Autumn 秋

// Beautiful... is the word to describe Autumn in Japan.

-- Momiji 紅葉(Red Leaves) is truning red.. weather is getting cold... --

-- Through the momiji, the day looks brighter --

-- Temple and Momiji, is the best combination for Autumn of Japan --

-- Kuji 籤 (luck lottery ), must-have-item for temple --

-- Shinkyo (神橋) Sacred Bridge with red mountain--

-- Little waterfall at the temple, named 長さか流--

-- the photo all taken at Nikko City (日光)--

Nikko, by normal train, 2~3 hours away from Tokyo. Nikko+Autumn+Momiji = Must-Go!

Shizuoka 2days trip 静岡２泊の旅

Last weekend I went to my friend, Ozawa Yusuke (小澤佑輔)`s house at Shizuoka (静岡),　Shimizu Town (清水市). About 2-3hour away from my place, Yokohama (横浜). They are my team mate during the 1 month orientation of new employee.


Before I continue about the trip, let`s have a flashback for the orientation, it happened 4months ago... I had never publish anything about my classmate yet! ^^ (was busy that time... hehe) In a class about 40 Japanese, I was the only `alien` and it was an unforgetable experience.... felt like very useless, and I totally couldnt communicate with them coz they speak too fast.... was very tired coz everyday I have to 120% concentrate to try to understand them and the teachers... but always end up I only exist physically in the class.... well, even now, im still working on it. :)




my first nomikai (飲み会)with my teamate... nomikai is a "drinking party" which is a way to make friends and get to know each other for Japanese. For Malaysian, is same as out yamcha / mamak habit.

my teamate again. the photo taken during the 3day2nights camp at Hakone (箱根). We were having our Adventure Rally. it was fun although we lose. :p

Here is my whole classmate (3 team in a class). We made the class flag which became the Champion for the flag competition. We were class C4, TOC(4)BA. C stands for Confidence, Cotinue, Challenge, Create... the spirit of new employee!

That`s a little story about my working life which I left out.... okay, let`s continue with the SHIZUOKA trip!!!

Shizuoka, where the highest mountain in Japan, Fuji located. Just few hours away from Yokohama...

we took the train... for about 3 hours journey...

then we reached the town called Shimizu. The amazing thing is, the guy in the photo, his name also is Shinmizu! 清水～ haha... he is so famous... the place named after him.

Shimizu is a place near to the sea. Fish is fresh and sashimi (raw fish) meal is a must! That is Sakura Ebi (Cherry Blossom Prawn) and Maguro (Tuna) rice. with a bit Ikura (Salmon roe).

This was what i ordered, Negi Toro (Green Onion Minched Tuna) rice. It was delicious, but a bit too raw for me.... I gave to my friend after ate half of it. :p

The sea is so near, so we fishing... This is my first catch! the fish name is something like Makigawa... duno... haha..

After took picture and had fun with the pity fish, we released it to the sea. :) [look, the fish seem very angry!! ]

Believe it or not, this is another catch!! hehe.... guess total i got how many?!!

the romantic sunset made me sad...


we were waiting.. waiting and waiting patiently for the.... hungry fish to get caught... hehe

was a great fishing experience! thank to my friend who teach me way of fishing.. and finally, i got total 5 catch!!! :) the champion of the day! hehe...

then we went to a department store. We found this, Japanese call it karakara, I call it "turning egg". I got an orange handphone strap, which orange is also one of the famous things in Shizuoka.

Dinner time! This is Oden, which like our SteamBoat, but it had added sauce and seaweed powder. Is one of the must-eat-food in Shizuoka. but.. the best is......

this!!! superd delicious!!! is it the Fried Sakura Ebi (Cherry Blossom Prawn) rice with Udon (Japanese Noodle). The Ebi is SWEET!!! :) My friend said, in Japan Sakura Ebi only can be found at Shizuoka. [duno why i couldnt rotate the photo to the right angle... it became like this after i uploaded it.... ]

the hotel and the view, i love Shizuoka! you can feel the nature of beauty everywhere.

We went to the beach... we found of one the world heritage, The Stone!!! :)

We climbed mountain... (by car... ) the tea plant...

then we also saw BIG ballon which the children is inside it!!! i wish i can get in too. Imaging that im in a bubble and standing on the water! how awesome it is!!! :p

another special thing about Shizuoka... this is the place were the author of Maruchan (小丸子)　was born.

in the train, on the way back to "reality"... although it was only 2 days 1 night trip, but i felt like long holiday of golden week. mm.. maybe because of the fishing.... waiting.. waiting.. and waiting.... time went slowly......

nearly forget, Shizuoka is the place where earthquake happened last few weekss... hehehe... [which mentioned in my last post]

Tokyo 1 Day Trip 東京日帰り

The route of the trip started from (1)Tsukiji wholesales fishmarket > (2)Ginza > (3)Japan Bridge > (4)Imperial Palace > (5)Tokyo Tower. All located near to Tokyo, Kanto region. We spent whole saturday for this trip...

(1)Tsukiji Ichiba (Tsukiji wholesales fishmarket) 築地市場

I have never seen such HUGE and MANY fishes in my life before!!! TskijiIchiba is the biggest and busiest fish market in the world. To see how they o business in the fish market, have to wake up at 4 in the morning and try to be there at 5pm (the latest is 6am). One the attractions of the fish market is the AUCTIONS of the seafood. The most spectacular one is the big frozen tuna fish from 5am-6am. The weight of the fish can be >150kg!! By the way, various type of seafoods are selling in Tsukiji (450 kinds of fish), some I have never seen before, some are very ugly and I am not sure it can be est or not... Tsukiji has very old history, to know about the origin can visit to http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/youkoso/konjyaku/origin.htm. After visit the market, of course it will be a waste if dont have meal at the sushi restaurants nearby. The sushi obviously is the freshest in Tokyo!!! ^^ Let`s have a tour at TSUKIJI!

It is the aution of the frozen tuna fish, "Maguro鮪"... The man in the market told us that one 16okg tuna fish cost 2,000,000 Yen! (RM60000) Couldnt believe it... ~_~ (It is bigger and more expensive than me!!! ) The market is too busy and the visitors are only allow to be at fixed area to watch the autions.

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It is a fresh tuna fish...

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For the sake of technology, the process of selling fish getting more convenient and efficient. The `car` is the transport used by them to ship the goods. The `mechanical cutter` is to cut the fish although it is frozen...

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Scenery in the market...

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This is a posionious fish called "Fugu 河豚". You have to own a license to cook it... My friend said the final test of obtaining the license is eat the Fugu that cooked by yourself, if you are safe than you will pass! haha...

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You know what it is(right side, milky color)? I cant even name it... What I know is it might be a very expensive `elephant nose`...

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OMG! Very big Ortopus, "Tako章魚"!!! I like tokoyaki!

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Various types of shrimp... "Ebi 蝦". This one looks very fresh.

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What is inside the big shell?!! "Hamaguri蛤"...

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The eel, "Unagi鰻" is swimming... still ALIVE!!! erggg....

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Outside the wetmarket, there are some shops selling souvenir...

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To have our breakfast, we went to an old coffe shop (about 100 years history), "Aiyou愛養". After I ate piece of the bread, then i realized that i forgot to take photo..aahhh.......... Frankly, the coffee in Japan taste a bit light/thin, not as strong taste as Malaysia`s coffee. I love IPOH white coffee!

Of course, a treat of "sushi寿司" will worthwhile for the painful of getting early this morning!　"Fresh" is the only word i can use to describe it! It cost about 2000yen (RM60)...

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What is this ugly thing?!!! It is the actual look of the WASABI... Now only I knew it. :p

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(2)Ginza 銀座

The second spot is Ginza, about 15min walk from Tsukiji. We reached there about 9am and most of the shop open at 11am. So we just walk around and take photo. Even if the shop open, we wont be able to shop to it cost Ginza is famous for BRANDED street. chanel, LV, BVLGari.... and some other brands that i dont know...

The streets of GINZA... It is stil early, so the street still not so busy.

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I was really amazed by the architecture of the building...

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and my friends were stunned by the big IPOD nano...

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(3) NihonBashi (Japan Bridge) 日本橋

Is a historical place though.. so we went there have a look. ^^ It built at 17th century to link two sides of the Nihonbashi River. The district was a major mercantile center during the Edo period. and the Edo-era fish market formerly in Nihonbashi was the predecessor of today's Tsukiji fish market.

(4) Tokyo Imperial Palace (Residence of Japan Imperial Family)

The sceneries are so beautiful....

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Outside of the palace, from far we can see the Tokyo Tower...

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Outside of the palace, there is a very beautiful park. the design of the fountain is so amazing... we can see the rainbow through the water+sunlight. ^^

5)Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower is a communication and observation tower. The height is 333 meters, is the tallest self-supporting steel structure in the world and the tallest artificial structure in Japan. We went up at around 5.30pm and we managed to see the "end of the day"...

Contrary, not matter how far we go in Technology, people still need faith to have courage and heal the wounded soul...

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Spectacular view of Tokyo city from Tokyo Tower!

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The "end of the day", ended the end of the trip....