Browsing through one of the local English language newspapers and spotted this great advert for book clubs. Just what is a short history of tractors in the Ukraine? Does it sound interesting?
10:41 AM |
Category:
Living in Japan
|
The search for a great cup of coffee in Tokyo continues.
I had heard about an Australian barista opening a coffee shop in Shinjuku and decided, one Saturday morning, to head out and see if it was as good as people said. The coffee shop is located a short walk from Shinjuku station (depending on where your train arrives) in amongst some of Tokyo’s more impressive architecture (that's the coffee shop in the arcade).
After spending 45 minutes commuting to the coffee shop I ordered a large cappuccino. One thing I will say is that it was very very creamy (maybe a flat white next time?). Was it good? It’s probably the best coffee I have tasted in Japan. Was it worth 45 minutes commuting? Probably not, but if your around the Shinjuku area you should keep an eye out for Paul Bassett’s.
3:13 PM |
Category:
Living in Japan
|
On the first decent day of spring weather the Japanese demonstrated just how close to the English they really can be - sunny and 27 degrees leads to....
On the beach near ODaiba there must have been 100 people out sunning themselves. Most of the people had decided that they would lie on plastic sheets to get their rays (I can’t imagine just how sweaty that must have been) and walking along the pathway behind the beach the smell of coconut oil was on the wind.
Some people did come prepared and bought their banana lounges which were strategically aligned with the sun.
But there is always one guy that overdoes things. Having a beer and falling asleep in the sun is not going to end well.
Since arriving in Japan people have been telling me that Kamakura is a relaxing place to go to get away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. I had the opportunity during Golden Week to go to Kamakura and check it out for myself. The night before the forecast was for rain but the day turned out to be spectacular and even though I did use some sunscreen I ended up getting a little burned.
After spending almost an hour on three trains through the suburbs of Tokyo and Yokohama I was beginning to wonder if I had heard the right thing about how different Kamakura was from Tokyo. One station changed all that – 5 minutes from Ofuna station everything looked different with trees, bamboo and temples.
The first temple I visited was the Engaku-ji temple complex which was built approximately 700 years ago. It is made up of several temples and wonderful gardens. I was lucky enough to get to the temple early in the morning and the crowds hadn’t begun to build. Experiencing the temple and its grounds without the crowd’s was special and relaxing as was walking through the beautifully maintained gardens.
On the main the temple roof there was a spectacular dragon design.
The temple bell was donated in 1301 and is supposed to be symbolic of the Kamakura era its about two metres tall and stands on a ridge overlooking a cemetery and the temple grounds.
The second temple, a one kilometre walk through the outskirts of Kamakura, I visited was the Kencho-ji temple. This temple is “ranked” as the best of the five great Zen temples in the Kamakura area. It is also the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan. Construction of temples in this complex started approximately 900 years ago and now consists of seven main buildings and 49 subtemples.
The Kencho-ji temple also has a bell. This bell was cast in 1255. While not as big as the Engaku-ji bell it’s still impressive.
Just in front of the main temple is a little fountain with a sign warning people who were tempted to take a drink.
Located on the hill behind the temple complex is the Hanso-bo, a 15 minute walk up many many steps. A temple was relocated to this spot 250 years ago. At the base of the last set of steps to the temple is the added protection of a miniature army of flying men.
Apparenlty, the view from the top of the hill behind the Hanso-bo gives a great view of Mt Fuji when the air is clean.
10:56 AM |
Category:
Out and about
|
Hanami, or flower viewing parties, are part of Japanese tradition that even after the horrible events of 11 March were still being held by a number of people even in the less than ideal conditions. I went to the Ueno park area last weekend to view some cherry blossoms and the first thing you notice is the sign at the beginning of the park noting that the usual activities surrounding hanami would not be occurring this year due to the earthquake and tsunami (and ongoing nuclear issues).
The Japanese meteorological agency actually provides a “blossom forecast” to allow people in the different areas of Japan to plan their hanami. Hanami is believed to be hundreds of years old with people first celebrating hanami around the 7th century. At that time the parties were also used as celebration with the aim of ensuring that the rice harvest would be good as traditionally rice planting occurred when cherry blossoms appear.
While official hanami activities were not provided people did take the opportunity to partake in hanamai just not with the usual enthusiasm. At Ueno park people had obviously come the night before to lay out their blue tarp to mark their spot with many tarps having the names of people who had “reserved” the spot, their phone numbers and the time people were expected.
Up close the cherry blossoms were spectacular looking lighter than air.
At the base of Ueno park there is a large pond and at this time of year the cherry blossoms hanging over the water made for an impressive sight.
As the event was a party there was food to be had and pizza hut did not miss the opportunity with some of their takeaway staff circulating through the crowd phone ordering pizza’s for customers.
If that didn’t appeal there were always vending machines. This photo captured a lot of Japan – people looking at the cherry blossoms but still the ever present vending machines were ready even under the cherry blossom tree.
2:23 PM |
Category:
Living in Japan
|
