My trip report -Osaka-

Last two days of my short summer vacation,I traveled to Osaka with my friend.Osaka is the biggest city in west of Japan.This is my first time to visit there in my life.Actually I was not interested in Osaka before.Because everything I want is in Tokyo.And I know Osaka is more popular city than Tokyo for foreign travelers.I had no idea why Osaka is!
Then,I decided to go to Osaka and I watch the town by myself this time!!!!

Osaka is very famous for food,like Tako-yaki,Okonomi-yaki and Kushi-katsu.Last trip(that was alone),I ate only dessert because I couldn't go into a restaurant alone:/
So,this time I asked my best friend to travel with me.That choice was great!I spent nice and funny time with her while traveling:)

First of all,we got on Shinkan-sen!I didn't want to experienced heavy traffic jam any more.
We choose "Hikari" which is the fastest train to Osaka from Tokyo.

Beautiful rice field,taken from window of the train.

2 and half hours later,we arrived at Shin-Osaka station and then,go to eat Okonomi-yaki in Doyon-bori.

We went this resraurant:mizuno(美津の).A chef baked okonomi-yaki in front of us.Of course,they were very nice:)

After that,we couldn't eat Tako-yaki soon,so we walked around towns.

Anyway,it wastoooooo hot temperature><
We went to watch a famous comedy show.In Japan,almost comedian came from Osaka.So almost non-Osaka people think people in Osaka are funny.But Osaka people get angry when we say like thatXD Although Japan is small island country,our characteristic vary by region.

Tako-yaki:)It was great!

At night,we went to a famous tower:Tsuten-kaku.
This is called the Eiffel Tower of Osaka.If French person read this article,please don't get angry.haha

Around this tower,there are many kushi-katsu restaurants.That is fried pork like BBQ.
Osaka people seem to really like this food.Even junior high scholl students were in the same restaurant and ate them without alcohol(of course:/)
I thought this food is like fast food for local people.

The next day was almost the same,just eating and walking....
But this trip was really fun!!!!

At last,Osaka is totally different atmosphere from Tokyo.
The towns and people were very energetic and a lot of people are there because Osaka is smaller than Tokyo.

I'd like to go places I've never visited.

Thank you for reading:)

In this week,my friend will come to Japan from Belgium.I'll show her around Tokyo:D
I'm so excited and I'll post about it in August.
This summer is pretty busy><

See you and have a great summer////

My trip report -Nikko-

The other day,middle of my short summer vacation,I went to a national park of Nikko.The place I went was not famous area of Nikko,so I didn't see any monkeys and waterfalls.
I hiked around "battlefield".That is just name,actually nobody fought there.

According to traditional story,It is said that once upon a time,a dragon fought against centipede there.
Both of them were Gods of mountains who transformed as another creatures.

Although I think the winer was of course a dragon.....

Biiiiig festival in east of Tokyo

Today was my first time to see this festival.It is held once a three years.
I'm so excited to see it because the shrine which is center of this festival is close to my working place.
I've heard sounds of people were practicing the festival many times while working in this month.
(Previous article about this festival eve is here)
People carries mobile mini shrine,called "mikoshi",with calling out "Wasshoi!Wasshoi!".
The sound I've heard was that!

Although I've seen carrying mikoshi festival usually,this is really unique to pour water on mikoshi!!
A lot of people was absolutely soaked to the skin!

Some people wore an happi coat...I don't know what should I say it in English!

That is written by "祭" means festival on their back.Including a cute dog!

Firefighters joinedXDXDXDXD!!

I've never seen such a great festival.
I'd like to say thank people for carrying heavy mikoshi;)
Today was so much fun!!!

Thank you for reading and I hope your summer will be also nice;)

Big festival eve

11th of August,a fireworks festival of Tokyo Bay was held!

But the weather forecast said it was going to rain.

So I gave up to see that,and stayed at my place at night.

However,suddenly I heard huge noise from outside.

Unfortunately,I couldn't see the fireworks clearly because of clouds.

And it was too far from my place:/

With a new attitude,I went to a shrine which is the biggest one in Tokyo.

That is close to my living and working place.I often go to pray there,like New year's day and the first day of work a year.

The next day,very big festival will be held around this shrine.

One of my co-worker,she loves this festival since she was born.And she carries mikoshi(mobile mini shrine) every times of the festival.

Some stalls already opened:

Mikoshi were in everywhere only this season around my place.People who carry it had a party by mikoshi and drink a lot!They looks so excited!!

Also I am excited!

Secret place @ Ginza

Yesterday,I made an appointment at a hair salon at night.

Until then,I spent nice time and money for shopping:)

Yurakucho is a town I love the most in Tokyo.Because I can buy everything I want:clothes,shoes,electronics,stationery and interior products.

However there are always a lot of people around this area.

When I feel tired,I escape to the department store:Matsuya.

View Larger Map

And go to the roof of the store.

At 8:00 pm.Nobody was there and it was nice breeze:)

My short summer vacation is just beginning from today.

I'm going to join summer festival,see fireworks,driving to country side and traveling to Osaka with my friend:D

I can't wait everything!

Have a nice summer:-D  

Memory of summer -fire works-

We are in the midst in summer in Japan!

The weather is always over 30℃ and my health is not fine because of too hot.

I'm getting a stomach upset particular,and I took a day off today to go to a hospital.

My doctor said,it was just summer weariness:/

I knew that because recently I can't sleep enough because it's very hot even at nights and I always stay up late to watch Olympic games:D

Anyway,last weekend I went back to my hometown to met my best friend.

We wanted to go to the sea though,changed plan and went to drink at a park we often went as a high school student.The place was our oasis.

We could spent fun time but we got bitten by many mosquitos><

In the evening,I went back to my parents' house to see fireworks.

This landscape from the terrace,I really love it.

Started!

Bang!

Bang!!

Bang!Bang!!Bang!!!

I was childish.hahaha><

Annoying,be quiet...........................

Recipe -Hayashi Rice-

Today,I introduce recipe of Hayashi rice.I prefer it to curry rice(one of the most popular dish in Japan).
Although this is not a traditional Japanese food,it's a dish of Japanese origin.

Ingredients:Sliced beef,onion,few mushrooms,tomato,butter,can of demiglace sauce and red wine

-sour cream-fresh cream and yogurt

1,Put red wine in flying pan over high heat,make flame and  evaporate alcohol.

2,Add can of demiglace sauce and cut tomato into (1)

3,Mash tomato with a potato masher.

4,Season with ketchup and tonkastu sauce.

(Sorry maybe it's difficult to buy another country...)

If you can't find the tonkatsu sauce,you use worcester sauce as a substitute for it.

5,Put butter into another pot over high heat until melted,

and fry sliced beef,onion and mushroom.

6,Add (5) into (4),and mix.Boil them for few minutes.

7,Make sour cream:Drain the water of yogurt for 30 minutes in a cool refrigerator.

   Then add fresh cream,and mix them.

8,The sauce on rice with sour cream.Finish!

Next day,I ate it with scrambled egg.

Better taste,but high-calorie....:/

Both were great:)