Sakura Mochi

Hello, everyone! 

Did you remember what I said last time.

I said that I would try some spring favored things.

Well, I did. 

I ate a Sakura-mochi, Sakura doughnuts, and Sakura cake.

After I tired them, one thing came up in mind though I enjoyed to have. 

Well, could the taste I tasted be the real Sakura? 

I'm not sure because I haven't eaten sakura ever.  

If someone knows or experienced sakura in real, 

please tell me how's it. 

Then, See ya!!　

Spring is in everywhere.

Hi, everyone!
I think you, guys have enjoyed SPRING in Japan.
The last weekend was the perfect day to see cherry blossoms' blooming!!!
Many went to parks and had a good time to spend their time on it.
Either do I.

Well, in Japan it is seemed SPRING covers everywhere and everything.
Trees and flowers are changing their colors in vivid and lively.
Shops sell a Sakura favored sweets, drinks, and some stuff to eat.
Not all, but many of women on a load wears spring coat
which color is white, pink, ivory and any other kinds of soft spring colors.

One of my custom in spring is to eat something taste Sakura favored.
I haven't done yet this spring, but  I'm going to try some.

I hope you find your own way to enjoy SPRING　in Japan.

See ya!

Bread is better than the songs of birds!!（花より団子, Hanayori dango）

Hello, JPNAVI buddies!
It's been so long time no see.
I apologized to show up recently... .

The cold winter had gone and SPRING has come!!!
Spring reminds me 2 things, HAY FEVER and cherry blossom.
I love spring in Nagoya, Japan.
The big reason to it, is simple.
Because of CHEERY BLOSSOM blooming.
This year it seems to its peak will be later than usual.
Now I'm suffering from hay fever, though,
I'm going to out right after I hear to the new of it. 

Take care those who are suffering terrible hay fever!
And check the following URL for nice places to cherry-viewing party.

Cherry blossom forecast
http://sakura.weathermap.jp/

Cherry blossom viewing places around Nagoya
http://www.gokinjyo.jp/u/hanami/

If you want more information about cherry blossom blooming,
you put "桜　開花予想　2012" into any search engines.

Nagashima Spaland !!!!

Hellow ~ international studetns in Japa=)
Have you been enjoing your summer vacation?
I have not so much but I am planning to do some this summer.

1. Go to Nagashima Spa Laaaaaaaaaaaaaand!!!!!!!!!!!!
It takes for an hour from Nagoya station by bus. Round tickets are 1,800yen. Special tickets for the amusement and water park may be 5,700yen. It is not only just amusement park but a mega amusement comples. There are a big outlet mall, outdoor water park with exciting sliders and attractions. Woooo~, I wanna go right now!!!
  
2. Go to see fireworks ('0')///
One of my dream is going to fireworks party wearing Yukata with a boyfriend~. It seems that it would not come ture this summer again. Anyway I can go with my freinds and families. Actually that's not big matter. I just hope it. And I just deram it will happen someday. Near Nagoya, fireworks being held in Inuyama, Okazaki is famous and really Goooood!!!

 The big goal of this summer are three and small things are eating Kakigori (ice sharvings), Ngashi somen(flowing somen), to go shopping, movies, planetarium and so on.

This summer weather is quite strange.
Take care and have a fun time ~!!!

Doyo no ushi no hi !!!

I believe July 21st is the “Midsummer Day of the Ox” (土用の丑の日 – doyou no ushi no hi) in Japan.What’s that?  Well, basically it seems to be a day to eat freshwater eel (unagi). It is said that eating eel gives us stamina and energy to survive the hottest season, so that is why we eat it during the hottest time of the year in Japan. Sometimes this day is referred to as ‘unagi day’.

Midsummer Day of the Ox can fall on different days each year, but it is usually at the end of July or the beginning of August. The date depends on some complicated calendar stuff which, to be honest, I don’t really understand.  It seemes not all but many foreign students thought ‘doyou’ meant ‘Saturday’ and ‘ushi’ meant ‘cow’, when they first saw the name of this day in Japanese. Actually, ‘doyou’ means ‘the end of the season’, and because of the old calendar, this day now falls in the middle of summer, thus ‘Midsummer Day of the Ox.’

So, why the Ox?  Well, I’m not sure actually.  It might be something to do with the Chinese zodiac, or it might just be that we need the strength of an ox to survive ‘natsubate’ (‘summer fatigue’).  Let's beat NATSUBATE!!! So I will go out to look for restaurants serving a big and good portion of HITSUMABUSHI!!!

Refer to followings about hitsumabushi restaurants
http://www.houraiken.com/
http://hitsumabushi.xtone.jp/ibasyo.html
http://www.hitsumabushi.co.jp/