I Stopped At...

08/10/2010 I was in Meguro Gajoen to see a kabuki exhitbition. The exhibit hall was earlier a high class inn where banquets were held for the richest people in Japan. My companion is a kabuki student, but unfortunately female artist don`t performance kabuki in public even though they learn the art. That is the kabuki tradition. I visited the place with an intention of writing a blog article on kbuki with photos but cameras were prohibited. My words won`t do the majesty of Kabuki a justice so I choose to share my experience at th Gajoen the high class restaurant and wedding hall complex where this exhibition and the glamorous exhibition was held. The view of the open area and the western restaurant from the elevator The waterfall in the open area cools the mind and takes of the stress of the concrete busy world The view of the   western style restaurant from behind the waterfall The Japanese style restaurant The beautiful seasonal dec...

08/10/2010 I know this sounds a bit strange but check this out!!! This is  a public washroom inside the restaurant complex.This takes no money for entrance and that adds to the strangeness of the unit. This is public!!! This wash room was in Gajoen Meguro.It is one of the most artistic washrooms I have ever witnessed. Superb interior designing. The entrance of the female washroom The interior view, once you enter the washroom A little bridge, as a partition for the waiting area and the toilets. The beautiful decorations on the wall, inside the washroom The mirror stand The door of the toilet Beautiful delicate decorations on the wall and the doors. Inside the toilet - the window Special thanks to Ms Ito for introducing this facility in Meguro.  It was interesting and worth the experience. If you get a chance, go to Meguro Gajoen to see this washroom. It is a public washroom inside the complex and anybody can use it...

15/05/2010 It was after spending the evening at Thai Festival 2010 in Yoyogi,Shibuya. The dinner was decided on "Nabe" at a shibuya chain restaurant of Japanese hot pot. I have always loved nabe. I have had shabu shabu hotpot, sukiyaki hotpot and seafood hotpot at Japanese houses and this was the first time I am having it at a restaurant. So I thought of sharing some moments of the supreme happiness of eating Nabe - the Japanese hotpot. Beef, eggs and the vegetables  The whole table of ingredients for the Nabe in one shot Shabu shabu and sukiyaki on one hotplate finally you dip the boiled slice of meat in the "tare" and eat. This chain restaurant is in Shibuya and limitless "tabehoudai" for less than 2000yen. Good service and loved the meat.   All Rights Reserved.

An ancient house The firehouse The goods used to cook The ladder used to go upstairs The upstairs The goods used for cultivating and making rice balls Ancient goods used to make flour Ancient Toliet Tools used to cultivate In these gasshou made houses . the roof plays the main part. Its  so strong that it holds the thick layer of snow which falls every winter.  Even in the hottest summer , inside of the house is cool and very soothing, Houses are very ventilative and spacey. Tool used to make the roof The tools used to make the roof There are example houses to visit for 200yen and it will make you understand more about the ir culture. These villages have a proud history and a culture which are still alive. The young ones take their heritage to younger ones and so proud to see them. I would recommend you to visit their in a festival season so that their culture is also can be witnessed. All Rights R...

Gokayama means five hills. These special five hills are named as UNESCO world heritage for it s old  village still left unharmed. The ancient kokiri dancing village The beautiful village of Ainokura The entrance to the village The ancient roof This roof is called "gasshou dsukuri" meaning -the prayers hand architecture-. This roof style is so strong that its compatible for the extremely heavy snow fall in this area in winter. From here onwards are some of the houses still left to date. This houses are still strong and man made. Even in the scorching sun the temperature inside the house is cool and it is said that it is the same in the winter. It was marvelous to see this little village, where in winter visiting this village is difficult due to several routes are closed due to heavy snow fall in winter. All Rights Reserved.

19/07/2010 Another dream coming true. I always wanted to go there.I was collecting leaflets, pamphlets about this but never thought of   going due to the high costs. Well, luck was upon me this one time. It was early morning of 5.45 and I was waiting for my sensei s vehicle in front of  Toyama Station. I did know the plans for the day but that we were going to Tateyama. Were we going to Kurobe Dam too, or going to Kurobe Dam?Were we going to take the Alpen Route or go straight to Kurobe? Surprises were waiting. We reached Tateyama Station and I knew it is my dream coming true. Weather and information of the day  It was around 14degrees at the top of the mountain while it was nearly 36degrees at the foot. We were simply above the clouds and the temperature difference was too much to bear. It was cold in the summer. Early in the morning when we passed the Murodo staion on our way to Kurobe dam it was clear all around. in the aftern...

19/07/2010 This was one of the greatest trips I ever had in Japan. a beautiful trip through nature, watching nature,living nature and dying nature. Once you arrive at Tateyama station a cable car awaits you to take you to an upper point. the cable car is somewhat 30 degrees ascend and in earlier days, it  is said that people used to climb that way up on steps. Most of it is a climb through tunnels so not much of the nature can be seen at first. From the next point you connect to a bus tour of 50 minutes through a wild forest. It has its own unique glories and this 50 minutes mark the trip. One cable car pulls people enough for three shuttle buses. All people are expected to be seated through out the way, and i would recommend you to sit on the left hand side of the bus. Sit and see, you will know why. Next several paragraphs will take you through what I saw and savoured in the next 50 minutes since the bus started to move. The station is called Bijodai...