted hotel staffs who are local; well, I had to make a hard decision – abundant my car.
I think we made a wise decision because snow is thick and we surely could not drive through these windy roads: Irohazaka.
Reached Tobu Nikko Eki (Station) by hotel free shuttle bus.
Then Took train, Spacia, back to Asakusa, Tokyo.
Choco behaved his best on train.
I had a rich vanilla ice cream on the train while looking at these sceneries.
It’s scary but breath taking sceneries.
We cannot underestimate nature; I safely returned home.
When I tried to post numerous photos and videos on my diving trip to Palau, the system was jammed.
I noticed WordPress upgraded the system recently and perhaps, I might not face the problem.
Nonetheless, I’m posting other matters on my trip to Miyakojima, Okinawa on this post.
On previous post, I mainly shared about under water matters.
Now I would like to share on over (!?) water matters.
There are many more activities on the ship.
While we are resting between divings, some divers were enjoying fishing.
As a result, they caught Ika (squids)
And Gurukun (Bananafish).
Gurukun is popular Okinawan fish that we can find it easily on the menu of restaurants.
However, to serve in sashimi (raw), it has to be super fresh.
We have to eat it in 10 mins after catching it.
Therefore, this is the only way to try the taste: on the ship!
You might easily guess that both Ika and Gurukun were super delicious!
While we are moving to next point of diving spot, we met dolphins and manta.
I could catch manta’s fin by my eyes but not able to by my camera because it blended in to waves.
If you are lucky, you can also see dolphins and manta.
We had lunch on the ship over looking ocean.
This place is famous for its clearness and colour!
Lunch was nice; these are all home made cooked dishes
We also enjoyed food and activities in town.
Nice local food and local music at Bunmya.
We had Awamori (distill made of Thai rice which contains 35 – 40 percent alcohol) and local beer, Orion.
The store taught us local way of enjoying Awamori – with canned black coffee.
To our surprise, it’s so nice!!
The musician sang with Sanshi (Okinawan local guitar).
He plays a traditional music instrument, but he rocked the place!
My body started moving automatically!
The next day, Deiriguchi.
We asked other diving mates to join us for dinner and we enjoyed drinking, eating and laughing together.
Yes, we had fried Gurukun (right bottom corner) as well.
The final night, we had our dinner at Yakiniku Inkazi (BBQ Inkazi).
We tried different Awamori every night: Tyumya, Kuon, Ryukyu Ocho, etc.
Every night, despite how full we were, we returned to the Steak House Leon to end our day.
The last day, we woke up late lazily.
We even had our breakfast at our room. hahaha
Since our body was tired from 3-day diving.
We went for massage at Hogushi-Ya (Unwinding House).
After unwinding our body, we went to Steak House Leon for last visit.
I’m gonna miss this…
Then I walked the street for looking for a souvenir.
The place, Miyakojima is famous for production of salt and found a salt specialized shop, Maasuya.
I enjoyed soft cream (ice cream) with free flavored salt.
I bought souvenirs from this shop.
However, I noticed I’ve been to this shop by looking at their products but in Azabu-Juban in Tokyo.
The sales lady happily reported to me that the company has a satellite shop in Azabu-Juban.
I bought souvenirs that I could buy in neighbor. Ahhhhh
Well, good prodicts should be accepted at any markets anyway.
However, sadly I learned the satellite shop in Tokyo will close on 15 March 2020.
The last thing we did before heading to airport is to cross Irabu Ohashi (Irabu Big Bridge) which we crossed under it every morning.
It’s 3,540 m long bridge to connect Miyakojima and IrabuJima.
It’s longest bridge in Japan for free access.
In terms of length, it is fourth longest bridge in Japan after Aqua Line (4,384 m), Akashi Kaikyo Ohashi (3,911 m) and Kansai Kuko Renrakubashi (Kansai Airport Connecting Bridge: 3,750 m).
I believe I’ve done all what I could do in Miyakojima.
I would like to thank my friend to plan and reserve nice restaurants and n advance so that we won’t miss out any good food and time together.
sonokotchi 