July, 2022 - NINJA KOTAN

Aiming to bridge the travel divide Table of Contents 1. Thinking through the Continued Zero Sales 2. What is the Travel Divide? 3. Frequency of travel among seniors has declined sharply 4. Traveling is the No. 1 hobby of seniors 5. Travel lowers dementia risk 6. Invisible handicapped accessible to Travel for the Disabled 7. Family travelers show a sharp decline in overseas travel 8. Family international travel extends children’s curiosity 9. Travel Divide among Millennials 10. Conclusion 1. Thinking through the Continued Zero Sales We have had zero sales since the company’s inception on December 7, 2021. Naturally, we are in the red for our costs. The reason is due to the inability of individual foreign tourists to come to Japan due to COVID-19. Europe, the U.S., and some Asian countries reopened overseas travel since spring 2022. We had expected that the Japanese government would ease the entry of individual foreign tourists in the fall of 2022. However, we must say that the easing of re-entry in the fall of 2022 has become more difficult by increasing the number of COVID-19-positive since mid-July (the 7th wave). Our deficit will continue until the easing of immigration. I’veread moreAiming to bridge the travel divide

28Jul, 20222022年8月14日

July itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

July itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido Meal edition) (Saturday, July 2) Table of contents 1. Local cuisine Nabekyu 2. Izakaya Buu 3. Tsubu-yaki Kadoya 1. Local cuisine Nabekyu Our first meal on this trip to Hokkaido was at NabeKyu, a local restaurant in Lake Akan. I entered the restaurant just before 11:20 a.m., but it was already more than half full. It is a very popular restaurant. My main goal at “Nabekyu” was sashimi of Lake Akan’s specialty, Hime-masu (kokanee), which is only available from May to July. However, in 2022, the Hime-masu fishing season ended a few weeks in May, and no sashimi was offered. It was a pity because I visited Lake Akan with the top priority of Hime-masu sashimi. However, grilled Hime-masu was on the menu, so I ordered it. The grilled salted Hime-masu had a very elegant taste and was very easy to eat. As I wrote in my BLOG on July 24th, Hime-masu is a landlocked form of Sockeye Salmon. In the Ainu language, it is called kapacep. It is native to Lake Akan and Lake Chimikeppu (Abashiri County, Hokkaido). Since I was unable to try the sashimi of Hime-masu, I orderedread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido Meal edition)

26Jul, 20222022年8月14日

Others

Character Trains for kids

By ninjakotan

Character Trains for kids ENGLISH LIST Many character trains for kids are in operation in Japan. Your children will surely be delighted to take a ride on one of these trains with your family. Please refer to the map below for the arrival and departure stations of the character trains. In many cases, the trains only run a few times a day or only on holidays. Please check the website with the link for information on the train’s operation. 繁体中文（Traditional chinese list）日本各地有很多小孩向的主題列車。如果小孩們和家人一起乘坐主題列車，一定能令他們感到開心。我們已經整理了主題列車的出發和到達站的地圖以及各種資訊，以供各位參考。在大部分情況下，主題列車一天不會有過多的班次，或者只有假日才能乘搭。請查看以下聯結的網站以獲取更多信息。 Hokkaido & Tohoku (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima) Kanto (Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa) Chubu (Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi) Kansai (Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama) Chugoku (Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi) Shikoku (Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi) Kyushu & Okinawa (Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa) POKÉMON with YOU Mangattan liner Doraemon Train THOMAS LAND　20th Anniversary Train Chibi Maruko-chan Train Train Oigawa Railway DAY OUT WITH THOMAS Hello Kitty Shinkansen Kitaro Train Case Closed Train (Konan Train) Chuggington Train Anpanman Train Shimanto green line Railroad Hobby Train Aso Boy Orange Railway & Kumamonread moreCharacter Trains for kids

24Jul, 20222022年8月14日

Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan July itinerary in Japan

July itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido)

By ninjakotan

July itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido) (Saturday, July 2) Table of Contents 1. Ainu Kotan 2. Lake Akan Cruise 3. Ainu Theater 4. Nusamai Bridge １. Ainu Kotan I traveled to Kushiro City and Akkeshi City in Hokkaido for three days and two nights from July 2 (Sat) to 4 (Mon). Of course, we also delivered our luggage and enjoyed “luggage-free travel” on this trip. Flights from Haneda Airport to Kushiro Airport are as follows Depart Haneda Airport at 8:05, JAL541, arrive at Kushiro Airport at 9:40 Kushiro Airport is nicknamed “Tancho Kushiro Airport”. It is named after the red-crowned cranes that breed in the Kushiro Marshlands and other areas around Kushiro. A crane monument is placed at the bus stop after arriving at Kushiro Airport. I took a bus from Kushiro Airport to Lake Akan. The bus I used is as follows. Depart Kushiro Airport at 10:00, Airport Liner No.1, arrive at Akanko Onsen at 11:15, Fare Yen 2,190 It takes 45 minutes (about 20 km) from Kushiro Airport to Kushiro Station. On the other hand, the distance from Kushiro Airport to Lake Akan is 55 km, more than twice the distance from Kushiro Station, butread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido)

22Jul, 20222022年8月14日

local cuisine Others traditional food

Nagashi Somen : A traditional summer noodle in Japan

By ninjakotan

Nagashi Somen : A traditional summer noodle in Japan English LIST “Nagashi Somen” is the first thing that comes to Japanese People‘s minds when they think of summer meals in Japan. People pick thin somen noodles with their chopsticks that are flowing down in cold water in a slanted bamboo chute and dip the noodles in tsuyu sauce. It is a cool and refreshing way of eating, which is perfect for the hot and humid Japanese summer. It is a meal but also a fun event during Japanese summer. There is also “Somen Nagashi” where noodles are flowing around a motorized slider machine instead of bamboo chut. These Somen Nagashi machines are commercially available, so you can enjoy “Somen Nagashi” at home with your family as well. Here is a list of 28 “Nagashi Somen” and “Somen Nagashi” restaurants in Japan in English and traditional Chinese characters. If you are planning to visit these areas, why don’t you try the Japanese fun summer tradition? The most popular restaurants are Hirobun (Kyoto Prefecture), Tsukimae-no-taki Momijien (Ibaraki Prefecture), Miwa Somen Nagashi (Nara Prefecture), Chaya Kado (Kanagawa Prefecture), and Amidagatakiso (Gifu Prefecture). 繁體中文（Traditional Chinese LIST）說起日本的夏日美食，各位首先聯想到的可能就是“流水素面”。把竹子劈成兩半後，於竹子中間倒入冷水和素面，並用筷子夾取流動的素麵食用。這是一種非常適合在炎熱夏天的飲食方式。不只可以享用清爽美味的素面，更是作為一項有趣的消暑活動, 日本國內十分受歡迎。另外，最近市面上開始販售能把素麵放進桌邊周圍的人造水流裡流動，在家也能享受“流水素面”的塑料桌子。read moreNagashi Somen : A traditional summer noodle in Japan

20Jul, 20222022年8月14日

Others

Fed up with too much luggage for travel with children

By ninjakotan

Fed up with too much luggage for international travel with children Table of Contents 1. Oh, I want to travel abroad! 2. What is this? This amount of luggage! 3. Wish we could rent locally. 1. Oh, I want to travel abroad! Traveling, especially overseas travel had always been a hobby of mine, and I had enjoyed traveling abroad every year since I was a student and even after I got married. However, I always had the thought in the back of my mind, “If I have children, I will not be able to travel abroad as often as I would like. In fact, for several years after the birth of my child, I gave up on the idea of traveling abroad. But in my heart, the desire to travel abroad was simmering. Oh, I want to go, I want to travel. I want to go abroad. Finally, I reached the end of my patience and took on the challenge of traveling abroad with my child. The destination was Italy, which my husband and I love and have visited many times before. We decided to go on a free tour because a time-limited tour is a bit difficultread moreFed up with too much luggage for travel with children

16Jul, 20222022年8月1日

Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan June itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

Summary of June itinerary in Japan ( Osaka, Kyoto )

By ninjakotan

Summary of June itinerary in Japan ( Osaka, Kyoto ) I traveled to Osaka, Kyoto, and Aichi Prefectures from Wednesday, June 8 to Friday, June 10. On this trip, I was able to eat a lot of seasonal seafood and local cuisine such as sea bass and sweetfish, and visit wonderful sightseeing spots such as world heritage sites, national treasures, and national important cultural properties. I strongly recommend that you travel in June, especially in Osaka, Kyoto, and Aichi Prefectures, which are not suitable for travel in July and August due to the extremely hot weather. Here is a summary of our trip and some notes. Table of contents 1.”100 best of local dishes” and “Local dishes loved by the nation” by this itinerary in Japan 2. Seasonal “PRIDE FISH” by this itinerary in Japan 3. Travel precautions for itinerary in Japan 4. Travel in a light style 5. June 8 (Wednesday) Day 1 6. June 9 (Thursday) Day 2 7. June 10 (Friday) Day 3 Again, each time, this itinerary was also created with the objective of “eating all the seasonal seafood and local cuisine”. Food is the first priority, and sightseeing spots are second. Nevertheless,read moreSummary of June itinerary in Japan ( Osaka, Kyoto )

13Jul, 20222022年8月1日

June itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

June itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kyoto, Aichi Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

June itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kyoto, Aichi Meal edition) (Friday, June 10) Table of contents 1. Restaurant Kitamura 2. Cafe Milan 3. Takeyoshi 4. Sumiyoshi, Kabuto, Izakaya Tsuruhachi 1. Restaurant Kitamura I had a late breakfast before my stroll at “Miyama’s Thatched Village (Kayabuki no sato)”. I ordered “mori soba” (Yen 840), “rice with raw egg” (Yen 320), “dish simmered in regional chicken liver” (Yen 430), and “dish simmered venison with ginger” (Yen 430) at “Restaurant Kitamura“. “Mori soba” is most popular buckwheat noodle at “Restaurant Kitamura”. It is made from buckwheat flour harvested in Miyama and ground on a millstone. The soba noodles are handmade in the restaurant every day. Despite being handmade soba, the noodles were very thin and made me feel that they were well worked. The amount of Soba was a little small, but it was a very tasty “mori soba”. The “rice with raw egg” was made with freshly caught local eggs, and the rich yolk of the egg was delicious and irresistible. The chicken and venison used in the “dish simmered in regional chicken liver” and “dish simmered venison with ginger” were also caught in Miyama. The meat is locally produced,read moreJune itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kyoto, Aichi Meal edition)

10Jul, 20222022年8月1日

Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan June itinerary in Japan

June itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kyoto, Aichi prefecture)

By ninjakotan

June itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kyoto, Aichi prefecture) (Friday, June 10) Table of contents 1. Miyama’s Thatched Village (Kayabuki-no-Sato) 2. Miyama folklore museum 3. Chii Hachiman Shrine 4. Kobayashi Family Residence 5. Nagoya City Hall / Aichi Prefectural Office 1. Miyama’s Thatched Village (Kayabuki-no-Sato) I went to Miyama, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture, in the morning on June 10. The transportation I used was as follows Depart Kyoto Station at 8:04, San-in Line “bound for Sonobe”, arrive at Sonobe Station at 8:51 Depart Sonobe Station at 8:52, San-in Line “bound for Goma”, arrive at Hiyoshi Station at 9:01 Depart Hiyoshi Station at 9:10, Miyama Sonobe Line “bound for Kyu Chii Elementary School”, arrive at Miyama Clinic at 9:45 Total fare: Yen 1,370 I got off at the Miyama Clinic bus stop and rented a bicycle at the Kyoto Tamba Kogen Quasi-National Park Visitor Center to go to Miyama’s Thatched Village (Kayabuki-no-Sato). Electric bicycles were Yen 1,500 per day. However, the price will double to Yen 3,000 per day from July 1, 2022. The Kyoto Tamba Kogen Quasi-National Park Visitor Center (bike rental office) offers free luggage storage. It took about 20 minutes to get to “Miyama’s Thatched Villageread moreJune itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Kyoto, Aichi prefecture)

07Jul, 20222022年8月1日

June itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

June itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kyoto Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

June itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kyoto Meal edition) (Thursday, June 9) Table of contents 1. Soba Restaurant Aoi 2. Seppourai Kyoto Station Building Store 1. Soba Restaurant Aoi For my first lunch in Kyoto, I had hamo (conger pike) somen (Yen 1,380 ) at “Soba Restaurant Aoi” located in the Kintetsu Mall Miyakomimichi in Kyoto Station. I chose the somen despite the fact that it is a soba noodle restaurant because it has Hamo no Yubiki (parboiled conger pike) on top of the somen. Hamo (conger pike) cuisine is famous for Kyoto in summer. It has been selected as one of the “Our Regional Cuisines” by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan as “grilled hamo”. Although grilled hamo has been selected as one of “Our Regional Cuisines”, I definitely Hamo no Yubiki (parboiled conger pike) as my favorite hamo dish. I think the contrast between the white parboiled hamo and the red plum sauce is a great contrast and looks very nice. There are not many white and red dishes other than parboiled hamo, which is why it makes parboiled hamo stand out against other dishes. The hamo no somen was also a veryread moreJune itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kyoto Meal edition)

04Jul, 20222022年8月1日

Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan June itinerary in Japan

June itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kyoto prefecture)

By ninjakotan

June itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kyoto prefecture) (Thursday, June 9) Table of contents 1. Toji Temple 2. Fushimi Inari Taisha 3. Hotoji Temple 4. Tofukuji Temple 5. Saisho Kongoin Temple / Funda-in (Sesshuji Temple) 6. Unryu-in 7. Sennyuji Temple 1. Toji Temple I went to Toji Temple at 8:00 in the morning on June 9. Toji Temple is registered as a World Heritage site as a component of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities),” and its Kondo and five-story pagoda are designated as national treasure buildings. The five-story pagoda of Toji Temple is visible from the Shinkansen, making it the most viewed temple by visitors to Kyoto. Toji Temple was founded in 796. It was built as an national temple for the protection of the Heian-kyo capital. Later, in 823, Emperor Saga bestowed Toji Temple to Kukai (Kobo Daishi), who made it the Konpon Dojo (fundamental training hall) of Shingon esoteric Buddhism. Toji Temple is the only remaining structure from the Heian-kyo period. Due to several fires, no buildings from the time of its foundation remain in Toji Temple. However, the orderly arrangement of the temple buildings in a straight line from south toread moreJune itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Kyoto prefecture)

01Jul, 20222022年8月1日

June itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

June itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Osaka Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

June itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Osaka Meal edition) (Wednesday, June 8) Table of contents 1. Soraben 2. Okonomiyaki “Abeton” 3. Sushi “Abaraya” 1. Soraben For breakfast on June 8, I had a “Soraben (Sky bento)” at Haneda Airport. This trip to Osaka/Kyoto has nothing to do with Fukuoka Prefecture, but I bought a “Yamaya Mentai Saizen” (Yen 1,350) from Fukuoka Prefecture. The “Yamaya Mentai Saizen” is one of the more expensive “Soraben” sold at Haneda Airport. However, when I opened the lid of the bento, I found that the coloring was very plain. I was disappointed after opening the lid, because I think coloring is very important for both “Ekiben” and “Soraben”. The taste was good, but it was not good enough to make up for the very plain coloring. Considering the price, I felt that it was a very overpriced “Soraben”. I knew I shouldn’t have bought a Fukuoka bento at Haneda Airport. 2. Okonomiyaki “Abeton” After sightseeing at Shitennoji Temple, I had okonomiyaki at “Abeton“, which is located a little more than 5 minutes away on foot. “Abeton” is located in an underground shopping mall called “Abechika”. It is located on the Shitennoji Templeread moreJune itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Osaka Meal edition)