Travelog for: Jiaojiao

It is sunny day.
We came to "Kaminari Jinja" in Yokosuka.
"Kaminari Jinja" means "Thunder shrine".
Here was built in 1581. There are god of Thunder in this shrine.
In Japan, people often regard the spirits or natural forces as gods.
We went up stairs, And we prayed safe trip and protect us from lightning and thunder in the future.
Ginkgo tree is 400 years old in shrine, it is beautiful seen beginning of December from the end of November.
We were coming a little late.

We came to Takatori(It means hunting hawk)-yama(mountain).
It is a small mountain height 139m, you can easily hiking.
Geology of this mountain is tuff of the third generation layer. It is easy to process and soft, making it ideal for stone for wall and foundation of the house.
Here many quarry stone 100 years ago, It was not have quarry now.
Many holes's to rock, it is the trace of Harken struck for climbing practice.
Also, We were able to see "Magaibutsu".
This Magaibutsu is Maitreya, height 8m, width 4.5m.
It was carved out about 50 years ago.
We enjoyed the hike.

We were a little tired after hiking.
My host bought for us some sweet donuts, shaped Christmas tree  and Snoopy and woodstock.
Shaped Christmas tree is chocolate and strawberry chocolate, Snoopy is white chocolate taste, woodstock is lemon chocolate taste.
When I actually ate it, I found it tasty.

I went to "Yokohama Bayside Marina", located 30 minutes from my host's home by car.
This marina opened 1996, Japan's largest marina with capacity of 1,500 boats.
Currently mooring about 1,200 boats.
Situated midway between Tokyo Bay and the open ocean, it is a prime spot for fishing and cruising, also a visitor's pier for many people to enjoy every weekend.

We went to the Yokosuka city museum (Admission free) today!
Although that was a small museum, it was enough to see the life of Japanese people's ancient times.
I saw the skeleton model of naumanni,Then, we relaxed sitting together on the veranda of the house of the old fisherman.
There was a "Irori"(fireplace) in the living room, square place floor, to cause charcoal and firewood on the ashes, also we have warm here, and can cook.
Then I saw a textile machine for weaving yarn into a textile, Farming equipment, fishing equipment, and burial mounds.
I was able to see beetles and jewel beetle, a beautiful butterfly at the exhibition floor of the organism.
If you were not good at insect you should not better see it.
shellfish and giant crab was very interesting.

Today is "Toji"(winter solstice) in Japan.
It is the time when the day time is the shortest and the night time is the longest.
In Japan we have a custom to bath with "Yuzu"(kind of Japanese citrus) and eat pumpkin on Toji.
If you do so, it is said you won't get a cold.
In Japan we soak in the warm water (about 40-42 degrees centigrade) to relax every day.
There are many kinds of bath powder to enjoy the fragrance or effect.
Yuzu is very good smell.

We looked Japanese calendar.

December 23 became a national holiday to celebrate the present Emperor's birthday in 1989.

Christmas was originally an annual Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and is a widely observed holiday around the world, but it is not a national holiday in Japan.

With best wishes for Merry Christmas.

Hello mom.
New Year holidays start!!!
Most businesses shut down from December 28 to January 5 in Japan, and families typically gather to spend the days together.
With end of Year coming soon, My host decided to give her room a makeover. So we visited to IKEA that shopping and get idea.
IKEA is a furniture store that is very popular in Japan.

I went to the "Shinyokohama Raumen Museum" .
The "Shinyokohama Raumen Museum" is a unique museum about ramen, a very popular Japanese noodle dish which was originally introduced from China.
Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum was founded on March 6th, 1994 as the world's first food-themed amusement park.
Nine ramen shops are showcased in a street-scape replication from the year 1958, Japan.
It was in this year that the world's first instant ramen was invented.
We ate ramen finally.
Their soup here is a mixture of chicken bone and seafood with a flavor that invokes the essence of the ocean, and the noodles they use are special, medium-fine and wavy.
It was so good!

This is kind of dried fruit called "Korogaki", dried fruit of Kaki(Japanese persimmon), it is one of food of winter.

This is "Kagami mochi", it is shaped from rice cake of New Year.
"Kagami mochi" literally means "mirror rice cake." It is one of traditional decorations for Japanese New Year, and the name "kagami" came from its resemblance to an old-fashioned copper mirror.
This is ornament of "Kagami mochi". That's interesting.

I ate Japanese noodles eaten on the last day of the year called "Toshikoshi-soba"(New Year's Eve Buckwheat Noodles).
Eating buckwheat noodles, and wishing for longevity has remained as one of the good old traditions of the night.
The most commonly held explanation for the origin of Toshikoshi-soba is the wish for a "slim but long and healthy life," like buckwheat noodles.
Then I ate Sushi and cake. I am stuffed.

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu(A Happy New Year) !!!

New Year (oshogatsu) is the most important holiday in Japan.
Homes and entrance gates are decorated with ornaments made of pine, bamboo and plum trees.
Many Japanese decorate the front door of shops, company buildings and houses with a pair of "Kadomatsu" during the New Year holidays. "Kado" means a gate and "Matsu" means a pine tree. "Kadomatsu" is a decoration consisting of bamboo and pine branches and symbolizes longevity and prosperity. It is said that this is the appropriate way to welcome gods.
We ate a lot of New Year dishes.
Zoni( or Ozoni) is a kind of soup with rice cakes(mochi).
Ingredients vary according to each area.
Fish paste, black beans, and Chawanmushi.
Chawanmushi is cup-steamed egg custard with chicken,  and vegetables.
And I ate Sukiyaki.
"Sukiyaki" is a Japanese dish in the nabemono (Japanese steam-
boat) style.

You can see  "Hamaya".
Hamaya is an arrow-shaped goodluck charm.  It is said to ward off evil spirits and bring in happiness. 
Hamaya is sold at the shrine during the New Year's holidays.
Horse is drawn to Ema(votive picture) because 2014 is horse year.

May the New Year bring many good things to you !

I ate "Wagashi".
Traditional Japanese confectionery called Wagashi, made from azuki bean paste and fruits, have a delicate sweetness that dissolves in the mouth.
Intended to please the eye as much as, they are crafted to reflected the four seasons.
Then we enjoyed"Game of Life". It is popular board game.

We went to Jogashima Island park.
I saw "Umanose Doumon", It has been eroded Rock by the sea. It was a strange rock form of 8m height.
Then I went to see the Jogashima lighthouse.

Jogashima is habitat of kurosagi and Japanese cormorant here.
They are black birds, build nests in rock reef wall.
Let's expansion! Do you can see they?

We found a statue and flower of aloe and narcissuses with a walk in the beach.
Narcissus was good sweet smell .

You can see Jogashima Island map.

I wanted to look for treasures in shattered shells.
It was not possible to find unfortunately.

We went to Awasaki lighthouse.
It was unique lighthouse.
There were people who are fishing!