Tag Archives: Shizuoka Tourism

iFi, Japan Tourism, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Tourism, Tourism

Free WiFi Rental for Foreign Tourists in Shizuoka City (English, Chinese, Taiwanese & Korean)!

December 1, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

On Novemebr 1st Shizuoka City decided to sponsor free WiFi rental for the sole benefit of foreign tourists until next March on a trial basis, by which time the City will decide whether to make it permanent!
First of all, bear in mind that such service can obtained in only one place, namely the Shizuoka City Tourist Information Center/静岡市総合観光案内所 located at the north entrance of Shizuoka City JR Station!
It is open any day of the week from 09:00 to 17:45!

Consult the official websites:
English: http://ninjawifi.com/en/
Japanese: http://ninjawifi.com/jp/
Mainland Chinese: http://ninjawifi.com/cn
Taiwanese: http://ninjawifi.com/tw
Hong Kong Chinese: http://ninjawifi.com/hkg
Korean: http://ninjawifi.com/kr

You will have to follow a strict procedure as follows:
-Step 1: Go to the Shizuoka-shi Tourist Informartion Center and tell the staff, “I’d like to rent a NINJA WiFi router.”
-Step 2: Take a a photo of the NINJA WiFi POP: take a photo of the NINJA WiFi POP with your smartphone and connect your smartphone to the NINJA WiFi located at the information center.
-Step 3: Post to SNS: Post the photo taken in Step 2 to an SNS, such as Facebook, Twitter, Line, YouTube or whichever you prefer.
-Step 4: Show the post: show the post to the staff.
-Step 5: Fill in the registration form: fill in the registration form and show your passport. Please allow the staff to make a copy of your passport.
-Step 6: Get the free WiFi: once the staff has verified the information, you will get a NINJA WiFi router.

The WiFi router package!

The package includes the router, peripheral devices, manuals and a Return by Delivery Form.

The WiFi router!

Bear in mind that only visitors with “short term visitors Visa” are eligible to apply.
You can use this WiFi router anywhere in Japan

When returning the WiFi router by free delivery you have to return 1) the pouch, 2) WiFi router (303ZT), 3) the USB cable, 4)The Charging Adapter.

You then put the whole into the return kit envelope, fill in the form and hand it to convenience store as cited below:

Otherwise you can return it at the following airports:
Narita Airport (Terminal 1), Narita Airport (Terminal 2), Haneda Airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport, Kansai International Airport, New Chitose Airport, Komatsu Airport, Fukuoka Aiport, Naha Airport

Copy the documents below for more precise information:

English pamphlet

English application form

English Terms & Conditions of Use

Chinese pamphlet, front

Chinese pamphlet, back

Chinese application form

Chinese Terms & Conditions of Use

Taiwanese pamphlet, front

Taiwanese pamphlet, back

Taiwanese application form

Taiwanese Terms & Conditions of Use

Korean pamphlet, front

Korean pamphlet, back

Korean application form

Korean Terms & Conditions of Use

Bon voyage!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pie
rre.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

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Mishima City, Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka Tourism

Mishima Taisha Shrine (三島大社) 1)

May 12, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

One of the venerated trees inside Mishima Tasiha!

Mishima Taisha/Mishima Great Shrine in the City of Mishima is one oone of the 3~4 biggest and most important Shinto shrines in Shizuoka Prefecture and it is simply too vast and comprising too many other shrines to be described i a single article.
This the first of a series of reports as I plan to visit Mishima City many times again in the near future and take the opportunities to discover other aspects and sights!

The main portal with its enormous “shimenawa/rice straw garland”!

The big mouth-shut “komainu or shishi/lion guard” past the main entrance!

And its companion with its mouth open!

One of the main small shrines find in the precincts, this particular one called “Shima Jinja” at the end of a small bridge crossing one of the many ponds!

A large roof pinion!

A large roofed hand washing stone basin!

Another large inner portal!

Th Horse is the main feature animal symbol in Mishima Taisha!

Ancient horse painting!

The “haiden hall” for the public and worshippers!

Splendid gilded pinions!

One of the big “baku/nightmare eaters”!

An ancient “ishidourou/stone lantern”!

See you again there very soon!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 26: Fire Hydrant Covers! (消火栓のマンホール) Part 1 (Firefighting & Regional symbols))

February 19, 2014 dragonlife 8 Comments

Fire Truck in Hamamatsu City!

Fire hydrant manhole covers, or more precisely manhole covers over water and water Tanks accesses for firemne were among the first to be decorated by municipalities with other water access manhole covers and come in three distinct kinds of motifs, either round or rectangular:
1) Fire trucks, firemen and Firefighter’ symbols
2) Regional symbols
3) Abstract symbols

Fire truck in Yaizu City!

Fire truck and fire fighter in Mikkabi, Hamamatsu City!

Fire truck in Iwata City!

Fire truck and fire fighter in Hamamatsu City!

Fire fighter in Tenryuu, Hamamatsu City!

Fire truck and fire fighter in Okitsu, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Fire truck and fire fighter in Shizuoka City!

Fire Brigade Festival Hapi/jacket in Yaizu City!

fire brigade festival pole in Shizuoka City!

Fire brigade triple festival pole in Mariko, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

Fire brigade festival pole in Itoh City!

Fire brigade festival pole in Higashi Izu Cho!

Kaguyahime (The bamboo Cutter’s Daughter Legend) and Mount Fuji in Yoshiwara, Fuji City!
Arguably the most beautiful manhole cover in Japan!

400th Anniversary of Sumpu Castle in Shizuoka City, with Abe River and Mount Fuji!
A rare dated (2007) manhole cover in Japan!

Sakura Ebi/Cherry Shrimp and Mount Fuji in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Cherry blossoms, wisteria blossoms and mejiro warbler in Fujieda City!

Soccer in Shimizu ku, Shizuoka City!

Soccer again in Shimizu ku, Shizuoka City!

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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,

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 25: Mount Fuji Manhole Covers! (富士山のマンホール)

February 13, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

The mint Manhole Cover in Shimizu City before it was merged in Shizuoka City depicting the World Cultural Heritage of Mount Fuji and Miho Matsubara Beach!

Mount Fuji is partly in Shizuoka Prefecture as many in Yamanashi Prefecture will rightly if somewhat insistently point out, but we also have the Miho Matsubara beach which is included in the World Cultural Heritage!
Mind you, I will be extremely happy to add Mount Fuji manhole covers from Yamanashi prefecture anytime if someone is kind enough to send them to me!
As for people who think that Mount Fuji lies in Kanagawa Prefecture or Tokyo, I’m sorry to disappoint them although they also have the cahnce to see it on bright days!

The same found in Sodeshi, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

The same but for rain waters instead of river waters without the colors!

The same as above but with “Shizuoka City” instead of “Shimizu City”!

Found in many places in Shizuoka City!
A rarity in a sense as it is dated in “2007”!

Also found a bit everywhere in Shizuoka City!

Found in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
Note the sakura ebi design for which Yui is nationally known!

The same as above in blue!

A beautiful mint manhole cover for Fuji City, a city named after Mount Fuji!

The same design but in different colors!

The same without the colors!

The same again, but half size!

The same as a mint manhole cover but in different design and colors!

Arguably the most beautiful manhole cover in Japan found in Yaoshiwara, Fuji City, depicting Kaguyahime of the Legend, The Bamboo Cutter’s daughter!

A beautiful mint manhole cover in Fujieda City!
Although the City includes “Fuji/藤”, it means “Wisteria”, not “Mount Fuji/富士”!

The same as found on a pavement in Fujieda city!

Another mint of the same but in different colors!

the same as found on a pavement in Fujieda City!

Found in Gotemba City!

Beautiful mint in Shimizu Cho at the foot of Mount Fuji!
Not to be confused with Shimizu Ku in Shizuoka City!

Found in Nirayama merged with Izu no Kuni City!
Famous for the Hansharou Foundries and strawberries!

Beautiful mint manhole cover for Yaizu City, a fishing port city known all over Japan!

The same as found on a pavement in yaizu City!

The same without the colors!

Still looking!

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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,

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Design, Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Fuji City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 24: Yoshiwara (now merged to Fuji City)

February 7, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

kaguyahime/The Bamboo Cutter Daughter, considered by many as the most beautiful manhole cover in Japan!

The same. It is framed in yellow on the road to help firement find it at night as this is a fire hydrant manhole cover.
It is located in the middle of a narrow street at the bottom of Bishamonten Myoyouji Temple.
Apparently there is only one sample!
It was made when before Yoshiwara was merged with Fuji City as demonstrated by the crest!

Mount Fuji water access manhole cover!
This was installed after Yoshiwara was merged with Fuji City!

The same as above but half size!

A large Yoshiwara fire hydrant manhole cover!

Another double Yoshiwara fire hydrant manhole cover of a dufferent design!

A similar fire hydrant, but single and over a water tank access!

An older Yoshiwara rectangular fire hydrant manhole cover!

An old small Yoshiwara valve pit manhole cover!

Another small Yoshiwara valve pit manhole cover with a totally different design!

A very old ans small water access Yoshiwara manhole cover!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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:

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 23: Fujieda City

January 30, 2014 dragonlife 3 Comments

Beautiful mint Fujieda City manhole cover!
They actually come into two colors

The same, a bit old, near Fujieda JR Station south exit!

Another beautiful mint with a different background color!

The same again, a bit old, near Fujieda JR Station south exit!

The same, without the colors!

The one without the color is usually found in the middle of roads!

A sewer manhole cover with Fujieda City motif in the center!

An older type!

A round fire hydrant manhole cover!

Another rectangular fire hydrant manhole cover!

Another rectangular older type fire hydrant manhole cover!

A little beauty!

A gas manhole cover. Probably for private use as the symbol is not that of Fujieda City!

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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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Pavement Tourism Signs in Shizuoka Prefecture 2

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful design found outside Hamamatsu City JR Station North exist welcoming tourists and commuters to the City!

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!

Hamamatsu City has recently applied some sturdy “stickers” on the pavement in front of the North Exits of their JR Station and around Act City Building Complex not only to welcome all visitors, but also to advertise they are in fact the music capital of Japan thanks to the big music instruments makers such as Kawai and Yamaha!

If you look carefully at them you also understand that Hamamatsu City is the home of great flower and garden parks!

And last but not least Hamamatsu City gastronomy is famous for its eels!

Other cities and prefectures should take heed to promote their tourism!

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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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Drainspotting/Japanese Manhole Covers by Remo Camerota!

January 25, 2014 dragonlife 8 Comments

The cover represents a fire hydrant Manhole cover in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture!

Last Wednesday, my good friend Philip Kreiner made a man very happy when he gave a book called Drainspotting, Japanese manhole Covers by Remo Camerota!
Remo Camerota had an inspiration calling his book so as everyone has heard about the film, “Trainspotting”!

The book was issued by Mark Batty Publisher in New York in 2010 but I couldn’t manage to get in touch with them.
Maybe more information could be got through WHITEWALL STUDIOS.

Remo Camerota, a New York-based writer authored the book with his pictures and those of friends during a trip through Japan.
A must for all lovers of Urban Art, and Urban Art in Japan in Particular!

NOTE: If Remo happens to read this introduction, I would be extremely grateful to him for contacting me!

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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:

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 22

January 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful mint manhole cover in Arai, which has since been merged to Kosai City in Western Shizuoka Prefecture!

I still have quite a few pictures of manhole covers in Shizuoka (out of more than 400!) to show.
I’ll try to introduce them in some kind of related order.
Let me take to the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture today!

The same manhole cover in Arai but without the colors!

A private water access manhole cover in Arai!

A fairly old manhole cover in Kosai City!

A cute water access manhole cover in Mori Machi/Mori Town!

An ancient manhole cover in Hamaoka which has been merged with Omaezaki City since!

A cute manhole cover in Omaezaki marine Park, Hamaoka, Oamaezaki City!

Another water access manhole cover in Hamaoka, Omaezaki City!

Another manhole cover in Hamaoka, Omaezaki City!

A beautiful mint water access manhole cover in Yoshida Cho!

The same without the colors!

An old manhole cover for access to water provided by the Oi River!

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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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Environment, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Pavement art, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Traditional Trades in Japan on Pavement Tiles in Gofuku Chyo, Shizuoka City!

January 15, 2014 dragonlife 3 Comments

Japanese kimono!

It is always a welcome surprise to discover Japanese traditions being promoted in the most unconventional ways!
The other day Dragon pointed out some interesting tiles at the Hon Toori entrance of of Gofuku Chyo Street!

Right across from the Shizuoka Bank!
Can you see them on the pavement?

I decided to investigate them a bit more seriously yesterday!
“Gofuku CChyo/呉服町” means the “Clothing District”, that is in Edo Times cities were divided into districts according to their main trade.
Clothing and associated trades were concentrated in that particular area of Fuchu/Sumpu as Shizuoka City as it was called when the Shogun/overlord Tokugawa Ieyasu retired there in the 17th Century!

Geta/Japanese wooden clogs!
Shizuoka geta are still famous all over Japan!

Japanese umbrella represented from from overhead!

Cross sections of rolls of cloth!

A weaver thread roll!

Unfurled cloth roll!

A portable drawer chest!

A traditional Japanese purse!

Fine boat sails also used to be manufactured there!

An abacus!
Money had to be tallied!

A ceremonial mallet used as a rattler during festivals!

A Japanese had fan!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Design, Environment, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Pavement art, Pavement signs, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Pavement Art? Illegal Bicycle Parking Children’s Drawings Posters in Shizuoka City!

January 15, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Some kids do have a great imagination to reflect on the plight of a bicycle!

Shizuoka City is apparently the city in Japan with the largest number of bicycles per capita, but the least that could be said it seems an open war has been ignited between the bicycle owners who do not know where to park them and the city which is spending money on large stickers applied on the pavements in some areas of the city!
The sign posters in this article were all found in Aoba Park Street in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, starting from behind the city hall.
Primary/elementary school were drafted by the city government to draw different pictures to appeal the public recently and I just discovered these pictures recently.
A young policeman seeing me taking pictures of them couldn’t hide his smile……..

Red seems to be the prevalent color for chidren tp express anger!

Why a sun and a cloud?

A forceful and concise message!

This kid is commenting on the lack of space left for pedestrians between rows of bicycles!

This kid decided to escape to the beach!

An interesting use of balloons!

Tears, tears!

A giant bicycle?

Ecological bicycle?

Beautiful bicycle, I must admit!

Is that a fox behind the poster?

A lot of love for a bicycle!

A child with an attitude!

A giraffe bicycle?

A girl with a sense of fashion?

Interesting picture showing bicycles impeding with the yellow markings designed to help pedestrians with impaired eyesight!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Environment, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 21: Shizuoka City Tachi Aoi/Hemlock type study!

January 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 21: Shizuoka City Tachi Aoi/Hemlock type study!

1) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, blue and yellow with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

I had thought there were only 2 or 3 types of the Tachi Aoi or hemlock type manhole cover in Shizuoka City but the fact I alsways move on a bicycle along the streets and pavements of the city helped me understand it was a bit more complicated!

Apart of color types (more than 3 actually) there are sub-types depending on letter/number codes and central motifs!
It seems to be peculiar to Shizuoka City whose emblem is the hemlock, the flower on the crest of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Japan Shogun/Overlord, who retired to our city in the 17th Century!

2) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green and mauve with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

3) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: all white enamel with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

4) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

5) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green and pink with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

6) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: medium-sized without the colors with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

7) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, white and brown with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”! But in medium size! I have found only one so far along the Kitakaido!

8) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, white and brown with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-25” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

9) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-25” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

10) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, white and light blue with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

11) the same type as 8) but in half size and a simpler general dessin with no colors!

12) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-14″ but no”Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”, and more numbers in golden color!

13) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-25″ but no”Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”, and more numbers in golden color and inside a larger manhole cover discovered along the Kitakaido!

I wonder if another type exists?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

静岡県, 観光, History, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 20: Eastern Shizuoka Prefecture 2

January 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful mint water access manhole cover in Fuji City!

This is the second part dedicated to the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture!

The same without the colors!

Beautiful mint of another Fuji City type manhole cover!

Kaguya Hime Legend on a beautiful fire hydrant access manhole cover in Fuji City!

A sewer manhole cover in Fuji City!

Another beautiful mahole cover similar to the Fuji City one but in different colors found in Yoshiwara which has been merged into Fuji City since then!

Another sewer type manhole cover in Atami City I have just found!

Manhole cover in Gotemba City!

The same a above in Gotemba City but in white and black!

The same again in Gotemba City but without the colors!

Another beautiful mint manhole cover in Shimizu Cho!

The same as above in Shimizu Cho without the colors!

A gas access manhole cover in Shimizu Cho!

A cute manhole cover in Oyama Cho!

Not strictly east of Shizuoka Prefecture but in Izu peninsula. Beautiful black and white evrsion of a manhole cover in Amagi Yugashima, since then merged in Izu City!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Culture, Events, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Festivals, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

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.!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,