The Urabandai highlands (Fukushima) is a place of outstanding natural beauty in Japan. Due to the great explosion of Mount Bandai on July 15, 1888, the Urabandai lake group was created. The Goshikinuma (or five colored ponds) walking trail is a popular place for day walkers.
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Category Archives: Japanese Scenery
The cherry blossoms in full bloom !!
In Saitama prefecture, we can see a lot of fully bloomed cherry blossoms at spring time.
Many cherry trees along the bank of Moto Arakawa (or Old Arakawa River) are magnificent in this season.
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Old and current Tokoname-Yaki (Aichi)
The production center of Tokoname-Yaki is located at Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture.
Tokoname-Yaki is one of The Six Old Kilns in Japan and influenced the development of other kilns such as Sigaraki-Yaki and Tanba-Yaki in the Japanese medieval period.
Japanese red tea pots, made of red clay is one of the features nowadays.
Here is a well-know The Walk Way where we can enjoy nostalgic scenery of the old kilns and their chimneys and the sophisticated products at the potters’ galleries.
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Traditional Ohi-Yaki in Kanazawa !!
Ohi-Yaki (Kanazawa, Ishikawa) is traditional pottery originated by a invited potter of Raku family in Kyoto nearly 350 years ago. Its characteristic caramel brown glaze is known as “Ameyu”.
There are many sightseeing spots near the Ohi-Yaki shop. “Nagamachi Samurai Houses” being surrounded by mud walls of high-ranking warriors, “Oyama Jinja Shrine” of which the gate uniquely decorated with stained glass and so on.
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Yamagata Yamadera and HIrashimizu Yaki (Yamagata)
Yamadera (or literally, “temple in mountain”) in Yamagata is the very popular temple among sightseers. This temple was founded in 860, and 1,010 stone steps lead from the foot to the top of the mountain. It used to be a place for ascetic practices.
Here is Hirashimizu-Yaki nearby which is traditional pottery created local clay of Mount Chitose.
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Ginzan Hot Spring and porcelain Kaminohata Yaki (Yamagata) !!
In Yamagata Prefecture of Tohoku area, there are numerous sightseeing spots. Ginzan (or literally meaning of silver mine) Hot Spring is one of the popular ones because of its nostalgic atmosphere with old Japanese-style inns.
Here is the revived Kaminohata Yaki of porcelain-ware which was dated back to the Edo era.
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Cherry trees in full bloom now !!
The cherry blossoms in the Sakitama-kofun Park near my place are in full bloom. Many people visit the park to see the cherry blossoms here.
There is a quite good artificial hill, which is actually Maruhakayama Kofun or ancient tomb. This is Japan’s largest circular one with 105m in diameter and 19m in height.
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Famous sightseeing spot, Asakusa area !!
Asakusa is a well-known sightseeing spot in Tokyo, which is reminiscent of the old Japan .Kaminarimon or “Thunder Gate” is very famous as a landmark of its huge red lantern. On either side, there are two large statues, Fujin and Raijin or “Wind and Thunder deities.
There is Nakamise Shppping Street between Kaminarimon and Sensoji Temple where we can buy lots of interesting souvenirs.
The Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in the world is 20 minute walk from the Kaminarimon.
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Kurashiki beautiful sight area !!
Kurashiki (Okayma) was the Edo Shogunate’s (Government ‘s) demesne in the Edo period. There are many merchant Kuras (or warehouses) with white walls reserved around the Kurashiki River. The area is designated as Kurashiki Bikan Chiku (Kurashiki beautiful sight area) by the government.
Sakatsu-Yaki was started,by Suekichi Okamoto, one of the richest merchants, using local good clay in the early Meiji Era here.
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Onta-Yaki produced at nostalgic village !!
Onta-Yaki is produced at Hita City in Oita prefecture. The Onta Village is one of the most unique villages in many ways, consisting ten (10) potter’s families only. Surprisingly, no modern machinery is used in the pottery making process.
Once we walk into the village, we notice nostalgically rhythmical sounds from a device called “Karausu” or (Chinese mortar) powered by water of the river here and there. This is used to pound and to make fine clay for pottery.
The Onta-Yaki was started in the mid Edo Shogunate, by an assistance of Koishiwara-Yaki’s potters and handed down within the limited potters.
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