February Itinerary in Japan

The Heike Festival Returns to Yunishigawa Onsen After 5 Years Yesterday, I posted a blog about the legend of the Heike refugees in Gokayama, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. Today, I will introduce Yunishigawa Onsen in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, which also has a Heike refugee legend and the Heike Festival inspired by this legend. Don’t Miss the Heike Festival at Yunishigawa Onsen: Join the Majestic Parade On June 1st (Saturday) and 2nd (Sunday), 2024, the Heike Festival (Heike Taisai) will be held at Yunishigawa Onsen. The Heike Festival is a continuing tradition at Yunishigawa Onsen, where it is said that the Heike clan fled after being defeated by the Genji clan in the Battle of Dan-no-ura (1185). The festival features the ‘Heike Emaki Parade,’ where participants dress as Heike warriors and princesses and march solemnly through the area. For those staying at Yunishigawa Onsen on June 1st, there is a special opportunity to experience dressing up as a princess or samurai and stepping back into the Heike era. However, you must apply by May 20th, so please make your reservations early. It is believed that either Taira no Tadamune (grandson of Taira no Kiyomori) or Taira no Kagemoriread moreThe Heike Festival Returns to Yunishigawa Onsen After 5 Years

29Mar, 20222022年8月1日

Summary of February itinerary in Japan (Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane)

By ninjakotan

Summary of February itinerary in Japan (Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane trip) I traveled to Hyogo, Tottori, and Shimane prefectures from Wednesday, February 23rd to Sunday, February 27th. I was able to eat a lot of seasonal fish and shellfish and local dishes, and I was able to visit wonderful tourist destinations such as national treasures and national important cultural properties on this trip. Since this trip was mainly on the Sea of Japan side of Hyogo, Tottori, and Shimane prefectures, I was able to enjoy the fresh seafood of the Sea of Japan such as live snow crab. In addition, I was able to fully eat food of the mountains such as “Botan nabe (wild boar meat hot pot)”. This is the February Japanese itinerary that I highly recommend to everyone. Here is a summary of this trip and some notes. I will comment repeatedly every time, but this itinerary was also created with the purpose of “eating out seasonal fish and shellfish and local dishes.” Food is the highest priority, and tourist destinations are the second priority. However, we aimed to visit as many tourist spots as possible, such as national treasures and national important cultural properties. Tableread moreSummary of February itinerary in Japan (Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane)

27Mar, 20222022年8月1日

February Itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

February itinerary in Japan Day 5 (Tottori, Shimane Meal ed.)

By ninjakotan

February itinerary in Japan Day 5 (Tottori, Shimane Meal ed.) (Sunday, February 27) Table of contents 1. Ekiben / Gozaemon Bento 2. Oku Izumo soba Ippuku 3. Sasakiya 4. Hinoya Curry x LA BAR 1. Ekiben / Gozaemon Bento I bought the ekiben “Gozaemon Bento”, “Tofu Chikuwa”, and “Ago-noyaki” and ate them on the train from Yonago Station to Shinji Station. Originally, there was an ekiben sales place inside Yonago Station, but it closed in September 2020 due to the renovation work of the Yonago Station building. Now, tourist buy ekiben at “Souvenir Rakuichi”, which is a little outside of Yonago Station. “Gozaemon Bento” (Yen 1,400) is a luxurious bento that contains Sanin’s famous Gozaemon sushi, Daisen Okowa, and crab chirashi-zushi. Gozaemon sushi is pressed sushi made with mackerel, conger eel, and crab, etc. Gozaemon Sushi is a famous pressed sushi that is also sold at Tokyo Station, Kabukiza Theater in Tokyo, and Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store. “Gosaemon Bento” contained two mackerel sushi. It was a very delicious mackerel sushi. “Daisen Okowa” is a vegetarian dish that was served by people who trained in Daisen, and the Okowa of Daisenji has spread to the home. Okowa is glutinousread moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 5 (Tottori, Shimane Meal ed.)

25Mar, 20222022年8月1日

February Itinerary in Japan Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan

February itinerary in Japan Day 5 (Tottori, Shimane)

By ninjakotan

February itinerary in Japan Day 5 (Tottori, Shimane) (Sunday, February 27) Table of contents 1. Walk around Yonago city 2. Yakumo Honjin 3. Kamosu Shrine 4. Matsue Castle 5. Jozan Inari Shrine 6. Karakoro Art Studio 7. Yuushien 8. Yonago Kitaro Airport 1. Walk around Yonago city I took a walk in Yonago city on the morning of February 27. First, I went to the Yonago Castle Ruins. Yonago Castle once had a five-storied castle tower and a four-storied turret, and was called “the best castle in the Sanin region.” It is said that Yonago Castle started around 1591 when Kikkawa Hiroie built a castle on Minatoyama at an altitude of about 90m. Honmaru, Ninomaru, etc. are designated as national historic sites. In addition, Yonago Castle was selected as the strongest castle in the NHK New Year’s special feature “Japan’s Strongest Castle Special 10th-A Castle with a Superb View That You Want to Visit Someday” broadcast on New Year’s Day 2022. This is because the magnificent view from the castle tower overlooking Oyama, Nakaumi, the Sea of Japan, and the city area was highly evaluated. I wanted to climb to the castle tower ruins, but I gave upread moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 5 (Tottori, Shimane)

23Mar, 20222022年8月1日

February Itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

February itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Tottori Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

February itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Tottori Meal edition) (Saturday, February 26) Table of contents 1. Kitaro beer and 20th century pear chu-hi at Tottori Sand Dunes 2. Ekiben / Kani (crab) sushi 3. Kurayoshi craft beer 4. Washoku Izakaya Shunmon 5. Ramen Yamato 1. Kitaro beer and 20th century pear chu-hi at Tottori Sand Dunes I drank a pale ale of “Kitaro Beer” at “Sakyu Center View Hill” while looking at Tottori Sand Dunes. “Kitaro Beer” is a Kitaro label version of the popular craft beer “Daisen G Beer“. “Daisen G Beer” is a beer manufactured by Daisen Brewery. At the foot of Daisen National Park (elevation 300m), beer is produced using underground water from Daisen and barley and hops from Daisen. The Kitaro label is affixed, but the contents are “Daisen G Beer”, so it was a very delicious beer. After drinking “Kitaro Beer”, I drank “20th century pear (Asian pear) Chu-hai”. “20th century pear Chuhai” is a pear chu-hai that uses 11% of Tottori’s 20th century pear juice. It is produced by Hayashi Kentaro Shoten in Tottori City. When I tried “20th century pear Chu-hai”, it tastes like 20th century pear. The harvest time forread moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Tottori Meal edition)

21Mar, 20222022年8月1日

February Itinerary in Japan Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan

February itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Tottori prefecture)

By ninjakotan

February itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Tottori prefecture) (Saturday, February 26) Table of contents 1. Tottori Sand Dunes 2. Tottori Station / Kurayoshi Station 3. Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozo-gun 4. Walk around Kurayoshi 5. Toyoda family residence 6. Kurayoshi Yodoya 7. Hasedera temple 8. Yonago Station 1. Tottori Sand Dunes I took a bus from Tottori Station to Tottori Sand Dunes on the morning of February 26. The buses I used are as follows. Depart Tottori Station 9:10, 39 Tottori Sand Dunes Line “bound for Sand Dunes Hall”, arrive at Sand Dunes Hall 9:32, fare Yen 380 Tottori Sand Dunes is about a 1-minute walk from the Sand Dunes Hall. Tottori Sand Dunes is a tourist destination that represents Tottori prefecture, and I have visited it several times. However, this was my first winter visit. The Tottori Sand Dunes is a vast sand dune 2.4km north-south and 16km east-west. It is the largest sand dune in Japan that can be visited. It has been selected as a national natural monument. Although the Tottori Sand Dunes in winter had a little snow, it wasn’t completely piled up, so the scenery was not good. There was a lot of snow inread moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Tottori prefecture)

19Mar, 20222022年8月1日

February Itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

February itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hyogo, Tottori Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

February itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hyogo, Tottori Meal edition) (Friday, February 25) Table of contents 1. Oishiya Shokudo 2. Aji-goyomi Anbe 3. Goen 1. Oishiya Shokudo I had brunch at Oishiya Shokudo after finishing the walk in Toyooka city. Oishiya Shokudo is a Taishu Shokudo (cheap restaurant) that has been opened in front of Toyooka Station since the early Showa period. It is a typical Taishu Shokudo inside and outside the restaurant. It’s open from 8am to 9pm, so I think it’s a popular Taishu Shokudo for people who arrive at Toyooka Station or depart from Toyooka Station. A very elderly couple was cooking and serving. Being very old, it is slow to move and takes a long time to cook and serve. I think that is also a good part of Oishiya Shokudo. I ordered “Oden” and “Crab bowl” at Oishiya Shokudo. “Oden” has been stewed in an oden pot, so it came out soon. It was a delicious “oden” with the taste soaked in the ingredients. I waited for about 20 minutes until it came out after ordering the “Crab bowl”. The impression is that it took a long time. However, the taste of “crab bowl”read moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hyogo, Tottori Meal edition)

17Mar, 20222022年8月1日

February Itinerary in Japan Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan

February itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hyogo, Tottori)

By ninjakotan

February itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hyogo, Tottori) (Friday, February 25) Table of contents 1. Sakataru Shrine 2. Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork 3. Walk around Toyooka city 4. Tottori Castle Ruins, Jinpukaku 5. Minoura family samurai gate 6. Tottori Toshogu 7. Tottori City History Museum 8. Fukuda family house 1. Sakataru Shrine I took a taxi to Sakataru Shrine in the morning of February 25. I really wanted to go to Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork by bus, but I missed the bus, so I had no choice but to take a taxi to Sakataru Shrine at the end of Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork. However, this led to a lucky event as described below. As a result, it was all right. As the name suggests, Sakataru Shrine is a shrine related to sake. The god of worship is Sakamizuo no Mikoto and Sakamizume no Mikoto, the ancestor of Toji and the guardian deity of the sake brewer. I couldn’t go this time, but in Toyooka City, there is a shrine called Nakajima Shrine that enshrines the gods of sweets (Tajimamori), and is revered by confectionery companies nationwide. The main shrineread moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hyogo, Tottori)

15Mar, 20222022年8月1日

February Itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

February itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hyogo Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

February itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hyogo Meal edition) (Thursday, February 24) Table of contents 1. Sasayama Castletown Hotel NIPPONIA 2. Ekiben “Buta meshi (Pork rice)” 3. Kanbei 4. Nakai 1. Sasayama Castletown Hotel NIPPONIA I had breakfast at Sasayama Castletown Hotel NIPPONIA. The breakfast using local ingredients such as “Yamanoimo (Japanese yam)”, which is a specialty of Tanba Sasayama, and Tajima beef was very delicious. It was a very satisfying breakfast. I felt it was better than the dinner French course the day before. Especially, “Yamanoimo (Japanese yam)” was very delicious. “Yamanoimo” from Tanba Sasayama has a round shape and is also called Yamatoimo. Compared to yam, it is much more sticky and has a good flavor. In autumn and winter, the Tanba region may be filled with thick fog called Tanba fog due to the temperature difference. This climate with a large temperature difference grows delicious “Yamanoimo”. The breakfast restaurant was the same place as for dinner. The restaurant was made by making good use of an old folk house, and the courtyard seen from the window was also wonderful. It was a very calm restaurant. 2. Ekiben “Buta meshi (Pork rice)” I bought an ekibenread moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hyogo Meal edition)

13Mar, 20222022年8月1日

February Itinerary in Japan Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan

February itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hyogo prefecture)

By ninjakotan

February itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hyogo prefecture) (Thursday, February 24) Table of contents 1. Taiko Yagura 2. Kaibara Hachiman Shrine 3. Tanba City Hall Kaibara Branch, Great Zelkova tree (Kinone bashi) 4. Oda Shrine / Takeisao Shrine 5. Former Hikami Junior High School Building 6. Kaibara feudal lord Oda clan former residence Nagaya-mon, Kaibara Domain Jinya 7. Shinkoro 8. Izushi Castle Ruins 9. Meiji-kan 10. Sukyoji Temple (Takuandera Temple) 11. Izushi Sake Brewery 12. Former Fukutomi House 13. Sakuraya 14. Kogoro Katsura dwelling site 15. Oryu lantern 16. Eirakukan 17. Hide Shrine 1. Taiko Yagura I had breakfast at the hotel and took a bus to Kaibara station. The bus I got on is as follows. Depart Sasayamahoncho 9:12, Shinki Bus “bound for Tanba Medical Center”, arrive at Kaibara Station 9:42, fare Yen 720 The main purpose of Kaibara is to visit “Kaibara Hachiman Shrine”, a national important cultural property. It was my first visit to Kaibara. It was a fun city to walk around. When you go to Tanba Sasayama, I definitely want you to go to Kaibara. First of all, I went to “Taiko Yagura”. It is less than 5 minutes walk from Kaibararead moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hyogo prefecture)

11Mar, 20222022年8月1日

February Itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

February itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hyogo Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

February itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hyogo Meal edition) (Wednesday, February 23) Table of contents 1, “Botan-tei” Botan Nabe (Wild Boar Hotpot) 2, Houmei Sake Brewery 3, Sasayama Castletown Hotel NIPPONIA 1, “Botan-tei” Botan Nabe (Wild Boar Hotpot) I had “Botan nabe (Wild Boar Hotpot)” at “Botan-Tei” as the first meal of this trip. To eat “Botan nabe” was the biggest reason to visit Tanba Sasayama this time. “Botan nabe” has been selected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as one of the “100 Best Local Cuisine” in Hyogo Prefecture. The wild boar hunting season is from November 15th to March 15th, so it is a winter game meat cuisine. “Botan-tei” is also open only in the fall and winter. Along with Mt. Amagi in Shizuoka Prefecture and Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture, the Tanba Sasayama region is also famous nationwide as the “three major hunting grounds in Japan” for wild boars. It is said that “Botan nabe” started when wild boar meat, which was stationed in Sasayama-cho, Hyogo prefecture in the Meiji era, was put into miso soup by the former Japanese Army. In other words, the Tanba Sasayama region is the origin of “Botanread moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hyogo Meal edition)

09Mar, 20222022年8月1日

February Itinerary in Japan Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan

February itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hyogo prefecture)

By ninjakotan

February itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hyogo prefecture) (Wednesday, February 23) Table of contents 1, Taisho Romankan 2, Sasayama Castle Ruins 3, Aoyama Historical Village & Dekanshokan museum 4, Sasayama samurai districts 5, Sasayama merchant districts 6, Makekirai Inari 7, Tanba Sasayama City Historical Museum 8, Kasuga Shrine 9, Seiganji Temple 10, Sasayama Castletown Hotel NIPPONIA 1, Taisho Romankan From Wednesday, February 23, I traveled to Hyogo, Tottori, and Shimane prefectures for 4 nights and 5 days. This time as well, I sent my luggage to my travel destination and enjoyed the “luggage-free trip”. First, I flew from Haneda Airport to Osaka Itami Airport and headed for Tanba Sasayama City. The planes I used are as follows. Depart Haneda Airport at 7:25, JAL103, arrive at Osaka Itami Airport at 8:35 Arrived at Osaka Itami Airport and went to Tanba Sasayama city by monorail, Hankyu Railway, JR and bus. The public transportation I used is as follows. Depart Osaka Airport Station at 8:53, Osaka Monorail, arrive at Hotarugaike Station at 8:55 Depart Hotarugaike Station at 9:03, Hankyu Railway Takarazuka Main Line Express for Takarazuka, arrive at Takarazuka Station at 9:23 Depart JR Takarazuka Station, Limited Express Kounotori No. 3, read moreFebruary itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hyogo prefecture)