Mount Rokko in Kobe Japan is one of the most popular and easiest getaway from Kobe city. The spectacular night view is one of the best in Japan and certainly one of the major attractions in Kobe city. If you come here during the day, there are various things you may see and experience.
The Rokko-Shidare Observatory near the Terrace Garden of Mt. Rokko is unique in every way. It looks like an outdoor artwork at a glance: a irregular see through mesh with a wooden stem. The Observatory is designed by Mr. Hiroshi Sambuichi, an award-winning architect who advocates “details of earth” when designing his projects. His famous work is the “Inujima Seirensho Art Museum” which he brought a 100-year-old copper smelter back to life as an art museum and designed a natural cooling system for the venue. Mt Rokko is about the nature and spectacular scenery. As an observatory, the Rokko-Shidare is designed as “giant tree” using real Yoshino cypress wood from Nara Prefecture, Japan. The massive “shade” is a mesh like canopy through which you will see the sky. Looking far, a spectacular view of Kobe city and the ocean is right in front of you. As you walk up into the observatory, you will feel and see different aspects of the nature of Mt. Rokko.
Rokko Mountain is a range of mountains in Hyogo Prefecture, close to Osaka, Kobe city and accessible by cable car from Arima Onsen, offering a convenient and nice getaway from the busy city life. While surrounded by nature with the highest peak at 931 meters, the National Park area is well designed with several scenic spots, attractions, shopping and dining facilities.
Awa Odori Festival is one of the top summer festivals in Japan. There were dance performances in various venues and cities in Tokushima, Japan, attracting over 1 million visitors every year. Tokushima has an estimated population of around 260,000 so you can imagine how crowded it gets during the festival. There are various event venues in Tokushima prefecture. The Naruto Awa Odori festival was held from August 9 to 11, 2018. So if you are visiting Shikoku around this time, make sure that you combine this event with the world famous Naruto whirlpool itinerary. It is a night time event that starts at 7pm and finishes at 10pm. There were 3 paid venues in Naruto city with free seating arrangement. The ticket price for the Boat Race parade venue was ¥1,000 per person (highschool and above). Street performance is free to watch. If you are visiting later, you may join the Tokushima Awa Odori Festival from August 12 to 15, 2018. There are even more venues and lasts till August 15.
Japan is one of the most developed countries with extensive railway networks throughout the country. While the bullet train Shinkansen and Japan Railway (JR) are about speed and efficiency, some of the local trains are interesting in a different way. In Kochi, the Tosa Kuroshio Tetsudo(Railway) Gomen-Nahari Line was characterized by 20 unique figures designed by Kochi-born artist Takashi Yanase, the creator of “Anpanman” Animate.
First of all, the feature photo of this article is a composed photo of Seto Bridge and the Anpanman Torokko Train for illustration purpose. Yet these two photos are original image of the Seto Bridge and the train. While the Yosan Anpanman Train 8000 Series look the coolest both outside and inside, this Seto Bridge Anpanman Train is probably the best route in terms of scenery. Seto Inland Sea is the largest inland sea in Japan, covering a wide area with stunning view and more than 3,000 small islands. This Seto Bridge line runs between Okayama in West Japan and Takamatsu/Kotohira in Shikoku Japan. Depending where you start and finish, the train ride can be within 1 hour, long enough to it a fun excursion for children yet short enough for the parents. Perfect! This Seto Bridge Line Anpanman Train only runs at the weekend between March and middle of July, and stops in the winter (December to February). But it will operate everyday between July 21 and August 31, 2018! Please check out the train schedule for details (Japanese…
Getting around by train is one of the best way to explore Shikoku, Japan. You will not only visit most of the popular sightseeing destinations, but also enjoy the fun of riding on special trains. In Shikoku, the four special Anpanman trains are not-to-be-missed for families travelling with young children. Anpanman is a children’s anime series created by the Kochi-born creator Takashi Yanase (1919-2013). Launched in 1973, the anime featuring a superhero Anpan with a red bean-paste pastry head protecting the world from an evil germ called Baikinman. Today, the anime continued to be a popular cartoon among young children. The cartoon characters are made into a variety of merchandise. There are museums and Anpanman trains in Japan! There are 4 Anpanman trains in Shikoku. Two of them runs every day.
If you are travelling around Shikoku with your children this summer, using JR train is a good option. A) You will save a lot of stress and hassle for driving long distance. B) There are a number of Anpanman trains that you can ride on as part of the family program to amuse your children. C) There is a stamp collection campaign till 30 September 2018: collect 4 different stamps to get a special gift. It is a special Anpanman handkerchief made in Imabari, the most famous place for producing high quality towels in Japan.
Commemorating 1,200th anniversary of Kongōbu-ji (金剛峯寺) , the head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism locating on Mount Kōya (高野山 Kōya-san), Wakayama prefecture, Japan, Hiroshi Senju was commissioned to paint the fusuma in selected halls of the temple. Why is it significant? First, Kongōbu-ji is part of the UNESCO World Heritage: “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”. It is indeed an interesting pilgrimage route filled with historical sites, mountains and forest. Please check out the other shrines along the route: Kumano Hayatama Grand shrine, Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine, and Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine. Second, fusuma (the painting on the sliding door/panels of Japanese room.) is a major decoration of the Japanese rooms. Hiroshi Senju were commissioned to paint fusuma for 3 halls. Part of the fusuma panels will be exhibited. Third, Hiroshi Senju (born in 1958, Tokyo) is one of the few masters of the Japanese-style painting emphasizing traditional Japanese techniques and materials. It is pretty rare to have a chance to see some new paintings of fusuma for the halls in a sacred temple.…
Launched in August 2017, Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art & Design has become one of the attractions in the Fugan Canal Kansui Park area, offering a great space for art exhibitions, workshops for children and students, and a amazing roof garden with a spectacular panoramic view of Toyama city and a fun playground for children and the community.
