姫路城 (Himeji-jo), Himeji Castle --- 世界遺産 (Sekai Isan) (UNESCO) World Heritage Site 4

姫路城 (Himeji-jo), Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle & Cherry Blossoms

 Himeji Castle is widely considered Japan's most spectacular castle. Himeji Castle is also known as "Shirasagi-jo (White Heron Castle)" because of its walls covered with white plaster.

The Renovated Castle

Unlike many other Japanese castles, Himeji Casle was never damaged in wars, earthquakes or fires and survives in its original form.

In 1993, Himeji Castle was registered as a UNESCO's World Heritage site, because it is a wooden castle structure of incomparable worth in the world and because the whole structure including towers, stone ramparts, and earthen walls are extremely well preserved. It is also designated as national treasure along with the other three castles ( Matsumoto Castle, Hikone Castle and Inuyama Castle).

Himeji Castle & the Blue Impulse

 A fort was constructed by Norimura Akamatsu, the ruler of the Harima domain in 1333. Over the centuries, the various clans such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Ikeda Terumasa enlarged it into a large castle complex. The well defended castle and its wooden interior are fascinating, and the castle's sight is spectacular, especially during the short and crowded cherry blossom season, that usually takes place in early April.

Under Construction

Himeji Castle re-opened to the public on March 27 after 5 1/2 years of renovation work, following a ceremony on the previous day featuring the Air Self-Defense Force's aerobatic team Blue Impulse.

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The Link to Japan's Top 100 Castles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan%27s_Top_100_Castles

鯛焼き( Tai-yaki), 今川焼き( Imagawa-yaki), どら焼き( Dora-yaki) -- 日本のお菓子、Sweets in Japan 2

 鯛焼き(Tai-yaki)

Tai-yaki

  Taiyaki（literally "baked sea bream") is a Japanese fish-shaped cake or waffle batter filled with azuki sweet read bean paste. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold for each side. The filling is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until golden brown.

 There are other common fillings made of custard, chocolate, maccha cream, cheese, sweet potato, etc..



今川焼き(Imagawa-yaki)

Imagawa-yaki

 Imagawa-yaki is the same as Taiyaki but with a circular shape, and there are various kinds of names depending on regions.

Ōban-yaki (大判焼き) — is major in Kansai region and Hokuriku region.
Kaiten-yaki (回転焼き) — is major in Kansai and Kyūshū region.
Taiko-yaki（太鼓焼き）- Kansai and Chugoku region
Oyaki（おやき）- in Hokkaido and Tohoku region
Nijū-yaki (二重焼き) - in Shimane, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagoshima
Anko-manjuu（あんこ饅頭）- Okinawa

どら焼き(Dora-yaki)

Cream dora-yaki

Doraemon dora-yaki

  Dora-yaki is a type of Japanese confection, а red-bean pancake which consists of two small pancake-like patties made from castella wrapped around a filling of sweet Azuki red bean paste.

  In Japanese, dora means "gong", and because of the similarity of the shapes, this is probably the origin of the name of the sweet. In Kansai area, such as Osaka or Nara, this sweet is often called mikasa（三笠）.

Seasonal Sakura dora-yaki

いちご大福 (Ichigo Daifuku) --- 日本のお菓子、Sweets in Japan 1

いちご大福, Ichigo daifuku　　

  Ichigo Daifuku is a glutinous rice cake stuffed with anko (sweetened read bean paste or white bean paste) and ichigo(strawberry).

 Daifuku mochi(大福餅）or daifuku(大福-literally "great luck"), which are soft mochi dumplings stuffed with a sweet filling, such as red bean paste (anko) or white bean paste (shiroan) are very popular as an afternoon treat (rather
than a dessert).

みかん大福(orange daifuku)

もも大福(peach daifuku)

ぶどう大福(grape daifuku)

  Ichigo daifuku first created during the 1980’s, are a true Japanese delicacy featuring a good combination of the traditional sweets and seasonal juicy fruits.

 Other than ichigo daifuku, there are mikan(maderine orange), kiwi, melon, peach daifuku and so on.

高野山(Koyasan), World Natural Heritage in Japan 3

Konpondaito

  Koyasan (高野山) is a complex of temples located in the Kii Mountain Range in Wakayama prefecture, and it is the center of Singon Buddihism, an important Buddhist sect which was introduced to Japan in 805 by Kukai, posthumously named Kobo Daishi, one of Japan's most significant religious figures.




 In 2004, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site, and it has just been selected as one of twenty "Best of the World" destinations for 2015 National Geographic Traveler magazine's December 2014/January 2015 issue.

Kongobuji

 A small and secluded temple town has developed around the sect's headquarters to one of Japan's most sacred sites providing a peaceful and serene mountain retreat. It is also the site of Kobo Daishi's mausoleum (Okunoin) and the start and end point of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage.

Monks practicing asceticism

 Koyasan warmly welcomes both pilgrims and visitors. There are 52 temples that provide lodging (Shukubo), and the accommodations are fastidious and comfortable. Temple monks take care of most daily chores, such as food preparation and serving vegetarian monk's cuisine (Shojin ryori) including Halal meals for Muslims, cleaning, room preparation, etc.

Inner sanctuary 1

Inner sanctuary 2

  While staying at shukubo, visitors can participate in activities such as morning ceremony, sutra copying and meditation. Not all temples offer all activities, so please check with your shukubo to see what is available.

ラーメン Ramen : 日本の料理 (nihon no ryoori) Japanese Cuisine 10

 Ramen

Kitakata ramen

  Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup dish, which was first introduced to Japaanese people in the Meiji era via Chinatown in Yokohama. Now ramen is one of the most popular foods in Japan along with curry and rice.

　Soup stock for ramen may be made from seafood, chicken bones, pork bones or various other ingredients. It is seasoned with soy sauce, miso, salt and other flavorings depending on the region. It uses toppings such as roasted pork fillet(chashu), dried seaweed, menma(marinated bamboo shoots), kamaboko, and green onions, and so on.

　Nearly every region in Japan has its own variation of ramen, from the tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen of Kyushu to the miso ramen of Hokkaido.

Sapporo ramen

★Some examples of regional Japanese ramen specialties

Sapporo ramen (Hokkaido)
Miso ramen seasoned with hot and spicy miso and garlic. The ramen noodles are boiled in a soup with vegetables that have been fried in plenty of lard and garlic.

Tokyo ramen

Asahikawa ramen (Hokkaido)
Soy sauce is added to a mixture of fish, pork and chicken stock. Usually thin, curly noodles are used.

Kitakata ramen (Fukushima)
Pork and fish stock are made separately and mixed later to make the soup. Noodles are usually thick, flat, curly and firm.

Tokyo ramen (Tokyo)
Tokyo style ramen typically features medium thick, wavy noodles in soy sauce. Clear chicken stock is mixed with dashi fish stock made from bonito flakes.

Sanmarmen(no sanma=Pacific saury :-o)

Sanmarmen (Kanagawa)
A kind of ramen with thin noodles, seasoned with salt or soy sauce, that's popular in the Yokohama and Shonan area. A starchy, thick sauce with fried bean sprouts (生馬) and other vegetables is poured on the top.

Onomichi Ramen (Hiroshima)
Ramen from Onomichi utilize a shoyu(soy sauce) soup flavored with dashi fish stock, which is usually made from local seafood caught in the Seto Inland Sea. Onomichi Ramen noodles are typically thin, straight and firm and the dish is often served topped with green onions, chashu, menma, and a bit of pork lard for flavoring.

Hakata ramen

Hakata Ramen (Fukuoka)
Hakata Ramen feature thin noodles in a thick, creamy tonkotsu (pork bone broth), usually topped with chashu. The best place to enjoy Hakata Ramen is at one of the food stalls in Fukuoka, but they can now also be found at specialty ramen-ya nationwide.

Kumamoto ramen (Kumamoto)
A very rich, white soup is made from a mixture of pork bone stock and chicken stock. A medium sized, straight noodle is usually preferred.

Okinawa soba

Okinawa Soba (Okinawa)　　　　　　
Although called soba, Okinawa Soba are more similar to ramen. The thick, wavy noodles are served in a bowl of shio(salt) soup and topped with various items such as green onions, kamaboko and fresh ginger. If topped with soft broiled pork, the dish is called Soki Soba, but there are other varieties too.

Winter Illumination : 冬の風物詩（fuyu no fuubutsushi, Special Attractions of Winter) 7

Winter Illumination

Nabana no Sato 2011

 Winter illuminations around Christmas have become a popular attraction in cities across Japan, which is equivalent to fireworks displays carried out throughout Japan in summer. They are both a wonderful way to enjoy nights despite negative aspects of the Japanese weather.

 Many illumination displays are free and easily accessible by public transportation, on the other hand, there are some amusement parks and theme parks which provide people breathtaking and fantastic scenes of illumination after sunset.

Here are top 10 sites.

★Huis Ten Bosch "The Kingdom of Light"   
Oct.31 - Apr.13, 2015 : Sasebo City, Nagasaki

 The number of bulbs has exceeded more than 11 million to brighten one of the world's largest illuminations. The Kingdom of Light has continued evolving since the creation in 2010, and a new scene has been created this year. "The Canal of Light and Fountain" is the first display in Japan. Whenever a ship goes through the canal, the water shines in rainbow colors while the fountain is playing. It is like a fantastic "Dream Land".

★Kobe Luminarie
Dec.4 - Dec.15 : Kobe Chuo-ward, Hyogo  (free)

 This event started as the requiem for the victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. It has become the main winter attraction in Kobe. The theme changes every year, and about 200,000 lights brighten the street in accordance with music.






★Yomiuri Land Jewllumination
Nov.7 -Mar.15, 2015 : Inagi City, Tokyo

 This started in 2010 being designed by Mikiko Ishii who is a famous lighting designer. The number of light balls has been scaled up from 2 million last year to 3 million. She produced the illumination newly by using  "forest jewelry colors", "aqua jewelry colors" and "lovely jewelry colors"in addition to the world's first 7 kinds of jewelry colors.

★Seibuen Amusement Park
Nov.14 - Jan.4, 2015 : Tokorozawa City, Saitama

  It has been five years since Seibuen amusement park started the illumination display, which is one of the largest illuminations in the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area. A lot of people visit including people from outside of the prefecture. The number of LED lights this year significantly increased from last year's 2.2 million to 3 million balls and the area called "Illumi Stage".  where people can enjoy the lights and music show, has been expanded. Furthermore, "Stairs Candle Illumination" using 2,000 candles has made its debut.

★OSAKA Light Renaissance 2014
Dec.14-25  Kita-Ward, Osaka    (free)

  Brilliant lights in every corner of Osaka are integrated into the "Osaka Light Festival 2014" which is held in the Nakanoshima area as a core program.    There is "Miotsukushi Promenade" with a romantic landscape in the south of Osaka City Hall garden, and "the Opera of Lights 2014" at the historic Osaka Central Public Hall which is covered with lights, images and music is the highlight of the show, as well. There is also a dining zone called "Hikari no Marche ; Marche of Lights", where people can enjoy European gourmet food.

★Pageant of Lights 2014
Dec.12 - 25  Sendai City, Miyagi   (free)

 This is the 29th winter attraction in Sendai. The zelkova trees along Jozenji street shine like stars with several hundred thousand lights balls, under the slogan of "the stage of joy and inspiration"



★Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination
Oct.25 - Mar.31, 2015   Kuwana City, Mie

 This theme park of food, flowers, greens and spas was established with the idea of a small village with the dreamlike waterside scenery of Riv. Nagaragawa. It is one of the largest scaled illuminations in Japan, including the garden around a pond being lit up. Three kinds of locally brewed beer are sold at the Nagashima brewery inside of the park.

★Ashikaga Flower Park "the Garden of Lights and Flowers"
Oct.25 - Feb.1, 2015    Ashikaga City, Tochigi

  "Light of the Flower Garden" which has increased in volume from last year's 2.1 million balls to 2.5 million balls was designated a Japanese Night View heritage, and it is one of the biggest in the three sites in Kanto area. This year "Miracle Oofuji(big wisteria flowers)" is attracting people as if they were like real wisteria in full bloom, wavering in the spring wind.


★Winter Vista Illumination 2014
Dec.6 - Dec.25  Tachikawa City, Tokyo

The area from the Tachikawaguchi gateway to the open area for meetings in the Tokyo oasis, National Showa Memorial Park has been covered with tender lights. This year, a fantastic Water Laser Show appears in the water beside the 5-merter high Candle Tower. People can enjoy the collaboration of fireworks and lights on Dec.23rd and 24th.

★Tokyo German Village, Winter Illumination 2014-2015
Nov.8 - Mar.31, 2015  Sodegaura City, Chiba

The Illumination in the Tokyo German Village is one of Kanto's three largest illuminations. People can enjoy the illumination with the theme which changes every year. The two million LED light bulbs produce a beautiful world with fresh excitement and a fantastic atmosphere.

Ｂ級ご当地グルメ ( B-kyuu gotoochi gurume, B-class Local Gourment) --- Japanese Cuisine 9

Atsugi shirokoro-horumon

B-kyu Gotochi Gurume

  "B-class local gourmet" is the term for simple yet tasty foods like udon noodles, yakisoba(fried noodles)  curry, bowls of rice topped with different ingredients. Those are usually simple and cheap but tasty, prepared using mainly local ingredients.

Hachinohe senbei-jiru

  B-1 Grand Prix Competition (B-kyu Gotochi Gurume Festival) is annually held nationwide to invigorate the local areas by introducing popular local foods, deepening knowledge of the place and strengthening ties between regions.

 In 2006 when the first festival was held, there were only 10 participating groups and 17,000 visitors, and it has gained popularity throughout Japan. This year 2014, there were 59 groups and 453,000 visitors in the festival in Kooriyama City, Fukushima.

Yokote yakisoba

The Winning Dishes
  Atsugi shirokoro-horumon (grilled beef or pork intestine) won the championship at the 3rd event in 2009, Yokote yakisoba(fried noodles) at the 4th, Kofu motsuni (stewed chicken intestines)  at the 5th, Hachinohe senbei-jiru(hot pot dish with rice crackers) at the 7th, and Towada-barayaki (beef ribs) at the 9th.