February 10th, 2008 ideru
I’ve passed by this temple a couple of times already whenever I’m in Kyoto. I never imagined this place is loaded with Sakura ( Cherry Blossoms ). This coming Spring, this temple is on the top of my list.
How to get there:
Take bus #59 and get off at Omuro Ninnaji.
Actually this temple is a few kilometers away from Kinkakuji ( Golden Pavillion). So if you are in that area, you can visit Ninnaji after Kinkakuji and Ryoanji.
The Sister in front of the Pagoda inside Ninnaji.
Imagine when this Sakura trees are in full bloomed, they would be lovely ..
The Main Entrance
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December 30th, 2007 ideru
when i saw mount fuji on my way home from tokyo .. i could not resist to take this pic and compare it with Philippines mount mayon.
mayon volcano
mount fuji
Both looks to majestic.. Don’t you think so.
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December 6th, 2007 ideru
I was sneezing mad again yesterday 
my nose hurt and sting already but by time work end, it stopped. You see my nose knows that its time to go out for an adventure again
1,000,000 People Candle Night@Osaka City Candle Museum 2007 Winter
Almost got lost along the way, but got lucky with the exit to Nishi-Umeda and finally found the actual place where it was held. It was enchanting, except for one group who thought that they were cool.. grr , anyways the rest of the display were amazing.
Posted in Fun Stuff, Japan Trips, Life In Japan | 3 Comments »
December 2nd, 2007 ideru
I don’t know what came into my mind that I decided to walk from Shinsaibashi to Umeda and ended up in Nakanoshima(中之島) ( yodoyabashi ) and remembered that they were already starting the light up
But what Im looking forward to is the light-up in the Rose Garden area which is to start this coming Dec 15..
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November 28th, 2007 ideru
Will be combining Day 2 and 3..
Day 2
Left N’s house around 7am to catch the 805am ferry for Matsuyama City Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku region. We arrived around 0800, got our ticket but the ferry is a thousand miles away that we have to run and was almost left behind
Original plan for Day 2 was actually Hagi , but Y wanted to go Ehime and Ive never been there so GOO..
The cheapest way to go to Matsuyama is to take the ferry from Hiroshima which cost 2900yen (one way ).
Arrived at Matsuyama around 11pm and proceed to Abis Hotel to put our bags, had lunch then took the chair lift to Matsuyama Castle. Then went to the Akiyama Brother’s Birthplace, Bansuiso, and Gudabutsuan. Then decided to get some Baskin and Robbins before checking in to the hotel. Then before going to Dogo Onsen, we first went to the Glass Museum and then its DOGO Onsen.
Can you remember the onsen Chihiro worked in the animation Spirited Away?? That onsen was inspired from Dogo Onsen . It was like taking back in time. Had dinner and then went back to the hotel to take a rest
Day 3
Check out from the hotel and proceed to JR Matsuyama station and put our things in the locker and went to Iyo-Nakayama to make some Soba.. yup yup Soba, it was fun. Soba is made only from flour ( soba flour ?? ) and just water.
JR Matsuyama - JR Iyo-Nakayama cost 440yen. Be careful though, train comes every 2 hours. From JR Iyo-nakayama station to Soba restaurant is about 5 minutes by Taxi , we did not see any buses passing by. It was really in the middle of the mountain..
Around noon, went back to Matsuyama and rode the Botchan Ressha and visited some temples. Then my dysmenorrhea got worse so we decided to go back to Hiroshima and call it a day.
It was so fun and learned a lot
More pics here:
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November 27th, 2007 ideru
I had a 3 days vacation, a chance to go to an adventure again..
11.23 ( Friday ) 7:30am - Left for Hiroshima. I was not able to get a night bus on the 22nd , it seems like the people from Osaka are going to Hiroshima.
1:00pm - bus was 30mins. late from the schedule arrival. Met up with N on Hiroshima Station and proceed to Kintaikyo Bridge in Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is considered to be one of Japan’s Most Beautiful Bridge.
It was really amazing. Crossing the bridge is not free though. Went up to the Castle, which was reconstructed around early 50’s ( I think ) on its original location since the original was torn down by ordered of Tokugawa Ieyasu cause he only wants to have one castle in each area. The view of Iwakuni from the Castle’s upper room was amazing.
Went back to Hiroshima around 6pm to meet up with Y and had Tsukimen for dinner. It’s a ramen which is eaten like a soba, meaning the noodles is separated from its sauce, just dip it in
More Iwakuni Pictures here
From JR Hiroshima to JR Iwakuni ( one way ) - 740 yen
From JR Iwakuni station take the bus bound for Kintaikyo Bridge ( one way ) - 220 yen
It cheaper to get the all around ticket, which include entrance/exit on the Kintaikyo bridge and Cable Car and entrance to the Castle- 1000yen.
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November 26th, 2007 ideru
Hello, My name is Mat and this is my little sister Maty. We are called by Matsutake .
We grow under pine trees, where we got our name as pine mushroom. Predators like this one usually found us here.
we ran and hid in this rock but we thought we can be seen easily..
so we tried to climb in here but it prick our butt.
so we climb down and took a rest in this bench but
we got so thirsty so we got something to drink here..
then we got to finally rested in here…
My sister and I live in Daisen Park’s Japanese Garden in Sakai City
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November 18th, 2007 ideru
I woke up so late today and my back was hurting that I thought my plan to go hiking in Kibune to Kurama might be cancelled. Around noon, I feel much better so off I went. How to get to Kurama ?
Take the Keihan Line either from Kyobashi（京橋）, Yodoyabashi（淀屋橋） or Kawaramachi（河原町） to DemachiYanagi (出町柳）
In DemachiYanagi(出町柳） transfer to Eizan Line to either KibuneGuchi(貴船口) or Kurama (鞍馬）
There are 2 routes: Kibuneguchi - Kurama or Kurama-Kibuneguchi. I choose Kibuneguchi to Kurama route. Arrived at Kibuneguchi around 3pm and started walking to Kibuneguchi Shrine. I thought I was not going to be proceed with my hike cause it rained along the way, but by the time I arrived it stopped unfortunately it was so cold.
I started my climb around 4pm already. The gatekeeper already told me that I have only 1 hour left till they would turn off the lights on the road and it would also start to get dark so it might be dangerous and most of the temples are closed but I was able to convinced her that I can do it. She allowed me to climbed and gave me a discount , instead of 200yen she only let me pay 100yen.
I was a bit nervous during the climb cause I could see people going home already, I thought I was going to be alone on top of the mountain. Thank goodness when I reached the top there were still lots of hikers.. The climb from Kibuneguchi was so steep, I was really out of breath but the view I saw on top was amazing , it was worth it.
I was able to finished the in less than 1 hour .. yipee. When I was going home, I found out that there was a light up in between Ninose and Ichihara and so that the people inside the train can view it clearly, the lights inside the train was turned out. It was really enchanting
Here are more pictures in my album
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November 2nd, 2007 ideru
Autumn is here.. so when and where is the best place to go see some colorful leaves ??
1. Minoo(箕面):
Start: Middle of November
Best：November 23
Event: Momiji Matsuri ( Maple Festival ) 11/1-11/31
Access: Hankyu:
Umeda (Takarazuka Lline) -> Ishibashi
Ishibashi ( Minoo Line ) -> Minoo
HP: http://www.city.minoh.osaka.jp/
2.Makiosan : Sefukuji ( 槙尾山：施福寺）
Start: Beginning of November
Best: Middle of November
Fact: There are about 200 momiji trees in Makiozan
Access(station): Izumichuo (osaka)
HP: http://www.city.izumi.osaka.jp/
3. Inunakiyama (犬鳴山)
Start: Middle of November
Best: Middle of November to End of November
Access ( station ): From JR Hineno ( 日根野）station
take the Nankai Wing Bus to Inunakiyama ( 犬鳴山）
HP： http://www.city.izumisano.osaka.jp/index.asp
More of Osaka: Here
Other Places in Kansai Area:
Other places in Japan
Posted in Fun Stuff, Japan Trips, Outdoor | 2 Comments »
October 18th, 2007 ideru
This is a very long long overdue post. Anyways..
Summer is hell in Japan, but one thing I love about it are Light-ups. Nara Toukae is a yearly summer event in Nara where temples are line with candles which makes it look romantic and eerie BUT.. i was not able to go to the Nara Toukae cause Ate Aya has to work on 08/15 ( the last day ) and I want to meet with her again after a long time so we decided to meet on the 16th which fortunately is also the schedule for the Kasuga Temple light up in memory of all the people who were dead and I think also as a celebration of WW2 bombing in Japan. And the Daimonji light up which we entirely missed cause we were in the wrong location,, talk about bloopers
I also had the chance to revisit the Todaiji and took some decent pictures this time. Entrance to Todaiji is 500yen and Kasuga is Free but its a long long walk to the temple..
I was also reunited with dear deers
It was really a hot day, but it was fun
To get to Nara
By Kintetsu: Osaka ( JR LoopLine ) -> Tsuruhashi -> Tsuruhashi(Kintentsu Line) -> Nara [650yen]
By JR: Osaka ( JR Yamanote LIne) -> Nara ( 780yen)
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