Ariakekai: inland sea in Saga Pref.

Ariake-kai is located between Saga Prefecture and Fukuoka Pref. in Kyushu island. The sea is famous for its great difference between the tidemarks and the unique creatures living there.

You can still see a traditional fishing method like the photo, which you may find in the rivers in Southeast Asia.

You can join a cruise tour by small boat and see many fisher men catching fish, octopus and sea weeds. It would be good to taste them after the tour. Some of the seafood are only avaible in this region. Though some looks weird, they taste very good. Try it!

Hiking in Japan

Although you may have an image of Japan as a highly develped place and no nature left, there are many hiking courses you can spend on your holiday in Japan. Spring time is one of the best seasons to go hiking. The photo was taken from the small hill called Myojin-san near Mt. Fuji. Get out of the city and breathe in fresh air!

Festivals in Tokyo: Kanda

It is fun to join a local festival in Japan.
Kanda Matsuri or Festival is one of the famous ones in Japan. You will find many protable shirines or floats here and there in Kanda at the center of Tokyo this time of the year.
One of the interesting features of Kanda festival is the combination of tradition and mordern technology. The festival has long histroy of over 200 years. However, as it is located at the very center of modern city, Tokyo, the festival takes an advantage of the advanced IT technology, too. You can find where each float or portable shrines are on the Internet or on your mobile phone. Also, there is online live broadcasting, too.
After Kanda festival, several early-summer festivals start in many places in Tokyo.
Enjoy the tradition of Tokyo through the festivals.

Wineries in Japan: Yamanashi Pref.

When it comes to Japanese alcohol, Sake (rice wine) may come up to your mind first. And You may not have any idea about Japanese wines.
However, since over 100 years ago, the Japanese started making wines in Japan. Katunuma in Yamanashi prefecture is one of the places where wines have been procuding for more than 100 years. The place is now called "Budo no sato" or a village of grapes. It takes only 90 min. from the downtown Tokyo by local train. There are over 30 wineries and you can see the factories and taste wines there. If you do not have a time to visit each winery, you can go to the place called "Budo no Oka" or a hill of grape and you will find most of the wines produced in Katunuma and taste them there.
The view from the hill is also very beautiful.
You may have another new aspenct of Japan when you visit there.