Travelog for: Jiaojiao

Hi, mom.
Unfortunately, I was not able to go out together weekend because my host was very busy.
I'll show you one of Japanese winter food called "nabe (hotpot)".
The year's first nabe "Sundubu" is a popular Japanese hotpot with Korean flavours.
In this case we used pork, shimeji mushrooms, tofu, and negi.
Finally we eat sundubu with cheese and udon noodles.
It is easy to warms the body.

Hello!
We came to The Imperial Palace East Gardens, Otemachi of Tokyo by train.
The Imperial Palace East Gardens are a part of the inner palace area and are open to the public.
They are the former site of Edo Castle's innermost circles of defense, the honmaru (meaning "main circle") and ninomaru (meaning "secondary circle"). None of the main buildings remain today, but the moats, walls, entrance gates and several guard-houses still exist.
Edo Castle was the residence of the Tokugawa shogun who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867.
A wide lawn and the remaining foundation of the former castle tower can be found on top of the hill, where the castle's innermost buildings once stood.
The castle tower was completed in 1638 as the tallest castle tower in Japan's history.
But only a few years later in 1657, it was destroyed by citywide fires and has not been rebuilt ever since.
Then,In place of the former buildings in the secondary circle of defense (ninomaru) at the foot of the hill, a nice Japanese style garden has been created.
We enjoyed walking through this garden.

Then we visited the south observatory of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is often visited by tourists for its free observation decks which provide good panoramic views of Tokyo and beyond.
The 243 meter tall building has two towers, and each houses an observatory at a height of 202 meters.
It had been the tallest building in Tokyo until it was overtaken by the Midtown Tower in 2007.
We can see Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower from the observatories. 
We found a couple of ladybug.

Finally, we came to Tokyo Midtown.
Tokyo Midtown is a city within the city in the center of Tokyo's Roppongi district.
And, We went to the National Art Center Tokyo.
Opened in early 2007, the National Art Center Tokyo is Japan's largest art museum.
The museum maintains no permanent collection, but rather provides a venue for various, temporary exhibitions.

It is about time we have to go back home.
I spent a really good time!
Bye for now.

your little Jiaojiao

Hello!
We decided to take it easy at home this weekend.
My host bought lunch for us at Kentucky Fried Chicken.
We ate "Wafu Katsu Sando"(Japanese style pork cutlet sandwitch) and potato, chiken.
Eating has made us sleepy... I'm going to take a nap.
See you again.

Hello mom!
Thank you so much for Chinese New Year's Card! It was surprise for us.
In evening, my host back home, she had an envelope. It seems she was really glad. she said "Wao, it is beautiful  card and warm message. I am happy to."
Thank you again mom, Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Most people send traditional New Year's postcards called Nengajo.
Nengajo are postcards sent as a greeting for the New Year.
It is similar to Christmas cards in the West, though there is no religious significance for nengajo.
In late January the post office announces the winning numbers in their otoshidama nengajo kuji (New Year's postcard lottery).
The nengajo (New Year's postcards) received in the first few days of the year usually come with a lottery number (shown at bottom left of the postcards above), and that number can bring a variety of prizes, 10,000 yen(100 euro or $100) or all the way down to a set of two commemorative stamps.
We were hoping that fortune would ensure us a good prize, and although we did win one set of stamps, the better prizes alluded us.

Hi there!
We came to Kanazawa-bunko station by Keikyu railway take the train for about 10 minutes.
We are going to go to Shomyoji temple, I saw the map carefully because my host might get lost.

We arrived in "Shomyoji".
It is said that the foundation period, here we do not know for sure, but to have been founded in 1258 in the tradition.
We walked through the Red Gate.
Then I came to Deva. There is two Deva king Statue , but we can not to take pictures because covered with net.
Beautiful Japanese garden here in an attempt to reproduce the paradise,　There is a pond in front of temple.
We were able to enjoy it was a little cold(+7c) and sunny.
see you!

Here you'll see a typical dinner of Japan.
Rice and miso soup, grilled swordfish, Hijiki(kind of seaweed) salad, Chikuwa(a tube‐shaped fish paste cake) and cabbage braise.

It is Setsubun!
"Setsubun" is a traditional Japanese event, It is meaning the division between two seasons winter and spring.
People scatter roasted soybeans inside and outside their homes as they shout "Oniwa-soto! Fukuwa-uchi!" (meaning "Devils go out ! Happiness come in !").
It's customary to eat the same number of beans as one's age.

In the morning, there are quiet and white view it was surprised me.
Today is snow in Yokosuka. It is really really rare!!!!!
We will try achieving Cassiopeia's one of life missions.
We made "Nyanko sensei"(Japanese famous comic character in "Natsume Yujincho") of snow, and we played to write a picture of snow on the ground.
It did not last so long. It was too cold(+2c).
I come back home to drink hot cocoa.

The onset of cold weather brought heavy snow across a wide area of Japan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the first heavy snowfall warning for central Tokyo in 13 years.
We could not go out because we had a record snowfall at weekend.
And my host had a bad cold, few days stay in bed.
We gave her some good medicine for cold.
It is OK now. We will go out this week end.
I am looking forward to go out somewhere.

Hello mom !!!
It is sunny and cold(+5c).
We visited the Verny park.
The heavy snow has melted away.
I enjoyed a walk in the park, we found gate, it was builded 100 years ago.

We came to Yokosuka Station of JR Yokosuka Line.
I'm going to go to Kamakura.
My host bought me a ticket. Can you see?