Naoshima Benesse House trip : part 1

Yes, I’ve just been to Benesse House - Benesse Art Site Naoshima! The Benesse House is located on the Naoshima island of Setonaikai Sea. From Tokyo, it is a 3 1/2 hrs trip by air & ferry.

by shrk

On the first day, we left the Haneda airport at night, and it was about 22:00pm by the time we arrived at the Takamatsu airport. Had the famous Sanuki Udon noodle and went to bed on that night.

Next morning, we were going to the Naoshima island by ferry.

Benesse House - Benesse Art Site Naoshima
Naoshima travel guide - Wikitravel
Naoshima, Kagawa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Haneda Airport

The domestic terminal airport, Haneda Airport is conveniently located for a trip by air within the country.

Most international flights use Narita Airport,but in case some of international flights use Haneda Airport.

The nickname is “Big bard”. You must be careful as it has got Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. You’d be in trouble if you take a wrong one by mistake!

It is quite a fun place with many stores such as the famous Japanese confectionary shop “Toraya”.

BIG BIRD(Haneda Airport)
Tokyo International Airport - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
TORAYA English Web Page | TORAYA Confectionery

“The Rainbow Bridge”

by LE Eyes

by etrepum
It named because of its changing nighttime lights, Rainbow Bridge spans the bay from Minato-ku to Odaiba one of Tokyo’s premier wining and dining areas.

Flickr: Search “Rainbow Bridge Tokyo”
Rainbow Bridge (Tokyo) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“TORINOICHI” ： Japanese festival　

Yeah, I have been to “TORINOICH” in Asakusa!

“TORINOICH” is a local festival held in many places around Tokyo in Nov. And the most famous is this one at Asakusa’s.

There are many stalls lining up and selling the good-luck charm “kumade“（Japanese pitchfork）and many people buy them.

It is said that “kumade” would “sweep in the good-luck to you” so even famous politicians, artists or big companies get them every year. For example, The Governor of Tokyo and the Sony are among them! （I wonder that it’s hard for the people other than Japanese to get it !? ）

This slidshow is by titanium22 (Hanazono-jinjya at Shinjuku 2006)

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

ASAKUSA Torinoichi

Suica penguin part2 (I love Suica Penguin,too)

I’m not a big collector of Suica Penguin goods but I do love the Suica penguin. I got some stuffed Penguins, a Penguin pass holder, a ballpoint pen…

Suica penguin part1

by msk

This penguin is the mascot character of “Suica”, which is a prepaid card available for JR east (the train lines around Tokyo).

by Nemo’s great uncle

by Kanko*

You can get various character products at the station’s kiosks, pay by Suica, and of course, by cash.

Shinkansen trip 10.30.2007 part2 (Mt.Fuji & Nagoya station)

Mt. Fuji (view from Shinkansen)

Nagoya Station (Shinkansen platform)

Nagoya is near TOYOTA’s hometown “Tokyota city”. New Buildings built up as Toyota’s global success.

This is my hometown”Hikone”.

City of Nagoya:English
Toyota City Hall - Official Homepage

Tokyo Station (Shinkansen trip)

The station of the Shinkansen in Tokyo is Tokyo/Shinagawa station. (Well, there is also the Shin Yokohama station).

This brick station was built 100 years ago. Its old fashioned look is sort of isolated from the surrounding newly-redeveloped buildings and skyscrapers, but it is nicely old & kawaii station.

Opposite to Tokyo station is the Imperial Palace
Read the rest of this entry »

Shinkansen trip 10.30.2007 part1(Tokaido Shinkansen)

Sounds like takako has traveled by Shinkansen bullet train. I did go home by Shinkansen, too. My little trip was from Tokyo to Maibara (Shiga Pref.).

The Tokaido Shinkansen takes you to Kansai area like Osaka or Kyoto, Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai, Morioka or Akita, or Nigata Shinkansen to Nigata from Tokyo.

ticket counter

Check the departure board of Tokaido Shinkansen.

daruma bento & kamameshi bento

daruma bento

I went to Nagano on the Shinkansen last weekend. I had Ekiben(Daruma bento &
Kamameshi bento) both ways(going and coming) on the Shinkansen.
They were made with tasty riches from the mountains like bamboo shoot,
shiitake mushrooms, etc. It’s always fun to eat Ekiben on the trains.

Daruma bento comes in a Daruma dolls. Daruma dolls are hollow and round Japanese wish dolls with no arms or legs,modelled after Bodhidharma.

kamameshi

Kamameshi bento comes in a rustic earthenware pot.

Ekiben (Railway boxed meal) are a specific type of bento boxed meals, sold on
trains and train stations in Japan.

Ekiben containers can be very attractive: made from plastic, wood, or ceramic.
Many train stations have since become famous for their especially tasty ekiben,
made from local food specialties.