Alien Discovery

Sumo Training

2012-03-03T14:49:00.001+09:00

I took these pics this morning of the sumo of the Kasuganobeya Stable training at our local dojo in Hoshida in preparation for the Osaka Grand Tournament commencing on 11^th March 2012.

がんばれ！
応援してます！

I also put a couple of videos on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBCJ8FlgNa0&context=C348af13ADOEgsToPDskKWEkSFDGbahD3mMIK_l4z6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ByQdePQQhw&context=C371842bADOEgsToPDskJrEJ5FlGsEs6c1l8-dVOdE

Kasuganobeya Stable

Dojo etiquette

Tokyo Sky Tree

2012-03-01T18:46:00.000+09:00

Well, it’s apparently officially complete – The Tokyo Sky Tree, the second tallest structure in the world. I’ve been watching it go up for the last few years now; next time I’m in Tokyo I’ll have to pay my dues.

More info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Sky_Tree

Iimoriyama

2012-02-28T14:09:00.000+09:00

We did a hike up Iimoriyama on Sunday, not so far away. It was a cold day with some snow during the accent but the wee-man did well.

Back in the Sengokku era; in the 1500’s there was a castle at the top; now nothing really remains of it except for a mound and a statue of one of the lords. In one direction across the once fertile plains (now the infinite sprawl) you can see Osaka, in the other, the old capital and the centre of power, Kyoto.

A good place to be? If you don’t mind back-stabbing, war and sleepless nights perhaps...

Plum Blossoms

Bamboo Forrest

In the distance you can see Osaka

In the distance, Kyoto

King of the hill

Castle foundations

Shijonawate Shrine (one of the seven "happy" shines of Osaka.)

Hakuba, snow and shovels

2012-02-17T14:18:00.000+09:00

Like in Europe we’ve got quite a lot of snow here at the moment up in the hills. Here’s some pics from Hakuba, Nagano.

The road in

Torii, shine gate in snow

Looking for the good stuff off the cat-track

The good stuff

Across the valley

Hakuba valley

The Kyoto Kizu River Marathon

2012-02-06T11:11:00.000+09:00

Yesterday I took part in the Kyoto Kizu River Marathon, today I can barely walk. The funds raised from the event will go to the folks up north affected by the tsunami last year.

The official website for the event:

http://www.river.sannet.ne.jp/kizu/run/

The 29th

Kyoto Kizu River Marathon

Preparation area

The group warm up

Runner’s shoe chip

Limbering up

Local taiko team perform before the start

Runners ready to start

Starting line

Along the Kizu River

Coming in at the finish

Stage 1 of the Santos Tour Downunder.

2012-01-18T10:40:00.000+09:00

Stage 1 of the Santos Tour Downunder. 17^th Jan 2012.

The stage running 149km from Prospect to Clare passed nearby my folks place in Gawler about 40km into the race. It was 39 degrees Celsius, and against a strong headwind a group of 4 had broken away from the peloton following some 22minutes behind!

My dad and I were the only spectators on this stretch of the road and after the entourage of support vehicles had passed, we cycled along the road picking up all the discarded bottles. Between us we found 19! Great souvenirs of a fantastic day.

Check out the youtube link I've made below, be sure to "like" it!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syGQN3NsDyQ&noredirect=1

Ride Like Crazy

2012-01-15T14:37:00.000+09:00

Today we joined the Ride Like Crazy fund raising cycle ride to fight cancer. It was a great day out and a lot of fun. For more details on the event please see the link below:

http://www.ridelikecrazy.com/

Ride Like Crazy - Start

Ride Like Crazy

Ride Like Crazy - Start

See the Koala on the left wandering along the road

A koala wandering along the road. Had to stop to watch it for a while...

The road above Kangaroo Creek on the way down to Adelaide

The Finish

The Year of the Dragonfly

2012-01-04T19:54:00.001+09:00

Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu! Happy New Year!

We welcomed in the year of the Dragon in Oz the way it is meant to be here with BBQs, beers and the occasional dip in the pool. In the end we didn’t bother going to any of the firework displays opting for more of a family gathering instead. We’ve also been getting in quite a few cycle rides despite the ever growing belly…

At Cudlee Creek

Fish n' Chips

Kangaroo Burger

The Barossa Valley

2011-12-30T18:50:00.003+09:00

Season’s greetings to one and all. Just now in Gawler, Adelaide, South Australia with Ai & Zen visiting the family over the holidays.

Here are some pics of the Barossa Valley wine region just a short cycle ride away up the road. This is good as we love to cycle and wine tasting is also quite enjoyable.

No holding us back when it comes to visiting the Barossa

Still able to get some air

Vineyards at the Barossa Valley

Yep..

Vineyards from the sky. See the alien?

The Barossa Valley

A bikeride into Kyoto, Tofukuji

2011-12-13T21:01:00.000+09:00

Took the afternoon off to cycle into Kyoto today along the Yodogawa river, then off up the Kamogawa river to Sanjo. The main purpose was to buy matcha bamukuhen omiyage but swung into Tofukuji on the way home. The whole trip took 6 1/2 hours.... need a bath...

Cycle Path along the Yodogawa

Cycle Path along the Yodogawa to Kyoto

Some of the best furniture

By the Maiko Shiryokan

Tofukuji, southern Kyoto

Zen garden of Tofukuji, southern Kyoto

Zen Garden of Tofukuji, southern Kyoto

Tofukuji, southern Kyoto

Zen Garden of Tofukuji, southern Kyoto

Tofukuji, southern Kyoto

Kiyomizudera in Autumn

2011-12-11T13:50:00.000+09:00

More photos of this autumn, this time at Kiyomizudera (Kiyomizu temple) in Kyoto. One of the most visited spots in the country.

The steps up to Kiyomizudera

Pagoda at Kiyomizudera

Kiyomizudera

View from Kiyomizudera

Kiyomizudera actual

Miyajima in the fall

2011-12-09T11:23:00.001+09:00

Here's some photos taken over the last month on the Island of Miyajima. One of my favourite locations all year round; but perhaps in autumn it is at its most beautiful.

The famous "floating" torii

The torii looking out from the shrine

Shinto Priest

Autumn on Miyajima

From Mt.Misen, Miyajima

Autumn on Miyajima

Kaiseki ryori

The deer is real

Itsukushima

Miyajima in autumn

rope-way up Mt.Misen

The eternal flame, said to have been burning for 1200 years

Mt. Misen

Korakuen Gardens, Okayama in Autumn

2011-12-07T11:19:00.000+09:00

Here's some pics from Korakuen Gardens in Okayama taken a couple of days ago on the Autumn Heartland Tour. The gardens were built in 1700 under the feudal lord Ikeda Tsunamasa. Unfortunately the castle, nicknamed "Crow Castle" is a repreduction built after WW2.

Okayama Castle

Korakuen Gardens, Okayama


Korakuen Gardens, Okayama

Korakuen Gardens, Okayama

Ryoanji, Kyoto in Autumn

2011-12-01T10:28:00.000+09:00

Was at Ryoanji yesterday on the Autumn Heartland Tour. It was outstanding, leaves were at their prime and we timed it perfectly with next to no one there.

Ryoanji, Kyoto

Tohoku - 8 months on...

2011-11-27T19:23:00.000+09:00

I had wanted to do this for a while now; and after deciding that there had been enough time since the tsunami in March to know that I wouldn’t be getting in the way, using up resources needed by the local residents I visited the Tohoku region yesterday.

I only had time for a quick daytrip from Tokyo and set off on the first bullet train northbound for Sendai in the morning. From there I took a muggle train to Matsushimakaigan, where due to a washed away track I hopped onto a bus laid on by the JR to Yamato for the final stretch on a local train to Ishinomaki.

By the stations, and in some shop fronts photos were displayed of what the area looked like immediately after the disasters with all the mud and clutter like we all saw on TV. It’s incredible how quick things turn around here, in Japan, when it really comes down to the crunch. I had felt the same combination of amazement along with sorrow and hope on my very first visit to Japan in 95 following the great Kobe earthquake - from total devastation to more or less functioning towns in a handful of months.

While many houses were obviously uninhabitable, all around new houses were being constructed, the damaged railroad was being re-built and topsoil for the fields being put in place for next year’s crops.

Admittedly, I only saw a very limited part of the huge affected area, there were still a few cars on their roofs and I saw a boat sitting awkwardly in a field, but for the most; in the places I visited things were looking good and there was a very strong community spirit with locals working together in teams.

I would have liked to have taken photos but it didn’t feel right knowing that those all around had lost so much and with only limited time I couldn’t really wander off too far from the stations.

Here are a few photos from the rest of the trip though.

Ballons, heading north out of Tokyo

On shinkansen heading north from Tokyo

Matsushima

Matsushima Station

Ishinomaki Station

Ishinomaki Drain Cover

Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens, Tokyo

2011-11-19T14:48:00.000+09:00

Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens, Tokyo were founded by the Mito Tokugawa clan in 1629 incorporating Ming features and Confucian concepts.

Photos taken about a week ago while in Tokyo.

Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens, Tokyo

Dragonfly - Not the easiest of creatures to creep up on.

Fooling around with swords

2011-11-08T10:26:00.000+09:00

Here's some photos sent by a guest from a trip to Hakone during the summer. The armour is from the Edo era. A fun day out fooling around with swords..

Thanks Kat!

Magic Noodles, Asakusa, Tokyo

2011-10-18T13:40:00.000+09:00

Cutting Tuna with bandsaw, Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan

2011-10-18T13:27:00.000+09:00

Hoshida Danjiri Festival

2011-10-16T19:04:00.000+09:00

Two blogs in two days, what is going on?!

Here are a few pics from around our local shrine earlier today. Danjiri Autumn Festivals are held across Japan in celebration of the harvests. The wooden carts (danjiri) are kept in storage for most of the year but are spruced up for this annual event taking the Kami-sama for ride around the local vicinity to sound of drums, bells and flutes. There's a great atmosphere bringing the community together through the day and into the night. Unfortunately we didn't go in the evening when things are getting messy..

Unlike the larger festivals, and the most famous of all, Kishiwada, which involve thousands of people running down large open roads, here the danjiri is carefully moved through the very old, narrow streets at a much slower pace..

I also posted a few movies on YouTube, perhaps more useful for an idea of the music.

Hoshida Matsuri 2

Hoshida Matsuri 3

Hoshida Matsuri 4

The start of the fall

2011-10-14T12:12:00.000+09:00

The temperature is now down at around 24 degrees today and autumn is here proper; we're still wearing shorts and t-shirts during the day but the nights are getting quite cold - perfect for the onsen and atsukan! Some of the leaves are starting to turn but it'll be another month or so till they really stun.

The summer has absolutely flown by this year and I was surprised that my last blog entry was 6 weeks ago! No real excuse for that, but we have been very busy; more and more visitors are returning to Japan - and loving it - and with less people here than usual, it makes it all the better with less crowds at the big attractions. I've also lead a few of the Small Group Tours over the summer months; really fantastic groups; it's been a great pleasure to been able to spend so much time with such great people. Perks of the job..

Many of the paddy have been harvested now, here's a few pics from around here. I got the garlic in last week, next have to prep some space for the peas and beans...

The lower tambo have been harvested

Hanging to dry ready for a good thrashing

Cosmos

persimmon

The paddy update

2011-09-01T17:10:00.000+09:00

Here's the latest from the tambo (rice field) up the road. The grains are well established now and coming on strong. Grasshoppers continue to be a pest eating the leaves and the moles enjoy digging through the sides creating leaks. We have lots of storks, herons, frogs and mozzies and sometimes peregrine falcons from the cliffs over the hill.

The Old Nakasendo Highway

2011-08-23T07:55:00.000+09:00

On the Fuji Paths Tour (0811FP) at the moment. Here are some pictures taken yesterday of Magome where we are staying; walking along the old Nakasendo Highway; and Tsumago the post town at the end of the walk.

Magome

Traditional Hearth

Nakasendo Highway

Add caption

Tsumago

The Beach, Suma Beach

2011-08-08T13:11:00.001+09:00

We were down at Suma Beach yesterday. What can I say.. big hair, high heels, bronzed bodies, budgie smugglers and bikinis.

The sand isn't the best but the atmosphere and the sights are quite incredible. The front is lined with restaurants and the beach bars thump out reggae. A little west of Kobe it takes just a bit over an hour to get to Suma from Kyoto, or about half an hour from Osaka making it a great daytrip.

So if you are in Japan during the summer and fancy a break from a rich and ancient culture steeped in history: remember your cozzie.

The Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji

2011-08-01T13:25:00.001+09:00

Here are a few pictures from yesterday in Kyoto when our current Ancient Highway Tour visited Ginkaku-ji (The Silver Pavilion) following the walk along Tetsugakku-no-michi (The Path of Philosophy).

The main building of Ginkaku-ji is as it has been since it was built in the 1480's by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Yoshimasa famously spent much time at Ginkaku contemplating the gardens, writing poetry, performing the tea ceremony and in general enjoying life while the rest of the city below fought and burned during the Onin wars. Thankfully for us Ginkaku-ji survived.

The Path of Philosophy

After a short rainfall the colours really stood out

Ginkaku-ji from the garden above

Ginkaku-ji, Moss Garden

Ginkaku-ji

Jogging in Tokyo

2011-07-25T10:55:00.000+09:00

In Tokyo at the moment meeting and greeting before the start of our July Ancient Highway Tour. I always like to visit Tokyo, there is just so much to see and do. Great bars and restaurants, fantastic museums and also one of my favorite running routes – The Imperial Palace moat loop.

The loop is about 5km and is free from traffic lights and vehicles as you follow the moat encompassing where Edo Castle once stood. At this time of the year, summer, it’s best to get out early, before 6am if possible before the heat of the day takes over.

When you come to Japan its worth bringing some running shoes even if you’re not a runner. From the hotel, around the loop and back takes around an hour; it’s a nice relaxed way to start the day, historical and picturesque too.


Passing the Otemon gate


Passing through the Sakurada-mon gate

Home-straight by the Imperial Detached Court

Trekking

2011-07-16T09:22:00.000+09:00

We are in Kamikochi at the moment continuing on our hiking tour. It’s one of the most beautiful regions on Honshu, it’s a national park, remote, closed to cars and free from convenience stores, pachinko parlours and flashing lights; it’s protected from developers and it is a hiker’s paradise.

Top of Japan

2011-07-13T11:34:00.000+09:00

Long time, no blog. Climbed Mt.Fuji last night. Just had an onsen and an ice cold beer and feel absolutely fantastic. After a nap looks like we'll be going for a dip in Saiko, the neighbouring lake.

Daybreak at 4am at the top of Mt.Fuji

As the sun peaks over the horizon, top of Mt.Fuji

Mt. Fuji from Kawaguchiko