Category: Travel

Posted in Experience, Family, Feelings, Food, Place, Travel

Waking up on New Ishikari

Posted on by sonokotchi


Ohayogozaimasu (Good Morning)

I didn’t close the curtain last night.

I thought I would wake up when Sun rise; but alarm woke me up.

I went for a morning dip.

I like to dip in the morning with morning sunshine.

And I had a power breakfast.


I took a walk on the deck…


Then enjoying listening to live piano concert with ocean view.



We are approaching Tomakomai.

Posted in Experience, Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Shopping, Travel

New Ishikari

Posted on by sonokotchi

A room is spacious with an area of 40 sqm.

Basic things are equipped and quite comfortable.

I have few bars to access internet at my room. Yeah!

I enjoyed a buffer dinner, live music and a public bath on this New Ishikari.



After dipping a bath, now I’m relaxing at the room, watching TV (sometimes TV freezes) and drinking nice local drink that I bought at a souvenir shop on New Ishikari: Hokkaido Guarana Highball (I’ve never tried this guaranara drink. It tastes herbal.) and Tokachi Wine.


The waves are nice, actually making rocking in nice rythum.

It’s difficult to open my eyes….

Oyasuminasai (good night).

Posted in Experience, Family, Feelings, Travel

Trip to Hokkaido

Posted on by sonokotchi

I really look forward to this visit to Hokkaido.

I’ve been to Hokkaido for skiing and snowboarding, but not the areas that I’m going to visit this time.

I arrived Sendai, Miyagi by Shinkansen (bullet train).

The scenery from the window is nice and golden, rice fields are harvested with fresh rice.


Sendai Station was expanded with a new station building, S-Pal.

I remember visiting this S-Pal recently in last May when I visited the Great Eastern Earthquake Hit Areas.


Tonight, we will spend over night on New Ishikari (Taiheiyo Ferry).

The journey is between Sendai, Miyagi (main island) and Tomakomai, Hokkaido.

This reminds me my trip from Copenhagen to Oslo by DFD Seaways♪

fufufu

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

Sayonara Miho-no-seki

Posted on by sonokotchi

Time to say Sayonara.


It was a short stay, but I enjoyed it very much.

I’m already at Yonago Kitaro Airport.


“Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro” is famous manga series.

This airport is named after this manga because the manga artist, Mr. Shigeru Mizuki, his hometown is nearby, Sakai-city where fish market is.

This approach was taken at few airports to stimulate use of airport by welcoming tourists.

Luckily, I had time to enjoy and relax at the airport.


Daisen Pilsner and Matsue Staut!!

Okay, it’s time for boarding.

Sayonara Miho-no-seki

Posted in Experience, Family, Feelings, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Shopping, Surprise, Travel

Visit to Miho-no-seki

Posted on by sonokotchi

First I stopped at Sakai Port Fish Market for lunch.

I had a special seafood rice bowl.


There are many types of fresh and delicious seafood such as crabs, prawn, sea urchin, salmon roe, abalone, squid, tuna, yellowtail, egg.

It’s worth to stop by to have a lunch there.
Then I visited Miho Shrine, my main objective for this trip – to pay a thank you visit.


Japanese Gods, Mihotsuhime-no-mikoto and Kotoshironushi-no-kami (widely known as Ebisu-sama) are enshrined in Miho Shrine.

Mihotsuhime-no-mikoto is Goddess for harvest, couple harmony and prosperity.

Ebisi-sama is God for fishery, agriculture and commerce. He loves music so Ebisu-sama is God for entertainment business as well.

Of course, Ebisu-sama is very popular, representing business success. 

And this shrine is head of about 3,000 Ebisu Shrines!

I just love to be here.

After praying at Miho Shrine, I walked around the area.

I stopped for snacks: tokoroten (Tengusa seaweed jelly with vinegar) and strawberry flavored kakigori (shave ice).


And shopped soy sauce, ponzu (ponzu citrus soy sauce based sauce) and mentsuyu (soba sauce).


Their soy sauce is sweeter and has more flavors.

I enjoyed this soy sauce so much when I bought it at my last visit and I couldn’t forget about it!

It was still bright outside so I went to Miho-no-seki light house.


It was a nice view to enjoy Japan Sea’s ocean view!


I checked-in at hotel and had a quick dinner to enjoy Maki-Noh at Miho Shrine.


Noh is Japanese traditional drama, and has been played since 14th century.

Noh is also performed for God to show appreciation for harvest. 

Tonight, a special performance was performed at Miho Shrine with torch.

I didn’t know about tonight’s Noh performance and I am so fortunate to be there.

I enjoyed watching Noh surrounded by great nature.

I felt holy, spiritual and blessed❤️

Posted in Experience, Family, Feelings, Place, Tokyo, Travel

Haneda Airport Now

Posted on by sonokotchi

I’m on the way to Miho Shrine in Shimane, southern part of Japan.

This is my second time to visit this shrine.

This weekend is the last weekend for school holiday; therefore I didn’t have much choice when I was booking flights.

But it is okay because this time I’m making a trip just to pay a gratitude visit to this shrine.

I’m still in Tokyo, but I’m already having fun.

I checked in with my Apple Watch for first time, and….

we were offered to have a ride to a gate with this mini-car.


Of course, this is my first time to ride this; I took an advantage being with mom.

It was fun as if I were at Disneyland because this mini-car runs with music!
Okay, it’s time for boarding.

Hummmm, it’s difficult to see…it’s a Star Wars wrapped aircraft!

Posted in Experience, Family, Feelings, Food, Friends, Place, Travel

Asian Dinner, yet International

Posted on by sonokotchi

It’s hot; I felt lazy to cook tonight. 

My friends gave me these canned and frozen food. 

These are pratha (Malaysian product, nice and butterly), Thai Green Curry (surprisingly this is a made in Japan product) and chili tuna (Malaysian products, interestingly tuna fish is spicy).

I was lacking vegetable fibers so I thought I should add a seaweed miso soup. 


I bought this package at Kamaishi, Iwate which contains dried wakame and tororo seaweed, shrimp, etc. 


With this, I don’t need to cook stock; I cook these with hot water and add miso paste. 

I also bought this miso paste at Shin Hanamaki, Iwate. 


One of major industries for Iwate prefecture is agriculture. 

I enjoyed their fresh seafood, meat products, dairy products and vegetables while traveling there last May. 

The area was hit by the Great Eastern Earthquake and Kamaishi area was wiped off by Tsunami on 11 March 2011; but Iwate people are kind and tough. 

I received their warm smiles and hospitality. 

I buy their products to support them.