Category: Uncategorized

The Festival of Seven Herbs is the long-standing Japanese custom of eating seven-herb rice porridge on January 7. The custom originated in China during the Tang dynasty, and it was introduced to Japan in the Nara period. The custom seems to have been practiced popularly in the Edo period. Seven herbs are water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica), shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), cudweed (Pseudognaphalium affine), chickweed (Stellaria media), nipplewort (Lapsana communis), turnip (Brassica rapa) and Japanese radish (Raphanus sativus).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanakusa-no-sekku; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinjitsu; https://www.foodinjapan.org/japan/nanakusa-gayu

https://www-kodama–foods-co-jp.translate.goog/sihan/nanakusa?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Mount Iwadono is located in the Nigioka-machi (town) district, the city of Otsuki, in Yamanashi Prefecture. Because of the proximity to JR Otsuki Station, it is a popular hiking destination. However, the Hatakura trail is the only one which reaches the top of the mountain right now. The other two trails, the Kowaze trail and the Iwadono trail, are closed due to rockfall. It takes about 20 minutes from Otsuki Station to the entrance of the Maruyama Park on foot, another 20 minutes to the Hatakura trailhead and about 40 minutes to reach the top of Mount Iwadono. The height of Mount Iwadono is 634 meters above sea level and it is the same height as Tokyo Skytree. However, the difference in elevation of Mount Iwadono and Otsuki Station (elevation: 358m) is 276 meters; therefore, it is not very hard to climb it. You can enjoy unobstructed views of Mount Fuji from there.

https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/english/discover/mount-iwadono.html; https://otsuki-kanko.info/blog/view/28097

Views from Mount Iwadono, Nigioka-town, Otsuki-city, Yamanashi, 01/05/2024

A limestone cave, the stone house of the ogre, where the ogre of Mount Iwadono was imagined to live, Nigioka-town, Otsuki-city, Yamanashi, 01/05/2024

Happy New Year! This is the year of the dragon in the Chinese zodiac (though China starts its zodiac from January 29). The Chinese zodiac is represented by 12 animals, the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The dragon is the fifth and the only imaginal animal in the 12 zodiac animals. It seems that the inclusion of the dragon in the Chinese zodiac is rooted in Chinese mythology and cultural symbolism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(zodiac); https://depts.washington.edu/triolive/quest/2007/TTQ07030/dragon.html;

Dragon Dharma doll by Arai Darumaya, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2024

https://arai-darumaya.com/

The title of the website was changed from Micro-Tourism Yamanashi _ Broaden Your Horizons to the World to Experience Yamanashi and More _ Explore Your Neighborhood. The domain address is the same (https://ymmt.yamanashietsuo.net). Also, please remember to visit the original site (https://ymmt.etsuo.tokyo). Thank you.

Château Mercian Wine Museum, Château Mercian Katsunuma Winery, Katsunuma-town, Koshu-city, Yamanashi, 12/25/2023

Espalier Training System, Iwaimura Vineyard, Katsunuma-town, Koshu-city, Yamanashi, 12/25/2023

Overhead Trellis, Shimoiwasaki, Katsunuma-town, Koshu-city, Yamanashi, 12/25/2023

A morning scene in front of Kawaguchiko Station and a leaflet of JTB Tourist Base Kawaguchiko, located in the town of Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture (https://touristbase.jp/en/).

A morning scene of Kawaguchiko Station with Mount Fuji and a leaflet of JTB Tourist Base Kawaguchiko, Fujikawaguchiko-town, Yamanashi, 12/23/2023

This is another popular photo-shooting spot among the foreign tourists. It looks as if the store had a Mount-Fuji roof or were wearing a Mount-Fuji hut.

Also, refer to the articles on the Pagoda Fuji (February 9, 2021 https://ymmt.etsuo.tokyo/2021/02/ & August 3, 2023 https://ymmt.yamanashietsuo.net/2023/08/page/2/), the Power-Line Fuji (August 3 & 4, 2023 https://ymmt.yamanashietsuo.net/2023/08/) and the Lavender Fuji (July 12, 2023 https://ymmt.yamanashietsuo.net/2023/07/).

The permanent exhibition room for Masaaki Sato collections has been set in the Main Store Gallery of Kikyoya Confectionery Company. Some of his paintings and the Big Apple have been displayed in the room. Also, refer to the article The Big Apple No. 45 on June 1, 2022 (https://ymmt.etsuo.tokyo/2022/06/).

The Big Apple by Masaki Sato, Cafe Gallery, Kikyoya Kofu Main Store, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 12/20/2023

A tour to the Château Mercian Katsunuma Winery and Miyakoen was conducted on December 16, 2023. The Katsunuma Winery, the Wine Museum, Iwaimura Vineyard and Miyakoen are located in the Katsunuma-town district, the city of Koshu, in Yamanashi Prefecture. Miyakoen was the living quarter of the first winery of the Miyazaki Wine Company formed by Kotaro Miyazaki.

https://www.chateaumercian.com/en/index.html, https://japan-wine-culture.jp/en/story/, https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/english/uncover/miyakoen.html, https://www.city.koshu.yamanashi.jp/map/info/2021011400281/; https://japan-wine-culture.jp/special/koshu/miyakouen.html

Château Mercian Katsunuma Winery, Katsunuma, Koshu, Yamanashi, 12/16/2023

Miyakoen, Katsunuma, Koshu, Yamanashi, 12/16/2023

Kami-no-Michi, “the road of god” in Miho Pine Forest is covered with the boardwalk; therefore, the roots of the pine trees are not been trampled on by visitors. That may be the reason why the pine trees have been living so long. Furthermore, it is surprising to know that there are a lot of supporting groups to protect the pine forest.

https://exploreshizuoka.jp/en/blog/miho-no-matsubara-experiencing-the-sacred-mt-fuji-and-the-original-landscape-of-japan-steeped-in-legend/; https://otono.site/miho-no-matsubara/jp/kaminomichi.html; https://shizuoka.hellonavi.jp/tourist-attractions/central/mihonomatsubara2021; https://miho-no-matsubara.jp/support_organization_page

(Also, refer to the article on December 9, 2023)

A picture in the sign board of the sightseeing bus parking lot, the pine trees and Mount Fuji, the third generation of Hagoromo-no-Matsu (Robe of Feathers-Pine Tree), kids and a ship, Haguruma Shrine, and the ship

Miho, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka Prefecture, 12/14/2023