TONICHI TRAVEL SERVICE Co.,Ltd. - International Travel Department

Name: TONICHI TRAVEL SERVICE Co.,Ltd. - International Travel Department
Address: Tsukiji KY Bldg. 4F, 4-7-5, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, JP
Telephone: +81-3-5148-1733

ホーム
日本
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
TONICHI TRAVEL SERVICE Co.,Ltd. - International Travel Department

http://www.japan-coachman.com/ The newest but yet the oldest organization in Japan’s inbound travel industry. Tonichi Travel Service Co., Ltd.

founded November 27, 1950. Our Web Page of the company to introduce to all old and new overseas Customers of Tonichi Travel (TNK) an infinite possibility of new Japanese inbound travel created by Tonichi whose excellent reputation is highly regarded throughout the world for experienced and highly dependable services established by procedures of Tonichi over many years in the past. Tonichi Travel I

ATA accredited travel agent and a member of JATA. The company now is staffed with 180 employees. It has three major business divisions under its wing namely International Travel Division, Domestic Travel Division, and Central Administration Division, and 23 branch offices. has a long track record in the inbound travel sector, making its 60th year in business this year. With expert and highly-experienced staff and an excellent network of industry partners we offer a consistently high-quality service. Whatever your wish, we provide a prompt and competent response, making our company one that is held in high regard by individual customers and travel industry professionals alike. Tonichi’s extensive purchasing power keeps prices down resulting in saving for you and your clients. Tonichi uses high quality bilingual guide’s the key to successful tours. Tonichi has purposely avoided establishing overseas sales which would interfere in your markets. Tonichi’s inbound staffs are reliable and experienced and cater to your clients in your language. Personalized service is their motto and their inbound division is ideal in size and an operational scale to flexibly provide this service.

11/06/2013

Traditional Summer Festivals of Tohoku (Notheastern) Region in August

In August, several traditional summer festivals are held in Tohoku (Northeastern) Region, one of the coldest regions in Japan, to bless for their short and valuable summer.
Among them, the following are the most famous ones with a long history respectively.

1) Aomori Nebuta Matsuri Fesival (Picture)
From August 2 to 7, Aomori Nebuta Matsuri Festival, one of the three biggest festivals in Tohoku Region, desigated as the National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset, is celebrated in Aomori City with a participation of thousands of townspeople called Haneko in colorful costumes, pulling about 20 Nebuta, huge papier-mache with figures of Samurai warrior, animals or birds, lighted
from inside and carried on each carriage on the main strees of the city . On the 7th, after the parade in the afternoon, Nebuta are set up on the boats and afloat on the sea, while a fireworks display (8,000 fireworks) is held over Aomori Bay in the evening.

2) Akita Kanto Matsuri Fesival
From August 3 to 6, Akita Kanto Matsuri Festival, also desigated as the National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset, is held in Akita City. Kanto is a long bamboo pole with nine horizontal ribs on which lighted lanterns are hung. The highlight of the festival is a parade of young men in colorful attire trying their skill in balancing
Kanto on their foreheads, shoulders, hips and chins without using their hands.

3) Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri Fesival
From August 5 to 7, Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri, or Floral Sedge-hat Festival, is held in Yamagata City. Over 10,000 townspeople, each wearing a low and round sedge-hat adorned with brightly colored artifcial floweres, dance their way through the main streets of the city every evening during the festival period.

23/05/2013

Fireworks Display Festivals in July and August

In July and August, the hottest season in Japan, Fireworks Display Festivals are held almost every week throughout Japan.
This summer attraction has traditionally been held since the Edo Period in ordr to provide the people with some refreshment amid hot and humid season. The following are just a part of the festivals held all over Japan;

1) Sumida River Fireworks Display in Tokyo
On July 27 (Sat) in the evening, 20 thousand of fireworks can be enjoyed in the oldtown area near Asakusa along the Sumida River in Tokyo.
This event is the biggest and most traditional fireworks display in Tokyo, originating in 1733 in the reign of th 8th Sh**un of the Edo Period and attracting many Edo (former name of Tokyo) townspeople since then.
After certain years of suspension in the 19th and 20th Century due to the Meiji Restoration, the World War II and other reasons, the event has been held every year in the current form since 1978 featured as one of the largest summer attractions in Tokyo gathering over one million spectators.

2) Atami Seashore Fireworks Display
On July 20 (Sat), 28 (Sun), August 5 (Mon), 8 (Thu), 20 (Tue),
25 (Sun) and 31 (Sat) at Atami Beach.

3) Katsushika Fireworks Display in Tokyo
On July 23 (Tue) over Shibamata Baseball Ground on the riverside of the Edogawa River, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, with 10,800 fireworks.

4) Kamakura Coast Fireworks Display
On July 25 (Wed) at Zaimokuza and Yuigahama Beach, Kamakura,
with 2,000 fireworks.

5) Summer Festival of the Fuji Five Lakes
On August 1 (Thu) at Lake Yamanaka with 8,000 fireworks
On August 2 (Fri) at Lake Sai with 1,000 fireworks
On August 3 (Sat) at Lake Motosu with 1,000 fireworks
On August 4 (Sun) at Lake Shoji with 1,000 fireworks
On August 4 (Sun) & 5 (Mon) at Lake Kawaguchi with 10,000 fireworks

6) Edogawa Fireworks Display in Tokyo
On August 3 (Sat) over the Edogawa River, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo
with 14,000 fireworks

7) Okayama Fireworks Display
On Augsut 3 (Sat) in Okayama City, Okayama Pref.

8) Lake Biwa Fireworks Display
On August 8 (Thu) at Lake Biwa, Shiba Pref. with 10,000 fireworks

9) Tokyo Bay Fireworks Display
On August 10 (Sat) at Tokyo Bay with 12,000 fireworks

10) Miyajima Marine Fireworks Display (Picture)
On August 11 (Sun) at Miyajima, Hiroshima Pref.

11) All Japan Fireworks Display Contest in Akita
On August 24 (Sat) noted for the biggest of its kind in Japan over
the Omono River, Omagari, Akita Pref. with 15,000 fireworks

07/05/2013

Traditional Summer Festivals in July

In July, a great number of traditional summer festivals are held throughout Japan. Among them, the following are the most notable ones with a long history respectively.

1) Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto
(Picture:A tall float of Gion Festival)
From July 1 to 31, Gion Matsuri Festival, one of the three largest festivals in Japan, is celebrated at Yasaka Shrine and its vicinity in Kyoto.
The festival is believed to have started about 1,100 years ago to appease the deity of plague and illness when the plague raged throughout Japan.
The highlight is a parade of some 30 floats, two-storied and about 6 meters tall, topped with a long pole shaped like a spear, proceeding along the main streets of Kyoto on July 17.

2) Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka
From July 1 to 15, Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, a national intangible cultural asset with over 700 years of history, is held at Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka.
7 large 1-ton floats, called Kakiyama which represent each district of the city, race through the streets of Hakata at full speed, carried on the shoulders of a number of men concentrating all their energy into the floats.
The climax of the race is July 15.
In addition, 14 colorful floats called Kazariyama, 10-meters tall and decorated with samurai or popular anime character dolls, are set up on the street corners for display during the festival period.

3) Tenjin Matsuri Festival in Osaka
On July 24 and 25, Tenjin Matsuri Festival, one of the three largest festivals of Japan with a history of more than one thousand years, is celebrated at Tenma Shrine in Osaka.
The highlights of the festival are the land procession of some 3,000 people clad in imperial-court costume of the 8th-12th Centuries marching with portable shrines and the boat procession with the same 3,000 people boarding on 100 boats and sailing upstream on canals.
The festival is also accompanied with traditional Japanese performing arts such as Kagura music dedicated to gods and Bunraku puppet theatrical performance played at various patrs of the city, as well as firesworks display on July 25 in the evening.

22/04/2013

Tanabata, or Star Festival, in July and August

On July 7, Tanabata, or Star Festival, is celebrated throughout Japan. This is an annual event based on an ancient Chinese leyend to celebrate the once-a-year meeting of two lovers, Altair, the cowherd, and Vega, the weaver, who are separated by the Milky Way during the rest of the year.
People set up leafed bamboo branches and tie on them long strips of colorful paper on which writing poems, words or wishes.

Although in most part it is held on July 7, there are some places which celebrate it in August following an old lunar calender in which July 7 falls on early August of solar calender.
In Sendai City, Miyagi Pref., this festival is celebrated from August 6 to 8 every year. Huge Tanabata decorations are set up at principal shopping arcade of the city as well as many other places in the city.

08/04/2013

In June, a rainy season in Japan, Iris and Hydrangea flowers can be enjyoed at various sites throughout Japan. These flowers are considered to be appreciated more beautiful in the rain here in Japan.

The following are the famous spots to enjoy Hana-shobu, or Iris flowers in Tokyo;

Meiji Jingu Shrine:
There are about 1,500 iris roots in the garden, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 6 p.m. on Sat. & Sun.) in June. The last entry is 30 min.before the closing time. Admission to the garden is 500 yen. Irises can be enjoyed from early June to mid.-June and are usaually in full bloom in mid.-June.

Horikiri Shobu-en and Mizumoto Park, Katsushika-ku:
Iris Festival at both sites are held from early June to mid.-June.
In Horikiri Shobu-en,t here are 6,000 iris roots which are in full
bloom in early June. Many events such as Taiko drumming and
Japanese folk dancing are shown on Sundays during the festival period.
In Mizumoto Park, there are 14,000 isis roots. Adimission is free to
both sites.

Yasukini Shrine:
Potted irises are exhibited in the precincts of the Shrine during the
exhibition perido in mid-June.Admission is free.

Now the following are the famous spots to appreciate Ajisai, or
Hydrangea flowers in Tokyo and Kamakura;

Hakusan Shrine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo:
Flowers of about 3,000 roots are usually in full bloom in early June.
Various events are scheduled on Sat. and Sun. during the Hydragea Festival in mid.-June.

In Kamakura, you can enjoy Hydrangea flowers at several
Zen temples such as Meigetsu-in Temple and Tokeiji
Temple from early to mid.-June.

11/03/2013

In May, two of the most important and famous traditional festivals in Japan are held in Kyoto and Tokyo.

Aoi Matsuri Festival in Kyoto

On May 15, the time-honored Aoi Matsuri Festival is held in Kyoto.
The festival has its origin in mid 6th century and has been called Aoi Matsuri since 1694 when it was resumed after over 200-year suspension caused by Onin-no-Ran War occured in 1467.
This festival is one of the three great festivals of Kyoto with a procession of some 500 people wearing ancient
costumes and traditional make-up parading through the main streets of Kyoto.
The name of the festival comes from the leaves of the aoi (hollyhock) leaves that are used as ornaments of the
participants, cows and horses.

Sanja Matsuri Festival in Asakusa, Tokyo (Picture)

In Tokyo, Sanja Matsuri, literally "The Three Shrine Festival" is held on May 17, 18 and 19 in Asakusa, a quarter retaining traditional atmosphere of Edo's townspeople .
The festival, a symbolic festival of Tokyo, is one of the largest festivals of Mikoshi, portable shrine, and attracts 1.5 to 2 million locals and tourists every year.
The present day form of Sanja Matsuri was established in mid 17th century, while its origen dates back as early as the 7th century.

28/02/2013

Traditional Spring Events in Kyoto

In April, you can enjoy various spring events throughout Japan.
Among them, the following are the most famous traditional events to be held in Kyoto;

From April 1 to 30, the 141th Miyako Odori, or Cherry-Blossom Dance, is performed by 45 Geisha (professional female entertainers) and 19 Maiko (apprentice Geisha) at Kobu Kaburenjou Theater at Gion District in Kyoto.
This traditional dance festival started in 1872 and has been attracting audiences from Japan and overseas every year.
A performance is held four times a day during the festival
period. Admission fees are JPY2,000, JPY4,000 and JPY4,500.

From April 4 to 8, some halls and precincts of Kyoto Imperial Palace is specially open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Entrance by 3:30 p.m.) Admission is free.

On April 7 (Sun.), Ho-Taiko Hanami Gyoretsu, or Toyotomi Hidyoshi's cherry blossom viewing parade, is held at the World Heritage Daigoji Temple in Kyoto. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a feudal lord and politician in the Sengoku Period (the Warring States Period) and unified the political and military factions of Japan in
1582. Although the period of his rule was very short (16 years until his death in 1598), it is called the Momoyama Period and is famous for its dynamic and brilliant cultural legacies.
This event is modeled after a magnificant tea party held by Hideyoshi in 1598, inviting 1300 people to enjoy cherry blossom viewing of 700 cherry trees.

14/02/2013

Ohanami, or Cherry Blossom Viewing

Sakura, or Cherry Blossom, is no doubt the most popular blossom in Japan.
Every spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, people enjoy a picnic party under the blooming trees, eating, drinking Sake, singing and dancing.
This event is called Ohanami, or Cherry Blossom Viewing.

In ancient times, flower and blossom viewing was one of the indispensable events among the aristocratic class. Over times, the custom has spread among the common people, and it is enjoyed by all Japenese today.

Starting from late March through early May, cherry blossoms across Japan will be in full bloom in one region after another from south to north. The blossoms will be falling in about one week after the peak bloom.

Cherry blooming forecast of this year is as follows;

City First Bloom Full Bloom

Tokyo around Mar.25 around Apr.2
Kyoto around Mar.28 around Apr.4
Hiroshima around Mar.27 around Apr.4
Nagasaki around Mar.24 around Apr.2
Kanazawa around Apr.5 around Apr.10
Sendai around Apr.11 around Apr.16
Aomori (under investigation, (Ditto,
usually Apr.25-29) usually early May)
Sapporo (under investigation, (Ditto,
usually May 1-7) usually May mid.)

24/01/2013

Hina-Matsuri, or Doll Festival

On March 3, Hina-Matsuri, or Doll Festival, is celebrated throughour Japan.
This festival is just for girls and also called Momo-no-Sekku, or Peach Festival.

In homes which they have daughters, people display beautiful dolls dressed in ancient Heian-era costumes, which represent the Emperor and Empress, the court ladies,the ministers and the court musicians. The girls are expected to be as elegant as these courtly ladies. Girls wearing Kimono get together and enjoy sweet rice crakers (Hina-arare) and sweet white sake (Shirozake).

17/01/2013

Ｏｍｉｚｕｔｏｒｉ, or Water-Drawing Festival

From March 1 to 14, the ritual called Shui-e is held every year at Nigatsu-do Hall of Todaiji Temple in Nara City and this event has continued since 752 for more than 1,200 years.

During this period, priests at Todaiji Temple confess their sins before the Eleven-faced Kannon enshrined in Nigatsu-do Hall, and also pray for world peace and rich harvest.
Priests also run to and fro along the corridor of the Hall waving huge pine torches, which is called Otaimatsu. It is believed that if you are showed with these fire sparks, you will be protected from evil things.

Ｏｍｉｚｕｔｏｒｉ, or Water-Drawing Festival, the highlight of the event, is performed early on the morning of March 13. Water which only springs forth in front of the temple building on this very day is drawn up and offered to the Buddhist deities. This water is said to have special powers for curing all diseases.

Todaiji Temple is famous for its statue of Daibutsu, or Great Buddha, cast in bronze with 18 meter height. It was originally completed in 749, and after melted down in 1567 by the civil war, reconstrution of the present staue was completed in 1692.
The Daibtsuden Hall is the largest existing wooden contruction in the world, which was originally constructed in 751, and after burned down in 1567 by the civil war, reconstructed in 1709.

20/12/2012

Merry Chrsitmas !!

May all of you and your family enjoy the special moments of this
Christmas Season !

We heartily appreciate your warm attention and support given
to us during this year.

13/12/2012

Setsubun, or Bean-Throwing Ceremony

Setsubun　literally means "division of seasons" and this day was the end of winter according to the old Lunar Calender. Today it is celebrated on the same day according to the actual Solar Calender. It comes on February 3 in 2013.

On this day, Bean-Throwing Ceremony, is held in homes, shrines and temples all over Japan. People throw roasted soybeans inside and outside their homes with a shout of "Fuku-wa-uchi, Oni-wa-soto" which means "Fortune in, Devils out !".
In temples and shrines, beans are thrown by monks or priests. Or by famous figures such as artsits and athletes in some large temples and shrines.

It is believed that this will bring in good fortune and drive away evil spirits. According to Japanese tradition, if you eat the same number of beans as your age, you can enjoy a year of good health.

06/12/2012

Coming-of-Age Day

On the second Monday of January, Coming-of-Age Day, one of the national holidays, is celebrated throughout Japan. People celebrate the coming of age of all the youths who have reached the age of twenty in course of the year preceding to it.
The local cities and communities play host to them at celebration ceremonies, where many girls attend in gorgeous Kimono specially prepared for this occasion.
At the age of twenty, they gain the right to vote and freedom to mary without the consent of their parents.

Several events are held to commemorate this day in various places all over Japan.
Tradional Japanese archery ritual is one of the most famous events on this day.
At the precincts of Sanjusangen-do Temple in Kyoto, which is the world's longest wooden structure with the 120-meter-long main hall, rows of girls dressed in Kimono in celebration of entering adulthood draw their bows at the 1 meter in diameter target positioned 60 meters away.
This archery tournament, called Tohshiya, dates back to the middle of the 12th Century, originally hitting the target across the 120-meter space between northern and southern ends of Sasnjusangen-do Temple.
In Tokyo, similar traditional Japanese archery ritual, called Momoteshiki, is also held on the same day at Meiji-jingu Shrine.

The name of Sajunsangen-do Temple, officially called "Rengeoh-in", literally means "Hall with thirty three spaces between columns", which describes the archtecure of the long main hall of the temple.
The temple was completed in 1164 with corporation of Taira no Kiyomori, the chief of a powerful samurai clan who enjoyed the practical political power for the first time in Japan as samurai class.
The main deity of the temple is Senju Kannon, or the Thousand Armed Kannon.
On both right and left sides of 3-meter-high statue of the main deity, 1000 life-sized statues of the same deity stand in 10 rows and 50 columns.

29/11/2012

Dezomeshiki, or New Year's Parade of Firemen

On January 6, Dezomeshiki, or New Year's Parade of Firemen, is held in various places throughout Japan praying for a safe and soud year ahead.

As Edo , today's Tokyo, was struck several times by big fires during the Edo Period (1603-1867), three types of fire brigades were formed to protect The City of Edo.

The first group was called Daimyo-bikeshi directed by 16 Daimyo, or feudal lords, stationing in Edo. This group started in 1643 with 420 members.

The second one was called Jo-bikeshi directed by 4 Hatamoto, or direct vassals of Tokugawa Sh**unate with 144 official samurai members and more than 1,000 common people employed.
This group was formed in 1658 after a great fire in 1657 which burned out a graet part of the city including the Donjon of the Edo Castle.

The third brigade was called Machi-bikeshi formed by 64 teams of townspeople, mainly scaffolding workers, with more than 10,000 members. This group started in 1720.

In other cities, although not so largely-organized as in Edo, many feudal lords formed their fire brigades.
Among them, that of Maeda Clan in Kanazawa City was one the most famous ones.

Dezomeshiki first started in 1659 when 4 brigades of Jo-bikeshi got together in front of Ueno Toshgu Shrine on January 4 to pray for a safe and soud year ahead, free of fires for Edo.

Today Dezomeshiki of Tokyo Fire Department is celebrated by over 100 fire engines and helicopters, along with large-scale fire-fighting and emergency drills.

The main attraction is the ladder stunts. Men dressed as firemen in the Edo Period perform circus-like acrobatic stunts on top of bamboo ladder. The ladder was an indispensable fire-fighting tool, especially for scaffolding workes belonging to Machi-bikeshi . This is because the main method back then was to tear down the surrouding buildings to prevent fire from spreading, so it was necessary to climb up quickly onto roofs by ladders.

22/11/2012

Shogatsu, or New Year's Celebration

In Japan, the celebration of New Year Holidays, or Shogatsu, from January 1st to 3rd is the most important event of the year.
Family members get together to celebrate coming of the New Year and pray for happiness and good health of whole family all the year around.
Most people give their first visit of the year, called Hatsumode,
to a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple to pray for a long life and happiness for the year.
Meiji-jingu Shrine in Tokyo gathers more visitors all over Japan attracting 3.2 million peole during 3 days of the New Year Holidays, while Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo is ranked as No.5 with 2.7 million visitors.

Entrances of houses and buildings are decorated with a set of pine branches and bamboo, called Kadomatsu, which symbolizes longevity and prosperity. Previously it was decorated at quite a few
houses, but today many houses substitute it with only tiny pine branches or a wreath of twisted straw with some pine-related ornament.

Shishimai, or Japanese lion dance, is also very popuplar during New Year's Days. Previously Shishimai dancers visited neighborhood from door to door to celebrate a happy new year.
Today, however, the dance is performed at certain places like Shinto shrines, tourist sites and so on.

15/11/2012

Traditional events on New Year's Eve

At midnight on New Year's Eve, 108 peals of temple bell, called Joya-no-Kane, are sounded at most Buddhist temples throughout Japan.
According to Buddhist belief, the sound of of the bell rings out the old year and rings in the new year.
It is also supposed to release people from the 108 worldly sins.
At some temples, people are allowed to strike the temple bell on a first-come-first-served basis. Chion-in Temple in Kyoto is one of those temples.

Some Shinto shrines also celebrate year-end festivals.
Okera-mairi , or the traditional year-end festival at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto is held on New Year's Eve, from 7 p.m. through 5 a.m. on January.1st. Many worshipers visit the shrine to bring home the sacred fire kindled there with which they cook the first meal of the year. This custom is believed to help ward off illness in the coming year.

08/11/2012

Congratulatory Visit to the Imperial Palace

Tokyo Imperial Palace is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan, located near Tokyo Station.
Originally it was called Edo Castle and had been the seat of the Tokugawa Sh**unate Government during the Edo Period (1603-1867).
After the Meiji Restoration, the Emperor arrived at Edo Castle from Kyoto in 1868 and made it his official residence.
Since then, the Emperor's capital has been relocated from Kyoto to Tokyo, which literally means Eastern Capital.

The palace is generally closed to the public.
However, on New Year's Day (January 2) and Emperor's Birthday (December 23), the peole are permitted to enter the Imperial Palace ground crossing through Nijubashi, or the Doble-Bridge.
The imperial family appears on the balcony of the Chowaden Hall and the Emperor gives a short speech responding to the homage of people.

On the other hand, the East Garden of the Imperial Palace is open to the public except Mondays, Fridays, Dec.28-Jan.3 and the days they have special events.
You can stroll around the beautiful Japanese garden.

01/11/2012

Hagoita-Ichi, or Battledore

From December 17 to 19, Hagoita-Ichi, or Battledore Fair is held
at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo every year.
In the precincts of the temple, some 50 open-air stalls are set up and sell Hagoita (battledore), shuttlecocks, kites and other New Year decorations.
The fair dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1867) and numbres of people visit this annual traditional fair from all over the country.

A Hagoita is a rectangular board with a handle used for playing a New Year game called Hanetsuki. The game is played between two players by hitting a shutllcock with large ping-pong like rackets, or Hagoita.
The Hagoita sold at the fair, however, are not for plyaing, but for ornamental purposes as good-luck charms.
They are decorated with images of Kabuki characters, popular celebrities, TV personalities, athletes and anime characters.

25/10/2012

In addition to “Onsen”, another winter attraction in Japan is snow.

In Kanazawa City, located on the Japan Sea side, you can enjoy picturesque scenery in the Japanese garden of Kenroku-en covered with pure white snow. Kenroku-en was contructed in 1676 as a garden of the local feudal lord's residence in the Edo Period (1603-1867), and today it is clasified as one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan.
On the other hand, in Sapporo City in Hokaido, located in the north, Snow Festival is held for one week early Februray every year . (From February 5 to 11 in 2013)
About 400 snow statues and ice sculputures are exhibited in Ohdori Park and other venues of the city.
The festival has a history of over 60 years, and is considered as one of the most important events in Japanese winter. Every year about 2 million tourist both Japanese and overseas visit the festival.

Ski and snowboard are the most popular winter sports in Japan.
You can enjoy these sports in numbers of ski resorts located in various parts of the northern regions such as Hokkaido and Tohoku, mountainous regions like Nagano and the Japan Sea side region such as Hokuriku and Niigata. In many of these s**i resorts, rental service of ski and snowboard gear is available so that
foreign tourists can also enjoy these sports with ease.

One of the most popular ski resorts among the foreign tourists is Niseko in Hokkaido. The quality of snow in this resort, clasified as “powder snow”, is considered as one the best snow in the world.

18/10/2012

We'd like to introduce you some interesting "Onsen" hot spring resorts in Japan.

Dogo Onsen, located in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku island in the western part of Japan,
is one of the oldest "Onsen" hot springs in Japan. It is believed that this "Onsen" has a history of over
3,000 years with numbers of legends.
The present main building of the Dogo Onsen Public Bath was built in 1894, and is said to be one of the models
of the Hot spring house that appears in the animation movie "Sprited Away" of Hayao Miyazaki, the winner of
the 75th Academy Award for the Best Animated Feature

Hakone Onsen is located about 80km to the west of Tokyo and forms part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
It has been very popular among both Japanese and foreign tourists due to its easy access from Tokyo, fine views
of Mt.Fuji and the plenty of attractions such as ropeway ride at Owakudani Boiling Valley and boat cruise on Lake
Ashi, a volcanic crater lake.

In Ibusuki Onsen, a group of hot springs in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu island in the western
part of Japan, you can enjoy Suna-mushi Sand Hot Spring. Bathers put on a yukata, a cotton bath robe similar
to kimono, are covered with sand and steamed by sand.

Finally, in Jigokudani Onsen (which literaly means Hell Valley Hot Spring) in Yudanaka-shibu Onsen hot spring
village in Nagano Prefecture, even monkies enjoy hot spring bathing. You can observe these monkies very close at Jigokudani Koen. They are famous as "Snow Monkey" in winter time, but some monkies bathe in other seasons also.
Please check them soaking in hot spring on live camera installed in the following web;
http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/english/top/english.html

16/10/2012

Entering in December, it begins to snow also in mountainous areas of central and southern part of Japan, and this cold season lasts until February.

One of the popular attractions of this season in Japan is "Onsen", or hot springs. In Japan, 108 active volcanos, equivalent to about 10 % of the whole world, are concentrated. By this reason, Japan is abundant with hot springs and "Onsen" resorts have been constructed in about 1,800 of hot spring sites.

As hot spring water contains different mineral substances which have been believed effective to cure various diseases, the Japanese people have been enjoying the customs of taking hot spring bath since prehistric era until today for more than 20 centuries.

Although Western-style hotels also have good “Onsen” bathes, it may be recommendable to stay at a “Ryokan” , or traditional Japanese-style inn, to enjoy “Onsen”.
Bathing in "Onsen” bath and trying typical local dishes, you can enjoy an authentic experience to appreciate the Japanese winter.

04/10/2012

In Japan, a ceremonial visit of children to mainly shinto surines called Shichi-Go-San, which literally means Seven-Five-Three in Japanese, has been conducted on November 15 since late 17th century.

Girls of seven, boys of five and three-year-old children of either s*x are taken to shrines by their parents to give thanks and pray for a divine blessing.

Before modern times, in Japan also, the survival rate of small children was quite low due to epidemics, bad health and nutrition conditions, poverty and so on.
That is why people began to take their children to shrines to offer gratitude for their healthy growth.

You can observe many children dressed in their best clothes and accompanied by their parents and ohter family members at various shrines throughout Japan on Nov.15 or weekends around that day.

29/08/2012

Nikko Toshogu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of
the Tokugawa sh**unate. It was built in 1617 by his son Hidetada, the second sh**un,
and enlarged by the third sh**un Iemitsu. Today it is a part of the "Shrines and Temples
of Nikko", a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The elaborately decorated "Yomeimon" Gate
is one of the most famous buildings with its numerous colorful carvings.

住所

Tsukiji KY Bldg. 4F, 4-7-5, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
104-0045

電話番号

+81-3-5148-1733

ウェブサイト

http://www.japan-coachman.com/

アラート

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