I Stopped At...

04/05/2011 ヒメオドリコソウ（姫踊子草）- Purple Deadnettle 和名　：ヒメオドリコソウ（姫踊子草）- Purple Deadnettle 科　　：　シソ科　- Lamiaceae  学名　：lamium purpureum スズラン（鈴蘭）- Lilly of Valley 和名　：スズラン（鈴蘭）- Lilly of Valley 科　　：　ユリ科　- Lillaceae  学名　：convallaria keiskei 花言葉　：　「幸福の再来」、[意識しない美しさ」、[純粋」 This plant is poisonous due to the consist of Convallatoxin, Convallamarin and Convallaside. クサノオウ（草の黄）-　Greater Celandine 和名　：クサノオウ（草の黄）-　Greater Celandine 科　　：　ケシ科　- Papaveraceae  学名　：chelidonium majus / asaticum ohwi A yellow syrup comes out from the cut points or break points of the leaves and stem. This plant is also poisonous to most of the people due to the alkoloid, while this is  also used as  a herb in some cases but only after drying well in  the sun. ウシハコベ 和名　：ウシハコベ（牛繁縷） 科　　：　ナデシコ科　- Caryophyllaceae 学名　：myosoten aquaticum This is one of the seven "Seven Grasses of the Spring" according to Japans Literature. ...

2011/02/05 Nakasendo is the inland road connecting Edo and Kyoto empires in early ages. Naraijuku is the second station of Nakasendo. This was a market city in the early days and still intact up to this very moment. This old city is situated in Nagano. Try this for more about Nakasendo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakasend%C5%8D the bridge across the Naraijuku river  The welcome board and the old bridge  Naraijuku road connecting Kyoto and Edo empires Old Shops , boutiques open just like the old days The Nakasendo road map throught the Naraijuku road Old houses People are still living here where their ancestors were selling buying stuff some hundred years ago. This place is still used in films and dramas to bring the old days  back to life. Special thanks to Mr,Yoneyama for introducing this place and taking us to Nagano. All Rights Reserved.

 2008/01/02 This castle was once the home to the powerful rulers nearly nine hundred years ago. This was destroyed , rebuilt and destroyed again several times and was finally brought to this state in Edo period. According to the Japan castle Foundation this castle is one of the finest reconstructed castles in Japan.   The moat of the castle  The entrance to the highland of the  castle premises  The main tower of the Odawara castle  Entrance to the main tower The rear of the Akagane gate This was my first trip t o see the castles in Japan and mainly one of the first big trips I ever made in Japan. Special thanks go to my host family Mr & Mrs. Deguchi for these unforgettable memories. All Rights Reserved.

2009/08/10 The Rock Plate at the entrance Just get down at the Hyogo station and walk down the market street and you will ens up at this gorgeous castle premises. Himeji Castle which is also called  Shirasag jo which means "white heron castle" is one of the most beautiful castles in Japan. According to the Wikipedia this is the "  finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period. " This is now a UNESCO　World Heritage site since 1993. Himeji Castle Himeji Castle with the "three country moat" at the foreground                     　     Old wells of the castle Ghost stories are woven around these wells, about suiciding maids, and their spirits are heard to be still haunting the premises.   Inside the main ...

2010/11/21 The annual Katina Ceremony held at the Mejirodai Sri Lankan Buddhist temple was held on 21st  Sunday,of November 2010. It started at 7 o`clock in the evening with the Buddha Pooja at the nearby Japanese Temple.   The playing of the Sri Lankan traditional drum signifies the start of the ceremony.   Monks are seated and the listeners are seated below the monks sitting level. After the traditional Sri Lankan way of starting the Japanese chief monk starts chanting in the Japanese way. We followed the Sri Lankan chantings but the Japanese chantings were little bit difficult to follow.  Monks leave the Japanese temple in a row to the Sri Lankan temple taking the "katina poojawa" with them in a parade. Katina Poojawa means the sacred cheevaras and Pirith book kept in another place away from the temple. Monks keep them away from the temple to keep them safe from the rains in early ages, because the mo...

2009/06/14 Earlier , I guess there  was  a post on Ajisai (Hydrangea) some two years back. This trip to Kamakura was made on the same day. Even though its a little bit late, I thought of sharing my experience on my trio to see the world famous Kamakura Buddha Statue. This Buddha statue is situated in the Koutokuin temple in Kamakura. This Statue is one  of the significant icons in Japan. This is made of bronze and is said to be nearly 800years old. Weight : 93 tons Height : 13.35m The massive tsunami which hit Kanto area in 1923 had managed to move this massive bronze statue  a good two feet from its original position.                               Introduction  This great Buddha statue is hollowed so that visitors can enter the statue. Well , I should mention that inspite of the Coolness of the mid spring it was very hot inside. The picture below...

30/04/2008 The first glimpse of FujiQ with mount Fuji in the background My friend  got his hands on a lucky package which includes a one day free pass to FujiQ and transport up an down from Hachioji, for just 6600 yen. now that is cheap!!!!So we ended up with a day full of  fun, scare, sweat and panic at Fuji Q. Take my word for it FujiQ is the best amusement park in Japan if you are up for adventure.This post is written just to share the funny, scary and truly enjoyable attractions listed I popped in. there were more, but some I could not take pictures and fro some we did not enter. Red Tower The free fall attraction where you can experience a free fall from 52 meters high with the eccentric view of Mount Fuji. Well, i rode this three times consecutively and wish I could ride/fall more times.But now I`m thinking twice before going for free falls, thanks to the Red Tower but it was great!! Panick Clock This attractions giv...