EXPERIENCE YAMANASHI AND MORE _ EXPLORE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

A Cuban sandwich is characterized by its layered fillings (mojo-marinated roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard) on Cuban bread, pressed and grilled until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted, creating a warm, savory, tangy, and buttery sandwich with a distinct crispy crust and soft interior. It seemed that Cuban-style sandwiches in Japan were created by DAY WORK & COMPANY・TOKYO in Niigata Prefecture with their CHEAT DAY brand around 2018. The inclusion of a spicy sauce suggests a departure from the traditional recipe, creating a flavor profile that appeals more to the Japanese palate.

The Cheat Day Kofu, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 01/14/2026

The CHEAT DAY in the city of Niigata: https://www.daywork-ct.com/cheat-day;

Cuban sandwich: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_sandwich

Mojo (sauce): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojo_(sauce)#:~:text=In%20Cuban%20cooking%2C%20mojo%20applies,fried%20cassava%20(yuca%20frita).

Top of Mount Shirasuna, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

Top of Mount Shirasuna, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

Before 40 minutes,

Views from Tachi-no-Nuki (sword-pulling) Rock, Senda, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

Showing below is the Nagatoro Trail starting from Nagatoro Bridge to Mount Shirasuna, Mount Rakan Temple, and Panorama Hill Station of the Shosen Gorge Ropeway.

Nagatoro Trail to Mount Shirasuna and Mount Rakan Temple, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

Hiroshige’s Large Rock and another similar rock, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

It is said that Utagawa Hiroshige, a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, drew a painting based on the rock.

Views from Tachi-no-Nuki (sword-pulling) Rock, Senda, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

Hakusan (white mountain) Observation Point, Senda, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

Mount Shirasuna, Senda, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

Mount Rakan Temple, Senda, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

Mount Rakan Temple and Panorama-Hill Ropeway Station, Senda, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

It was a very interesting day. It was clear and fine when we started walking; however, it was windy and getting snowstorm on the top of Mount Shirasuna. After 40 minutes, back to the trail, the sun came out and it was calm.

Shosen Gorge and Shosenkyo Ropeway: https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/en/; https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/13

Experience climbing 519 stone steps surrounded by cedar trees to reach the shrine and view a 1200-year-old sacred cedar tree and a traditional water wheel, immersing yourself in a forest.

Himuro Shrine, Fujikawa-cho, Yamanashi, 01/10/2026

The water on the water wheel and under it has frozen and blocks of ice were there.

Also, please visit the article on December 22, 2024: https://yamanashietsuo.net/himuro-shrine-in-the-town-of-fujikawa/

Japanese thuja (Thuja standishii): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuja_standishii; https://hosho.ees.hokudai.ac.jp/tsuyu/top/plt/cypress/thuja/sta.html; https://cornellbotanicgardens.org/plant/japanese-arborvitae; https://www.conifers.org/cu/Thuja_standishii.php

Haru no Nanakusa (In Japanese) translates to the Seven Herbs of Spring, which are edible plants eaten in a rice porridge (Nanakusa-gayu) on January 7th for good health, symbolizing new life and bringing color to the winter table. The individual herbs are Seri (Japanese parsley), Nazuna (shepherd’s purse), Gogyo (cudweed/jersey cudweed), Hakobera (chickweed), Hotokenoza (henbit deadnettle), Suzuna (turnip greens), and Suzushiro (daikon radish greens). 

Nanakusa no sekku is one of the long-standing Japanese customs. The day of January 7 is called Jinjitsu (Human Day) and one of the five seasonal festivals (In Japanese go-sekku) that were integrated into the Japanese Imperial calendar over 1,000 years ago. Sekku is the term given meaning special day of observancen. The custom is to ensure good health and to ward off away evil spirits in the coming new year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanakusa-no-sekku; https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/january/nanakusa.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinjitsu; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gosekku

A set of seven herbs, produce of Izumi Shokuhin in the city of Hokuto and sold by Ogino Co., Ltd. in Yamanashi Prefecture, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/07/2026

Izumi Shokuhin: (In Japanese) https://9499349888.amebaownd.com/pages/5031555/profile; OGINO: (In Japanese) https://www.ogino.co.jp/

Also, please visit my previous articles:

https://yamanashietsuo.net/having-the-seven-herbs-of-spring-2025/;

https://yamanashietsuo.net/having-the-seven-herbs-of-spring/

Fugaku Fuketsu (Wind Cave), Narusawa-village, Yamanashi, 01/03/2026

Narusawa Hyoketsu (Ice Cave), Narusawa-village, Yamanashi, 01/03/2026

https://www.mtfuji-cave.com/en/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narusawa_Ice_Cave; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugaku_Wind_Cave

Aokigahara Forest, Narusawa-village, Yamanashi, 01/03/2026

Views from the rooftop of Koyodai Resthouse, Narusawa-village, Yamanashi, 01/03/2026

Shosen Gorge, Takanaricho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

Shosen Gorge, Takanaricho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

Senga Falls in Shosen Gorge is approximately 30 meters (about 98 feet) high, formed by tectonic movement.

Shosen Gorge: https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/12; https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/en/; https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/

Senga Falls: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senga_Falls

Please visit my previous sites on Shosen Gorge:

https://yamanashietsuo.net/one-afternoon-in-shosenkyo-gorge/; https://yamanashietsuo.net/oyanagawa-valley-and-itajiki-valley/; https://yamanashietsuo.net/shosen-gorge-and-kanazakura-shrine/;

https://etsuo.tokyo/wp-admin/post.php?post=1854&action=edit; https://etsuo.tokyo/wp-admin/post.php?post=3717&action=edit; https://etsuo.tokyo/wp-admin/post.php?post=1841&action=edit

Takaohomi Shrine is a real, historic, and small shrine located in the city of Minami Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Takaohomi Shrine, Minami Alps, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

(In Japanese) https://www.nippon-matsuri.net/report/takao

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Horse; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagenary_cycle

Kadomatsu made of bamboo, Takanaricho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

Kadomatsu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadomatsu; https://chikutan.net/news/820/

Year of the Horse Daruma doll (made by Arai-darumaya), Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

(In Japanese) https://arai-darumaya.com/

Mount Ishiwari is located in the village of Yamanakako in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Ishiwari Shrine is situated at the 8th waypoint of Mount Ishiwari. First, you have to climb 403 steps to reach the trail leading to the shrine. The summit of Mount Ishiwari is 1,413 meters (approximately 4,636 feet) above sea level, and that of Mount Hirao is 1,318 meters (4324 feet) above sea level.

Ishiwari Shrine, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Views from Mount Ishiwari, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Views from Mount Hirao, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Sign of the Tokai Nature Trail and small pine cones, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Ameya Yokocho, commonly known as “Ameyoko,” is a shopping district in Ueno, Tokyo, Japan with its bustling, old-Tokyo atmosphere, diverse and discounted goods, and wide variety of street food and international cuisine. It provides an energetic and authentic experience of local Japanese commercial culture that contrasts with the more modern parts of Tokyo.

https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/71/index.html; https://joyn.tokyo/life-guide/tokyo/ueno-guide

Ameyoko District in Ueno, Taito-ward, Tokyo, 12/24/2025

About the historical part of Ueno:

Ueno Tosho Shrine: https://www.uenotoshogu.com/en; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ueno_T%C5%8Dsh%C5%8D-g%C5%AB

Ueno Tosho Shrine is a Shinto shrine built in 1627 to commemorate Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the Edo period. The existing shrine building was rebuilt by the third Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson of Ieyasu in 1651. The architectural style of the shrine is “gongen-zukuri,” a representative architectural style of the Edo period. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishi-no-ma-zukuri

There are a lot of copper and stone lanterns at Ueno Tosho Shrine. They represent loyalty, spiritual guidance, and offerings of light (dōmyō kuyō) from feudal lords (daimyo) to honor Tokugawa Ieyasu, symbolizing their devotion. Even though they’re no longer lit, they serve as grand historical markers of the Edo period’s power and faith. About 250 lanterns were donated from all over Japan by various daimyo, who competed to see who could offer the most magnificent contribution. There are 48 copper lanterns and about 200 stone lanterns at Ueno Tosho Shrine.

Ueno Tosho Shrine, Guguardian Lions, and Five-Storied Pagoda, Ueno Zoo, Ueno Park, Ueno, Taito-ward, Tokyo, 12/24/2025

Komainu or Guardian Lions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komainu; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_guardian_lions

The five-storied pagoda belonged to Kanei Temple. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kan%27ei-ji

Five-Storied Pagoda at Horyu Temple: https://www.horyuji.or.jp/en/garan/gojyunoto

Significance and Positioning of the Tosho Shrines

Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine, Nikko Tosho Shrine, Ueno Tosho Shrine, these three shrines are all dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was deified after his death with the name Tōshō Daigongen. Their respective positions are as follows:

Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine: The original burial place. Ieyasu requested in his will that he be buried on Mount Kuno immediately after his death in 1616 to become the guardian deity of peace for Japan. It is the oldest Toshogu shrine and a National Treasure.

Nikko Tosho Shrine: The final resting place and grand monument. Ieyasu’s grandson, the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, relocated his grandfather’s spirit (and possibly remains, according to some interpretations) from Mount Kuno to Nikko in 1617.

Ueno Tosho Shrine: A branch shrine for Edo residents. Founded in 1627, it served as a place of worship for the people of Edo who could not make the journey to Nikko.

https://www.toshogu.or.jp/foreign_language;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikk%C5%8D_T%C5%8Dsh%C5%8D-g%C5%AB;

https://www.uenotoshogu.com/en