Spring of Japan

It is a little cold yet, but spring will come soon!

I will let you know attraction of Tottori.

Attraction of Japanese apricot flower

Nokyo-bai-kai(野花梅渓)

Usually, Japanese apricot flower blossoms rich pink and white.

Japanese apricot flower of Tottori pref., Yuri-hama-cyo is spectacle.

Peak: From early march to late in March

Place: Yuri-hama-cyo wild flower spot (東伯郡湯梨浜町野花地区)

Homepage: http://www.yurihama.jp/page.cgi?p=4032

<Attraction of cherry blossom>

Utsubuki park is best attraction of chrry blossom in Kurayoshi.

Peak is from late in March to April.

And Togo lake is also very beautiful place.

Let’s enjoy spring with viewing Togo lake in Japan!

There are lots of spring event above this.

The event of Kurayoshi Utsubuki Nagashibina is held in the first week of April Sunday every year.

This event is to protected misfortune for children.

Children floats Hina doll that is there after ego down a Tamagawa river.

It is just traditional event.

This event will be held on 3 April this year.

The place is around Tamagawa river of Shirakeba-tozokun in Kurayoshi.

Sightseeing at Kamo-gawa river Naka-umi 「Sakura(cherry blossom) boat」

While 2011 Yonago Sakura festival is held like this season,

「Sakura(cherry blossom) boat」runs in Kamo-gawa river Naka-umi, Yonago, Tottori pref.

You can enjoy cheery blossom along Kamo-gawa river by a boat.

What about going flower-viewing during warm day?

Time:2011.04.01~04.10 (during Yonago Sakura festival)

Hours: 10a.m. and 14p.m. (everyday) for 40 minutes.

Fee: Adult 1,200yen / Children 600yen

*Please pay it to captain when you get on the boat. :)

Capacity:10(per one boat)

*The boat may run two.

Place:before lading place of Shirakabe-tozo (白壁土蔵前乗船場)

*Please make a reservation 2 days ago by telephone.

Inquiry:Yonago city tour information(09:00~18:00)

Tel) 0859-22-6317

Fax) 0859-34-2981

*In case of rain or high waves of river, Sakura boat will be canceled.

 And if you want another time besides regular time, please make an inquiry.

Gyu-kotsu Ramen of Kurayoshi city

Best Ramen in Tottori pref., Gyu-kotsu Ramen!

You can taste Gyu-kotsu Ramen only in Kurayoshi of Tottori pref.

Soup of Ramen is made a beef leg bone.

It is definitely different from Ton-kotsu Ramen that is made pork bone.

Ko-ga

Natsu-uma Ramen 550yen

Natus-uma Ramen restaurant is you can choose lots of toppings for Ramen.

It is not far from Kurayoshi Sti., you can find it easily.

Hours: 11:00~21:00 (Fri. / Sat. 11:00~23:00)

Natsu-uma Ramen is divided into two regular Natsu-uma Ramen(salt) and Natsu-uma Syo-yu(soy sauce).

That is Natsu-uma Rmaen(salt).

It is tasty and simple.

But a little bit salty.

I think that salty is normal for Japanese.

But I like Natus-uma Ramen, want to go there again.

And you can have more toppings.

Say “tamago tsuika! (I will have a soft-boiled egg.)”!

One egg is 100yen, I think.

So that is more mung-been sprouts.

It is 50yen.

Above this, you can have more beef or butter even!

Let’s make Gyu-kotsu Ramen at home!

I bought last time Gyu-kotsu Ramen that is launched for a gift.

Two Ramen for 735yen!

It isn’t cheap.

Because meat broth is not in extract or power form.

That is straight meat broth!

Look at that package~

It looks good and made of merchantable quality.

I think it is good for souvenir.

You can check how to make it at the back.

Upon opening the package there is recipe as well. :)

Making Ramen is really simple!

Put in boiling water the pack of meat broth for 5 minutes and then put it in a bowl.

Boil the noodles for 3~5 minutes.

*Take café that don’t open the pack of meat broth, boil as it is.

Recipe says if you boil meat broth in a pot, it doesn’t taste good.

Noodle is semidry and curly.

Noodle of Japan Ramen is divided into the thickness of noodle and curl, according to the way of eat or type of soup.

Enough soup!

It’s 330ml maybe.

The package says they boiled meat broth for 3 hours.

Eating noodle only is boring, I prepared some topping.

I like spring onion so chopped scallions into small pieces.

Then, this is so cute ‘Rira-kuma’ fish cake.

I bought first time.

Put ingredients into a bowl~!

Ah, topping….

It looks not delicious….:(

I put some bamboo, boiled meat and egg in Ramen.

I used well-cooked bamboo and boiled egg.

I hope making toppings by myself as well next time.

The soup is not salty and very good quality compared to other instant Ramen.

I found another Gyu-kotsu Ramen for gift in supermarket.

I will get that also.

I love Gyu-kotsu Ramen!!

:)

2011 Tottori Cherry-blossom viewing!

It’s snowing a lot this winter.

I am waiting for spring to come!!

Don’t you? :)

But it’s getting warmer every day~!

Japanese too much love cherry-blossom.

It does show about cherry-blossom information this year.

Refer information before the traveling!

＜Blooming expectation day of Japan Chu-Goku area＞

 ＜Full blooming expectation day of Japan Chu-Goku area＞

Best 5 attraction of Cherry-blossom, Tottori!!

Utubuki park(打吹公園)

Cherry-blossom of Utubuki park was chosen as the best 100　Japan cherry-blossom!

Peak : from the end of March to the first part of April

Access :  get off  at市役所・打吹公園入口 by Hi-no-maru(日の丸 ) bus from Kurayoshi St.

Ku-sho park(久松公園)　

Cherry-blossom of Ku-sho　park was chosen as the best 100　Japan cherry-blossom!

Let’s enjoy cherry-blossom in the site of an ancient castle!

Peak: from the first part of April to the middle part of April

Access: 6 minutes by walk, get off at西町 to Sakyu-Homen(砂丘行き) by Hi-no-maru bus(日の丸) from Tottori St.

Na-ga-se

Cherry-blossom of Na-ga-se is Japan Monument!

20m from east to west, 16m from north and south cherry blossom is a magnificent view!

Peak : the first of April

Access: 5minutes by walk, get off at 川原 to Chizu-Homen(智頭) by Hi-no-maru(日の丸)bus from Tottori St.

The site of an ancient castle ‘Shikano’

Peak : from the end of March to the first part of April

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Access : 15minutes by taxi from Hama-mura St.( 浜村)

Oiwa St.

It is good news if you pass by Oiwa St.:)

New Year Event, ‘Gou-Sazuke’, of Kurayoshi, Tottori

I went to ‘Gou-Sazuke’ event that is among New Year Japan event.

Let’s enjoy it! :)

*Gou-Sazuke (長谷の牛玉授け)

 This is custom to ward off misfortune.

This event is held in Cheontae Order Hasesa temple (長谷寺) , Mt. Utaubuki at midnight.

They prepare some woods that is called Fukugi.

Fukugi is cut in Gou-hoin(牛玉宝印).

You can see worshippers scramble for get new good fortune of enjoying business prosperity, good harvest, safety for family and so on.

*Gou-hoin(牛玉宝印) : An amulet to avert evils from Shinto or temple.

I arrived at Hasesa temple at night.

There are some place for Omamori(charm) and some souvenir.

My friend bought good lucky charm. :)

Buddhist ceremony before Gou-Sazuke

Buddhist monks were saying Prajna-Paramita.

I am not a Buddhist so didn’t know well about ceremony.

I just saw silently.

Already midnight!

It is time for Gou-Sazuke.

Buddhist monks go up and will throw Gou in there!

People are rushing around in confusion already. :)

Buddhist monks started to thrown down Gou!

Wow!!

OMG!

Some people fell down.

An unusual scene was like that whenever Gou drops below.

Quite keen competition~

We smirked. :)

That is also Japan’s another culture, right? :)

People who got Gou look so happy!

They hurrahed.

Winner’s commemorative photograph

If you get Gou, you can not only ward off misfortune but also get premium.

I thought people are so happy because of just good luck.

But it was not. :)

So funny!

People who got ‘Oto’ Gou received the biggest present!

Present contains some alcohol, Sushi and 30kg rice!!

And the name of people who got ‘Oto’ Gou will hang on the walls of temple. :)

It is pretty honor!

The winner will be special year.

Lastly, Buddhist’s say.

He said nice things about life, thank you! :)

*Haseno-Kanoichi (長谷の観音市)

 Next morning, Kano market which signal the arrival of spring.

The next day of Gou-Sazuke is the day for the fair.

It is familiar market with local people.

It was originally sold farming tool of bamboo stuff in a tail in Akagawara for worshiper.

But it is becoming not only purchase stuff but also enjoy the atmosphere.

You can enjoy in Akagawara!!! :)

The scene of Akagawara, Haseno-Kanoichi.

Small flea market

You can surely see snack cart.

Early morning, there were some place where you can get adzuki-bean porridge or ginger tea for free!!

Ginger tea will keep you warm.

Yummy Niku-Man!!

Two for 300yen

Look at full of meat!

And try some foods~

Market is from 8 a.m.

But there were a lot of people!

It was very warm old market.

Friendly local people~ :)

New Year event of Kurayoshi, very good!!