Tag Archives: Art

Environment, 金沢市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kanazawa City, Photography, Statues, Tourism

“Running Amok” in Kanazawa City!

January 9, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

I was walking around the hotel on the last evening spent in Kanazawa City while the Dragon was going through her girlie shopping when I noticed those legs running on grassy slope!

I certainly felt a lot humor and artistry in this artistic creation!
I wnodered if the artist meant speed, escape or plain human running!

Looking at it at the back you can ascertain it is made of a single “loop”!
Very clever!
It must be an inspiration to the local kids!
Who said the Japanese didn’t have a sense of humor?

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So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

笑い, 金沢市, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kanazawa City, Photography, Tourism

Weird Japan (43): Have already eaten it ? or, Have you already been eaten?

January 8, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Found this in the famous Oumichiou Market in central Kanazawa City!

I must say to the benefit of Kanazawa City that a lot of information is also available in good English!

But this one was too funny to ignore!

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Design, Environment, 金沢市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kanazawa City, Photography, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Kanazawa City!

January 8, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A splendid fire hydrant manhole cover with the symbol of Kanazawa City, the stone lantern in Kanazawa castle park!

I’ve just come back for a 2-night, 3-day trip to Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture, so you can expect quite a few reports in the days to come!
I start with what I could see ta my feet, namely manhole covers!

A brand new style of sewer manhole cover!

A large water access manhole cover with central motif “金” for “金沢/Kanazawa City”!

A large, probably private manhole cover although there were quite a few around!

A large rectangular manhole cover seen here and there.

The same as the brand new above but obviously a lot older and used above a fire hydrant!

The same a s above. Fire hydrant are immediately recognizable as they are painted in yellow or the pavement around them also painted in yellow!

A beautiful double manhole cover in the middle of the street!

A fairly old big manhole cover!

Interesting police manhole cover over access to traffic lights control machinery produced by Fukunishi Foundry!

A manhole cover with the city emblem motif blending into its pavement environment!

An old type of manhole cover over access to electricity machinery produced by Ohtake Foundry!

Gas valve pit manhole cover. Green seems to be the universal indicator for gas!

A medium-sized valve pit manhole cover!

A newly made intricate manhole cover!

Beautiful sewer cover (not manhole) found along the Higashi Chaya Resort Street!

Another round manhole cover with a different central indication!

Another manhole cover blending into is surrounding pavement along the street to the Ishikawa Prefecture Museum!

This type of fire hydrant manhole cover is found all over the country but each city, as shown here again, has a distinctive symbol!

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Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Mishima City, Numazu City, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 19: Eastern Shizuoka Prefecture 1

January 5, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful mint water access manhole cover in Susono City!

This time I will take you the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture, but since I have quite a few I had to write it in two parts!

The same as above but without the colors!

A small and colorful valve pit cover in Susono City!

A flowery manhole cover in Mishima City with the motif in relief!

The same type of manhole cover in Mishima City with some colors left but with the flower motif carved in!

An ancient sewer manhole cover in Mishima City!
Note the central motif!

Another old sewer manhole type in Mishima City with the same central motif!

Another sewer type manhole cover in Mishima City with a different central motif!

Another colorful flowery water access manhole cover in Hirokoji District in Mishima City!

A splendid mint water access manhole cover in Nirayama, now part of Mishima City with Mount Fuji, Strawberries and Hansharo Foundry Towers!

here is another water access manhole cover in Nirayama!
Nirayama is famous all over the country for its strawberry farms!

A beautiful mint water access manhole cover for Numazu City!

An old sewer manhole cover in Numazu City!
Note the central motif!

An intriguing manhole cover in Heda, now merged into Numaz City!

The same as above in Heda but inside a larger manhole cover!

See you in part 2 next!

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静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life, Life in Japan, Pavement art, Pavement signs, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Signs, Tourism

Pavement “Regulations” Signs on Pavements in Shizuoka Prefecture!

January 5, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

This sign against illegal bicycle parking was commissioned to a primary school by the City of Shizuoka!

If you look at pavements in any city in Japan, especially near stations and in crowded neighborhoods, you will discover all kinds of notices/signs directly printed onto pavements to remind citizens of regulations, be they friendly or prohibitive!
Some ar definitely welcome, while some are a bit useless, to say the least!
let me show you some examples I have have taken recently!

Non smoking street signs found in many spots in Shizuoka City. Note that the bird is a kingfisher, symbol bird of Shizuoka City!

A faded non smoking street sign near Yaizu City JR Station!

Do not litter the streets with cigarette butts in Fujieda Cty!
A bit of a half measure…

Illegal bicycle parking in Shizuoka City!

Although Shizuoka City and Prefecture respectively hold the record for the largest numbers of bicycles citis have declared war, albeit a losing one, against illegal bicycle parking, a totally un-ecological measure when you know that Shizuoka is also suffering from one of the highest ration of car exhaust fume pollution!

Illegal bicycle parking taken at night in Shimada City!

Two-hour limit bicycle parking zoen in front of Shizuoka City main post office!

Another type of illegal bicycle parking sign in Yaizu City!

Some sign manufacturer must make a fortune with all those different types being ordered by cities!

Another type of illegal bicycle parking sign in Shizuoka City!

Illegal Parking in Fujieda City!

A somewhat confusing sign!
Pavement area reserved to pedestrians and bicycles!
Bear in mind that bicycles are allowed on pavements in Japan!

Within short distance from the sign foreamentioned you will find this sign in front of Shizuoka JR Station requesting people to get off their bicycles and push them along!

Signs in front of Shizuoka City main post office requesting pedestrians and cyclist to use their own half of the pavement! Unfeasible in practice unfortunately!

Cycle on this side of the pavement! (Shizuoka City)

Red-colored sign indicating pedestrians zone on the pavement!

Orange color instead of red color used for pedestrians!

Some streets in Shizuoka City have a blue lane area for bicycles along streets.
In that case cyclists are asked not to use the pavements along them!

Although no strictly on the pavement, the city felt obliged to warn cyclists using the blue area zone on the streets of bus stops!

In Umeya Cho, Shizuoka City, I was a bit flabbergasted to notice this sign asking bicycles to run along the houses and the pedestrians to walk along the street half of the pavement!

Sign asking bicycles to stop at the crossroads in front of the zebra crossing in Yaizu City!

Sign reminding school kids to stop, look left and right before crossing the street!

The same with a different design!

This sign was sponsored by by the Shizuoka Prefecture Government to signify that the part of the parking in front of Yaizu Hospital next to Yaizu City Hall is reserved to physically impaired visitors>
Apparently pregnant women are also called physically impaired visitors…..

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Japanese Festival: O Taiko Festival at Toyotsumi Shrine in Yui, Shizuoka City!

January 3, 2014 dragonlife 3 Comments

Yesterday I spent the whole day in Yui to have a look at the Toyotsumi Shrine and the O Taiko/Japanese Drums Festival in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
Although it is a small, if not tiny festival, it is nonetheless important as it might be the oldest living Festival in Shizuoka Prefecture since it has been held since 977!

For all its small size the district (formerly a city of its own!) is still very proud of it!

Most participants these days belong to families tied with Yui fishing harbor and the sakura ebi/cherry shrimps and shirasu/sardine whiting trading!

Such families hang a paper lantern ourside their homes as the festival is held until late at night!
Unfortunately I had to back to to Shizuoka City by 6 p.m.
Next year I certainly plan to attend the last part of the festival held between midnight and half past midnight even if it means I have to sleep in the station until the first train in the morning!

The entrance to the Toyotsumi Shrine!

Big Drum Festival!

Thanks to the pictures you can’t miss it!

The “torii/鳥居/Shrine sacred bird gate (you will not find them at temples)!

Note the stone lanterns!

Old style stone plaque with the name of the shrines!

A monument marking the 1200th Anniversary of the Festival erected quite a few years ago!

I arrived there at 12:00, still 2 hours before the kids’ procession, which gave ample time to talk with the locals!

This kid actually volunteered for the picture!

The well of the shrine!

For the history buffs!
This shrine was erected by a local nobleman to thank the gods for a battle victory in 971 and the first festival was held in 977!

The shrine main building!

The “mon/文” of the shrine!

This mon representing a fan was the mon of the nobleman who erected this shrine!

The main drum used for the festival!

Japanese sake is an important feature at shrines at is originally meant “Food of the Gods”!
This particular sake “Shosetsu/正雪” is produced by Kanzawagawa Brewery in Yui!

More information for the history buffs!

The fountain you will find in any shrine to wash your hands before praying for good fortune!

One of the two lion guards!

Some of the trees there are truly enormous and ancient! I wonder how many generations they have witnessed passing by!
I truly wish some of them could talk!

After the visit to the shrine I had lunch with a friend to sample the local sakura ebi kakiage.
When I came back the kids procession had already started under tight supervision as the main road is narrow and cars are a certain risk!

The kids certainly didn’t mind being hemmed in!

Cute little girls!

Adults taking part in the second procession were giving a hand!

The kids said hello to me in English! One of them even said, “this is Japanese samba!”!

Kids took turns to lustily hit the drum!

A volunteer warden!

While the kids were holding thier procession the adults had a drink or two inside the shrine!

The kids finally arriving back at the shrine after a two-hour procession!

These two young adults carried the drum for them all the time!

Some kids were still willing to hit the drum!

A fire was waiting for those sensitive to the cold!

At around 4:30 the participants got ready for the adults evening procession!

Some practice for the photographers!

The evening procession finally taking off!

The procession moving on to the encouraging chants of the older participants!

A great way to keep yourselves warm!

Coming out of the shrine street!
The procession turned into the street to greet the houses of the participatat and sponsors!

Taking turns at the drum!

Food and drinks being prepare at the abode of one of the sponsors!

Waiting for the procession!

Japanese soul food!

Greetings!

Great concept for a party!

See at midnight same day next year!

Toyotsumi Shrine/豊積神社

The exact address is 静岡県静岡市清水区由比町町屋原185/Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimizu Ku, Yui Machi, Machiharaya, 185.
Get down at Yui JR Station and walk down the road on your right hand side. Walk past the harbor, turn left after Ando Dental Clinic and walk up all the way.

Held from January 1st at noon to the 3rd at 00:30 a.m.!

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Environment, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, History, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kura, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism, Yui

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 7

January 3, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Kura” (in japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

I was reporting on a local festival in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, when I discovered two more kuras!
Actually there are many of them in Yui, especially along and the Old Tokaido Road where they were the first refuge against typhoons and tsunamis.
But most of them have now been transformed into hangars, shops and abodes with their second floors shaved off and using only the solid first floor as a base.
Therefore there only a very few with their roof intact!

I noticed this one by pure chance as it was completely surrounded by buildings of all kinds!

It was obviously used either as an abode or as a storeroom, and I managed to a peek at this window as the inhabitants seemed to be away during the New Year Holidays!

I found this old one along the same street. As it was surrounded by a car park I had an easier access to it!

The entrance was being repaired but the whole building, although small, seemed very till very solid!

The window and the roof were in good repair!

These iron supports are found in most kuras. They are there to keep the roof securely onto the walls in case of stong winds. Typhoons can easily send the tiles flying!

For all the lack of color and decoration it was very well-preserved!

Now, that window lock really looks ancient!

Now some of these kuras can very small indeed!
I found this one near my home!

Small but very old as shown by all the rust on the window!

At first I didn’t think that this long building was a kura!

I nonetheless decided to investigate!

For all the imposing solidity the large steel windows were old!

No openings at the back!

They had reformed the entrance, though!

It is effectively used as a kura by the local fire station!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Iwata City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life, Life in Japan, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 18: Iwata City

January 1, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

A beautiful mint water manhole cover with a dragonfly in Iwata City!

Iwata City, already an important city both for its industries and agriculture in Western Shizuoka Prefecture has considerably increased in side with the recent merger to quite a fewtowns and villages, making its manhole covers a slightly complicated study!

The same a s above on a pavement!

The same again without the colors!

An unusual pattern in Shizuoka Prefecture, probably a sewer manhole cover!

Another unusual and ancient water access manhole cover!

A magnificent mint water access manhole cover in Ryuhou which has since been merged into Iwata City!

The same without the colors!

Another interesting and flowery mint manhole cover for Toyooka Village merged into Iwata City since!

The same without the colors!

Beautiful wisteria mint manhole cover for Toyoda Town merged into Iwata City since!

Another wisteria Manhole cover, but more intricate, in Toyoda Town!

A mint water access manhole cover for Fukuda Town merged into Iwata City since!

The same without the colors!

Another mint manhole cover for Fukuda Town, but with a different pattern!

The same without the colors!

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Culture, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, History, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism, Yui

Koike Village Chief House in Yui!

January 1, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Because Shizuoka City and Prefecture were more an area of intense travelling than Kyoto or Tokyo where people gathered and built according to the size of their population (and money), it seems that our region lacks in historical and cultural assets.
Actually, until Tokugawa Ieyasu made his retreat at the beginning of the 17th Century in Sumpu (Shizuoka City) travelers had still to stay there overnight and eat and drink. Accordingly, many old houses and lodgings can still be discovered along the Old Tokaido Route.
Tourists should not overlook them as their smaller size, easier access and cheap/free entrances provide them with a rare glimpse of life of past times. Sometimes such sightseeing off the beaten tracks is more rewarding than grandiose but crowded monuments!
One house worthy of a visit lies along the Old Tokaido Route in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, only a few minutes away on foot from Yui JR Station: Koike Village House which was incidentally registered as a National Important Cultural Asset in October 1998.

The entrance!

Note the “namako/seaslug wall”!

Time to study Japanese! Don’t worry most of what is written on the board is mentioned in this article! LOL

The entrance and the noren/暖簾/entrance curtain!
Such a village house would also serve as a registar house in Edo Times hence another historical source of importance!

A small room has been refurbished into a small museum you will get into through another noren!

Take time to look at old pictures of Yui Village!

Through the bay window of the small museum you will discover a tiny but adorable Japanese garden!

Important documents are still preserved there!

Life articles of a time past!

The modest size of the very well preserved living quarters will give you a chance for great photogtraphy of a true Japanese abode of yore.

You actually may walk inside if you take your shoes off! That will permit you to not only take great photographs but experience a real feel under the soles of your feet!

Contrary to the interminable lodgings of ancient nobles, it has the merit to introduce you to a real size living house!

If you are am antique buff you will be surprised to find this very heavy antique shave ice machine worth a fortune at auctions!

Take all your time to admire the small exquisite garden full of surprises!

I have never seen that lantern-supporting sumo wrestler anywhere before!

Every season will offer you a different glimpse!

Very unusual moss!

An ancient well!

Having a second look before departing…
Irori/firplace!

Mobile partition!

Old hanging scroll!

I would advise you to take a good camera along as the place is dark inside, but you must have also a look at the raftings, the ceiling and theattic!

KOIKE VILLAGE CHIEF HOUSE/小池邸

421-3112 Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Yui, Terao, 464-9 (10 minutes on foot from Yui JR Station. Proceed left of the Station exit!)
Tel.: 054-376-0611
Opening hours: 09:30~16:30 (March~October), 09:30~16:00 (November~February)
Closed on Mondays and National Holidays (except if happening on week-ends), December 26th~January 5th
Entrance: free
Parking for 6 cars

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Design, Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Izu Peninsula, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 17: Izu Peninsula (Part 2)

December 30, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

A magnificent mint manhole cover in Itoh City with the characters of “The Izu Dancer” story by Yasunori kawabata!

Another beautiful mint manhole cover in Itoh City!

The same in black and white!

Sea bathers on a mint manhole cover in Itoh City!

The same in black and white!

Camelias Manhole covers in Itoh City!

Fish design manhole cover in Itoh City to remind you that Izu Peninsula is surrounded by one of the richest seas in Japan!

A fire hydrant manhole cover in Itoh City!

A very ancient medium-sized sewer manhole cover in Itoh City!

A beautiful mint water manhole cover in Izu Nagaoka which has been since merged into Izu no Kuni City!

A beautiful mint manhole cover in Shuzenji which has since been merged into Izu City!

Irises manhole cover in Shuzenji!

A beautiful mint Manhole cover in Nagaizumi!

The same on a pavement!

A beautiful fire hydrant manhole cover in Nagaizumi!

A cute mint manhole cover in Minami Izu Cho, a touristic spot!

The same in black and white!

Another beautiful mint manhole cover in Minami Izu Cho representing the Teishi Koina Festival and lobsters!

A sewer manhole cover in Minami Izu Cho!

Fireworksand Bon Odori dance in Minami Izu Cho!

A double manhole cover in Matsuzaki!

Fish manhole cover in Higashi Izu Cho!

A small manhole cover in Higashi Izu Cho!

A rectangular manhole cover with a map of Higashi Izu Cho!

A rectangular fire hydrant manhole cover in Higashi Izu Cho!

A manhole cover type found elsewhere but with the central motif of Naka Izu Cho!

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Pavement Tourism Signs in Shizuoka Prefecture 1

December 29, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

A direction guide pavement sign just before entering Shizuoka JR Station!

Cities in Shizuoka, and I’m sure in many cities in Japan have an interesting, artful and subtle way to advertise their tourism as well as to introduce their many symbols: pavement signs!
I can guarantee you it could develop into another urban art photography album!

You will find those two signs together in Miyuki Street, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

“Touristic Shizuoka”!

“Miyuki Street”!

Shizuoka Prefecture symbol bird, “Sankochou/Paradise Fly Catcher”!

Shizuoka City symbol bird, “Kawasemi/Kingfisher”!

Shizuoka City symbol flower, “Tachiaoi/Hollyhock”!

Shizuoka City symbol tree, “Hanamizuki/Flowering Dogwood”!

Shizuoka Prefecture Flower, “Tsutsuji/Azalea”!

Shizuoka Prefecture symbol tree in Miyuki Street, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, “Mokusei/Fragrant Olive Tree”!

Shizuoka City does not seem to agree on its symbol tree as demonstrated in Komagata Street, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, “Keyaki/Japanese selkova!

Yaizu City symbol flower, “Satsuki/Satsuki azalea or Rhododendron indicum”!

Yaizu City symbol bird, “Yurikamome/Black-headed Gull”！

Yaizu City symbol tree:”Matsu/Pine Tree”!

You will this multiple tile sign on the basement pavement leading to the Shizuoka JR Station elevator!

You can’t miss it!
Now, what does it say?

“Welcome to Shizuoka”!
Note the oranges and strawberries which Shizuoka is famous for!

The kanji in the middle stands for “Tatsumi-yagura”!

Direction to Tokiwa Park and Aoba Symbol Road!

Sumpu Park was originally the location of the castle of Tokugawa-Ieyasu. Tatsumi-yagura (rebuilt to celebrate 100 year history of the City of Shizuoka　in 1997).

Direction to Sengen Street!

Direction to Shizuoka JR Station!

The City of Fujieda City reminds visitors it is the birthplace of soccer in Japan!

A mejiro bird in Izu Nagaoka, Izu no Kuni City in Izu Peninsula!

Care to join the chase in other cities?

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Mount Fuji Winter Urban Sites in Shizuoka City!

December 29, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Winter is probably the best time to take pictures of Mount Fuji as you can see it hundred of miles away!
In Shizuoka City it practically jumps out in front of you if you look to the east!

I was riding my bicycle along Route One in the east direction on my way to Gokoku Shrine when Mount Fuji looked at me in the distance!

Above the private Shizutetsu Railway Line!
Do you notice the train on theleft?

You could also see it driving a car but I very much doubt you could stop along the pavement like I did on my bicycle letting the traffic flow by!

So many aerial cables!

Peeping from under an overhead bridge!

Interesting spot for a rope walker!

Just before turning int Gokoku Shrine!

The last view ofthe day!

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 16: Izu Peninsula (Part 1)

December 28, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful mint sewer manhole cover from Ohito Town which merged into the new city of Izu No Kuni City!

This time let’s have a look at Izu Peninsula!
It is pretty complicated as the whole map of Izu Peninsula was revolutionized with the mergers of many towns and villages into cities, some of them brand new!

The same without the colors!

A flowery manhole cover without the colors in Ohito!

Also in Ohito a sewer type seen in many places in the Prefecture with slight differences in their central motif!

Another type in Atami City I hadn’t discovered in the former article on Atami City!
Note the central motif!

Shimoda City at the southern tip of Peninsula City boasts a lot of manhole covers due to its place in history with the arrival of the Black Ship in the 19th Century!
The above mint does not have colors inside the sails!

The sails in this mint are colored!

Same mint as above but with a different background color!

Same as above but without the colors!

A different type without the colors!

A sewer manhole cover type found elsewhere but with the Shimoda central motif!

A rain water manhole cover type found elsewhere but with the Shimoda central motif!

The same as above but for sewers!

This one is not from Shimoda but doanted to Shimoda City by Funabashi Village as they share history with the Black Ship!

The above was also donated to Shimoda City by Naga City for the same reason!

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Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life, Life in Japan, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism, Yaizu City

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 15: Yaizu City

December 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

One of the most beautiful manhole covers in Yaizu City I discovered near the City Hall!
I couldn’t determine if the fish are tuna or bonito as both are brought there in large numbers!

Yaizu City is one of the major fishing harbor cities in Japan with Numazu City and Shimoda City Tokyo couldn’t survive without. The other day I intensively research the city for manhole covers and I came with more than I bargained for as I included the whole technical range!

Brace yourselves!

An older big manhole with tuna/bonito!
I couldn’t find it colored version!

This one is probably the most famous of all with Mount Fuji and tuna/bonito!

The same in different colors!

The same again without the colors!

An old-style sewer manhole cover!

The same but newer and different in minute details!

This manhole cover was truly enormous!

Another sewer type manhole cover!

A very large sewer-type manhole cover!
Note the central motif generally found in Yaizu City!

Practically the same but medium-sized!

A similar but older type and without the central motif!

Another celebrated manhole cover over a fire hydrant and celebrating the Yaizu Harbor Festival!

This type can be found in many cities but this is the first time I discovered one with “GAS” written in English!

Once again a common small sized one but with “valve pit” written in English and “GAS” in Japanese!

The same as above but “valve pit” both in English and Japanese!

The two of them side by side!
Take your pick!

A large one “blended” in its surroundings!
I will have to to find out what “C.C.B.” means!

Another modern but rectangular sewer manhole cover “blended” into its surroundings!

Similar as above but square!

Two different types together over heavy water machinery access!

I found many of this small and cute type in the city so I doubt that they are private!

An older and slightly smaller version than the above!

A newer type of a water valve pit cover with clear measure indications!

Another newer water valve pit cover,probably private!

A private water valve pit cover!

An old gas valve pit cover!

A tiny C.C.B valve pit cover with the Yaizu City motif!

An old medium-sized sewer manhole cover!

A medium-sized sewer manhole cover which can bear up to 400 kg!

A rare old type of valve pit cover!

This comparatively small-sized private rain water cover is written with “No cars allowed to run over”!

The same, but form another company!

This one is owned by Harmonate Company!

A smaller and different type from the same company!

I found this medium type rain water cover on the platform of Yaizu JR station platform which can bear up to 400 kg!

The same as above but without the central motif and the ability to bear up to 450 kg!

Blimey, 37 pictures in all!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Vegan Christmas Cakes & New Year Confectionery: Japanese Wagashi!

December 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Pyramid-style Christmas Tree?

Here are some more suggestions for Christmas Cakes through re-published articles!
Have fun!

NOTE: I’m an unrepentant agnostic hedonist (and an omnivore to boot!), but since some of my vegan and vegetarain friends are Christian, I hope these pictures will inspire them!