My family like motorcycle,so we went to there.

The exhibition "History of the motorcycle industry of Hamamatsu" has been actually held at the same time also in the museum in the Hamamatsu city now (Both of the admission fee are seen and adult 1300 yen).

Many motorcycle fans who had aimed at the sacred ground and Hamamatsu of the motorcycle from the distance all the way on this occasion because of this had gathered. 

Hamamatsu is certainly a place where the history of the motorcycle of Japan has been created so that's why I told you "Sacred ground of the motorcycle" in Hamamatsu city.

Hamamatsu City that undertakes air raid in World War II, and became burnt ruins.

It was motorcycle industry to have backed up the revival.

Improving a small engine for which Mr, Soichiro Honda is used in the army and having installed it in the bicycle are the starts of the motorcycle manufacturing of Hamamatsu. 

Mr. Honda manufacturing hung to the barracks hut in the Hamamatsu city out the signboard "Technical Research Institute Honda", and sold the bicycle with the engine. (present HONDA)

the several years later a small motorcycle manufacturer of 30 companies or more was made in Hamamatsu.

There were moderately a slope and a curve, and a lot of manufacturers were using at the Rokken street that passed the Hamamatsu city as a test track of the prototype at that time. 

The history of the motorcycle of Japan has been left in various places if you are walking in the town in Hamamatsu though a big factory moved to suburbs only now. 

Well, the transition of the design of the motorcycle is chiefly paid to attention in the museum this time.

How was it?

I think, motorcycle and car is so beautiful.

However, this exhibition is not satisfactory for a moment,I thought ''just only these??''

Maybe, the person who had come all the way also think so.

Because it is a motorcycle that runs usually in the public road.

When the one-making of Hamamatsu can be sublimed even to the culture and the art, it becomes a better town.

We have a Shochu and Japanese Sake in the long history in Japan but beer is more popular than them in the summer season especially in Japan.

at my home, beer is gone quickly everyday..

Do you know Japanese beer major company?,yes its Kirin, Asahi, Sapporo and Suntory.

This is the most famous and popular beer ''Asahi Super Dry'' in Japan↓↓↓

I found ''Asahi'' beer at Paris in France when I went to there!

This beer taste is dry and bitter,most young men likes it in Japan.

Recently, "Local brand beer" that makes the best use of not only the beer that the major manufacturer makes but also a local trait is also popular, and it exists a lot in various places.

These are ''Echigo beer'' from Niigata prefecture.

That is so delicious, when you go to Hokkaido,should buy it:)

Look at this beer!! it's so small isn't it?

It is 135ml.

Do you have any small beer like this size at your country?

This beer is for women who want to drink a little bit and sometimes these are used for giveaway and sample.

There is a custom "OCHUGENt" that presents the present to the person indebted in summer in Japan

Beer makers have generally put to the beer on the advertisement as goods of "OCHUGEN".

It is an actor and a sports player that is appointed to the advertisement remarkable by today's book. 

She is Japanese actress, she is advertisement for SUNTORY.

This is KIRIN maker, yes he is baseball player Ichiro Major leaguer.

This time I bought SUNTORY's premium beer.

This beer is very famous and delicious!

I think, everybody like it.

I love KIRIN beer, this beer is more flavor taste.

This beer is the most popular in Japan.

last one is from YEBISU,Kohaku beer. this beer comes out at limited time.

This beer's taste is like ｌocal brand beer of Belgium.

I will let's you know useful Japanese word when you come to Japan then want to order beer at the restaurant.

The beer not heat-treated is called, "Nama BEERU".→Japanese pronunciation;Beer→BEERU. 

you can say to order ''NAMA KUDASAI'' then you can get a draft beer!!

Hiroshima city is the most famous city in the world. do you know why? 65years ago, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima city on 6th August for the first time historically in the world.

41 years ago my mother moved to Hiroshima city from Kobe city after she married, she has been felt that the town in Hiroshima was brutal when she compared it with lively, colorful Kobe.

There was still lot of shacks at everywhere and many people who was plundered their family and houses by the World War Ⅱ(atomic bomb).she was very sad when she knew it.

Today and 30 years ago when I was child,traces of atomic bomb can't be seen much.

On the contrary, it is difficult to pass on the thing of the atomic bomb to future because the radiation victims ageing and the generation which has not experienced war to increasing.

I usually forget about atomic bomb even I'm from Hiroshima, however I feel that it is necessary for a lot of people to inform reality still even a little when coming back to Hiroshima in every summer.

This is an elementary school which is from my parent's house in 5 minutes by car.

Many radiation victims carried to this elementary school away about 5miles from the ground zero after the atomic bomb dropped.

Neighbors remember the scene of  the people, whole body was burnt and it was sore,nakedness, and a stream of people were walking with stick their hands out in front.

It was too late to do anything for them, and they died.

And, the person who died one after another was burnt at this elementary school.

A similar thing was done in not only this elementary school but also various places. 

It is said that the river near the ground zero was thirsty by the whole body burn, and had been thickly buried by the corpse of the person who came for water. 

When the atomic bomb dropped, my friend's grandfather was repairing the roof with his son. 

They were exposed to radiation then skin of the body to melt instantly,and the calf of the legs and the thigh stick and not parted in the state of posture in which it squats down.

He cut peel of the foot that melted by the wire and he did the son the same thing then they got off on the ground from roof.

and next story from another woman.

When the atomic bomb dropped, she was 16 years old.

The indoor glass scattered with the explosion, the splinter pierced in her face, and it stuck.

Her parents desperately look for the doctor, and shards of glass are pulled out one by one and it applied an ointment so as not to suppurate, and gauze was pasted to her face but tear off gauze everyday, that was like a torture.

It was obvious that it was a radiation victim according to the facial scar then she was bullied by everyone,she couldn't spent wonderful time in her young days.

The atomic bomb is very cruel.There are a lot of cruel stories however I think it is insufficient in telling only it. Discrimination and prejudice after atomic bomb,these are ignorant.

In foreign countries, some people who thought end of the war because the atomic bomb dropped,but here is my opinion, that is human's arrogance.

A sad happening of the war is not only Hiroshima.

Today, the tragedy has occurred still all over the world.

I can't forget words from radiation victim,

''Once the war begins, unstoppable so do not it ever''

Generations of us who doesn't know the war try to know a past fact positively, and should aim at the peaceful world in any situation.

I have came back to Hiroshima where is my parent's place for summer vacation with my children.my husband will take his summer vacation for one week, so he will come here later. We arrived here by Shinkansen,and my husband will head down to here by his car then we will go home together by his driving.

Next morning after I arrived in Hiroshima, I woke up with music which is a nostalgic sound.

I heard music from radio but it was not from inside of house, this music sound and some children's voice came from the park where is in front of my house.

in Japan, people gather in the park or public square at 6.30am then take exercise to piano accompaniment music broadcast on public NHK radio every morning for 20 minutes during summer vacation.

Everybody know this exercise because Japanese people learn this ''Radio Taiso'' at the school,so the body moves naturally when that piano accompaniment flows.

The Radio Taiso beginning 80 years ago as the national health exercise to built up their physical strength and help raise morale and form group unity,it's kind of meaning included the military training at that time.

the passage of years, but people still like the Radio Taiso, 

Today, children take Radio Taiso at the summer vacation every year and at the some factory,workers does Radio Taiso for safety and the prevention of accidents every morning

Only a favorite person gathers in the radio gymnastics during summer vacation. However, most elementary students have coming because it is one of education principles from school.and old people who wake up earlier.

I joined the Radio Taiso every moring in the summer vacation when I was elementary school student. It was fun because I could meet my friends at there every day.

When I was child, lots of children was at this park but now it is a declining number of children in Japan,old people is more than children at this city too. It is not livelier than old times now.

and most children and people hate to be restricted by early morning Radio Taiso every day then now it has been doing on a nationwide scale recently only for 1 or 2 weeks during summer vacation. 

Children has a paper card and stamp it after finish the Radio Taiso everyday.

They sidle up to the bench little by little because they want stamp their paper card earlier than anyone when end of music is drawing near.

It is same!! 30 years ago when I was child, I did it. they have inherited that small habit.

Japanese businesses become sponsors and the stamp card is distributed to children before summer vacation. 

I know!! this stamp of cherry blossom's mark.It is the same as 30 years ago. Does time stop at here???

And next morning, my children couldn't wake up at the 6.30am then didn't join the Radio Taiso,it is also the same as me 30 years ago.

boys and girls were very cuteeverybody wore ''Yukata'' so I took a nice picture

This time, tell you about ''Yukata''.

The yukata is clothes to conceal the nakedness when bathing by several people in the Heian era (About 1000 years ago), and "Yukata [bira]" at that time is clothes of the origin. 

Yukata are typically made of hemp cloth or cotton,so it is easy to dry and strong in water.

It has been kept putting on after the bath and was for nightclothes(pajamas) even if it becomes an age afterwards.

Therefore, Yukata is not formal clothes today either.

moreover,putting on Yukata tidy body after the shower is beautiful, so this is not good that smell sweaty and heavy makeup

There is a clean feeling, and wearing neatly is chic. 

Today, people chance to wearing Yukata at the festival,Bon-odori and fireworks in the summer.not many.

at this festival in the kindergarten, all children came up with their colorful Yukata with enthusiastic. their teachers too

a girl who is running usually putting on T-shirt and jeans,but when wearing Yukata like this, it can create and the atmosphere that return to 1000 years ago.

Traditional clothes such as kimonos and yukatas still suit the Japanese. 

Boys were wearing that　↑↑↑

In recent years, more casual style Kimono ''Jinbei'' is popular though the boy also wore the Yukata of the same design as the girl in long long time ago.

Jinbei sets consist of a top and short pants.

It was originally a kimono used as man's work wear. 

They were dancing(Bon Odori;name of dance) which learned at the their kindergarten.↑↑↑

both adult and children's Yukata is really nice, it feast for the eyes looks cooling in the summer.

If the person who wears Yukata is walking the town,it would be buoyant and cheerful in the town,and feel ''it's summer time''

So at the amusement parks and restaurants etc,they said ''the admission fee is free when you wear Yukata'', ''a grass of beer is free for people who wearing Yukata'' etc,they have their original services to call in customer.

People who are wearing Yukata as well as not wearing Yukata,all people is able to savor the summer. that is a Yukata.

If you visit to Japan in the summer season, you should try it on.

Hey wait a minute, what do you think? today's my fashion, looks nice??

It spreads to Japan after World War II though the grilled meat is originally a food of South Korea, and it evolves originally in Japan.

These are different between Japan and South Korea, the taste, the kind of meats, and the atmosphere of the restaurant I thought that when I ate the home of grilled meat at South Korea.

Here is introduced restaurant of ''Yakiniku'' in Japan this time.

at the Yakiniku restaurant.↑↑↑

only tables, not chairs. (these colorful cushions are Korean style)

We arrived this restaurant at 5pm, so no customer was there yet.. we were earlier...

This restaurant that the butcher is managing famously there was filled to capacity at once after this because it supplied delicious meats. 

There was no custom of generally eating beef and pork, etc. in Japan until the Meiji era. 

Eating habits at mainly rice and the vegetable and the fish usually continued long though the person who lived in the mountain village was eating the wild boar and venison. 

Many people didn't believe it ate the animal though the restaurant where it ate meat in Tokyo at the Meiji era began to become popular. 

Still, the meat dish that spreads gradually popularity was "Sukiyaki. "

The time it spent for 100 years or more, and eating meat is completely general now for people.

However, Japanese intestines are not suitable for the digestion of meat because it is thinner and longer than the Europeans and Americans.

The sicknesses such as obesity and the lifestyle diseases increase by eating meat too much, and it is a problem now.

I know, I do know that! but sometimes really really want to eat meats!! don't you

especially, young people with healthy appetite loves Yakiniku!!

asking boys ''What do you want to eat out?'' most people answer ''Yakiniku''

In a Yakiniku restaurant,center of a table has a hole and put a gridiron on the there.↑↑↑

That is a smokeless roaster!! it was developed by Japanese company!! genius!

you know, Yakiniku is delicious but smoke is billowing up at the inside...

Smoking with mixed oil makes inside of a restaurant dirty, and hair and clothes smell, it doesn't come off..that's why most women didn't want to go to Yakiniku restaurant before.

Smoking hardly rises up so that the smokeless roaster may inhale smoking from the hole below.　and the smell is hardly anxious.

The broiled meat restaurant has been changed to be a clean and fashionable by this invention, and a lot of Yakiniku restaurants are growing up by customer of family and couples.

OK, let's start cooking, this is the most famous in the menu at the Yakiniku restaurant a part of beef ''Kalbi''.look at this! a good balance the red meat contrast with fat, it was tender and seemed to melt.

It was a really good one, of course expensive!! its 1800yen(about US$20.00) one plate.

the other plate is ''Gyutan'', its a beef tongue.

see that?? there is not smoke! you believe it now?

There is not a ventilation fan on the ceiling either. 

when it changed color,ready to eat!! dip it into the homemade original sauce.

This chopsticks are Korean style, yes stainless chopsticks.

next plate is ''Horumon''(offal) yes these are internal organs.these are delicious too! each different taste and chewy.

after grilled↑↑↑ these are fresh and it doesn't stinky smell because soaked them in this restaurant's original sauce.

well, it is different for each people,I order the rice or noodle at the end when I go to Yakiniku restaurant.

This time, I ordered some of these for you!(this blog)

These are Korean foods.(Korean people disagree?).

first, ''Bibimbap''. white rice topped with some dishes and Kimuch, mix by yourself then eat.

Tanabata is a festival transmitted from China 1000 years or more ago.

and in China and South Korea is held this festival in this time too I think this festival has expanded in different respectively shape which the culture of country mixes in each country.

I introduce you the Japanese style Tanabata festival this time.

as shown in the first photo, the branch of bamboo grass is prepared at shops and public places when the Tanabata festival approaches, and the stripe of paper(Tanzaku) that writes wishes there  be hung.

Tanaba festival used to be for women who originally wished the progress of needlework in China,then now people still believe that their desire fulfill, when they hung the wish on the branch of the bamboo grass.

My daughter writes her wish on the Tanzaku(stripe of paper) at the library when we return the books.

''I want to become a cake shop'' she wrote. it means I want to work at the cake shop or be pastry chef.

There is many many wishes.

one of them, ''I want to be a good soccer player'' ↑↑↑↑

(I guess, he watched the world cup game then got something impression from Japan team?) the other Tanzaku, ''want to be a model'', ''be a person who work at the hospital in the future'' etc.

They said, take it bamboo if you want,hmmm some people take it to home then decorate it and hang on Tanzaku which write family's wishes.↓↓↓

The decoration that hangs to the bamboo grass and Tanzaku is usually made with the Origami(paper folding).

I will introduce you someday about ''Origami'' which is popular and traditional pleasure for children in Japan.

well, Tanabata has another legend except doing to hang the wish on the  bamboo grass,it is one that this was transmitted from China in old time. I explain shortly, 

Orihime(Vega) that floated on the night sky was a lady of a hard worker every day and good at weaving.

Hikoboshi(Altair) was also hard worker as cattleman.

They married as the god of the heaven admitted,then the marriage life was too happy, Orihime did not weave, and Hikoboshi did not look after the cows.

The god of the heaven knew it and was angry with them, god separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa(the Milky Way) and forbade them to meet.However, it was permitted to be only July 7th laid of the bridge once a year in Amanogawa(the Milky Way) and to meet. 

The star and Amanogawa disappear when it is rain then, so people worry about it two lovers(Orihime and Hikoboshi)can't meet then people wishe the day of the Tanabata festival to be clear skies for two lovers. 

This year on July 7th, it was a cloudy sky.

Two lovers couldn't meet this year......

What a far long-distance love they are.....but it is a married love that continues for thousands of years and so it is nothing to them can't meet one year?? 

I watched TV the other day, this program that foreigner who live in Japan introduced a good place  in Japan. one of them, they said ''JIDOUKAN''(child welfare public) is nice. It is normal thing for Japanese people,but sometimes it is valuable for foreigner or the other countries.

Jidokan is public place for children to play mostly these are on the premises school and community center. anyone can go to there whoever wants.

This Jidoukan open from 9am to 5pm, some staff who has a license of counseling or childcare is all day at there.

There is lots of toys and playground equipments,so kids are completely absorbed in playing with them for hours.

on the TV program a mother, she is foreigner said ''my country doesn't have a place like this,it is difficult to find a place where kids play safety and fun, also this system of Jidoukan is good for mother too,because we can have a communication each other at here''

by the way, it is rainy season now in Japan,　rain, rain rainy everyday, it's gloomy weather. 

I know,it is important the rainy season for next season of summer, but makes me feel be depressed.

Especially, mother who has small children can't take them to a park and stroll around there.

I take my kids to Jidoukan at such time.

Honestly, going to the park with kids is unexpectedly tired one.If it is such a Jidoukan, the worry of a traffic accident and a big injury is not needed and there is equipping fully the air conditioning

It is free to enter,don't need money and there is always clean.

My daughter enjoy fishing which are handmade by staff.↓↓↓

and jumping and hopping on the cushions.↓↓↓

you know, in Japan people take off their shoes inside of the room,so not make dirty your shirts.

Do you remember? this place is not only for kids,yes there is good for mother or parents too, yes we can have a communication each mother or parent.

Because parents who have almost the same child mutually gather, information can be exchanged.

and just talking and chatting for change feeling then you can escape from stress of child care.

If you are in trouble of have worry about your child or family, you can ask to staff who is in Jidoukan, they will give you some advice.

They look fun↓↓↓

I went to there in the morning, about 30 of mother and children were there. staff said, about 80 of mother and children are coming a day. 

at this Jidoukan, staff read a picture book for children and play eurhythmics.sometimes, librarian come to Jidoukan then introduce picture books and musician holds a concert to play piano and flute etc.

parents who has small children, sometimes fighting a small stress everyday, it is helpful for them easy to going to a place where is a like Jidoukan.

What do you think system of Jidoukan

Slip back in time of 200 years ago, it is more past than ''Showa Era'' last time.

This is a old Japanese style house, it was moved and constructed in the museum of premises.

In Japan, old houses built 100 years or more, we called it ''Kominka''　in Japanese and we are keeping it.

That house in the photo was built before 1850 years, family of Takayama lived that house this family run farm and fishery in nearby Hamanako. yes this is Japanese old architecture.

This is around Hamanako.↓↓↓

These houses are modern style in around Hamanako, but that ''Kominka'' used to be there.

Takayama family was common people in Edo Era(1603-1868), we can find out how their life style was it with this ''Kominka''.

This is entrance of house. ↓↓↓ there is cool and dark.

a wide ''Doma''(earthen floor) continues from the entrance, and there is a kitchen in the earthen floor.

That photo of above is  ''Kamado''(kitchen range).the oven that was made by clay,it makes fire and cooking.

In Japan, people take off their shoes inside of the house, but people of old time used put on shoes at the ''Doma''(at the kitchen).

Therefore women old times put on shoes when they cooked and took off shoes when went up to the room for carrying meals.

By the way, the heat source of "Kamado"(kitchen range) is firewoods. 

the firewood was piled up at the back of the house.

Let's get back to inside the house again.

It is "Zashiki"(its like a living room) that extends on the opposite side of the ''Doma''(earthen floor).people eating meals and sleeping at the Zashiki.

In the Japanese architecture, each room is not delimited with the wall, and it partitions it in the ''Shoji'' and ''Fusuma'' (the sliding door). 

Therefore, if all doors are flung open, it is possible to make a big space(its like a banquet hall).

Can you see it?  white paper was hung on the rope, and in the photo, that was the one to enshrine the god, and might have had the household Shinto altar in that place. 

The house is built only with the entire tree, the bamboo, the straw, and paper though it is natural. it is possibly built only by construction materials of nature,I have been surprised.

People of old times who made the one to here by using the thing of nature are great.I proud of them.

There is garden in front of the house.

A Japanese house has the ''Engawa''(its like a veranda) between the garden and the room.

The Engawa has been loved by the one like a long and slender wood deck as a space that connects in the house with the outside by the Japanese.

Drinking tea, chatting with neighbors and cat lying down at the Engawa, yes people used to be enjoying at the there.

The house where people don't live and becomes antiquated and thinks it is dark, so my kids said that scared to entering the dark house.

Do you know the Emperor system of Japan?.

It has been continued from past long long time when people were controlled by the general of Ieyasu Tokugawa and under the rule of USA after the World War and ancient times, Emperor is in any age in Japan.

(However, today most Japanese people is not conscious Emperor's existence in their usually life. how about England and Denmark? is it same?)

well, in Japan, the name in the age has changed every Emperor.

For instance, the age "Heisei era" started after the present emperor had ascended the throne.

''Meiji Era''→''Taisho Era''→''Showa Era''　then ''Heisei Era'' now.

So we have two ways call or write the name of era, for example when we write(or say)birthday, 1971/●●/●● or Showa 46nen(昭和46年)/●●/●●. It is interested isn't it?

We have images in every period.

I was born in ''Showa'', Showa's image is sadly ''War'' and everybody had a lot of guts to survive the life after the World War Ⅱfor reconstruction. like that, my image.

oh,and there is an image of analog electrification appliances,too.

a lots of people have fond memories of Showa Era that was living in humble circumstances and worked hard and for young people who was born and growing up in Heisei Era when is in comfortable circumstances,Showa is nostalgic age and feel people's warmth. yes Showa Era is popular for Japanese.

Sometimes the events like "Exhibition that looks back on the Showa Era" is held. 

To make a long story short,I went to ''Exhibition that looks back on the Showa Era'' held in the   nearby museum the other day.

This exhibition is for kids.

Children can play with nostalgic toys which are museum own.

They played normally with these toys, look at this my daughter setting this toys↓↓↓, 

mmmm Japanese taste.

These dolls named ''Monchicchi'' was all the rage among children when I was child.↑↑↑

Monchicchi was sold by Japanese toy company in 1974 then was popular in the world.

This is a baseball pinball.

Everybody liked baseball and they were glued to baseball players, Mr, Shigeo Nagashima and Mr,Sadaharu Oh in Showa Era.These players are really famous and star player in Japanese baseball.

My husband used to play with baseball pinball when he was child but I have not played with it.

This is a survival game, its a board game.↑↑↑

When I found it I was really excited and flashback to old memories,yes I remember this survival game, used to play it but I forgot the rule....

and this is a tick-tock bang-bang.

This game, you should rearrange rails in a hurry so as not to stop a clock moving.

I really wanted this toy but my parents didn't buy it.

The museum staff recreated a Showa's shop that sells cheap sweets(Dagashi-ya).

This shop(Dagashi-ya)is for children, they can buy cheap snacks and sweets etc by themselves.

There is not many Dagashi-ya now.

This is a Kamishibai(tell children story illustrated with picture cards)

It was a children's entertainment in the age without the television after the world war Ⅱ.

a man,storyteller rode public squares where children played on a bicycle equipped with a small stage.

Storyteller told stories with funny then stopped story on the way, storyteller said to children ''to be continued,so come back to here tomorrow''.

 Kamishibai is Showa Era but it is my mother's generation. 

I knew it this time, Children is Children any age.

play, curious obedient and they adapt oneself to any environment.

I look back on toy of tick-tock bang-bang and I nostalgically talked about Showa Era, these made me felt older.

This Soba restaurant is inside of a department store in Hiroshima, the main of this restaurant is Izumo, Shimane prefecture. I often have a lunch after shopping at this Hiroshima brunch restaurant.

Izumo area in Shimane prefecture is famous in Soba.

When you go to restaurants in Japan, you can find a ''fake food''(plastic food) sample in the windows and display cases at the entrance of restaurants. 

These look like the actual dishes,very very similar to real foods,so only seeing is enjoy too.

Fake foods are sold miniature size as key rings and toys.

well, let's in to the restaurant.

I'm a regular customer at this Soba restaurant,I always oder same menu.

By the way, this restaurant is inside of the department store, there is other restaurants Italian, sandwiches face,Chinese restaurant and fast foods etc.

The person who choose the Soba restaurant want have healthy and with a cozy ambience,its a my opinion.

Most people don't stay longer at the Soba restaurant, that is a tacit agreement.

basically,'' after eat, get out'' not chatting for long at the Soba restaurant.

This is my favorite order at this restaurant. Vegetables Tempra is on the top of the cold soba with rice and side dishes. It is about 1200yen(about $13.00).

Tempura is one of the famous Japanese foods,Soba and Tempura is nice combination,so every Soba restaurant has Tempura on the menu.

Soba-tsuyu(soy sauce based dashi taste) put in the Soba then sometimes add Wasabi,that is really good taste.

After eat Soba,have a drink Soba-yu(warm water that boiled soba),enourishment of the buckwheat such as the vitamins is included,If you have only soba, not drink soba-yu, you miss take vitamin and nourishment.

You don't believe it that drinking warm water that boiled soba? yeah, I know Italian pasta, not drink warm water that boiled pasta after eat pasta. it is kind of strange but taste is good. someone put Soba-tsuyu to Soba-yu. Try it!!

Eat a Soba and have a Soba-yu then paycheck, get out of restaurant,you do that all way, You are an expert on Japanese foods, maybe....

Last week, I went to Komagane in Nagano prefecture with my family.

Nagano prefecture is north from Shizuoka prefecture where I live.

We went over a mountain road to Komagane city,it takes about 4 hours we didn't use highway this time.

Komagane city at the foot of Komagatake(mountain) and high mountains, there is many people  come to tramping and climbing the mountains also enjoy skiing in the early summer season.

・・・・our plans are here, have fan with view of snowy mountains while driving a mountain road and enjoy Oncen(hot spring) at the Ryokan(Japanese style hotel), so just we were easy going to short trip to here with our kids.

However!! 

a beautiful mountain is there!!! in front of us!!, why we shouldn't climb!? why not!?

This first photo↑↑↑ is indeed proof of we did it,yes we decided to take aim at top of the Komagatake,we went through with we wearing light clothing next day morning. I took that photo at the top of mountain,its 9,698ft(2,959m). 

We don't climb by foot. we used a rope-way to top of the Komagatake.↑↑↑There is bus terminal to get the ropeway terminal. We should catch the bus because there is a restricted area expect exclusive buses for the environments safeguards.

(It is about 4000yen:US$43.00 for round trip bus and ropeway)

This rope-way is the first one at the mountain in Japan installed 40 years ago or more.

It is more high speed than the expectation because it moves on the about 2km in seven minutes and thirty seconds. 

That was really fun and we could see a wonderful view from in the rope-way.

This photo is took after get off the rope-way.　↑↑↑↑

Can you see the town? that is Komagane city, and over the this town these are class of 9842ft (3000m) mountains. 

This are is middle of Japan and the higher mountains ranging include Mt,Fuji.(Mt, Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan;12,388ft(3,776m)).

These mountains where is over there,is called the south Alps and this side of Komagatake and the other mountains,we call the central Alps in Japan.

well,we arrived top of mountain, look at this there is snow!!

Many skiers were there but we were wearing sandals without any stockings and socks,my husband was wearing a white color shirt only, yes it was summer style.

our kids were wearing pajama and all shirts that we bringing for this trip.

・・・・sooooo cold but that was OK.

It was about ten degrees at the top of mountain its a wonder why not melt snow.

We walked on the snow with sandals that was a rare experience and we had enjoy a fresh and cold air to the full.

We stayed there thirty minutes then went down a mountain then walked at the park,it flows from Komagatake to this river. Its beautiful park.

Do you know what is famous food in Nagano prefecture? It is ''Soba''(Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour).

One of the condition to making Soba is cold and clear waters its melted snow. also good land for buckwheat too. these are here,so we had lunch at the Soba restaurant in the forest.

This restaurant is making soba by handmade that was very very delicious.

After lunch, we found mysterious one on the way to home.

There is narrow mountain road,but many cars and buses. we wondered what are they doing at  the here, I think about fifty people was there and sitting. we couldn't any specialize things at there.but the other day, I searched what was that then figure out,that is famous spot for spiritual（氣:ki）, Bunkuitoge(a mountain pass).

I don't interest in spiritual power but lots of people visit there to feeling the big power of 氣(ki).

Karaoke developed for entertainment in Japan and now, ''Karaoke'' is common language in the world isn't it?

How is Karaoke in your country??

In Japan,many many Karaoke bars are everywhere.(people call ''Karaoke'' , not Karaoke bar in Japan) you can order foods and drinks at there but  people to be there to singing with friends or family, sometimes there is used for after the party.

The first photo is Karaoke's entrance where we went this time.

This Karaoke name is Canta Mia,yes that is Italian name.

There is reception and cashier. They have big and small rooms and customers are shown into these room depends on number of people. The charge systems are different everywhere but it is mostly bases per hour and they have various services,for example the morning is cheaper than afternoon and one hour is free if women is in a group etc.

Karaoke is really cheaper and go there easier than 20～30 years ago.

This time we went to there on ladies day(1hour free for women) in the morning, we paid only 420yen in 2hours. It is not per person, 420yen/ per room!!! wow can you believe it??? 

The Karaoke in Japan is separated into some rooms in this way. There is small rooms and large rooms for the party,so we can use these room depending on the situations.

These room are partitioned off by the soundproof walls,so we can not hear the sound music from next room. 

We are singing while watching lyrics coming on the TV screen. Is this same way in your country?

My French friend said to me, in France Karaoke is at the bub then singing in front of the people, they don't have a private room for Karaoke.

In Japan also has like that Karaoke where is at the bar,but Karaoke is one of the entertainment for Japanese people,so school students and kids go there for singing too.and some people go to Karaoke by alone then sing for practice.

When you go to Karaoke in Japan, you can pick up a song from a thick list of song book then press the song number with remote control. These are added new song lists every month, so you can sing the newest hit songs.

on the other hand, you can enjoy old songs too and can arrange version of piano and guitar etc.

Even Karaoke digitized for 10 years or more.

We search for name of songs or singers and choose the song then start with this big like a remote control.(a terminal unit) ↓↓↓↓

They have a mark system for your singing level.(90/100 that was high sore! not bad isn't it??)

and you can record the your singing voice on CD which can buy at the reception. What do you think that you can record your favorite song by your version? and listen the your original song when you driving a car then will be spellbound.

Karaoke is really popular in Japan, then there is people who sing like a professional however not all people love Karaoke, some people don't like or hate Karaoke.

One of my friends, she was singing very well, we used to go to Karaoke then I loved listening her singing.

How was Japanese style Karaoke? Do you want to go?? Tere will be so much fan for you!!   

There is some ports in Shizuoka prefecture,Omaemzaki is the most closest and bigger port from Hamamatsu city.

It takes about just one and a half hours from my city,so we though why don't we have a delicious fish foods now!! then we headed to there before noon.

(above photo is Omaezaki port)

Some fish markets in the port.

Every weekend many people coming there.

The ports in Shizuoka, for example Yaizu, Numazu, Shimizu and Omaezaki are strong on the ocean fishery.(pelagic) of tunas and skipjacks(bonitos). ''skipjack'' is ''Katsuo''  in Japanese.

When you go to Sushi restaurant, Sushi is expensive isn't it?? but you can buy cheaper and more fresh fish's Sushi at the like this fish market.

The fishes which color of orange are Splendid alfonsino, these are famous too.↓↓↓

That fishes are skipjacks↑↑↑↑

In Japan, it is said '' first skipjack''(Hatsu Katsuo＝Hatsugatｓuo) is really delicious,that season is spring when blooming cherry blossoms. If you miss that season, don't worry, the second season is coming in autumn for skipjack. we call it ''Modori Katsuo＝Modorigatsuo) this means came back skipjack.

Japanese people like Katsuo's Sashimi(raw fish) or Tataki,its taste like marinated in vinegar, soy sauce and ginger base.

We bought a packed of tunas.↑↑↑↑

Tuna(Maguro) has different name of parts,''Otoro''(fatty tuna), ''Chutoro''(medium fatty) and ''Akami''(red meat) also these are different taste. I like Chutoro.

a packed of Tuna is about 700 yen, that can eat plenty by two adults.

We ate it which we bought one that night, was really delicious. yum.

Tiny Tiny fish is the young of sardines(Shirasu in Japanese).　these were hauled at the Omaezaki.

In most cases, Shirasu is sold after dried under the sun but can be eaten raw if it really really fresh one.

well, I wrote long preface....Do you remember this time's purpose to be Omaezaki??

Yes, for lunch!!  finally we found a restaurant then have lunch.

Kids ordered ''Shirasu Don'' （a bowl of boiled Shirasu, rice is under the Shirasu）and topping is Ikra.

 I choose ''Maguro Don''(a bowl of raw tuna).both bowls were with miso soup and about 1200 yen each.

after ate them, my husband said to me '' I found take out section of Maguro Don(a bowl of raw tuna) and it looks yummy also, don't we have another one?  

We had another lunch.........bought Shirasu don and Maguro don again but these are cheaper that before. 500 yen each.

My husband choose raw Shirasu Don　↑↑↑

mmmm raw Shirasu..... kids and I don't like it but some people really really like it.

I choose ''Negi toro Don'' ,this is minced Maguro(tuna) and green onion then put soy sauce.

There is a big lake, Hamanako in the west of Hamamatsu,Shizuoka prefecture.

Hamamatsu city government wants to call in many tourist to this Hamanako but these are not going well,I think resort hotels and Ryokan（Japanese style hotel） are not prospering at there.

However, the scenery in Hamanako is wonderful in summer season.

The nature has been left untouched, because there is unpopular place as sightseeing, there is nothing but makes feel open the mind then just play at there.

The photo above's red Torii gate which is at the Bentenjima in Hamanako is famous. you can find this red Torii gate on the guidebook or any information about Hamanako.

Benten is the god of the sea, there are many such a Torii is around Japan.

Can you see the bridge on the photo?  that is amazing bridge!

This is the bypass of route 1, we call it ''Hamanako bypass'' we can get the nice of view, right side is Hamanako(Lake of Hamana) and left side is the Pacific ocean when you drive at there.

When you driving a car at there, it's feel like a plane take off toward the ocean. If you are a fear of heights, soooo scary to you

but the beautiful white sandy beaches and endless horizon is a very dynamic landscape.

This time we didn't use this Hamanako bypass, we headed to north of Hamanako.

This area is felt relaxed by view of fishing village and orange(mandarin) plantations.

Have you ever been to go shellfish gathering(Shiohigari)?? Shiohigari means mostly digging for clams at the beach in Japan. that is nice season in Spring and Summer,so that's why we are here this time.

Anyone can find clams easily because they are in the relatively shallow sandy.

I heard that someone got the full of two buckets by clams at there.

ohhhhhh, what should I do if we took many many clams like that??? 

noooo, can't eat all......

anyway, children enjoy shellfish gathering at the beach.

so, we are ready to do now, got tools, got long boots.

People used to live around here long long time ago, sometimes old old shells were unearthed in the sandy,that is a romantic isn't it?? these makes me feel connecting of people of past through this shells.

We use that tool for shellfish gathering↑↑↑↑ ,it looks like a fork, yeah big fork...

digging on the shore then shells or stones get caught in the fork. mmmm?? it might be getting something.....mmmmmm??

Why????  we took about 10 clams!! only 10????

well, our kids fun to play at the beach, they look really enjoyable.

later, my husband searched some information about how can get clams lots at the Hamanako, he found that should get in to the water by waist then dig sand then find more clams.wow,that sounds like should be professional to doing!!!