Japanese blog

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This blog is about my personal life and my business.
Check my photos when you have time!

Time Trip to Edo perod.

Time Trip to Edo period?

How would you like to have a walk at Hida-Takayama in Japanese traditional costumes?
This is a wonderful event held in both spring and autumn.
You will change your cloths to traditional Edo-style costumes such as Kimono and Hakama, and then take a photo in front of Takayama municipal memorial house (Shisei Kinenkan).

It is quite rare for even the Japanese to see these costumes so that we can guarantee a fantastic experience. You might find our traditional costumes are quite different from your usual cloths, but it’s worth it. This is a very unique event at Takayama, offering a great atmosphere of Japanese good old days.

Incredible great value, 1,500 JPY for 2 hours!
This price includes costume renting, dressing, and free pass for 18 of Takayama’s popular tourist facilities such as Kusakabe folk museum, and Yatai Kaikan.
Why don’t you join us if you visit Takayama during this event?
Families are welcome, kid costumes are also available.

Autumn Season Events will be on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 5, September to 31, October, as well as Autumn Takayama Festival (9, 10, October).
Events may be cancelled due to rain or bad weather.
Registration time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Registration venue: Takayama municipal memorial house.
(Takayama Shisei Kinenkan) Shinmei-chyo 4
Please come the venue directly, no reservations are required.

Fee: 1,500 JPY p.p /two hours. (500 JPY for extra 30minitues.)
Souvenir: photo

Hanabi : Fireworks in Hida Takayama

Every year, we do not have so much rain in Takayama even during rainy seasons.
However we have so much rain this year and rainy season does not end still now.

It is August!

August should be sunny and hot in Japan.
I was planning to go to the beach of Toyama in early August, but weathercast has not show any sunshine mark on TV!

Where is our summer?

We supposed to held Summer Fireworks Festival on July 29th.
Because of the hard rain, it was postpone to next day.
Anyway my family and I enjoyed a moment of summer festival on the next day.

I really hope the further summer event won't be postpone or cancelled any more in August.

March 3rd for girls in Japan

March 3rd is the celebrating day for girls in Japan which is called Ohina-sama or Hina Matsuri Festival.
This is the doll festival day.
Usually Japanese girls are given their own Ohina-sama Dolls from their parents or grand parents when they were born.
This Ohina-sama dolls are reproduced ancient Japanese loyal wedding : it has bride, groom, their stewards, bride's household effects, trousseau and many many parts!
It is the really elaborate miniature wedding.

I remember my mother invited my friends and had a Ohina-sama party in front of Ohina-sama dolls when I was a child.

Takayama's annual events are usually held one month delay because of its cold climate.
So this Hina matsuri festival is also held on April 3rd without exception.

Many of travellers can find antique and modern Ohina-sama dolls in museums and traditional style ryokans in Takayama city.
And you will enjoy our hospitality and Takayama's history and customs.

Sake Brewery tour / Sakagura Meguri in 2009

Visit to Sake Breweries.
:Sakagura Meguri
http://www.takayama-guide.com/event/index.html

Sake (rice wine) is one of Takayama's local specialties.
8 old sake breweries can be found in Takayama's old town, recognized by huge balls made of cedar branches called "Sugidama" hung over their entrances.

We have a saying in Japan “cold lands make the best sake” – and Takayama is blessed with the perfect conditions for making Sake such as chilly climate, clear water and great liquor rice. There are many kind of unique Sake and truly original Sake in each brewery.

7 proud sake breweries in the city will take turns opening their facilities to visitors for about one week, during which time you can see the breweries that are usually closed for the public. The end of the tour with the guides, you can enjoy tasting samples of new sake and receive a special sake cup　as a commemorative gift.
Small samples of sake can be purchased at some breweries, too.
We are sure that it is worth to visit every sake brewery in Hida Takayama.
Enjoy the winter of this city.


2009 Jan. 15 Thu~ Mar.4 Wed 10:00~16:00

Jan.15~Jan.21 Tanabe Shuzojo
Jan.22~Jan.28 Funasaka Shuzoten
Jan.29~Feb.4 Hirata Shuzojo
Feb.5~Feb.11 Harada Shuzojo
Feb.12~Feb.18 Kawashiri Shuzojo
Feb.19~Feb.25 Niki Shuzo
Feb.26~Mar.4 Hirase Shuzoten

Tanabe Shuzojo
Miyagawa Asaichi Store
19 Shimo San-no-machi Takayama City.
Phone:0577-32-0157
Open:8:30~12:00

Brewing sake from the finest rice "Nama" home brew of the Ho-nen is classified from the storehouse tank into this store's tank directly.
There is not retailing. So you can get this sake at only this store.

*Sake tasting menu:
Honen "Nama" 100ml 300yen/150ml 450yen


Funasaka Shuzojo
105 Kami San-no-machi Takayama City.
Phone:0577-32-0016
Open:8:30~17:00

You can enjoy from the youthful fragrance of "fresh pure sake" to deep great brewing sake of matured "Daiginjyo".

*Sake tasting menu:
Shinzan Kiku Daiginjo 400yen
Shinzan Kiku Jun-mai Ginjo 350yen
Shinzan Kiku shiboritate Namazake 200yen

Hirase Shuzo Ten
82 Kami Ichi-no-machi Takayama City
Phone:0577-34-0010
Open: 8:15~17:00

Fresh pure sake of Kusudama brand is shipped from the end of November to March and unblended super dry sake "Cho Karakuchi" are popular at this brewery.
*Sake tasting is available for free.

Hirata Shuzojo
43 Kami Ni-no-machi Takayama City
Phone: 0577-32-0352
Open:8:00~17:00

Please enjoy testing of "The drunkenness old man, Sui-o" which took first place in the national contest of old liquor section in a fall.

*Sake tasting menu:
Sui-o 250yen
Hida-no Hana 200yen
Kura-sake 100yen
Nigori-sake 100yen
Ama-sake 200yen


Harada Shuzojo
10 Kami San-no-machi Takayama City
Phone:0577-32-0120
Open:8:00~17:00

Flower yeast is made from natural flowers at this brewery.
At the workshop attached to the store, visitors can observe the brewing process of sake such as washing and steaming rice every day.
*Sake tasting menu:
Unblended sake 150yen
Fresh Hon-nama 150yen

Kawashiri Shuzojo
68 Kami Ni-no-machi Takayama City
Phone:0577-32-0143
Open:8:00~17:00

Kawashiri Shuzojo chose the local rice "Hida Homare" for brewing sake.
They polish the Hida Homare rice by themselves for aging sake.
It is hard to find this brewery's product in a retail store because of handmade small-lot production.
*Sake tasting menu
Unblended sake Hida Masamune 140yen
Junmai Yama Hida 140yen
Hon Jozo Ten-on 140yen
Orisake Hidaji 140yen
3 cups from avobe sake 400yen

Niki Shuzo
40 Kami Ni-no-machi Takayama City
Phone:0577-32-0021
Open:8:00~17:00

The store renovated last summer has an refined appearance such as the old private house-like cafe.Please compare Niki's brand sake in spacious and quiet atmosphere.
*Sake tasting menu
Ginjo Tama-no-i 100yen
Daiginjo Hifumi 150yen
Daiginjo Ryo-men Sukuna 150yen
Daiginjo Himuro 150yen
Ginjo Shiboritate fresh sake 150yen

Today's lunch at Hida Hotel Plaza

I usually eat out for lunch with my husband.
There are some favorite restaurant in this city Takayama.

We went to a Chinese restaurant at Hida Hotel Plaza today.
They serve really reasonable and various lunch set menu.
We chose shrimp with chili sauce lunch today.

It's rain today in Takayama....

Takayama is famous for summer and winter resort because of its climate.
In summer, it has been much cooler than urban area and good for skiing
and snowboading for winter.