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!!  

Kurayoshi Event until Spring

Sweets Festival of Tototori Central Parts in Purple Town

Date : 2/19-20 & 2/26-27

Famous shops of Tottori central parts will hold a sweets festival with strawberry themes.

It will be held small shopping mall, Purple Town, on the first floor in Kurayoshi.

Feb. 19^th & 20^th : 9 shops

Feb. 26^th &27^th : 9 shops

Hours 10:00a.m ~18:30p.m

Let’s enjoy lots of sweets!!

Kurayoshi Utsubuki Nagashi-bina

This event is that children floats with setting alter ego on Hina doll down a river.

This is for protecting from disaster.

It is held in Akagawara every year.

2011. April 3(Sunday)

10:30~11:00 memorial ceremony for God

11:00~ : floating Hina doll down a river

Place: Akagawara Shirakabe-tozokun (Tama river)

Blooming season is not officially announced yet but cherry blossoms festival will be hold everywhere in Japan from the end of March to early April.

I hope we will enjoy cherry blossoms day and night this year as well.

▽ Last year ▽

Going cherry blossoms viewing at night is called Yozakura.

I think Yozakura of Utsubuki park(Kurayoshi) was very beautiful last year.

I’m eagerly looking forward to it! :)

Kurayoshi Event until Spring

Put into Sushi buckwheat noodles! Delicious Soba-Maki restaurant, ‘Kobune’

There is a Japanese style restaurant ‘Kobune’ in front of Kurayoshi St.

They make a specialty of Soba-Maki for 26years.

Simple exterior and reasonable price!

Very kind chef will give you lunch set that you make smile with plenty of food.

Very warm atmosphere, like you watched Japanese drama.

Big nice bottles of Sake(Japanese style drink) is displayed on the wall.

Signs of famous people are hanging over the table.

While my I took a picture, chef asked me.

“What are you taking? Do you know that people? ”

I said, no I just took some picture.

He just was surprised that some foreigner takes picture in his restaurant. :)

Kobune is operating by father(chef) and his son.

They were quite silent.

It might that I and my friend is foreigner. :)

But you can feel they are very kind if you talk to them. :)

Food was really delicious and they were kind!

I want to go Kobune next time again!

There is lunch set menu specially.

Very attractive menu with just 1,000yen!

You can pick up two dishes!

Kurayoshi is small rural town, so it is possible, I think.

Sushi lunch menu is 1,000yen, it is impossible in Japan! :)

‘Nigiri’ in Japanese means normal Sushi as you know.

‘Chirashi’ in Japanese means a bowl of rice topped with seafood.

Kobune has delicious Soba-maki.

Some people order two Soba-maki despite they can choose one Soba-maki and another dish.

I ordered Soba-maki and Chirashi.

I get Chirashi in supermarket sometimes but I have never eaten it in restaurant.

So I just wondered the taste. :)

I thought small Chirashi because of the price, 1,000yen.

But after I opened it, very surprised!

Awesome!!

Good good good-!!

Soba-maki contained noodle instead of rice.

With shrimp, salmon and maybe scallop.

There is Japaense style sauce ‘Tsuyu’ when they eat buckwheat noodles.

Dip Soba-maki into the Tausyu sauce.

If you have not eaten Soba-maki in Japan, just try it!! :)

The seafood is also very big.

Between rice and seafood have eggs and dried laver brimful.

That is Nigiri Sushi when you order Nigiri + Soba-maki set menu.

There are six Sushi and the seafood is very big as well.

I posted up about Jirocho-Sushi restaurant before.

Compared with Jirocho-Sushi’s Sushi, Nebuko’s quality of seafood is a little bit debased.

But Nebuko is very reasonable.

And it is inappreciable difference.

The rice that I have eaten Chirashi in supermarket was just white rice.

But rice of Nebuko is cooked.

There is of mixed something so I asked chef.

It is mushrooms(shiitake). :)

The rice had a strong taste first time, but it matched well with seafoods.

It takes for 3 minuets from

Kurayoshi St.

by walk.

I put up the map, try Kobune!!

<Hours>

11:00~14:00 (limited 1,000yen lunch set menu)

17:00~02:00