Tag Archives: Kanagawa

Illumination Heart

Posted on 2014/11/07

Smart Illumination Yokohama – lit up the waterfront

It’s never dark and gloomy during winter in Japan. Cities will be lighted up and decorated with LED lighting and other energy-efficient lighting technology. These events are often called ‘Winter Illumination’ which adds some sparks to the coming event of Christmas. However, the city of Yokohama has other plans. They want to project a futuristic city to the locals and visitors by integrating green technology with arts and creativity. In this ‘Smart Illumination Yokohama’ event, the city is collaborating with QuanZhou city in China and Gwangju city in South Korea to light up the Yokohama Waterfront areas. The closest station to the Yokohama Waterfront is Nihon-Odori station, getting out from… Read More

Several black eggs boiled in the hot springs of Owakudani, Hakone.

Posted on 2014/11/03

Black boiled eggs in Hakone

In the area of Owakudani in Hakone, we can visit a volcanic crater which flow sulphurous gases. In these hot springs can be boiled eggs, causing them to acquire this characteristic color black. They are called Kurotamago (くろたまご, 黒卵) and the truth is that even though they have this strange color, they taste just like any ordinary eggs. The area is easily accessible by cable car, and the truth is that to reach the crater area, these gases make it smell pretty bad, whether you should go with a little protection, for example using a handkerchief.

Tamadare waterfall

Posted on 2014/10/30

Tamadare and Hein Waterfall

Hakone (箱根) is a well known tourist spot as a hot spring town and also to view Mount Fuji. The easiest way to reach Hakone would be to take the Romance Car that departs from Shinjuku station to Hakone Yumoto station (箱根湯本) via the Odakyu Railway that takes about 85 minutes. One can also take JR trains but would change to use bus and non-JR lines to get into the Hakone area. Or one can also take the highway bus that departs from Shinjuku Station. Here at Hakone Yumoto, is a an onsen ryokan, Tenseien (天成園), that was recently reopened and is the home to two waterfalls and a shrine…. Read More

A huge kite flying.

Posted on 2014/10/14

The Giant Kite Festival of Sagami

Since around 1830 in the Edo era, this is a traditional event that has been held on the 4th and 5th of May every year in four different areas of Sagamihara City, which is in Kanagawa Prefecture. The most important and largest kite shown each year a different kanji. This year 2014 were elected 駿 kanji, meaning genius, fast and wonderful, and 風 wind. These kanji changes annually symbolize dreams, hopes and feelings of the communities involved. Some of the larger kites can reach more than 14 square meters and weighing nearly a ton, for which about 100 people to fly it needed. To build these kites, bamboo and handmade… Read More

YUNESSUN_006

Posted on 2014/10/08

Yunessun, the funny hot springs spa resort.

In Japan there are plenty of traditional hot springs, the most common are called Onsen (温泉). This time I will talk in a more fun way to enjoy the hot springs. Hakone Kowaki Yunessun (箱根小涌園ユネッサン) is a hot springs spa resort and water amusement park located in Hakone. In this resort are a lot of recreations of Onsen with various decorations or environments, and other natural Onsen, pools or waterslides. In traditional Onsen has to go naked and thus normally men and women are separated in different places, but in Yunessun as we are allowed to wear swimsuit, we can enjoy together. If we also have a tattoo, we can… Read More