http://www.city-cost.comSat, 18 Jul 2026 14:35:31 +0900I´m a german girl living in the center of Tokyo, but my true love belongs to the countryside of Japan (especially Chiba and Hokkaido). I love traveling in Japan and explore hidden areas. I want to help people with my articles to get in touch with the Japanese culture and all the beautiful places you can explore. Follow me on IG https://www.instagram.com/nihonbluebutterfly/?hl=de Besides traveling around, I love trains, handcraft and my little rabbits.enCopyright © 2015 - 2026 City-Cost All Rights Reserved.webmaster@city-cost.com (CC Team)http://img.city-cost.com/static/blog_campaign_icon.pnghttp://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MPb2d-living_shinjuku_ku_tokyoThere are many places in Tokyo to enjoy the nice autumn weather and the beautiful autumn foliage, but one of the top spots is for sure Shinjuku Gyoen. The park has three different entrance gates which can be all reached within a five to ten minutes walk from JR Shinjuku Station, Shinjukugyoenmae Station or Sendagaya Station. The entrance fee is 500 yen. Shinjuku Gyoen is huge and has a wide variety of different trees and flowers. All through the year something is blooming - that why it is always great to have a walk there. During the cherry blossom season (there are numerous different cherry trees) and during autumn season it can be quite busy in the park. There are so many beautiful different maple trees from the typical red Japanese ones to the huge yellow maple trees. During my visit on 22nd November 2022 part of the maple trees had already lost their leaves, some were still a beautiful red while many were still green. This means you can enjoy the autumn foliage in Shinjuku Gyoen for a long time, since not all of the leaves are turning red/yellow at the same time. The same goes for the ginkgo trees, which also turned into golden yellow, but some were still green. My favorite was the huge maple tree avenue at the formal garden. The whole avenue was shining so beautifully yellow and all the huge leaves on the ground gave me a typical autumn feeling. Also, it's a lot of fun for kids to walk through them and listen to the sound of the leaves under foot. Even though it is autumn season right now in Japan the rose garden in Shinjuku Gyoen's formal garden area was so beautiful. Hundreds of different kinds of roses were blooming there. Also, one special thing in the park is that you can even enjoy cherry blossom in the fall there. Jugatsu Zakura are special cherry blossom trees, which are blooming only in fall/winter. If you want to use the chance and see autumn foliage and cherry blossoms at the same time, you should use the chance to visit Shinjuku Gyoen at the end of November. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MPb2d-living_shinjuku_ku_tokyoThu, 24 Nov 2022 10:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MPb2d-living_shinjuku_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gyk27-living_hanno_shi_saitamaThere is a small place in the Japanese countryside, which actually doesn't look like Japan. Moreover, it's like a small fairy tale world surrounded by beautiful nature. The Tove Jansson Akebono Children's Forest Park opened in 1997 displaying works by author Tove Jansson, who is very famous in Japan and around the world for her Moomin books. You can reach Akebono Children's Forest Park by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line to Motokaji Station. From the station it is a 20-minute walk to the park, or you can go by car right to the entrance of the park. There are many parking spots available. The entrance to the garden is free, but it is open only from weekdays 9:00-17:00, weekends 9:00-21:00. During special events like the autumn foliage season you can also enjoy a light up show in the evening. The park is beautiful in every season but autumn is really the most beautiful. When all the trees are turning yellow/red brown, the small garden really looks like you are in Europe. There are four different small houses in a very cute Moomin design which can be visited from the inside. All the buildings fit perfectly the atmosphere of the garden. The small blue round house in the middle of a small pond is especially a great photo spot during the autumn foliage season. When the sun comes out in the morning, the reflection of the house, and the yellow trees behind it, the small pond are so beautiful. You will really feel like you have traveled to the world of the Moomin.I recommend visiting Akebono Children's Forest Park in the morning for the perfect light, also from lunchtime it gets very crowded. There is a small café in the park where you can get some sandwiches or ice cream but most of the people there are having a picnic around one of the many benches in the park. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gyk27-living_hanno_shi_saitamaThu, 17 Nov 2022 17:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gyk27-living_hanno_shi_saitamahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MJjBk-livingWhile Mt. Takao is one of the top spots to see the autumn foliage in Tokyo, Mt. Tsukuba is the top spot in Ibaraki Prefecture. Mountains are always great spots to see the beautiful nature in Japan, especially in autumn. The Mt. Tsukuba can be reached from Tsukuba station by a shuttle bus which will bring you directly to the foot of the mountain. It is easier to go there by car but parking spots are very limited, especially during the high season.Firstly, you should stop at Tsukuba Shrine at the bottom of the mountain. It is a very old shrine, surrounded by beautiful nature and even a nice small red bridge. The whole shrine area is full of ginkgo and Japanese maple trees. During the peak season (right now from 5th – 13th November 2022) it looks so beautiful and is perfect for some nice family photos. If you are planing to visit the top of the mountain, you can use either the cable car close to the shrine or a lift a little bit farther away. Right next to the cable car station is a small fairytale-looking Japanese maple tree forest, which is also perfect if you want to snap a photo with the red maple leaves and the cable car together. During my visit on the 5th of November just a few leaves had turned red. Also, when using the cable car you will see many beautiful maple trees which makes it a great secret autumn spot. Otherwise, the lift gives you a great view over the mountain area. Unfortunately, all trees on top are already at their peak and will probably just stay that way for just a few days longer.For people who love hiking, the mountain is also a great place to go. There are different hiking trails to the top of the Mt. Tsukuba with many beautiful views, especially during the autumn foliage season (from the beginning to the end of November 2022).Also, if you are visiting the area by car, I recommend stopping by the popular Tsukuba University, which offers really beautiful ginkgo-tree avenues.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MJjBk-livingMon, 07 Nov 2022 17:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MJjBk-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1vX1-education_familylife_shizuoka_shi_shizuokaAfter a long time in the planing we finally made it to join a very special train event, which you can only find in Japan. In the mountains of Shizuoka Prefecture you will be greeted by a very special train. Every year since 2014, from June till the end of September, you can have a ride with the popular Thomas train and join the Thomas Fair organized by Oigawa Railway company. Thomas, the Tank Engine, is the main character in a series of short stories as well as the title character of a television series for children.The Thomas Fair is the perfect event for the whole family, especially if you have kids who love trains.We went to Shizuoka Station early in the morning by Shinkansen from Tokyo and then changed to a local train running to Shin-Kanaya Station, where the Thomas train usually departs. To ride on the train you need to have a reservation in advance. Please be aware that those tickets sell out very fast. Unfortunately, we only got a return ticket, which started from Senzu Station, where the actual Thomas Fair is held. Since we were a little late to arrive in Shin-Kanaya we did not reach our planned train but instead got another special train that took us to Senzu Station from where we took the Thomas train on the way back. At Shin-Kanaya station, you can also find a small train exhibition and a shop with tons of Thomas products. Also, they sell small Thomas bento boxes, which are really cute. To be honest, the special train we caught was much better than our actual Thomas tour. It was an old train from the 30s, completely clad with old wood, really cool padded benches, and simply rustic. You could also open all the windows, but you had to be careful when sticking your head out. Also, the train was really shaky. In the past it most definitely couldn't have been easy to take a longer train ride on those trains. The train is also popular for it use in Japanese dramas or films that are set in the 30s. It was definitely a great experience. When we arrived at Senzu station, we were greeted by Thomas and his friends. If you wanted, you could take photos with all the trains or take a ride with Rusty. The Thomas event at the train station came to an end around 2 p.m. and the Thomas locomotive was coupled to the wagons. Of course, we wanted to take another photo of a steaming Thomas, but you had to be very careful, since all the soot flew into our eyes. On the other side, you also had a cool view of the driver's cab where coal was being shoveled. Then the long ride back to Kanaya Station started. The train was full of families and small children, but it was nice that you always had a four-seater bench to yourself and that the neighboring bank was left free. Inside the train, of course, everything was in the Thomas design, even the train music and announcements came from the series. The ride through the beautiful mountain landscape was really great, even when the weather was really crazy - it often alternated between rain and glorious sunshine. You could spot something very special when you looked out of the window. We were not traveling alone, but were accompanied by the Thomas bus that drove parallel to the train. To be honest, I would recommend riding the bus instead of the train. You will have a way better view of the Thomas train from the bus.In the end it was really a great trip, but you should note if you are traveling with children, that the whole trip takes a lot of time. The local trains in the area run only a few times per day, and you have to plan things very well. We ended up sitting on the train for a total of 7 hours. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1vX1-education_familylife_shizuoka_shi_shizuokaSat, 02 Oct 2021 11:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1vX1-education_familylife_shizuoka_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/weDLd-living_education_familylife_chuo_ku_tokyoRight now, the Olympics are taking place in Tokyo. Unfortunately, it is not possible to go to a stadium to watch the Games but there is still a way to get some Olympic vibes or just to have some nice memories.Since I'm living very close to most of the Olympic venues, I feel kind of sad not to be able to see anything. Probably it will be a one-time experience in my life to live in a country hosting the Olympics. Of course, the current situation is kind of difficult but it is still possible to get some nice Olympic memories without going to any places with huge crowds. One of the best memories for me and my family has been to have a photo in front of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic rings. You can find them at different locations around Tokyo, like in Odaiba close to the Rainbow Bridge or next to the old Nihonbashi Bridge.If you are already in Nihonbashi, I recommend stopping by at the Olympic Agora exhibition at the COREDO Muromachi Terrace. You need to make a reservation in advance, but usually there are many spots left even if you just pass by. I've visited the exhibition during the week and I was the only visitor, since not many people know about it. Also, the exhibition is free, but only runs from July 1 to August 15. The exhibition has four different sections: The Power of Spirit, the Power of History/Culture, the Power of Sport and the Power of Hope. Right after the Olympic Agora exhibition entrance, you will walk along a long hall full of the official posters from all Summer and Winter Olympics. It is really impressive to see the different designs, especially from the first Olympics. After that is the most impressive room with all the Olympic torches from the first Olympics in 1920 to the last one of 2020. The arrangement and the lightning was really great, and I felt a little like being in a Star Wars movie. The next room showed some old costumes from opening ceremonies. The Chinese costume in particular was really beautiful - you could see so much of the detail in the costume.The third section of the Olympic Agora exhibition shows a great collection of all the Olympic medals. It's really fascinating to see the different designs, but also different sizes and shapes. Also, you can read about some unique sporting experiences during the games. The last section shows the huge influence social media now has on the Olympics and competing athletes.All in all, Olympic Agora is a really nice exhibition and I really recommend it, if you are interested in the Olympics. Even outside there are some special smaller exhibits in front of the terrace building. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/weDLd-living_education_familylife_chuo_ku_tokyoFri, 06 Aug 2021 12:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/weDLd-living_education_familylife_chuo_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mv8AN-livingThe hot and humid summer is just knocking on the door in Japan and brings a very challenging time for most of us who are not used to the hot climate. Especially if you have kids, it can be very hard to always find activities for them without melting in the sun. Let's have a look at my favorite summer activities for my kid here in Japan:Water fun in the poolIf you are lucky enough and have a good size balcony, you can buy a small pool for kids and fill it with refreshing water and some water toys. For sure, your kid will love it and will spend half of the day in it. Alternatively, some people also put out a small pool in a park and enjoy it there with friends.Bicycle tourFor me, nothing is better than to put my kid on the back of my bicycle and explore the area. During our trips we have already found so many great playgrounds and parks which could be very difficult to access by train. Passing through a park or being near the sea, the breeze is really refreshing and you also do something for your physical condition. Water fightEven just going to a simple playground can be very refreshing in summer when you bring some water guns. Many places in Japan have water taps where you can refill the water guns, or just use the huge ones with a small bag back which can be filled with water. For sure, a water fight is a really great way to spend an afternoon with friends and kids in the park.Indoor play centerIndoor play centers are a great place to let your kids play inside at a huge playground together with other kids in a cool place. Some indoor playgrounds in Japan are free of charge, but some also offer really great play areas and toys, where you often have to pay to access. The negative point can be, sometimes, that everybody wants to use them during hot days, and they can be very crowded. BBQHaving a BBQ in the summer heat? Yeah, it doesn't sound that good, but I prefer to do this just right next to the ocean. There are some nice spots for BBQ at the beach areas of Chiba Prefecture. Swimming in the ocean and afterwards having some delicious meat or seafood is really a great way to spend a day. How do you spend the time with your kids during summer? Any great ideas?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mv8AN-livingThu, 22 Jul 2021 12:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mv8AN-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GloDR-living_onlyinjapanWhile walking through the streets of Tokyo, there is always something catching my eye which is totally different from the place I grew up. Not only is it different from my home country, but perhaps also from many others. The streets and parks at least in Tokyo are mostly very tidy, and you rarely find garbage on the street. The cleanliness in such a big city is really amazing for me and also for many of my friends who come to Japan for the first time. But let's have a look at some of my favorite daily experiences in my neighborhood: The zen playgroundAlmost every day I visit the nearby playground with my kid. It's really a very tiny one, with just a sandbox and a few trees around. Really nothing special and not many people even go there. But really every morning a nice worker of the city is cleaning the small area and the sandbox. If you are there early enough, you can see a beautiful zen style in the sandbox, which that worker is putting there every day. Something you really only find in Japan.The riversideI like to walk around the Sumida River in Tokyo. Most of the river area has some nice parks which are good for a walk. For me, it's always surprising that it is really rare to find any garbage on the way, even though many people use the parks for a picnic or for parties. Also, the river has low and high tide, that's why the riverbank gets partly very dirty from the river water. Often you can find dead fish, shells or other garbage, when it is low tide. Surprisingly though, all that garbage will be completely cleaned by some staff members of the city ward after one day. At least the ward I'm living in is keeping its city very clean!The neighbor with the chopsticksWhen I lived in a more rural area of Japan, many older people lived around me. One of my former neighbors had seemed to be very happy to clean the street in front of her house. Every week she used long cooking chopsticks to pick up leaves or other garbage to clean the area around her house. Kind of a good idea when you don't have a broom or don't want to use your hands, but it always made me smile, when I saw it. DiapersSince having a small kid, I often have to change diapers also when we are out in a park or city. Many shopping centers and also parks nowadays have special garbage bins for diapers, but sometimes it's hard to find one. Most of the Japanese moms carry the used diapers the whole day around till they can throw them away at home. This can be sometimes really a stinky burden if your kid made a dump, but it is totally normal here not to throw them in a normal garbage bin. Have you also experienced those cleaning habits of Japanese?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GloDR-living_onlyinjapanTue, 29 Jun 2021 09:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GloDR-living_onlyinjapanhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GO1Ln-living_minato_ku_tokyoDuring the rainy season in Japan, it can sometimes be very difficult to entertain a small kid. Either it is too hot and humid outside to the spend a long time at a playground, or it is raining, which is also not that great for playing outside so often. That's why it is nice to have some alternatives for a hot and rainy summer day. The first time when I heard about indoor play centers in Japan I was a little worried that they would be very crowded, expensive or kind of dirty, since many people are using them. But I was very surprised when I found the kids indoor center CULAFUL just a few meters away from Daimon or Hamamatsu stations in Tokyo.The place is very new and has a really beautiful design. In particular, the view from the indoor playground through the panorama windows to the river and Hamarikyu Gardens is really great. To enter the indoor center, you have to make an advance reservation. Bookings are possible for 60 or 90 minutes. The price depends on the day (weekday/weekend) and always includes one drink in their café. There is also a storage area for a stroller and lockers for your luggage, since no bags are allowed inside the indoor area. The indoor playground has 4 areas where the kids can play, jump and run, read and have a break. The mountain area has a huge playing field with a slider, climbing wall, different tunnels and smaller toys. Also, there is a digital wall in the background, which shows different sceneries. The forest area has a tree and nets for kids who like to climb. Also, there is a colorful wall with many magnetic toys to challenge the creativity of the kids. The sea area is a huge pool full of small plastic balls which invites you to take a bath in it or just throw all the balls around. The farm area has a sitting space, where kids can read different books, build with blocks or just enjoy a drink or some snacks at the café. There is really a lot to explore for kids. I recommend the 90 minutes course, so your kid can enjoy most of the area to its fullest and then have a 30-minute break at the café, where you will get a free drink. Also, as a parent I had a lot of fun there, especially in the sea area, where I was laying between tons of balls and enjoyed the nice view. The place is really recommended if you are looking for variety for your kid.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GO1Ln-living_minato_ku_tokyoTue, 22 Jun 2021 12:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GO1Ln-living_minato_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wkmaL-educationOne of my many hobbies is sewing. I really love to create something new, just with a small piece of fabric. But there are often those days, when nothing is really working or I simply don´t have an idea at all. After reading the news of my local shrine I was very surprised to read about a needle ceremony (献 針 祭), which is performed only at a few shrines.Every year at the beginning of February after the Setsubun Festival, the small ceremony takes place at the shrine. In the beginning you had to register with your name and address. Then you could stick your old sewing needles or pins in a small tofu, prepared by the shrine helpers. Yeah right in a tofu. I guess the tofu is used because it´s soft and you don't accidentally prick the needles.Then all participants had to sit down on some chairs in front of the shrine and the shrine priest held his ceremony. All people were called by name, because after all it was our needles. The whole ceremony is about to thank the needles for their good work and to ask for further support for future sewing projects. Afterwards everyone was praying in front of the shrine and in the end, the tofu was put in a hole in the ground with a second tofu without needles. At the end of the ceremony you could say bye bye to your old needles and the priest ended the ceremony. The whole ceremony was really fascinating and I was glad that I could join it for the first time. Usually I don´t join any shrine ceremonies, but I thought that was really a great event, because it really was something that concerned me. Also I´ve got a small talisman, which is hanging now on my sewing machine.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wkmaL-educationMon, 22 Feb 2021 20:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wkmaL-educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zDqWy-living_tokyoDuring the corona pandemic everybody is supposed to stay home and avoid contact with other people. For many people this is a very stressful and hard time. Especially if you are not living alone it can be very hard to adjust to a new style of living. Mostly every family knows about what I´m talking. Being at home the whole time especially with smaller kids for month without school and work (or home office) is really a big challenge. There are many bad sides about the current situation for everyone, but I want to take a look at the good sides of staying at home with your family. More family timeMy husband is a typical Japanese salarymen, who is working mostly every day till late in the evening and often just comes home to sleep during the week. Since we have a small baby he works a little bit less, but still can´t spend much time with our kid during the week. It is sad but also very common in Japan. Luckly he is now allowed to work from home, which means a lot of quality time for the whole family. During breaks he checks out what me and our kid are during and try to make us laugh. Also we are always eating every meal together now, which is really great. Even those are just small moments during the day it really means a lot for us. After the life is back to normal my husband wants to try to work more from home, to spend more time together with his family.Also when I go from time to time out for a walk I´m really surprised to see suddenly so many dads with their kids going on a walk or playing together and that during the week. It's really heartwarming. Healthy cookingUsually we used to eat often outside, especially on the weekend or just heaving a bento box during work. Since we are staying mostly at home or around our neighborhood I spend a lot of time with cooking at home. With a baby on one side it is sometimes very challenging, but I always try out many new dishes, which I usually don´t cook. I also get every week a box of organic vegetable from a good farmer, which gives me the chance to be very creative, since I mostly don´t know what is inside beforehand. Clean up and redesigningSpending a lot of time at home gives the opportunity to clean up. Everybody has for sure this one closet which is full with stuff you don´t even know or you wanted to sort out your wardrobe for a long time. Last month I really cleaned up every room in our apartment and go rid of many stuff. This month I decided to buy new furniture, which I bought online to make our apartment more comfortable and look nicer. I really like to change rooms from time to time, but with the small space most of Japanese apartments have it is really a challenge to make it look cozy. Hopefully in the future some changes in our life will stay and not everything just go back like it was. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zDqWy-living_tokyoFri, 15 May 2020 20:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zDqWy-living_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mpk5L-living_education_funabashi_shi_chibaUsually winter is the season where it I soften due to the dark and cold outside. It is hard to move your body to leave a warm home and do something outside. Actually, this is my typical image of winter in Europe where it is usually amazing cold, dark and it often rains for months. Japan is the totally opposite. At least in Tokyo temperatures rarely fall below 0 degrees celsius and it is very sunny almost every day. Perfect weather to go out in! Also, what I really like in Japan is that even the nature is very different in winter and you can still find many green trees and even blooming flowers like the camellia. On one of those nice sunny winter days then, I decided to go on a short family trip to our nearby prefecture of Chiba. My goal was the H.C. Andersen Park in the heart of Funabashi. You might have heard about Denmark's most famous poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen, who also wrote many fairytales like The Little Mermaid or The Snow Queen. H.C. Andersen Park has 5 different zones for the whole family. Let's take a look at what you can expect when visiting the park:Fairy Tale Hill ZoneThe main entrance will lead you to a small countryside version of Denmark in the 1800s. You can find a windmill surrounded by thousands of beautiful tulips, a farm house and some other buildings which are replicating buildings of the Funen Village in Odense, where H.C Andersen was born. Walking through the whole area really gave me a feeling of being back to Europe. Especially the small pond, with the boathouse and bakery, looked very similar to my own hometown. If you are hungry, you can do a BBQ at the restaurant “Maerchen” or just order something from their menu. There is really something for everyone from curry, spaghetti and meatballs .Nature Experience ZoneYou can walk around a small walking course in this zone of H.C. Andersen Park, through rice paddy fields and the waterside of Satoyama. Every season you can enjoy different plants and flowers blooming around the walking course, which makes a stroll very nice and refreshing. Kids Kingdom ZoneOne of the biggest parts H.C. Andersen Park is Kids Kingdom, which really is a kingdom -- or more over a dreamland for older kids. Here you can find Japan's largest adventure playground, a lawned garden for a picnic, a huge water park, petting zoo and a balance ball mountain. In particular the adventure playground is really huge and really something for older kids and adults. Younger kids can also enjoy ridding on a mini Shinkansen or on an old bicycle through the area. The zone for kids is huge and you can find play areas in every corner. There are also some food stalls here, but it is recommended to bring your own food.Children's Museum Zone & Castle of Flower At the museum area kids can work with art and crafts like weaving or being part of one of Andersen's popular fairy tales in a workshop with different artists. The Castle of Flower is also a play area for younger kids. You can play in the building block area with different kinds of blocks or just run around the fairy tale playground outside of the castle.Before I visited the park I thought it would just be a cheap copy of Andersen's fairy tales, but I was very surprised to find a very original looking small Danish village and a really great area for kids. Especially with older children this is really a paradise. H. C. Andersen Park Access:■From Misaki Station, take the Funabashi Shin-Keisei bus bound for "Komuro Eki" to "Kenmin no Mori" stop. The park is a 5-min walk from here. Alternatively, take a bus bound for "Secomedic Byoin" to "Andersen Koen" stop. The park is a 1-min walk from here.■From Funabashi Station North Exit Funabashi Shin-Keisei buses bound for "Komuro Eki" to Kenmin no Mori" depart from bus stand No. 5. Or,from bus stand No. 3, take the Funabashi Shin-Keisei bus bound for "Hofu Nokyo Mae," all the way to the last stop.Opening hours:Daily from 9:00 – 16:30 (closed Mondays)Entrance: Adults: ¥900, High School Students: ¥600, Elementary and Junior High School Students: ¥200, Small Children (4 years or older): ¥100, 3 years or younger: FreeTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mpk5L-living_education_funabashi_shi_chibaThu, 23 Jan 2020 15:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mpk5L-living_education_funabashi_shi_chibahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zDRxZ-living_familylife_tokyoSince a few months ago I became the mum of a little boy. Even though I have never experienced raising children in my home country of Germany, I have already realized that there are quite a few differences in raising kids, especially babies, in Japan. Let's have a look in some of these differences I experience almost every day in my daily life here in Japan.After birthMost of the people nowadays are giving birth in a hospital or at a birthing clinic. In Germany, especially if it is a natural birth, usually the mum can go home the next day and rest there. Not in Japan!Usually you have to stay at least 5 days at the hospital to recover, where they also will show you how to deal with the baby. When I had to stay that long in the hospital I first thought it was a joke on the part of the doctors. I just wanted to go home and enjoy my new life with the baby and not deal all the time with other screaming babies or nurses who are checking if everything is all right every hour. Instead of getting some rest I felt mostly very exhausted. Luckily I could leave the hospital one day earlier, after I complained so much.Also it is very common in Japan that moms with their babies are going back to their family home for the first month to get some support. I guess this is something very rare in western countries. Usually the new parents have to deal with the new situation alone and get help from the grandparents sometimes.Going out with a babyAfter a few days after birth moms are usually going out with their babies to strengthen them. Usually this already happens on the second or third day. Actually that is the German way.In Japan it is very rare that a baby leaves the house before he or she is one month old. A newborn babies is considered here as very weak and can get sick easily, that's why you shouldn't go out that early. It's really interesting that this is so different. That's why I often got shocking looks from people when I told them how young my baby still was. Actually going out with the baby is not only good for the baby, but also for the mother. Sitting all the time at home, especially during the first months, can be very depressing. Always bare feetSomething which is not only common for babies in Japan but also for many adults is that people often walk barefoot everywhere. Of course, for summer that is totally OK, but why does a baby need to have bare feet during the cold winter season? Especially when the rest of the body is wrapped in many clothes, but the feet are bare. Even though many people say that kids are so healthy that it doesn't matter, I don't feel comfortable with it. I mostly dress the opposite way, since my kid is always sweating he rarely wears any thick clothes, but always socks.Baby strollerUnfortunately I always have to use a baby stroller to move around the city, since I can not carry my baby on my back, that's why it was very important for me to have a very stable and convenient baby stroller. All Japanese strollers were already so low that it was not an option for me. In the end I bought one from Europe. A stroller carry-cot were the baby (newborn up to 10 months) can lay down flat is very common, at least in Europe, but in Japan I'm catching all the attention with my baby stroller. Often people think that I carry around dogs in it since the style is very similar to those made for pets.How about your experiences with raising babies/kids in Japan. Do you have similar experiences?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zDRxZ-living_familylife_tokyoTue, 31 Dec 2019 17:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zDRxZ-living_familylife_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wZ7Ej-living_shibukawa_shi_gummaDuring a nice autumn day I just used the chance to travel to the small town of Ikaho in Gunma Prefecture. Ikaho is a very popular hot spring town with a flair of the 50s, which has two different kinds of hot spring water -- the golden water (Kogane-no-yu) is rich in iron which makes the water turn brown when it is exposed to the air. It is said that Kogane-no-yu hot water will help to ease muscle pains. And then there is the silver water (Shirogane-noyu) which is transparent and clear and will help you to get new energy after an illness.Both of Ikaho's hot spring waters are very enjoyable and if you have the chance, you should try both. Ikaho is also well known for its very long stone staircase (with 365 steps) around the hot spring area, where the hot water runs through the middle of the stairs and you can see the hot-water steam. You may have seen this place already in many famous Japanese dramas. During the autumn season Ikaho is also a very popular destination to enjoy the autumn foliage. Especially the town's little Kajika bridge which is an old, red Japanese wooden bridge just behind the huge stone staircase. You can reach Kajika bridge in a 10-minute walk or use a bus to go there. Around the bridge are many little maple trees which are shining in beautiful reds and oranges during the autumn season. Also, this spot will be lit up in the evening during the fall. Unfortunately this spot is very popular so it's recommended to go there very early in the morning to avoid the crowds.We also found another very beautiful spot just next to the popular stone steps of Ikaho. Just in front of the old vacation house of the Hawaiian Minister is a little pond on a hill surrounded by yellow and red maple and ginkgo trees. Especially on a sunny day it looks amazingly beautiful and you can also take a look down to the rest of the city. If you are going to Ikaho by car I also recommend to go on a short drive up the mountain to the Takane Observation Deck on Mt. Takane. From there you will have a beautiful view over the city and the surrounding mountains. Also, in spring, you can take a small walk around the nearby park which is full with hundreds of plum trees. Besides many good hot springs in the Ikaho area you can also visit many interesting museums like the Gunma Glass Art Museum, Ikaho Toy Museum or the Takehisa Yumeji Museum. Nearby is the beautiful Lake Haruna, which is located at the foot of the volcano Haruna high up in the mountains just a few kilometers away from Ikaho. It is a very popular camping spot because of the chilly temperatures even in summer. You can also go on a swan boat ride on the lake or just take a walk by the lakeside, which is really nice. In winter, it is even possible to skate on the lake. How to get to Ikaho:It takes around two hours by train (Shinkansen) from Tokyo to Takasaki and then you have to change to JR Joetsu line trains until Shibukawa Station from where you take the Kanetsu Kotsu bus bound for Ikaho Onsen. This bus will bring you to the center of Ikaho in around 20 minutes.It is also possible to use a direct bus from Shinjuku Station or Tokyo Station to Ikaho, which runs around 10 times per day. The whole trip takes around 2.5 hours one way and costs 3,000 yen. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wZ7Ej-living_shibukawa_shi_gummaTue, 10 Dec 2019 19:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wZ7Ej-living_shibukawa_shi_gummahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY5Ry-food_tokyoUsually I'm not very keen on experimenting, especially with drinks and food. Most of my life I was just a water person and only for special occasions I drink something else. But there are some days even I want to try something new. It´s really rare but those days exist. When I walked yesterday in a convenience store I got stuck at the tea section. Between the normal green tea versions there was one tea , which was very outstanding: a cheese tea.The description said “Japanese tea meets cream cheese”. Cream cheese in a tea? This sounds very weird to me. I mean I really love cream cheese in cakes or on my bread, but not in a drink. After shaking the drink very well, I took a first sip. First you just taste the normal tea flavor, but afterwards the cream cheese is coming out. To be honest it was one of my worst drinks I´ve ever had. The combination with cheese is really not good. The taste is too strong and gave me a very bad feeling afterwards. If you want to try something new, this might be a good choice, but if you are picky like me, keep away from it!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY5Ry-food_tokyoWed, 27 Nov 2019 11:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY5Ry-food_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GW4Z9-living_familylife_tokyoBeing a new mum since a few months ago, there are many celebrations and traditional rituals which have to be watched out for in an international relationship. For Christians, the baptism of baby is once such important ritual. In Japan, on the other hand, the 100th day after the baby's birth is a special occasion for a celebration.This special Japanese celebration is called "okuizome" and it has a long history -- more than 900 years. During the ceremony the infant will be fed using chopsticks (imitatively) for the first time in their life. Special small lacquerware dishes set on a high-feet table (black for boys and red for girls) are used during the okuizome ceremony. Of course, there is also special food to eat. Usually the menu, which is called iwaizen, includes a soup dish, three sides dishes and a whole sea bream. There is also a special order in feeding the dishes to the child, but nowadays people are not so picky about that anymore.Also, a small stone, which is usually from a shrine nearby, is given to the infant to let it teeth on it as part of the ceremony. Many traditional Japanese restaurants offer okuizume menu for babies if you request them in advance. Unfortunately, the restaurant we wanted to visit at the time of our okuizume couldn't prepare the fish, which is one of the important parts of the ceremony. We had to bring and prepare the fish by ourselves, which was a little bit bothering, but in the end the menu was very reasonable without the fish.One of the wonderful points of this celebration is that usually the whole family is coming together to celebrate a new, small life and enjoy good food. We also used the occasion as a chance to take some photos at the shrine together and afterwards went to the restaurant. I also liked it that we got as a small present the special stone and very cute chopsticks with rabbits on them.Like with the restaurant we went to for okuizome, many may offer to take a photo of the ceremony and the whole family. Afterwards we got as many printouts as we wanted, which is really a very nice memory. Even though this ceremony was very new to me and sometimes a little bit awkward, I really enjoyed it to get a glimpse into this Japanese tradition, which is unfortunately getting less and less popular with many people having already forgotten about it. Have anybody of you also experienced this celebration? I really like to hear your opinion. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GW4Z9-living_familylife_tokyoFri, 22 Nov 2019 11:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GW4Z9-living_familylife_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK1ZD-food_tea_fujieda_shi_shizuokaLast week while strolling around the supermarket and looking for something new to try for the cold winter season here in Japan, my eyes got stuck at the tea section. Usually I can find only different kind of green teas in that area, that's why I was really surprised to see a pack of Matcha au lait. It sounded very interesting to me, especially as I love milk drinks, so I gave it a try. Matcha Au Lait or Green tea milk by Mitsui Norin is produced in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture one of the main regions of Japanese tea cultivation. From Shizuoka Prefecture comes almost half of all Japanese green tea. Since my husband is from the neighboring town, I've been very often to Fujieda and had a stroll through the tea plantations there and enjoyed a cup of tea. Since I know the town very well, I was very curious to try something green tea-related from that area. The package of Matcha Au Lait has 10 sticks full of 100 % matcha powder. You only have to put one stick in a cup of tea and pour over 120 ml of water. Each stick has 12 g of matcha powder. Mix it well and wait one minute till it is ready to drink. You can also drink it cold. Just use the same amount of cold water and mix it well. As it is normal with green tea, the powder does not dissolve completely, but deposits in the cup. Do not worry. It is not harmful and can be easily drunk without problems.During the winter season the hot version is really perfect for me. The Matcha au lait is very creamy even without real milk (but it has powdered milk) and the green tea taste is very strong. I have already tried many other Matcha au lait brands, but this one was really the best. It is not watery nor does it have a thin taste. Also, what is very important for me, there is no sweetness at all in the tea, even though it contains some sugar. You can really enjoy the full power of matcha, which is perfect together with some Japanese sweets like mochi or wagashi. Also, the price of around 350 Yen for 10 sticks of Matcha au lait is very reasonable and really a must buy. Are you curious now? Just check out your local supermarket. For sure you can find it there!This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK1ZD-food_tea_fujieda_shi_shizuokaMon, 18 Nov 2019 10:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK1ZD-food_tea_fujieda_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MgXRl-living_tokyoIt's autumn foliage season in Tokyo already and you can see everywhere trees changing their dresses and becoming yellow/red or already losing all of their leaves. There are many places and parks in Tokyo where you can enjoy the colorful autumn days. Since I've already been to many places I want to introduce my three favorite spots for autumn leaves in Tokyo:Koshikawa Korakuen GardenThe Koshikawa Korakuen Garden can be found in the heart of Tokyo just next to Tokyo Dome in Bunkyo ward.The garden was originally built in 1629 by the founder of the Mito branch of Tokugawa. Many Chinese elements can be found in the Koshikawa Korakuen from the adviser Zhu Zhiyu, who helped create the garden's design. The beautiful full moon bridge (Engetsu-kyo) is for sure the most visible sign of that Chinese influence. If you visit the park in the morning you can see a beautiful reflection in the small canal under the bridge. Also, the name Korakuen was derived from Chinese and means “Worry before all worries in the world and enjoy after all enjoyments in the world”.Especially during the autumn season Koshikawa Korakuen is very beautiful, when all the Japanese maple trees around the bridges and the huge pond in the middle of the park are turning red. Access: Iidabashi station (Oedo line, Tozai Line, Yurakucho Line, Namboku Line), Korakuen station (Marunouchi & Namboku Line), Iidabashi & Suidobashi station (JR Line)Entrance fee: 300 yen (Please note, that using a wheelchair or stroller is not possible in the garden)Mizumoto ParkProbably, you have never heard of the Mizumoto Park even though it is the largest park in Tokyo. Mizumoto Park lies at the northeastern side of Tokyo just next to the boarder with Chiba Prefecture. Large and small canals drawn from the Koaidame flood control basin run through the park giving it a nice riverside look.Mizumoto Park has many things to offer for people who love nature and the outdoors, like bird watching, a beautiful Metasequoia forrest, which looks really amazing during the autumn season, sports fields, a camp ground and more. Since the park is mostly known only to locals you don't have to expect many people there, even during the autumn and cherry blossom season. Access:Kanamachi station (JR Joban Line, Chiyoda Line and Keisei Line)From the station it takes about 20 to 25 minutes on foot. (Approx. 2km). Bus services are also available.Rikugien GardenLike Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Rikugien is a kaiyu-style (circuit style) garden with small hills and a huge pond in the middle of the garden. The park was constructed in 1702 by the lord of Kawagoe. During the autumn foliage season you can join a special event at the Rikugien garden. From the end of November to mid-December the whole garden will be lit up in the evening. Only during that time many trees in Rikugien are specially illuminated in different colors. It is recommended to go to the light up event at Rikugien during the week and not at the weekend, otherwise it is amazingly crowded. The park has extra long opening hours during that time (until 9 pm). You can also use the opportunity and visit one of the two tea houses, which offer delicious green tea with a small dessert in a beautiful atmosphere. Even though the autumn season is one of the best times to visit Rikugien, you can find beautiful flower and plants the whole year around. Absolutely worth a visit!Access: Komagome station (JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo Mero Namboku Line) or Sengoku station (Mita Line)Entrance fee: 300 yen (Wheelchair & stroller friendly)Have you visit one of the garden/parks during the autumn season? Did you like it?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MgXRl-living_tokyoTue, 12 Nov 2019 10:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MgXRl-living_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNYkl-living_education_chuo_ku_tokyoThe summer is over in Japan (even though it is still hot) and we are looking forward to the beautiful autumn season in Japan. Even though in most of the regions of Japan the autumn foliage hasn't started yet, you can still enjoy beautiful nature at the moment. For me October is one of the best months to explore Japan. Everything is still green and blooming and the weather is mostly good, too. I used the good weather to explore the Hamarikyu Gardens, a traditional Japanese garden in the heart of Tokyo close to the emperor's palace. Hamarikyu Gardens belonged to the famous shogun family Tokugawa and was used as a outer fortification and hunting area of the imperial palace. Due to its proximity to the sea you could also catch fish there. The garden underwent many changes in its design over the years until it finally received its present form under the Shogun Ienari. After the Second World War, the imperial family donated the property to the city of Tokyo.Right after the main entrance (Otemon gate) you will see one of the main attractions of the garden: a 300 years old pine tree. The tree is really very impressive but the heavy branches need to be supported with wooden posts, otherwise they would break off.After crossing a small wooden bridge you will find yourself standing in a huge field of flowers. Depending on the season you can always see different kind of flowers in this area of Hamarikyu Gardens. During my visit the fields were full of cosmos flowers and a huge cactus. October is the perfect time if you want to see cosmos flowers. You can also find many different red spiders lilies throughout in the park in autumn.In the heart of the garden is the lake Shioirinoike, which is a sea water lake. You will find many fish there, which you usually only see in the ocean. The lake even has a low and high tide, although the water level is automatically regulated by locks. The garden also has three small tea houses, but only one allows visitors to enter. The Tsubame no Ochaya, the Matsu no Ochaya and the Nakajima no Ochaya are all reconstructed, because all suffered significant damage during the Second World War and afterwards. In the middle of the lake lies the tea house Nakajima-no-ochaya, from which you have a beautiful view over the Hamarikyu Gardens and you can just relax a bit with a cup of green tea.Something very special for this Japanese garden is that it has his own landing stage of the Water Bus Ferry, which travels from Asakusa via Hamarikyu to Hinode Port. The entrance fee for the garden is included if you use the ferry. If you want to have a great view over the whole of the Hamarikyu Gardens, don't miss the chance to stop by the Caretta Shiodome building, just next to the garden. Take the elevator from the underground of the building to their Sky deck on the 46th floor. From there you will have a great view over the garden, the old Tsukiji fish market, the emperor's palace and even Odaiba with its beautiful Rainbow Bridge. The sky deck is free, but you can also use the chance to visit some of the nearby restaurants on the floor, which all have a great view. Opening hours:09:00 – 17:00 (closed from December 29 to January 1)Entrance fee: 300 yenOther notes : Most of the ways are wheelchair and stroller friendlyAddress: Hamarikyu Gardens: 1-1 Hamarikyuteien, Chūō, Tokyo 104-0046By train:Shiodome station (Toei Oedo line & Yurikamome line)Shimbashi station ( Ginza line, Asakusa Line, Yurikamome line & JR Line)Hamamatsucho station (JR Line & Monorail)By boat:Tokyo Water Bus from Asakusa to Hamarikyu (ca. 35 min.)Fee 980 Yen (park entrance included)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNYkl-living_education_chuo_ku_tokyoFri, 25 Oct 2019 16:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNYkl-living_education_chuo_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY5ym-living_tokyoBesides the crazy humid heat there is another thing, which stands for the Japanese summer: cockroaches! As soon the humid hot season starts, you can find them really everywhere. Especially in very old houses it is very hard not to be bothered by them, since they really go every small gap they can find. But also in new houses/apartment cockroaches can be a problem. I live in a very new apartment building on the 4 th floor and still have to deal with those little bothering cockroaches. Luckily I never had one inside our apartment, but unfortunately regularly outside on our balcony in summer. After a few years I´ve got used to see cockroaches and know how to deal with them. On the other side my Japanese husband still gets panic when he see them.After all there is one thing I realized this summer. Since it is very hot every day in Tokyo (always over 35 degree), even cockroaches seems to struggle. Actually our balcony has sun most of the day and the temperature is getting up to 50-60 degree during the afternoon on the floor. It's really not a place to be for anyone.When I´ve put out my laundry on the balcony yesterday, I was really surprised to see a cockroaches lying on the floor. Indeed it was not alive anymore. Lying upside down in the sun, it seems like it got a heat shock und was now melting on the amazing hot floor. Even I don´t like cockroaches I felt kind of sad for that small animal dying of such a cruel way, but luckily in that way there was not much to do for me except to throw it away. How about you, any interesting experiences with cockroaches in your house?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY5ym-living_tokyoWed, 07 Aug 2019 17:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY5ym-living_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z4yao-living_transportation_education_galleries_mito_shi_ibarakiThe summer heat finally arrived in Tokyo with people feeling like melting where ever they go. If you have problems with the humid hot climate of summer in Japan like me, it is always a good idea to look for good alternatives to cool off a bit. The northern part of Japan is luckily still a little bit fresher and can be reached easily from Tokyo by train or car for a day trip. My goal for the last Sunday was the small town of Mito, which is located in the prefecture of Ibaraki, just two hours away from Tokyo by car. Mito is very popular for its Kairakuen Garden where you can enjoy thousands of beautiful plum trees with over one hundred different varieties during the spring time, but also in summer or autumn the garden is really a nice place. Just next to the bus stop of Kairakuen Station is the very impressive Tokiwa Shrine, which was founded in 1875. The shrine is enshrined by Tokugawa Nariaki (the founder of the nearby Kodokan school) and Tokugawa Mitsukuni (daimyo of the Mito area). There is also a small Inari shrine with small red gates, which make for a very nice photo spot. The main entrance of Kairakuen Garden is just next to the shrine on a small hill. The park opened in 1942 and was not built only for feudal lords (like Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Korakuen in Okayama) but also for commoners. Tokugawa Nariaki started the landscape gardening project, because he wanted to have a garden which can be enjoyed by everyone. You will find modern designs as well as formal landscapes of Japanese Gardens at Kairakuen. Besides the beautiful plum trees in spring, you can also enjoy a bamboo grove (which looks kind of similar to the one in Arashiyama, Kyoto), cedar woods, cherry blossoms, azaleas and Japanese clovers during the four seasons. The best part of Kairakuen Garden for me was the beautiful Kobuntei, which is a historic three-story wooden building. Tokugawa Nariaki also created the building and set the location of the building in the garden. Writers and artists were invited to the house, where Tokugawa hosted parties and events. In 1945 the building was completely burned down as a result of an aerial attack, but was rebuilt in 1955. The name of the place is just another name for Japanese plums, which originated from China.The house can be visited for a small few of 200 yen. There are several private rooms of the lord and his wife. In particular, all the beautiful paintings (cherry blossoms, red Japanese maple trees, bamboo trees…) on the walls and doors make it really worth a visit. Also the great view over the nearby garden and the Senba Lake is really impressive. You can also find many unique Japanese design elements in the rooms like the different designed doors made of bamboo or cedar wood. The third floor of the building also has a very beautiful round window, which is perfect for photos. AccessKairakuen Garden can be reached from Mito Station (Joban Line, Mito Line, Suigun Line or Oarai-Kashima Line) by bus in around 15 minutes or on foot in around 30 minutes. There are several frequent busses, which are running from the north exit, especially during the plum peak season. Just next to the garden is also the Kairakuen station. Unfortunately trains are stopping there only during the plum blossom season in February and March. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z4yao-living_transportation_education_galleries_mito_shi_ibarakiMon, 29 Jul 2019 13:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z4yao-living_transportation_education_galleries_mito_shi_ibarakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8rna-living_shopping_transportation_howto_aomori_shi_aomoriFor most Japan visitors, and also if you are moving to Japan, visiting the big cities like Tokyo, Osaka or Hiroshima is quiet common. But after a while the Japanese countryside becomes more interesting for many people, too, being very different from the bigger cities as well as having a great deal to offer, from great nature to historic sides, cultural experiences to the delicious food. Unfortunately, a trip to the Japanese countryside can be sometimes a little bit tricky if you don't speak Japanese, and there are other problems which are very typical and for which you should be prepared. TransportationAs in many countries the transportation system at the countryside of Japan is not that good. Depending on where you are a bus might run only once per day. That's why it is very important then to check beforehand the bus times, otherwise you may find yourself stuck or having to use an expensive taxi. Another negative thing is that it is really rare to find any English bus signs in these parts. Usually all signage is written in Japanese only and if you are not familiar with the area it can be very tricky to find the right bus stop even if you can read kanji. On the other hand the rural bus drivers are often way more relaxed and helpful since they are not in such a hurry. Usually the best and easiest way to get around the Japanese countryside is with your own car or a rent-a-car.Friendly helpful peopleOne of the big differences between the city and the countryside in Japan is the people. In rural Japan you will find many friendly and helpful people, who are not scared of foreigners. On the contrary, in the city I've never met so many people who like to get in contact with me while walking through their town or in their stores. Especially the older generation is very curious and not shy about talking to foreigners, but also be aware that usually the whole town will watch you walking around.Everything closes earlyVery typical for the countryside in Japan is that stores and restaurants close very early or don't even open on some days. Especially if you want to go out for dinner in the evening, you will often find yourselves standing in front of closed doors. Some research beforehand is really helpful otherwise you might end up with a convenience store meal!Cash onlyPlease be aware that usually you can only pay with cash at restaurants and stores in the countryside. The use of credit card is really rare so you should always carry enough cash with you. Book your accommodation in advanceIn the countryside hotels are few and far between, or in case of a popular destination, they can be booked out very fast. Always be aware to book your accommodation in advance otherwise you might have to stay very far away from your preferred destination. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8rna-living_shopping_transportation_howto_aomori_shi_aomoriFri, 12 Jul 2019 19:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8rna-living_shopping_transportation_howto_aomori_shi_aomorihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrvqg-living_shopping_education_chiyoda_ku_tokyoThe well known Japanese animation legend Takahata Isao (勲 畑 勲, born in Ujiyamada, Mie Prefecture) was a director and producer of many famous anime series and films. His works Heidi, Girl of the Alps, Anne of Green Gables and Grave of the Fireflies are especially popular around the world. Takahata Isao was also a co-founder of the animation studio, Studio Ghibli, where he worked on many projects like Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Only Yesterday, Pom Poko and The Tale of Princess Kaguya.Takahata died at the age of 82 on April 5, 2018 in Tokyo (lung cancer). In Takahata's honor, an exhibition about his life and works can be viewed from July 2 until October 6, 2019 at the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo -- Takahata Isao – A Legend In Japanese Animation ExhibitionThe exhibition starts with a walk through a little bamboo forest, where you can listen to the music of the movie, "The Tale Princess Kaguya", which was also the final movie as a director for Takahata. The next two rooms will bring you to the life story of Takahata and a huge timeline of his works, but also about other famous anime and events during the same time. Takahata also talks in some videos about his passion for animated films and how he got interested in animation.After that you can explore many smaller rooms featuring his old and new works. The rooms show the developing of animated expressions in many scripts and scenes. Starting with his very old works from the 60s, “Ken, the wild boy” and “Little Norse Prince Valiant” to the newer works of “Adventure of Panda and friends”, Heidi, Girl of the Alps” and “Anne of Green Gables”. Every anime gets its own small area where you can see scripts, small movies and also the original places of the landscapes. In particular the anime, Heidi, girl of the Alps gets its own very huge area where you can also find a miniature version of the Alpine town and house in which Heidi lives.The last part of the Takahata Isao exhibition is about his time working at Studio Ghibli. You will get an insight into the works of “Grave of the Fireflies”, “Only Yesterday”, “Pom Poko”, “My Neighbors the Yamadas” and “The Tale of Princess Kaguya”.One of most impressive parts of the exhibition for me was a huge wall picture of the Grave of the Fireflies, where many small fireflies were lit up. Even though the anime itself is very sad, this picture looked amazing beautiful. At the end of the exhibition is a small store, where you can get different kinds of goods from most of the anime featured in the A Legend In Japanese Animation Exhibition. Most of the products are limited to the exhibition so cannot be bought anywhere else. Close to the entrance/exit of the exhibition you can take a look into Heidi's alpine hut. The hut is in its original size and beautifully decorated in detail. You can also meet Heidi's lazy dog there. The whole of the Takahata Isao exhibition is in Japanese and English (some parts also have Chinese/Korean), which is really great for foreign visitors. It is also possible to get an audio guide for 550 yen. Takahata Isao – A Legend In Japanese Animation Exhibition is absolutely recommended for fans of Takahata Isao and his works. Since the exhibition space is very large, you should plan 1-2 hours for a visit.Entrance fee: Adult = 1,500 yen, Students = 1,100 yen, Children = 600 yenOpening hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (closed on Mondays, July 16, August 13, September 17, September 24)Access: 3 minutes walk from Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Takebashi Station Exit 1bTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrvqg-living_shopping_education_chiyoda_ku_tokyoThu, 04 Jul 2019 10:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrvqg-living_shopping_education_chiyoda_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MnmJ4-living_education_matsudo_shi_chibaUsually from the beginning of June to mid-July the rainy season (in Japanese, "tsuyu") affects most parts of Japan. Two exceptions are Okinawa (where tsuyu begins in May) and northern Japan (Hokkaido, Tohoku) were it is way later than in other parts of Japan. During the rainy season it doesn't rain every day but the weather is very unstable, from a very sunny hot days to a very cold rainy days, all is possible. That's why many people avoid traveling around during the season. One of the good points of the rainy season in Japan is the beautiful flowers which bloom only in June. Hydrangea and iris are the most popular and you will find them pretty much everywhere. In particular hydrangea is the typical rainy season flower and many parks and traditional Japanese gardens have different kinds and colors of the flower. Around Tokyo the most famous spots for beautiful hydrangea gardens are most of the temples in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, like the Hasedera or Meigetsuin Temple, and Hondoji Temple in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture. Since I've been to Kamakura very often, I wanted to try out a new spot and decided to go to Matsudo, a city really close to Tokyo but mostly known only by locals. Hondoji Temple can be reached from Tokyo by JR Joban Line (or Chiyoda Subway Line, which will change to the Joban line). Get off at Kita-Kogane Station and walk around 10 minutes north. A small street with different kinds of local food and small restaurants will lead you to the temple area. The Buddhist temple Hondoji was founded in 1269. Since then it is a very nice spot to see hydrangea flowers in their huge garden. The temple area itself is really impressive, with many old wood temple buildings, a huge five-story pagoda and the red Deva Gate, which is the entrance of the park area. After paying an entrance fee of 500 yen (children 300 yen) you will get a small prospect about the history of the area and the seasonal flowers (English is available). Right after the entrance you will find yourself standing in front of the beautiful five-storied pagoda, which stands on a little hill surrounded by different kinds of hydrangea. Also, the main temple building is just right behind the entrance, but for most of the people the main reason to visit the temple is the beautiful garden, which is behind the main building. After walking to the smaller Garden of Hydrangea you will reach a small pond where you can see around 5,000 irises bloom only in June and only for a few days. Unfortunately you need to be very lucky to see both at the same time. During my visit all irises were already gone. There are also several benches for taking a rest around the pond and to enjoy the green nature. Right behind the pond is the Zoshi-do (Hall of Nichiro Shonin) where you can find a statue of Nichizo Shonin who is enshrined with Kishimojin (Mother of Devil). After WWII, orphaned children were raised at a house in the temple area. The main garden for seeing hydrangea also has a small pond, several temple buildings and a small pagoda. You can walk between many small narrow walkways and explore the garden. Especially in June, when everything is blooming in different colors, it is a really nice walk. Also, on a rainy day it is a nice experience to walk around the rainy season flowers. The park at Hondoji Temple is also very beautiful during other seasons like for watching cherry blossom in March, wisteria in April, or the great red Japanese maple in autumn. It was my first visit to Hondoji Temple and I was really impressed. The whole temple area was way bigger than I expected and there are many things to see besides the flowers. It is also possible to use a wheelchair or baby car around the whole temple area, which is often rare. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MnmJ4-living_education_matsudo_shi_chibaThu, 20 Jun 2019 14:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MnmJ4-living_education_matsudo_shi_chibahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MdR4E-living_food_shopping_transportation_education_galleries_shizuokaThe Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture is a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Just a 40-minute ride on the Shinkansen, or 90 minutes by local train, will bring you to the beautiful peninsula full of nature and great beaches, especially for surfing. There are so many nice places to explore in the area that it is hard to decide where to go first. I've visited Niji No Sato amusement park, a very unique park designed in a western and Japanese styles. The park has different themed areas like the British Village, Canadian Village and the Japanese area. All of them look very authentic and fits perfectly into the beautiful surrounding mountain area.The main attractions of Niji No Sato are the old Romney Railway and the Romney Bus, which will you bring to the different villages within the park. There are four different types of the Romney Railway which are originally from England. The special thing about these trains is that they are driving on a 15-inch (about 38 cm) wide track and the train itself looks like a miniature train for kids.The train runs from the British Village to the Canadian Village in around 10 minutes, passing through the beautiful mountain area. Especially for kids and train lovers, the ride really is a must!Let's have a look at the other areas of Niji No Sato park:British Village (イギリス村)The entrance of the amusement park is a small British Village, which will send you back to good old British times. There are many authentic, old-looking British houses, which are little shops, resting areas and restaurants. You can also find a small toy museum, where you can try out different old British games.Since the Romney Railway will start from the British Village, you can also find a small train station incl. an old waiting room and even many station staff. It all looks amazingly real!There is also a small museum where you can see all kinds of trains which are used in the park (which train is used depends on the day) and also take a small ride. Even the popular station stamps can be collected there.Canada Village (カナダ村)After a short ride on the train you will arrive at Nelson Station in Canada! The small village, with its beautiful and colorful houses, looks really like an small, old Canadian town. There is a very nice playground for kids but you can also try out some outdoor games for adults or enjoy some ice cream at one of the cafes. The Indian town next to the station offers a huge adventure park with huge sliders for older kids.One of the main building hosts a kaleidoscope museum where you can enjoy 20 different kinds of kaleidoscope from Japanese and foreign artists. Fairy Garden (フェアリーガーデン)Just next to the Canadian Village is a beautiful garden full of roses and other flowers -- a perfect place for a walk and for enjoying flowers and maybe you can even hear a fairy singing.Handicraft Village (匠の村)The handicraft village also called Takumi Village is on top of a mountain. You can walk there through a beautiful hydrangea garden or just use the Romney Bus. There are several old Japanese straw houses here where you can do different kinds of handicraft like painting a treasure box, weaving something or making a ceramic bowl. It's a really nice place for kids to try out their creativity.There is also a viewing point over the mountain area from which you can see Mt. Fuji on clear days.If you love cosplay there is even an old straw house just for cosplay photo shoots. You can change your clothes there, do your make up, and use the old style house for the photo shoot. In fact, the whole park area is really cosplay friendly and perfect for taking different kinds of cosplay photos.Izu Village (伊豆の村)The small Izu Village at Niji No Sato is full of restaurants and souvenir shops. Like many villages in Izu all buildings are on the mountainside which gives the village a very nice atmosphere.There is also a small Japanese Garden with a small pond and a giant wooded bridge, which is really impressive.Niji No Sato entrance feeAdults: 1,200 yenChildren: 600 yenHow to get there:From JR Mishima Station use the Izuhakone Railway Sunzu line to Shuzenji Station (around 30 minutes).From the south exit of Shuzenji station use the Tokai Bus for around 20 minutes (Line 3 to Rainbow Town) and get off at Rainbow Town.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MdR4E-living_food_shopping_transportation_education_galleries_shizuokaWed, 19 Jun 2019 10:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MdR4E-living_food_shopping_transportation_education_galleries_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gb3b2-living_transportation_education_yokosuka_shi_kanagawaJapan has about 6,800 larger and smaller islands. Many of these islands are uninhabited and inaccessible, but some can be visited just for a day. One of those islands is Sarushima close to Yokosuka (Kanagawa Prefecture), in Tokyo bay. The island is just 10 minutes away by ferry from Mikasa Port and has an area of just 5.5 hectares. It can easily be explored in just 1 hour. Sarushima has a very interesting history. Due to its strategic position close to the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay the island was once a fortress used to protect Tokyo/Edo. Huge gun batteries and guns were placed on the island the remains of which, along with the barracks, are still visible. Just a five minute walk away from the beach you step into a totally different world. Thick French brick walls, dark tunnels and the remains of gun batteries give the island a totally different vibe. Especially the tunnels and the beautiful red bricks, which are mostly overgrown with tons of green moss, create very nice scenery. The area is famous for being the inspiration for one of the most popular Studio Ghibli anime, “Castle in the Sky”. Also, many other areas of the island are seen in popular Japanese movies and dramas. Even during my visit there were several photoshoots taking place with professional models, but also some cosplayers were using the island to get some cool photos of their game cosplay. During the summer season Sarushima is mostly used by the locals as a BBQ and swimming spot, because of the very nice sand beach. It's possible to bring all the BBQ equipment to the island, but you can also rent it out there. There is also a nice café, where you can have a snack or small lunch on a really huge terrace, which is only open from June – August. You can also find several picnic spots on the island, which have a nice views over the ocean or to Yokosuka. Also only during the summer, it is possible to join the music festival, “Tropical Disco -10 summer days-“ on Sarushima, where you can see different artists rocking the beach. Tickets for the festival can be bought in advance for 2,000 yen or "at the door" for 2,500 yen. The price for the ferry and the island entrance fee is not included and has to be payed separately. During that time the island ferry service operates longer than usual, but staying overnight at the island remains totally forbidden.Sarushima is also a very popular fishing spot. Small fishing spots are dotted everywhere along the coastline, where you can easily catch fish. You should be careful though, since strong winds from the east can be quiet dangerous. If you don't own any fishing supplies, you can also rent them out at the beach house. Sarushima is really perfect for a family trip to enjoy the beach, do some fishing or explore the history side of the island. If you want to visit the island during the summer season it is recommend to go there very early, since it gets very crowded. AccessFrom Shinagawa or Yokohama station use the Keikyu Line to Yokosuka-Chūō Station (around 60 min.). The Mikasa Pier, from where you have to take a ferry, is around 15 min. walk away from the station. The ferry leaves every hour (first one at 8:30, last one at 16:30).AdmissionThe roundtrip costs 1,500 yen, which also includes a special entrance fee of 200 yen to the island. Kids under 5 years old are free.Kids between 6-12 years old = 750 yen.Kids between 13-15 years old = 1400 yenTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gb3b2-living_transportation_education_yokosuka_shi_kanagawaWed, 15 May 2019 10:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gb3b2-living_transportation_education_yokosuka_shi_kanagawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G6YlV-living_education_galleries_tokyoUsually I don't spend much time in Japan's capital Tokyo even though I've been living here already for many years. I always like to avoid crowds, which can be very difficult in such a mega city. Of course Tokyo has a lot to offer everyone, so much so that it can be very difficult to decide what to do. Let's have a look at some exhibitions and parks I've really enjoyed during the long Golden Week this year.Ghibli Exhibition & Tokyo Metro Stamp RallyAlready months ago I was looking forward to the "Toshio Suzuki and Ghibli Exhibition" at the new exhibition hall Edocco next to the Kanda Myojin Shrine. The exhibition of the famous Studio Ghibli (My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away ..) is mostly about it's producer, Toshio Suzuki, who was involved in most of the Ghibli films and also designed the titles and advertising slogans for them. The exhibition therefore focuses primarily on calligraphy and the words he has used. If you cannot read Japanese the exhibition might be a little bit boring but there are also some nice exhibition pieces like the bathhouse (sento) from Spirited Away or the giant Yubaba / Zeniba oracle. You can also get some special designed goods which are only available during the exhibition time period at the Edocco shop and also at the Myojin Shrine. If you are a huge fan of the studio Ghibli especially of Spirited Away, I highly recommend this exhibition which runs from 04/20 to 5/12.Admission: 1,300 yen Also, there is a cooperation between Tokyo Metro and the exhibition. You can collect eight different stamps around Tokyo. Three can be found at a metro station and the others are at different restaurants and stores close to the exhibition site. All stamps have a Ghibli motif, which of course makes the hunt even better. If you have three stamps, you will get a clear file of the exhibition for free. If you collect even more, you can win a bigger price.Kameido Shrine Wisteria FestivalSince spring is a season for flowers I really love to enjoy every kind of beautiful flowers. Even the center of Tokyo has many nice parks where you can enjoy a great variety of flowers. One of my favorites is at Kameido Tenjin Shrine close to Kinshicho or Kameido station in Tokyo's Koto Ward. The shrine area has a small pond with many beautiful red bridges which invite you to take a walk. (In February you can enjoy many beautiful plum blossoms at the small garden in front of the shine.)The main season for enjoying flowers here is at the end of April to the beginning of May, when all will be full of beautiful violet wisteria hanging down everywhere. They are not only beautiful, but also have a really great smell. Even though the shrine park is not that big, it is really worth a visit. Alternatively you can also visit the Ashikaga Flower Park, 1 ½ hrs away from Tokyo in Tochigi Prefecture which and offers way more wisteria flowers. Tokyo Metro MuseumDuring spring the weather can be very changeable. In that case it is always good to have a rainy option, especially with kids. The Tokyo Metro Museum in Kasai is a really lovely museum for big and small train lovers. You can take a ride in old subway cars, try out to be a train driver at a simulator or just enjoy all the exhibition pieces. Every corner of the museum is full with lovely subway designs and most of it can be touched. Especially for kids, the museum is really a paradise. If you are a stamp collector, don't forget to bring your stamp books. You will find around 17 different stamps of all the subway lines and older trains at the museum. I really loved the museum and felt so excited when I could drive my daily subway line (Tozai Line) at the simulator. Admission: 210 yen for adults, 100 yen for kidsInokashira Park & Totoro BakeryInokashira Park is just a few meters away from either Inokashira Station or Kichijoji Station. It's a nice park for a walk, enjoying ice cream at one of the nearby cafes, or going on a boat ride. Unfortunately during Golden Week and also at the weekend it can be very difficult to get a boat or even if you get one to really have a nice boat ride on the lake. There is also a very nice shrine on a small island called Inokashira Benzaiten. If you love animals you can also have a break at the small zoo, which belongs to the Inokashira Park. After walking around in the park I really recommend visiting the Shirohige Cream Puff Factory, which is a 10 minute walk away from the park. The store is popular for its Totoro-style cream puffs, which come in different flavors like chocolate, green tea (matcha) or strawberry. The cream puffs are really huge and so cute that it is really hard to eat them. Since the Totoro cream puffs are very popular you had better get here early otherwise all of them will be sold out. Since the weather during Golden Week can be very changeable I preferred to stay more inside the outside. How about you? What did you do during Golden Week?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G6YlV-living_education_galleries_tokyoSat, 04 May 2019 10:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G6YlV-living_education_galleries_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1mbv-living_ashikaga_shi_tochigiThe Ashikaga Flower Park is very famous during the end of April/beginning of May for its beautiful wisteria flowers. You can enjoy many different kinds of wisteria from white to purple or yellow ones. Some trees are even over 150 years old and amazing huge. One of the best parts of the park are the beautiful wisteria tunnel, which you can enjoy in white and yellow. It is very nice to enjoy the park during the day time, but if you want to have something special, I really recommend to visit the park in the evening. All of the wisteria and also some other flowers like cherry blossom or azalea will be light up. The light up will start from 17:30 h and ends at 21:00 h. Also if you just visit the park only for the light up it will be more reasonable than during the day. I recommend to go there at 17:30 h, when it is still bright. In that case you can enjoy the flowers during the daylight and when it is getting dark. Right now not all flowers are fully bloom, but still half of them are showing their beauty. It is expected to see all in full bloom at the beginning of the golden week. Entrance fee:The fee is changing every day, depending on the blooming situation.Adults: 900- 1,800 yenChildren: 500- 900 yen To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1mbv-living_ashikaga_shi_tochigiTue, 23 Apr 2019 11:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1mbv-living_ashikaga_shi_tochigihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNYWx-education_tatebayashi_shi_gummaMost of the people associate spring in Japan with cherry blossom season, but there are way more other very beautiful flowers, which will also bloom during that time and really should get more attention. I had the chance to visit the Azalea festival this weekend in Gunma Tatebayashi. The Tsutsujigaoka park (Tsutsuji means Azalea) can be reached by Tobu Isesaki Line from Tokyo Asakusa or Kita Senju to Tatebayashi station in around 60 minutes. From there you can take a direct bus to the Tsutsujigaoka park. The blooming season for Azalea is from the End of April to the middle of May. Already now many flowers were fully blooming, but you could also see many which still need a little bit more time. You will have the chance to see hundreds of Azaleas in the whole park area. From white, to red and super pink flowers to very small blossom or amazing huge one. All kinds look very beautiful and are really stunning, especially the beautiful flowers tunnels, which you can find everywhere in the park. There are also many shops for souvenirs, a snack and even a restaurant for a small break or how about having a small boat ride on the nearby river. For sure you will not get bored at the park. During the festival season you will also find many volunteers, which will offer you to take a photo in front of the flowers for free. You can even dress up in a yukata/kimono and take some photos in the park if you want. Even after the Azalea festival, you can enjoy many other flowers like Hydrangea, Lotus flower, red spider lily or winter cheery blossom at the park. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNYWx-education_tatebayashi_shi_gummaMon, 22 Apr 2019 12:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNYWx-education_tatebayashi_shi_gummahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5j58-living_koto_ku_tokyoThe cherry blossom season is like a huge event for many Japanese and foreigner, especially if they come to Japan as a tourist. Every year there are different forecast for the perfect cherry blossom season in each region.If you already living for a while in Japan, the cherry blossom season might still be an exciting time, but many people like to avoid all the crowds, especially at very popular cherry blossom spots. For me who lives in the center of Tokyo it can be really difficult to avoid all those people, who are hunting for the best photo or the best hanami spot. Luckily there is also a time when the main cherry blossom haven´t started yet, but you can still enjoy some. It´s the time of the early cherry blossom, which are usually starting to bloom at the end of February (in the Kanto area) till the middle of March. There are some very popular spots like the Kawazu festival in Shizuoka to enjoy the early cherry blossoms around the whole canal area, but you can also find some trees just in your nearby park. I just used good weather today to visit the Oyoko bridge next to Kiba park in Koto-ku, Tokyo. Along the whole canal, you can find many different kinds of early cherry blossom trees. Even some are already faded, there are still many fully bloomed trees, which look so beautiful. Since for many people the cherry blossom season hasn´t started yet, you will rarely find any visitor there, which makes it perfect for a walk under the cherry trees. Also it is a good chance to take some photos in a kimono or yukata without many people in the background. For me it´s the perfect season to enjoy cherry blossom.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5j58-living_koto_ku_tokyoWed, 13 Mar 2019 13:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5j58-living_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/ME53D-living_shopping_education_tea_shimada_shi_shizuokaA walk through hundreds of tea fields in Japan's green tea prefecture Shizuoka will lead you to a very special museum. The Shizuoka Tea Museum has a lot to offer for tea lovers. A permanent exhibition about the tea of the world will give you a perfect insight into tea culture and how tea came to Japan from China.There are also many tea examples from teas around the world like blue and white tea. The exhibition also shows different tea-drinking customs, which are replicated in the form of small teahouses/rooms from China, Tibet, Turkey and Morocco. The rooms are very detailed and authentically designed to the point that you feel like being in a different country.On the next floor of the museum you can have a look into Japanese tea and tea from Shizuoka. You will get an insight into the production of tea, the history of making green tea, and also about the functionality of tea. There are many interactive experiences for kids and adults, which makes the exhibition even more enjoyable. There is also a temporary exhibition, which is changing every 3 months. During my visit it was about “The Exploration of Tea Trees' Origin - Mr. Satoru Matsushita's Tea World”It is also possible to join some tea experience courses for a small fee (depending on the course) such as “Making original blend tea”, “Grinding matcha” or joining a tea ceremony at the entrance of the museum or in the tea house next to the museum. The tea ceremony house “Shoumokurou” is a huge tea house which is a recreation of the Fushimi Magistrate's office and the Takimoto-bo of Iwashimizu Hachimangu. Just having a look inside is already a great experience. The museum's tea ceremony house is surrounded by a beautiful Japanese style garden which invites you for a walk for free. In particular, the small area behind the garden wall is very interesting. You will find many different types of small bridges, which you can cross to get to the other side of the garden. If you are getting hungry, it is also possible to have a meal or snack at the museum's restaurant & café which serves cuisine made by using ingredients grown in the prefecture. Close to the exit of the museum is also a museum shop. The shop has mostly products from the popular green tea store “Nanaya”, popular for their amazing matcha ice cream. If you want to have a deeper insight into the world of tea, especially tea from Shizuoka, this museum is a really great place for both kids and adults. Museum Hours:09:00 AM – 05:00 PM (last entry 04:30 PM)Closing days: Tuesday and New Year's HolidaysAdmission: 300 Yen for individual over 15 years oldAccess:By Train: From JR Kanaya Station (Tokaido Line) it takes around 5 minutes by Taxi/Bus (Hagima/Katsumata Line) or 25 minutes (1,5 km) on foot.This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/ME53D-living_shopping_education_tea_shimada_shi_shizuokaWed, 27 Feb 2019 12:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/ME53D-living_shopping_education_tea_shimada_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MP8Xg-living_fashion_bunkyo_ku_tokyoFor all handcraft lovers and especially if you like quilt and patchwork the huge quilt festival at the Tokyo Dome will be the right place to go for you. Around 290 works from different artists of Japan and also some of international artists can be seen at the exhibition site. All works are part of the Japan Quilt Grand Prix Contest which has seven categories (Traditional, Original, Wa, Frame Quilt, Bag, Youth, and Junior).There is also a special exhibition about the Impressionists Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin, which drawings are very popular around the world. Four Japanese quilt artists create quilts that capture the world of their favorite Impressionist painters. The works are really impressing since some works look more like a drawing than a quilt. Also NHK Educational TV Characters quilts can be found in a special exhibition, which is addressed to children.Beside the huge exhibition, there is also a small stage program, where international quilt artists talk about their quilts. On the other side you can also find many small stores, which sell everything you need for your quilts or patchwork work. One of my favorite works was about the German storyteller Grimm, which was full of their very popular fairytales.Website: https://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/quilt/From: 2019.1.24 -1.30Time: 9:30-18:00　Admission: 2100 YenTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MP8Xg-living_fashion_bunkyo_ku_tokyoMon, 28 Jan 2019 11:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MP8Xg-living_fashion_bunkyo_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3ZDk-food_shopping_tokyoJapan has an amazing variety of limited special flavors for sweets and snacks. Many are created around a season like cherry blossom flavor or sweet potato for autumn. KitKat is the most well known brand for limited flavors, but there is also a snack version. Americas snack giant Pringles also produces many different flavors, which are only available in Japan. There are potato chips with the flavor of cheeseburger, consomme, wasabi seaweed, green curry, takoyaki and many others. During the winter sukiyaki, a stew consisting of sliced beef, tofu, Konnyaku noodles, onions, Chinese cabbage and Enoki mushrooms, is a very popular dish around many families. I also love it very much to sit around a hot pot and enjoy the delicious food.It is not a big surprise, that Pringles also produced a Sukiyaki potato chips limited version. The version comes in three small tins with 53 g inside for a price of 1080 Yen. Since I really love the flavor of Sukiyaki I was expecting a lot. Unfortunately it was really disappointing to try them out. The chips are tasting very weird and have nothing to do with sukiyaki. Moreover it tastes a little bit like smoked chips with some salt. As a huge chips lover it was really disappointing and I couldn´t even finish the package. Have you ever tried one of the Japan only Pringles flavor? How was your experience, are they worth it?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3ZDk-food_shopping_tokyoTue, 08 Jan 2019 16:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3ZDk-food_shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/we8EJ-living_transportation_sapporo_shi_hokkaido_akita_nakatsugawa_shi_gifu_onomichi_shi_hiroshima_imabari_shi_ehimeA new year and a new time for traveling around Japan. One of my biggest hobbies for sure is to explore Japan and its small islands. I've already been to many popular tourist spots as well as hidden treasure places in Japan, but still there are so many places to see. Let's take a look at my travel plans for 2019:Sapporo Snow festivalThe year will start with the Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, which runs from 4th to 11th February. The main event of the festival is along the huge Odori street, which is just a few steps away from Sapporo Station. Along the street you can see many fantastic giant ice and snow statues, which are created by the citizens of Sapporo and the Ground Self-Defense Force. Especially in the evening when all will be lit up it is really amazing and romantic. A little bit outside close to the Tsudome Community dome, you can enjoy snow slides, a labyrinth and other ice and snow activities for kids and adults. Kiso Valley: Magome-Tsumago TrailThe Magome-Tsumago trail is a route which ran along the old Nakasendo road, which was used during the Edo period to go from Tokyo to Kyoto. The trail goes along the mountains and forrest to the two small villages of Magome and Tsumago. Both villages are old post towns full of old wood houses. Usually I would have wanted to walk the whole Nakasendo road, but since my friend and I don't have enough time, we have decided to walk at least this small part. Also, we want to stay in an old wooden school in Magome, which is now a hostel for all the backpackers in that area. Akita prefecture: Riding on the Gono Line and visit Akita dogsI already had plans to visit Akita Prefecture two times last year. Unfortunately, the first time I wanted to go, there was a huge storm in that area so I had to cancel that trip. During the second time my pet got very sick and I couldn't go. The main reason to visit the prefecture is, for me, a ride on the Gono Line (Resort Shirakami), which is a special panorama view train along the coastline of the prefecture with many great views. The train runs from Hirosaki to Akita city. Since the train itself is a normal local train, the whole trip takes 5 hrs and you need a reservation in advance. There is also some live music on the train performed by artists from the area. Another good reason to visit the prefecture are the Moto Waterfall. the Tsurunoma Bridge or the hometown of the Akita dog, Odate.Shimanami kaido – Shikoku's bicycle roadOne of my biggest travel projects for 2019 is a bicycle tour on the Shimanami kaido. The route starts at Onomichi Port (Hiroshima Prefecture) and will bring you along six smaller islands to the goal of Imabari in Shikoku. The Shimanami kaido is 70 km long and is the only way you can travel on foot or by bicycle between Shikoku and Honshu. The bicycle route is well maintained and marked.Also, it is separated from the expressway for cars. You can rent a bicycle in both cities and also along the route. For experienced riders it is possible to go the whole way in one day. Along the route you will have fantastic views over the Seto Inland Sea and other small islands. The price for a rental bicycle depends on the company and what kind of bicycle you would like to have. Usually you will pay around 1,000 – 10,000 yen for one day.These are my bigger travel plans for 2019 in Japan. Usually I also go on many small trips, which I didn't pick up for this post. How about you? Do you have any plans to travel around Japan this year?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/we8EJ-living_transportation_sapporo_shi_hokkaido_akita_nakatsugawa_shi_gifu_onomichi_shi_hiroshima_imabari_shi_ehimeMon, 07 Jan 2019 10:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/we8EJ-living_transportation_sapporo_shi_hokkaido_akita_nakatsugawa_shi_gifu_onomichi_shi_hiroshima_imabari_shi_ehimehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr3jg-living_food_medical_health_tokyoChristmas and New Year celebrations are usually full of joy and happiness for most of us, especially all the delicious food like Christmas cookies, chicken/turkey/duck and the osechi set (traditional Japanese New Year food). Unfortunately, after all the festivities are over most of us feel kind of guilty that we gained some extra kilos on our hips. Although Japanese dishes are very healthy, there are also many (ramen, tempura, sushi) and you can really gain weight, if you overdo it.Japanese women are the masters of dieting but most of the ways they lose weight is not really good for their body. There are also hundreds of magazines offering advice on how to lose weight, but it is hard to find out which methods are really effective. For all those who really struggle with their weight or who just ate too much during the festive season I have some advice, which will help you to bring your body back into shape. Fish and seafoodThere are tons of vitamins and proteins in fish and seafood making it very healthy food and also a reason why the Japanese live longer than many other nations. I know it is very hard but unfortunately the most popular dishes of sushi and sashimi are actually less healthy than grilled or steamed fish. Sushi, especially tuna, is very greasy so going to a kaitensushi restaurant and eating tons of sushi is not really a good idea if you want to lose weight. Better to choose some grilled fish, which is often served in restaurants with some pickles, rice and miso soup. All of which contains what your body needs for the day in a good amount. Rice and vegetablesA bowl of rice and some vegetables is always a good choice, but don't overdo it. Especially rice -- refills are often free at many Japanese restaurants but you should avoid ordering another bowl. Instead of rice, more vegetables is the better choice. Snacks & SweetsEverybody loves them: A mochi here, a short cake there or those really great rice crackers. Japanese sweets and snacks always look so great and taste very delicious but eating them too often can be a pain, when your new dress doesn't fit anymore. Although it can be hard to resist the temptation there is also a healthy alternative to these snacks and sweets. Fruit, especially Japanese fruit, is also very sweet, but they have more vitamins and are healthier. How about some fruit as an alternative, instead of having every day some chocolate or cake?Water & teaCalpis and other soft drinks readily available in Japan are very tasty but full of sugar. Instead, water or tea, especially Japanese green tea, are way healthier for your body. Green tea has many beneficial and preventive effects for your body. You can find many different kinds of teas in Japan, such that you will never get bored of them. SportIn the end, exercise is a very important factor reducing weight. Everyday 30 minutes of jogging or even just always using the stairs instead of the escalator are the best way get going in the right direction. Even if you just use your bicycle every day to work it will affect your fitness and body. The most important thing is that you really do your workout regularly. That means every day. Of course, something you like doing for this will work out the best. Better to set yourself a goal beforehand, otherwise it can be very hard to move your butt.I hope those tips will help you to get the body you want after the festive season, but don't overdo it. Loosing too much weight in a short time isn't good for your body and often it will not stay long. Better to work on it constantly, without changing your lifestyle too much. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr3jg-living_food_medical_health_tokyoFri, 04 Jan 2019 13:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr3jg-living_food_medical_health_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5jP9-shopping_minato_ku_tokyoNew Year in Japan has many different aspects, like the traditional part of visiting a shrine during the first days of the New Year (Hatsumode), watching the first sunrise of the year or enjoying Japanese New Year food called Osechi. On the other side the first week of January is also the week of the super sales at many department stores and also for lucky bags (fukubukuro). You can get lucky bags at many different stores from clothes, popular anime, toys or even food. Depending on in what you are interested, you can find very good deals, especially for anime and toy products. The price for a lucky bag depends on the store, but usually you can check beforehand what is inside. In the case of clothes you can usually choose between different size bags. There are some lucky bags which sell out very fast, like those of the Pokemon center or from the Ghibli store “Donguri”. If you are hunting for those, you have to go very early in the morning to the stores and line up. Also, depending on where those lucky bags are sold, the competition is very hard. I used to wait two hours in front of the Ghibli store at Tokyo station Character Street even before it opened because so many people want them and wait there. If you are planning to get a bag from that store I recommend to go to one outside of Tokyo. It will be less crowded, but you should also check beforehand if they sell lucky bags. Now let's have a look at the 2019 Ghibli lucky bags: First of all, one bag costs 3,000 yen, but it changes every year, so always watch out to carry enough cash with you. Secondly, those lucky bags are limited to three per person. Since the store doesn't sell that many it is a fair system, otherwise one person would buy all of them.Every year there are a lot of goods inside the bad and the goods totally pay off the price for the bag itself. Usually there is only a specific amount of different bags, so it can happen that you will get two of the same. In that case you should choose well, if you have enough time. In the following you can see what was inside the three bags, which I've got. Usually there is always something very big inside and many small items. 100 % you will always have some towels inside. During hunting for Ghibli bags for 4 years already I've always got tons of towels in different sizes. This year there was always something lunchbox related inside, like small salad bowls, small bento box or a big picnic set. You can also always find some small stationary stuff like memos or letter paper.One of the best goodies was, for sure, the giant stuffed Totoro which makes sounds. It maybe a little bit scary, but for sure kids will love him. This Totoro alone has an original price of 6,000 yen. If you compare now the price of the bag which is 3,000 yen, you can see this is an amazing deal. I'm very happy with the Ghibli lucky bags this year. They have many good items inside, especially of Totoro. Never forget, if you want those lucky bags, get up early on 1 January to wait early in the line of the store. Good luck for the next time!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5jP9-shopping_minato_ku_tokyoThu, 03 Jan 2019 10:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5jP9-shopping_minato_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK924-living_shopping_education_tokyoNew Year also called "Oshogatsu" in Japan is the most important holiday for Japanese people, who enjoy many kinds of ceremonies and customs which are very special. Celebrating New Year in Japan for the first time can be a very unique experience where everything seems to be so new and different to what you might be used to. During my first year in Japan I was very surprised by all the different kinds of New Year's decorations you can find at shrines/temples, shopping centers or private houses. They all looked very nice and have a special meaning, which made me very curious. Let's take a look at the different meanings of the New Year ornaments and their traditions here in Japan:KadomatsuIn front of many houses you can find Kadomatsu during the New Year. Usually a pair of pine and bamboo sprigs, which are representing male and female, are placed in front of houses and big department stores to welcome the Shinto god of the New Year Toshigami. The Kadomatsu come in different sizes, which makes them affordable even for small families. ShimekazariOne of the most common New Year decorations for every house is the Shimekazari. Shimenawa, a braided straw rope (usually used at Shinto shrines) is adorned with zigzag-shaped paper strips and the zodiac sign of the upcoming year or other good luck charms. Usually, Shimekazari is placed at the entrance of the house to prevent bad spirits from entering. These days you can buy many plastic versions of the Shimekazari, but the original traditional one is made from the real straw of rice plants, which are braided together. Every region in Japan has its own way of doing this. Kagami MochiKagami Mochi is a traditional New Year decoration seen at shrines and in homes. Usually, it consists of two round, small and big mochi (rice cakes), which are placed on top of each other like a little mountain. Often on top you can find a small orange or the zodiac character of the upcoming year. The Kagami Mochi is supposed to protect your house from fires, which were very common in the old days, where most of the houses were made from wood. You can find many different sizes of Kagami Mochi at the supermarkets. From very small versions to amazing huge versions, which can cost up to 10,000 yen. The bigger mochi mountain is usually filled with small mochi for cooking. You can buy most of them at your local supermarket, home center, shopping center or sometimes even at small booths, which usually pop up on the streets close to shrines a few days before New Year. Now you might wonder when is the best time for the New Year decorations. Actually, if you put them out on December 31 or January 1st it is already too late and people think that doing so will bring bad luck to your house. The same goes for December 29, because 9 is an evil number in Japan. The best day is December 28, which is right after Christmas and not to close to New Year. Nowadays people are not that strict about it anymore, but you had still better follow that, otherwise your New Year might not be that good. January 7 is usually the time when you should take down the decorations.On January 15 it is time to go to the local shrine again to burn all your New Year decorations including all the old talisman from the last year. This ceremony is called Dontoyaki and ends with a huge campfire on the shrine grounds. Hopefully you are now prepared for the New Year season!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK924-living_shopping_education_tokyoWed, 26 Dec 2018 08:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK924-living_shopping_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GQmq8-living_food_shopping_tea_koto_ku_tokyo_ota_ku_tokyoGreen tea with tiramisu on top or a chocolate matcha latte? The Saryo Itoen Café has those very unique green tea creations from Shizuoka. Probably you have already seen one of their stores in Japan. The first time I was introduced to it at the Haneda airport, when I was going to a trip from Tokyo to Hokkaido. With its red benches and the Japanese paper umbrella it is easy to see the store. Since I´m not that often at the airport, I was very surprised to find out, that a Saryo Itoen Café just opended close to me at a department store close to Kiba station (Tokyo, Koto-ku). Again the café caught my eyes because of the beautiful Japanese red paper umbrellas, which are really an eye catcher.The café has many interesting green tea creations. From typical Japanese style desserts with red beans and mochi to very great drinks like matcha latte combined with whatever you want! They also have very delicious green tea ice cream in a plain version or together with mochi balls and red beans or with cornflakes.I really wanted to try out the tiramisu green tea latte. For all drinks it is possible to choose between a hot or ice latte. Since it was very hot that day, I choose the ice version for 450 Yen. On top of the green tea latte is whipped cream with the taste of tiramisu. The taste was really good. First I could feel the sweetness of the whipped cream/tiramisu mix and in the end the strong green tea latte flavor showed up. It was really delicious and not too sweet. My husband has chosen one of their desserts with green tea ice cream, which has less sweeter than I expected, but also very good.They also have some seasonal drinks like strawberry & ginger rooibos for people who don´t like green tea. Anyways if you don´t like green tea, you will probably not go to that store. The café also has a small store, where you can get everything for green tea lovers. Many different kinds of green tea and all what you need for preparing the perfect tea at home. They also have some very interesting mixes like lemon green tea or apple green tea, which you can try out before buying it. The café is the perfect place to come down a little bit from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and for just having a good cup of green tea. This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GQmq8-living_food_shopping_tea_koto_ku_tokyo_ota_ku_tokyoWed, 19 Dec 2018 13:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GQmq8-living_food_shopping_tea_koto_ku_tokyo_ota_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2Xmg-living_shopping_education_sustainablelife_tokyoOct 18, 2018, Kyodo News“Japan produces the largest amount of plastic waste per capita after the United States and has lagged behind other countries in curbing the use of plastics despite growing fears about environmental pollution.”During my first time in Japan I was kind of shocked with all the plastic garbage I've got every day when I bought something. A plastic bag here, a plastic bag there, a packet of cookies in which every cookie was wrapped separately in plastic, or the straw they always gave me for my milk. Every evening my garbage bin in the hotel room was overflowing with plastic. Meanwhile, many years have passed since my first visit, but I felt like the amount of plastic has increased even more. Especially after the weekly grocery shopping, I literally drown in plastic garbage.Paper packaging needs about 6 weeks to decompose. The same applies to most vegetables. Plastic, especially the plastic bags from the supermarket need 10 to 20 years to decompose.For me it is important to protect the environment and to act accordingly with an environmental conscious. Therefore, I have a few shopping hacks to carry less plastic from the supermarket back to my home.Bring your own shopping bagsIn most of the supermarkets in Japan you will get tons of plastic bags in different sizes to carry home your groceries. Some supermarkets already want you to pay for those bags, which is one good way to avoid dishing out many plastic bags. Alternatively, I recommend bringing your own bags. Fabric tote bags are way more stable than plastic bags and you can carry way heavier stuff with them. Also, you can always reuse them. If they get dirty just throw them into the laundry. Usually I always carry a small shopping bag with me in case I need it. Fruit & vegetable netUsually fruits and vegetables are not wrapped in plastic, but many people like to put them in a small bag to protect them from getting stains. Also, sometimes the cashier staff will do that for you, especially if you have many small fruits or vegetables. I often tell my cashier not to put anything in plastic bags. For me they are useless. Usually I put all vegetables in a big rucksack or in a fruit & vegetable net. A long time ago many people used to go shopping with those nets and they seem to be having a revival now.Eggs in egg cartonsNowadays some egg producers use egg cartons made from paper instead of plastic. Those are way stronger and protect the eggs even better. Also the paper egg carton is good for recycling and can also be easily used for some handcrafts. Even though those eggs are often a little bit pricier, I think they are a very good alternative to help shoppers avoid plastic garbage. No plastic bags for meat and fishVery often the cashier staff are packing each meat and fish package in separate plastic bags. To tell the true I don't even understand why this is needed, since the meat/fish is already wrapped in a package. Usually I just ask the staff not to put them all in separate plastic bags or just put all of them in one bag.Convenience foodsOf course, all the nice bento boxes and small food packages are very convenient and easy if you are in a hurry, but the amount of plastic they use is always amazing. Especially for the small salads or vegetable packages where it is way cheaper to cook them in a big amount at home and then eat those over the next few days. You will save money and protect the environment. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2Xmg-living_shopping_education_sustainablelife_tokyoWed, 12 Dec 2018 11:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2Xmg-living_shopping_education_sustainablelife_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9mk9-living_minato_ku_tokyo_koto_ku_tokyoOne of my favorite events during the Christmas season in Tokyo are the rainbow fireworks. The whole December it is possible to see every Saturday a great firework from the beach of Odaiba. The firework is a little bit shorter than usual fireworks, but still very impressing. The firework starts always at 19 h, but it is recommended to be there earlier, since it can get very crowded. If you visit the fireworks on December 22 you can experience something very special. Only on that day the firework is accompanied musically. It is really a great show to hear and see how perfect the music works together with the firework. As one of the most beautiful night views of Tokyo it is even possible to see the fireworks from a traditional boat just in front of the rainbow bridge. Depending on the plan of the boat prices vary from 10.000 – 20.000 yen per person. After the fireworks you can have a romantic walk around all the illuminated spots around the Oaiba beach park or close to Diver city. Even the popular Fuji Terebi Building will be light up in a Christmas style. Event Schedule:December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29Starting time: 19 hTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9mk9-living_minato_ku_tokyo_koto_ku_tokyoMon, 10 Dec 2018 10:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9mk9-living_minato_ku_tokyo_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/za5AL-living_food_money_tokyoIf you are one of the expats who will stay in Japan for Christmas and won't be going back to your home country during the festive season, you may want to celebrate Christmas like you know it from back home. Japanese people celebrate Christmas very differently from what I used to be familiar with. A Christmas cake and Kentucky Fried Chicken for the Christmas meal is very common here, but probably a nightmare for foreign Christmas lovers. Since I never go back to my home country over Christmas, I'm celebrating it in Japan together with my husband, parents-in-law and my friends. I'm always in charge of preparing the Christmas food -- especially, I want to have a real Christmas dinner with a duck/goose and all the Christmas sweets I like from my hometown. Unfortunately it is kind of difficult to find a duck, goose or turkey in Japan, especially in a bigger size. My local supermarket only sells a whole chicken during the Christmas season, which is not really something I would eat for Christmas. If you are living in a bigger city it is possible to find a whole duck, goose or turkey at international supermarkets like Hanamasa or Nissin. Sometimes they are already prepared and you only have to warm them up. If you are living more in the countryside of Japan or you don't have the time to go to the supermarket you can also order some things online. In that case I recommend “The meat guy” which is a great choice of every kind of meat for reasonable prices and for me, most importantly, in a bigger amount.I also would like to share my favorite Christmas recipe for Christmas duck:Ingredients:• 2 kg duck• 1 orange• 1-2 onions• 1 apple• vegetable broth• red wine or grape juiceDefrost the duck 24 hours in the fridge beforehand. Remove the duck from the packaging and put it on a plate and cover it with foil. Also, remove the rump (in case there is one) of the duck.Cut an orange, 1-2 onions and an apple into cubes. Wash the duck with cold water, pat off and rub inside and outside with salt and pepper. Then fill the duck with the cubes of vegetables and fruits (3/4). The remaining vegetables and fruits save for later.Close the stuffed duck with toothpicks or a thread at both ends to prevent the filling from falling out. Then place the duck with the breast down in a casserole dish and put the rest of the stuffing around it.Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and let the duck stew for 30 minutes. After that, turn the duck over and fill up the casserole with vegetable broth (50%) and wine / grape juice (50%) (about 2-3 cm high). Let the duck stew for another 90 minutes.10 minutes before the duck is ready put a little salt water and increase the temperature. This makes the duck crispy. At the end put the duck on a serving plate. For the perfect sauce, just put the wine / grape juice and the filling in a saucepan with salt, pepper and orange juice (from a fresh orange) and mix it to a creamy sauce with a blender. Serve the duck with potato or rice for Japanese and vegetable (I prefer red cabbage).Also what is Christmas without Christmas cookies? If you are not so good at baking I recommend an easy recipe like the following:Ingredients:• 300 g of flour• 150 g of sugar• 150 g of butter• Teaspoon of baking soda• 1 pinch of salt• 1 eggMix all the ingredients in a bowl to a dough. Put it in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Grease the baking sheet with butter or cover it with baking paper. Roll out the dough and cut out the cookies with cookie cutters. Then bake the cookies in the oven for about 10 minutes till they are golden yellow. In the end the cookies can be sprinkled with colorful sprinkles and icing.Baking utensils can be kind of pricy in Japan. Especially for the decoration of the cookies I recommend buying everything at the 100 yen shop ("Can do" has a great selection). If you want to do a lot of icing, you can buy big and reasonably-priced packs of powder sugar at Ikea. They always sell huge packs during the Christmas season. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/za5AL-living_food_money_tokyoWed, 05 Dec 2018 10:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/za5AL-living_food_money_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK9qk-living_tokyo_yokohama_shi_kanagawaDecember is the season for Christmas and the upcoming New Year. Christmas markets and Illuminations are to be found almost everywhere in Japan, especially if you are living in a big city it is hard not to walk to one. If you want to do something more special for the season I have two recommendations for you:Christmas on IceMany Christmas markets like the one at Tokyo Skytree have a small ice rink, where you can enjoy ice skating and sometimes even a little show. Many Japanese, especially women, love to watch ice skating on TV. Since the Japanese ice skater Hanyu Yuzuru got amazingly popular in Japan, so to figure or ice skating has become more popular.Nearly every December there is a really great figure skating show called “Christmas on Ice” in Yokohama, held at the Shin-Yokohama skate center. The event in 2018 is only for three days from December 14th - December 16th with two shows per day at lunchtime and in the evening.Many former famous figure skaters will perform there like the Swiss pirouette master Stéphane Lambiel, the Japanese World and Olympic champion Shizuka Arakawa or the American ice dancing couple Meryl Davis & Charlie White, and more. I've visited the show in 2016 and was breathless. The show is so beautiful, and so great, and gives you a perfect feeling for the Christmas season. I got the tickets for this year as a Christmas present and for sure it is the best present ever for me. Ticket prices range from 8,000 – 23,000 yen. Since the ice skating arena is kind of small, you will have a good view from every seat, even the cheapest ones. Depending on how close you want to be the ticket prices gets higher. Information & Tickets:http://www.xmasonice.com/First sunrise in 2019 from Tokyo TowerIf you can get up early on January 1st or you are out partying the whole night till the first sunrise, you should go to Tokyo Tower. To see the first sunrise in 2019 from the Tokyo Tower will bring luck to you. Also, it is really beautiful and amazing to enjoy the first sunrise of the year together with your loved ones there. The first sunrise of 2019 in Tokyo is scheduled at 6:50 am, but be aware that it might not be possible to see it if the weather is bad.Tickets for the 150 m and 250 m main decks of Tokyo Tower will go on sale at 6:00 on January 1st. It is recommended to be there at least one hour earlier in order to wait in line. The first 2019 visitor will get a special medal of Tokyo Tower, which you can only get on that day. It has a stamp with the 2019 January 1st date.Information:https://tokyotower2019.peatix.com/The first shrine/temple visit of the New Year If you already made it up to Tokyo Tower, you can also do the first shrine/temple visit of the year at the Zojoji temple located near the foot of the tower. There is a big New Year festival held at the temple every year with thousands of visitors. It is possible to join one of the New Year ceremonies, grab a New Year's lucky charm or an omikuji (lottery oracle), which will tell you what the future holds for 2019. They have those in Japanese and English. You can also get typical festival food like yakisoba, chocolate bananas, or hot amasake (traditional sweet, low-alcohol drink made from fermented rice) at the event's food stalls. Don't forget to buy one of the New Year's arrows, which will protect your home from monsters and all-things bad. Usually they only sell these arrows during the first week of January. Information:http://www.zojoji.or.jp/To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK9qk-living_tokyo_yokohama_shi_kanagawaFri, 30 Nov 2018 10:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK9qk-living_tokyo_yokohama_shi_kanagawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5j2W-living_minato_ku_tokyoGoing to the immigration office is for most of the foreigner a mandatory. I´m used to go there every year, but always when it is time to go there I feel bad thinking about how far it is and that I have to spend at least 5 hours there to get things done (at least in Tokyo). The Tokyo immigration office is in a harbor area, where nothing really is around except huge containers and trucks. During the long waiting time there is nothing really you can do there and I always feel kind of depressed from the atmosphere around. Surprisingly during a walk around I´ve found a small paradise. Under a highway bridge between two big logistic companies was a small rose garden. The garden was around a column of the highway bridge and just around 5 m². Somebody put a lot of afford to create a small little paradise, which eve had a small bench and you could meet Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs there. At the time of my visit the rose season was already over, but I could imagine from the amount of the plants how beautiful it will be.I´ve spent at least an hour there before heading back to the immigration office. Afterwards I´ve felt so relaxed and refreshed. I really love to find those small paradises especially in bigger cities, where it is sometimes very hard to relax.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5j2W-living_minato_ku_tokyoTue, 13 Nov 2018 09:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5j2W-living_minato_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNxkk-living_tokyoEven I don´t have kids, I often watch out over the two girls of my Japanese friends. It is always so interesting to see the differences between Japanese and foreign kids. There are so many differences but of course also many similarities. One point which always surprises me is the fascination of small bugs, caterpillars, butterflies and insects that many Japanese children have. Of course every kid around the world is interested in those, but Japanese kids are totally on a different level. Every season my friend kids looking for some new bugs or caterpillars, which they can bring home and take care of them. They know very well, where to find them and how to thread. Since all the bugs and insects in Japan are way bigger, than what I used to see, it is always a big surprise for me to see those so close and that the kids are not afraid of touching them. Also at the stores you can find many gadgets to catch and keep every kind of bugs or insects including food for them, which really surprised me. Actually the kids have to watch a caterpillar for a school project and they have to make notes about the development every day. It seems so much fun for them, that they want to have more and more caterpillar. Of course their mum is not that happy, that the kids always bring bugs and insects home, but since it is good for the development and curiosity of the kids she accepts it. How about you? Have you seen those giant beetles in town or are you kids so addicted to bugs and insects too? Let me know in the comments. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNxkk-living_tokyoFri, 09 Nov 2018 09:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNxkk-living_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9mon-living_transportation_yamanashi_shi_yamanashiThe Nishizawa Valley is around 2 hours away from Shinjuku station. Take the Super Express to Yamanashi station or Enzan station and from there you can take a bus (around 1 h) or a taxi (30 minutes). Unfortunately, the bus is not running that often, that´s why you should better check the bus time before. The bus ends just in front of the Nishizawa Valley from where most of the people start their hiking tour.The valley is very popular for its autumn foliage and is usually amazing crowded at that time. Even we were too early to see the full autumn foliage it was already very crowded and we often had to wait while hiking. The trail goes along many smaller and larger waterfalls (10 in total). The most famous one is at the end of the way with many small water pools.The beginning of the hiking trail is very easybut the paths are getting narrower and thinner. Especially close to the waterfalls the stones are very slippery and you really have to watch out your way. Most of the ways are so narrow and so crowded, that it is really difficult to take pictures without standing in the way or for enjoying the view. However, at some waterfalls there were also huge rocks, which many people used for a small picnic.On the way back, you will notice something weird in the ground of the way. During the 30s, this route was used for transportation, that´s why you can see the old rail tracks. Since the 60s those rails are not used anymore.I really recommended a visit to the valley, but you should have good hiking boots and bring a lot of patience especially during the foliage coloring.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9mon-living_transportation_yamanashi_shi_yamanashiTue, 06 Nov 2018 11:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9mon-living_transportation_yamanashi_shi_yamanashihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MP85O-living_transportation_tokyoTokyo is celebrating this year the founding of the city of Tokyo (formerly Edo). There are many events in the city like the 150 year history of Tokyo at the Edo Tokyo museum or the big festival at the Hamarikyu park. Since many people are interested in the old Edo time and also the development of Tokyo I was very surprised, that even the Toei subway line is taking part in this event. At most Toei subway stations in Tokyo you will find the following poster:It is in a very old traditional design, showing the manners for a train ride. I still remember the old poster for train manners hanging around everywhere, but it never caught my eyes so much like this old traditional looking one. Especially interesting is the fact, that the figures are dressed as in the 40 's, but at this time there were no smartphones as shown on the poster. Even so this old style is a cool idea to get the attraction of the people and they will hopefully follow the train manner rules. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MP85O-living_transportation_tokyoSat, 27 Oct 2018 13:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MP85O-living_transportation_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GLbVv-living_shopping_taito_ku_tokyoRight now I am so into a Kirby fever. Yes, the little pink guy known from many Nintendo games! By now you can see him in every corner of Japan. Since leaving on a small budget I was very happy to hear, that there is a small exhibition of Kirby at a toy shop in Ueno, Tokyo. On the sixth floor of the Yamashiroya shop is a small event area where you can find the Kirby exhibition.The idea of this exhibition is from the two children's books of Kirby published by the publisher Kadokawa. I´ve got the two books for Christmas last year and was totally in love with the drawings.In a small area, the walls are wallpapered with pictures from the books. Of course, the drawings look even better in big format. In addition, you can admire several small drawings and sketches. The makers have also contributed a few drawings.The main part of the event is Wado's Toy Shop, where you can buy many different goods in the design of the books. Since these goods will be sold only for a limited time it was very crowded.The exhibition runs until November 25, 2018, but you should hurry if you still want to have some of the great goods. Absolutely a must for every Kirby fan!Toy store Yamashiroya〒110-0005 東京 都 台 野 野 野 6-14-6To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GLbVv-living_shopping_taito_ku_tokyoSat, 27 Oct 2018 10:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GLbVv-living_shopping_taito_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GBgn8-living_work_tokyoMost of the students in Japan are joining club activities at their schools and universities like sports clubs, dance groups, anime clubs or culture exchange groups. Those activities are a part of student life and sometimes even mandatory. After graduating most of the people are so busy with work that those activities are not possible anymore.But did you know that some companies in Japan, especially the bigger ones, also have different clubs?During the time my husband was at university he used to be in a club called “Wandervogel”, which is actually a German word. The club was a hiking club where members used to go hiking mostly every two weeks around the Kansai area. He really loved to be part of the club and I had to listen to endless stories about hiking to Mt. Fuji or camping at Bentenjima with the club members.When he started working there was no time anymore for those hiking trips, or better to say that nobody has the time or energy, especially in the beginning, when they have to learn so many new things in their working environment.After a few years one of his coworkers asked my husband if he enjoys nature and likes hiking or camping. That was actually the day he found out that his company has its own little hiking club. Usually some members of the club organize seasonal hiking events. Everybody can join if they want, but they should be prepared that it really is hiking and not a just a simple walk in nature.I've already joined those events twice with my husband and both were really nice. The people are always changing and most of them are from different divisions, so you will always meet new people. Not all of them have hiking experience, but at least they enjoy the nature like I do. It is really a nice way to connect with new people, while having fun hiking.There is also another company club for futsal (indoor soccer), which my husband sometimes joins. Futsal games are quite often every month, which makes it a little bit difficult for my husband to join, but from time to time it is possible. I always go to those games too and cheer him on.Unfortunately those are the only two clubs the company has to offer, but it's better than nothing.How about your workplace? Do they offer any joint activities? Let me know your experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GBgn8-living_work_tokyoFri, 26 Oct 2018 16:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GBgn8-living_work_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GR4Ae-living_education_koto_ku_tokyoTo get a glimpse into the life of Edo people, I´ve been to the Fukugawa Edo Museum, which is very close to the Japanese Garden Kiyosumi. The best way to reach the museum is from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station in just 3 minutes. The entrance fee for persons over 16 years is 400 yen.At the entrance is a small exhibition of several sumo wrestlers, as the Tomioka Shrine, which is also located in the district of Fukagawa, is one of the founding places of today's sumo sports. Right after you can read everything about important personalities of the district also of the famous poet Basho.However, the main exhibition is one floor down. After going through a small passage you will have a great view over the roofs of the streets of Fukagawa-Sagacho from the year 1840. You will find yourself standing in a reconstructed small Edo town.There is also something very special. Every few minutes, the light and sounds change in the small village, recreating day and night. It looks really beautiful when suddenly the sun goes down and you see the moon shining. If you look closely you can also see a cat sneaking over the roofs. The small village is changing depending on the season. You can enjoy cherry blossom or the autumn leaves or other festival decorations depending on the season.The small village consists of 8 small houses (greengrocery, rice storage, boat-trolling, etc.), a small marketplace, and a river. Since everything was reconstructed, you can almost touch everything and sit down. This is something special, usually it is not allowed in museums. Especially for foreign tourists that is really great.The small museum is an absolute highlight, because you can immerse yourself in the old Edo and everything can be explored. I liked the most the many little streets and that you can use many items for photos. Of course, the old paper umbrellas, which used to be there, are very popular as a photo motive.In addition, I was lucky that during my visit three women in kimono and with the old Japanese hairstyle walked around the village and you could take photos with them. They have advertised their own concert, which does not take place in the museum but in another venue. Nevertheless, they were so nice and took pictures with all visitors.The museum is really perfect to get an insight into the life of the past. I also love the Edo Tokyo Museum in Ryogku where you can get a good look at old Edo, but I found the Fukugawa Edo Museum even better.Especially for tourists who do not have much time, the small museum is highly recommended and you can really take photos there. Even if you do not speak Japanese you have the possibility to get an English audio guide or a personal tour guide. Of course for free.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GR4Ae-living_education_koto_ku_tokyoMon, 22 Oct 2018 14:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GR4Ae-living_education_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MP8pY-living_food_shopping_tea_yaizu_shi_shizuokaGreen tea, also called 'matcha,' is one of the most popular flavors in Japan. Nowadays green tea powder is like a worldwide trend, which you can find in many countries, but still the No. 1 green tea area is the prefecture of Shizuoka (one hour south of Tokyo). There are so many places in Shizuoka were you can enjoy green tea products that it can sometimes be hard to decide where to go. There are many places selling cakes, macarons and other sweets full of matcha. If you want to try out amazingly strong matcha ice cream, the store Nanaya, which I already introduced, will be the right store for you. During my last trip to the hometown of my husband, my mother-in-law wanted to introduce me to a very good sweets store, which has plenty of matcha and not-so-sweet desserts. Since she knows I don't like sweets much, but I like the taste of matcha she wanted me to try something there. The store Gashoan Green Tea & Sweets Salons, in the heart of the fishing town Yaizu, is a very modern style store with a small café where you can find a great variety of green tea products. From green tea Baumkuchen to green tea jelly or matcha soba, you can really find something for everybody. My absolute favorite matcha products are the little ice cream mochi. The mochi are frozen and it is recommended to wait a little bit for them to unfreeze, but especially during the hot summer season the frozen ones are really great! There are many different fillings for the mochi like matcha, custard cream, matcha cheese cake or lemon. The store also has seasonal mochi like the peppermint/choco mochi during the summer season or the pumpkin in autumn. All of them taste so delicious, but my favorite was the peppermint mochi.The small café, which belongs to the store, has great (and reasonably-priced) matcha ice parfaits full of selected matcha products from their store. You can get a parfait with green tea Baumkuchen pieces or even with matcha mochi. If you want a little bit less of a green tea flavor you can also choose some lemon or peppermint parfait. All tastes are amazing anyway. You can also buy matcha cakes, which are really green. All the products are not over sweetened and are perfect for green tea lovers of course.The Oyaizu Seicha Company, which is the owner of the store, also has four other green tea stores in Shizuoka. Not all of them have a café inside, but you can always find their popular green tea products. It is even possible to order some products online, just in case you can not make it to Shizuoka. I really loved their mochi and the huge variety. Every time I visit my parents-in-law I stop buy the store and try out some new ones. Store Information:Gashoan Green Tea & Sweets Salons〒425-0036静岡県焼津市西小川6丁目5-1http://www.gashoan.com/This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MP8pY-living_food_shopping_tea_yaizu_shi_shizuokaMon, 22 Oct 2018 11:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MP8pY-living_food_shopping_tea_yaizu_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/ME5Bg-living_shopping_money_tokyoAdjusting to life in Japan can be sometimes very tough, depending on your personality and the people around you. If you are an easygoing person and like to explore new things and have no problems adjusting to a different culture, life in Japan will be full of a lot of fun.I'm a person who can adjust very quickly and easily to a new culture and lifestyle, but some situations in Japan still bother me very much even though I try my best not to stand out and just act like all the others. Usually I'm taking care of all the household stuff like grocery shopping, visiting the city office/post office or letting the janitorial service inside of our apartment for some inspections/reparations. Even though my Japanese is not perfect, it is totally enough for my daily life and to enable me to communicate with the people around me. Nevertheless, every day I have to struggle with three different situations that I can not seem to change, no matter what I do.Shopping aloneI mostly visit the nearby supermarket every other day and most of the cashier staff know me (we sometimes have a small chat together), but as soon as I visit other stores, where people are not used to me, the situation changes. When people see me they often get very nervous and speechless, just because I'm a foreigner and they don't know how to deal with me. That I'm very tall with red hair as a woman is also not very helpful in Japan. Sometimes I really feel like a giant monster when people treat me suddenly so different from the other Japanese people around me. Luckily as soon as a store staff realize that I can speak Japanese they usually treat me the same as other people, but unfortunately that is not always the case. In those cases, I often think about foreigners who were born and raised in Japan but don't look 'Japanese,' -- how they will feel if they are always treaded so different…Shopping with my Japanese husbandLike I said before, I usually do all the housework and grocery shopping alone, but sometimes my husband likes to join me to buy some good meat at the supermarket. It mostly happens every time, when we are standing at the cashier and I'm putting the basket with the grocery on the cashier board and getting ready to pay, that the cashier only talks to my husband. They ask him for the point card or if he wants to have a bag or chopsticks. Usually my husband is just standing on the side and will carry the shopping bags, but always when I want to pay and he is with me the cashier totally ignores me. Even if I give them the point card or the cash, they still just look at my husband.I always feel very bad in this situation and sometimes my husband says to the staff that he is not paying and they should talk to me instead, but usually they are just confused by this.Shopping with other foreign friendsIf I visit the supermarket with other foreign friends the situation even gets worse. Usually the cashier just looks at us and suddenly goes totally silent -- no question if we have a point card or if we want to have a bag. Often they don't even tell me the price in Japanese, instead they show me a calculator with the price. Since I've already been living in Japan for many years, those small situations can make it very hard for me to feel at home here in Japan. How about you? Do you know those situations too?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/ME5Bg-living_shopping_money_tokyoMon, 15 Oct 2018 12:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/ME5Bg-living_shopping_money_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3ZJO-food_money_tokyoSince living in Japan I've become a big burger lover. Sounds kind of weird, because burgers are from America, but actually they are not that popular in my hometown. In Japan I've already tried out many different burger restaurants from the very reasonable to the very expensive. Actually I'm not a big fan of McDonald's and Burger King, even though they are popular worldwide. For me those burgers are just something mushy between two bun halves.Unfortunately I don't have the time and money to visit regularly my favorite burger restaurants or just order one online. During a walk one evening I stopped by a 100 Yen Lawson to buy some juice. Suddenly my eyes saw a basket full of small burgers, which were all discounted. One only for 50 yen and you could choose between Hamburger, Teriyakiburger or Cheeseburger. I thought, why not give it a try, there can be nothing wrong for that reasonable price. I took one of each to try them all out. Back at home I first warmed them up a little bit in the microwave. Cold burgers are not really my cup of tea. After unwrapping them they look like a typical low cost burger: small and mushy. The Hamburger tasted like a typical McDonald's hamburger. Nothing special, but it's OK. The cheeseburger tasted exactly the same -- I couldn't taste any cheese flavour, even though there was a small slice of cheese on it. Actually there is not much on the burger. Just ketchup, cheese and a piece of meat between two buns. I'm not really sure if it is real meat, the taste is kind of weird.The best of the three burgers was the Teriyaki version. There is tons of sauce on it, which is very good if you like a sweet taste. For the price the burgers were totally fine, but they didn't fill my stomach for a long time. I recommend putting some vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes on them for a better taste. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3ZJO-food_money_tokyoWed, 10 Oct 2018 10:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3ZJO-food_money_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5jJe-living_takasaki_shi_gummaThe Cosmos Flower Festival takes place every year in late September or early October in Takasaki close to Gunma-Yawata station. Since the festival is high up in the mountains you need to take a bus or go by car from the station. High up in the mountains, surrounded by several farms and fields, were several large flower fields.Unfortunately, when we visited the festival, many flowers had already faded, but this was due to the fact that there are different types of cosmos flowers that bloom at different times. So far, I knew only white, pink and purple Cosmos flowers, but there were also very great yellow cosmos flowers at the festival.The weather was almost perfect. The sky was brilliant blue, the sun was shining at 34 degrees and the flowers looked so beautiful. I felt a bit like in the fields of Hokkaido. Unfortunately, it was also very windy at the same time, that´s why many flowers were broken The best part about the festival was that there were not only cosmos flowers, but also many others like sunflowers. One of the cosmos flower field was a small labyrinth, where you could walk on small paths among all the flowers. From the fields you could also see the surrounding mountains and the nearby city. All in one a really nice festival place!Just next to the flower field was a small farmers market and some booth where you could enjoy a small lunch and buy fresh vegetable.When? Where? Saturday, September 15 through Sunday, October 14, 2018 Hanadaka Flower-Viewing Hill (Near 1400 Hanadaka-machi, Takasaki-shi)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5jJe-living_takasaki_shi_gummaTue, 09 Oct 2018 15:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5jJe-living_takasaki_shi_gummahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAnp8-living_shopping_money_fashion_education_sustainablelife_tokyoSince living in Japan I've learned that the life here can be kind of pricy compared to my home country. Especially simple things like furniture and clothes cost way more and last for a shorter time than I'm used to. I'm also a huge fan of second hand stuff. It's good for the environment and I like the thinking of giving stuff a second chance. You can find many second hand products in Japan at stores like Hard Off, Second Street or smaller 'recycle stores.' There are also plenty of online flea market or 'sayonara sales' groups where you can often find a good deal. Especially at Hard Off I've found many clothes which were still new with the original price tag. Since many people in Japan love shopping, especially sale shopping, you can often find those items at second hand stores. My husband is the best example. He loves to go to sales but in the end he never wore the stuff he is buying. Kind of weird, but that's the way it is. Also, being very tall for a woman in Japan it is kind of difficult to find clothes for me. Second hand stores are a paradise then especially as you can often find American or European brands there. If you don't buy brand clothes, you can find good deals from 100 yen up to 500 yen. Very reasonable, isn't? I also like to donate my old clothes to them. I know they just want to earn some money, but it is kind of difficult in Japan to donate clothes without much effort.If you are a fashion junkie like me and like to wear some trendy clothes, how about making them by yourself? I often buy second hand clothes and change their style. You don't need to be perfect at sewing. Sometimes just a few handfuls are enough. Here is an example:I bought this dress for only 100 yen. It was a very huge size and kind of old fashioned, but I loved the fabric so much, that I wanted to change it to something new. The same goes for furniture. Nowadays you can find very reasonable second hand furniture in Japan. Often they don't look that nice anymore but if you are creative, you can easily pimp them up. I've found this small kids commode at a flea market. It belonged to a kid who didn't need it anymore. I loved the elephant knobs and decided to buy it for just 500 yen. Since the color was not that nice and didn't fit to all my other white furniture I decided to paint it with special furniture color. Now it looks way better than before and many people think it is new. I've also bought a small couch stool for just 100 yen. The pillow cover had a small cut, but that was the only damage. I just sewed a new cover for it and now it looks totally fine. I use the couch stool every day now. Although many Japanese people do not like second hand stuff, there are more and more people like me, who make something new out of old items. One of my friends opened a café only with second hand furniture. It looks very cool and has its own charm now. Second hand stores are also perfect if you need kitchenware for your apartment. Especially if you just moved in, it can get very expensive when you have to buy all new items. Many recommend just buying some cups at plates at the 100 shops, but actually this is not always the cheapest and also the 100 yen glassware can break very fast (at least in my case). Second hand stores have many kitchenware items for a good price. Most of my plates and cups at home are second hand. I've made so many good deals, like 5 plates for 200 yen, that I've become very addicted to buying kitchenware at such stores!How about you? Do you donate or recycle stuff in Japan?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAnp8-living_shopping_money_fashion_education_sustainablelife_tokyoTue, 09 Oct 2018 10:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAnp8-living_shopping_money_fashion_education_sustainablelife_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G6ZWR-living_education_takasaki_shi_gummaA Melody road is a road that makes some tones of vibration, when driving with a specific speed limit over it. The tone will be transmitted through the car wheels as an audible tone sequence into the vehicle. The best way to hear the sound is with fully closed windows in the car. Depending on the depth and spacing of the scratches on the street it is possible to hear different sounds to create a melody. While some musical roads have been created to just enjoy the music, others are made to avoid accidents, especially sudden asleep accidents.You can find those melody roads in different countries like the United States, China or Korea. Japan itself has around 30 of those melody roads. One of the most popular is on the way to Mt. Fuji at the Shizuoka prefecture. Of course all of those streets have a different melody to enjoy. I´ve visited a melody street in Gunma on the way to Lake Haruna deep in a mountain area. Have you already been to a melody street? Share your experience!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G6ZWR-living_education_takasaki_shi_gummaMon, 08 Oct 2018 14:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G6ZWR-living_education_takasaki_shi_gummahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MvvBr-living_shopping_tokyo100 yen shops in Japan are really amazing. You can find really everything for your apartment for a reasonable price there. Often when renting an apartment in Japan many things like nails in the wall, coat hooks or putting in a curtain rod is not allowed. Many apartments already have something to hang your curtains on, but some do not and you'll need to find a way to put up a curtain. For that case I've found a very simple and reasonable solution at the 100 shops. You can buy a white rod in different sizes there, which are also adjustable in their length, up to 1 meter. You can easily put these rods between the frame of your window and put a light curtain on them. No need for nailing or glue! Since the size can be adjusted universally, it fits perfectly for any kind of window.Also, the white rod is very functional. You can use it in the kitchen for putting all your cooking utensils on the wall. Please be sure that it will not get too heavy otherwise things may fall down. A solution might be to put some easy removable tape on it. If you like anime or just like to collect key holders, you can use these rods to decorate shelves with your many key holders. Japan's 100 shops also sell very nice clips for hanging things on the white rod. Be careful to buy the right size though. It is really space saving and also looks good. I was able to put around 30 key holders on it, which is very helpful, otherwise they would just lay around and look like a mess.After moving out of an apartment you can easily just put them all away without having any trouble with the landlord and use them again in your new apartment. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MvvBr-living_shopping_tokyoThu, 27 Sep 2018 15:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MvvBr-living_shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GbKgJ-education_tokyoSince studying the Japanese language, I always had to struggle to find the right materials for me. From Flashcards to many different kinds of language books and also online programs, I never really felt comfortable with any of them. Also, the materials I received at different language schools didn't help me really. Sometimes I've had the feeling of being stupid, that I feel it's so hard to study with those materials, but actually that's not right. I remembered the time when I was in elementary school and studied English. I had so much fun with the books at that time. The structure of the English study book at school was always very interesting -- many pictures, stories and listening parts, which made it very easy to learn the language. Unfortunately Japanese language books tent to be very boring. Mostly no pictures, no activity parts, usually just learning all that is written. It's not really fun and doesn't encourage me to study, really. I felt so happy when a friend introduced me to the language book series “Marugoto”, which has 6 different levels from beginner to Intermediate 2. The books are all in Japanese/English, but usually the English part is very small. Their rule is that the best way to study Japanese is when all is of the course is in Japanese! It really works well. I had no problems to understand any of the exercises. Every chapter has a different topic which starts with a small conversation and a vocabulary check. It is very easy to remember the vocabulary because you will mostly use them in every exercise in the chapter. Each exercise is very small, which is very good if you don't have so much time. Also, it's all very colorful and with pictures, which is very helpful if you need pictures to remember things. Each book comes in A4 format which is very easy to read. (I often had the problem with other books that the kanji were written way too small for me.)Unfortunately there is no audio CD included, but you can download all the audio files online at the Marugoto website. The booked really helped me a lot to study Japanese. It also encouraged me to study more and more every day, because I had so much fun with the book. Depending on your level the price of the book is between 1,900 and 2,800 yen. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GbKgJ-education_tokyoWed, 19 Sep 2018 18:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GbKgJ-education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY7V9-living_taito_ku_tokyoDuring a walk through the Ueno park I suddenly spoted an interesting sign, which said „Obake Dori“ or also called in English „Monster street”. Even that small street or I would rather call it a small way was a little bit in the back of the main ways, but except it was not maintained that well I didn´t see anything special.Obake are the traditional ghosts or monsters of Japanese folk beliefs. Many are still very popular like the Kappa or Tengu obake, which you can often see at some shrine decorations. While walking along that way I expected to see at least a statue of these monsters or at least something similar. Maybe some ghosts will come out in the night there?In the end I´ve found the solution, why this place was called obake dori. There was a huge stone lantern which is called monster lantern because of the huge size. The dimension of the lantern is 6 meters and the perimeter of the capping stone 3.6 meters. The lantern was a gift to the Toshogu shrine in 1631. Even the lantern is quiete impressing, I was a little bit disappointed, that I couldn´t see anything monster related, like it was written on the sign. Did you also have such experiences, that you expected much more from something then finally was there?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY7V9-living_taito_ku_tokyoMon, 17 Sep 2018 16:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY7V9-living_taito_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wmV2g-living_badexperiences_tokyoJapan is one of the safest countries in the world. The crime rate in Japan is incredibly low and is falling year by year. While it is not a big surprise that the two biggest cities Tokyo and Osaka have the highest number of recorded crimes in the country, it is still very safe in those cities, especially as a foreigner. Personally I have never felt in danger here, when walking around the riverside in the evening or even after a long party night walking in the dark. Compared to my hometown, where I have experienced many dangerous and unsafe situations, Japan is really a paradise for me. Also, if people ask me why I'm living in Japan, my first answer is always the strong feeling of safety (except natural disasters).Unfortunately, two of my friends had some not-so-nice experiences here, and ones which are not completely untypical of Japan. I would like to share these two stories to help others who might have a similar experience and show them that it can happen to, really, everyone.At 8 pm in the west side of Tokyo, a small girl in her twenties was on the way home after work, which is located in a popular residential area. After arriving at the station, she still had to walk around 20 minutes home because no bus is running at that time. She used to do that often, especially late in the night after a nomikai (drinking party with co-workers). While walking through many small dark streets, which are very common in residential areas, she realized suddenly that somebody was behind her. Feeling a little bit scared, she started to walk faster, but also the person did the same. Suddenly a guy came from behind and hugged her. He tried to touch her, but luckily she was strong enough to punch him and run away. Unfortunately, she could not see much, because it was too dark outside and the person was completely black. She managed to run away from the guy to a nearby convenience store. The guy didn't follow her and she could calm down a little bit in the store, but of course, the shock was huge. She called her boyfriend and he picked her up from there. Afterwards she never walked back home again. Instead of that, she just called her boyfriend to pick her up or used a taxi. She lost the feeling of safety and still after many years doesn't feel comfortable to walk in that area at night. The second story is kind of similar, but more dangerous and in a different area of the outskirts of Tokyo:A woman, also in her 20s, was on her way home in the evening, when suddenly a guy from behind hugged her right in front of her apartment building. The guy tried to touch and kiss her. Even though he was smaller than the woman, he was very strong. Luckily she was practicing kick boxing every week. She just kicked him in the right spot which caused him to run away into the dark. Of course, she felt very scared but also happy that she could defend herself. From that time she doesn't really feel save in her apartment anymore. She doesn't know if the guy was a stalker and might have followed her already a few times or if it was just coincidence that he chose her. Unfortunately, both cases were never reported to the police and I guess there are many more such situations that have never made it into the crime statistics. Many people are scared to go to the police or just want to forget what happened. Even so, it would be way better to report it, otherwise those people will never be brought to justice their actions and something worse could happen. It kind of happens very often, that some weird guys suddenly follow a woman. I had those feeling sometimes too, that somebody might follow me. To tell the truth though, I have never had those feelings in my hometown. So please, always be vigilant when you are going out in the dark.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wmV2g-living_badexperiences_tokyoMon, 10 Sep 2018 14:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wmV2g-living_badexperiences_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mg62A-education_tokyoWhile I was studing at a Japanese language school in Tokyo, we had mostly daily a Japanese test. Sometimes it was very tiring to do every day a test, especially if the context was always the same. But sometimes I couldn´t get 100 points even I knew all the vocabulary and grammar. The problem was not a lack of Japanese, than more a lack of not thinking like a Japanese. One of the test questions can be seen in the following picture:You are supposed to put the vocabulary for meeting a person in the right order. It sounds very easy, but I´ve got scold by the teacher, that my answer is totally wrong. Right: 知り合う -> 付き合う -> プロポーズする -> 結婚式をする -> 一緒に暮らす　To get to know somebody - > getting friends -> proposal -> marriage -> living togetherWrong: 知り合う -> 付き合う-> 一緒に暮らす -> プロポーズする -> 結婚式をするTo get to know somebody - > getting friends -> living together -> proposal -> marriage Actually I just put living together before marrying, which should be the right order for me. Why shall I marry somebody, before knowing how it is to live together. My teacher was kind of frightened of my answer. Still in Japan it is not so common to live together before you marry. The second example was also a kind of me having a different thinking than Japanese. I had to choose in which season you are wearing different kind of shoes. When I answered sandals for summer and autumn, I´ve got again 0 points. I was very confused and frustrated about that. For me the Japanese autumn is still very warm (often up to 28 degree even in November), that´s why I wear open shoes mostly till the end of November. Unfortunately that is not very common in Japan. As soon as the calendar says autumn people here are changing to long autumn clothes, even we still have 30 degrees outside. Do you also had such experiences in Japan? To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mg62A-education_tokyoSat, 08 Sep 2018 13:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mg62A-education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GQmJ5-living_education_sumida_ku_tokyoIf you are interested in Japanese history or how Tokyo looked long time ago, you should not miss the chance to visit the Tokyo Edo museum. The museum is just next to the Sumo arena in Ryogoku, Tokyo. Besides the general exhibition about the history and culture of Tokyo, there is a small special exhibition about 150 years Tokyo. Exactly 150 years ago (1868), the city of Edo was renamed Tokyo. In the 150 years, many catastrophes have been brought down by war, earthquakes and storms over Tokyo, but through the efforts of the residents of Tokyo, the city has risen from its ashes each time.There are many old photos and also videos from that time at the exhibition. I was very impressed by the photos from the early days of Tokyo, where there were only a few small houses. However, you could see many landmarks that still exist today, including the famous Clock Tower in Ginza or the Tokyo Station, which looks nowadays the same like 100 years ago.There were also several maps to admire on which you can see the changes of the city over the years. Right at the beginning of the exhibition was a huge map, which was from the beginning of the 19th century. Of course, we immediately searched for our house, which is in a are of old Edo. We were very surprised to find out, that our residential area was already there, but the park on the river, which we like to use, was only a sand dune at that time. Of course the whole offshore islands in the bay of Tokyo were made way later.A personal highlight for me as a railway fan were several small old railway maps from the 19 th century. They were so beautiful and colorful, I really want those.The exhibition was definitely a great excursion into the past and is an absolute must see if you are interested in the old Tokyo.Unfortunately, the exhibition takes only place until October 8, 2018.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GQmJ5-living_education_sumida_ku_tokyoMon, 03 Sep 2018 14:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GQmJ5-living_education_sumida_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAnKQ-living_shopping_tokyoLiving in Japan without air conditioner is kind of impossible for a foreigner. Especially during the hot humid summers air conditioning can be lifesaving. Unfortunately the air conditioner can get very dirty, especially if they are standing outside. For the inside air conditioner there is a cleaning service, which you can call and somebody will come to clean them for you for a few bucks, or you just clean all the filters by yourself. We clean all the filters in our house regularly and it really helps to keep the air clean. All our air conditioners are standing outside on the balcony and get amazingly dirty over the year, from the weather or just the street dust. Usually we are using it only in summer and the rest of the year it's just getting dirty. I used to clean the outside air conditioner very often, but now I found a very nice cover, which fits perfectly around the whole machine and helps so much not to get dirty. Like most of us know, all the dust on the air conditioner goes to the air circulation of the and then into your body, which can make you sick very easily. During the summer months I use a wood rack, which is made for air conditioners, to protect the machine from rain and other kinds of dust. The wood rack is kind of hiding the air conditioner and gives a nice ambiance to the balcony. Also you can use the wood rack for putting stuff on it like flowers or boxes, which should not be too heavy otherwise it can break easily. Those two solutions for protecting the air conditioners from dust and rain helped me a lot . I don't have to spend anymore many hours to clean everthing before using the air conditioners for the summer. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAnKQ-living_shopping_tokyoFri, 31 Aug 2018 20:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAnKQ-living_shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gy623-living_fashion_shibuya_ku_tokyoNext weekend it's time again for my absolute favorite festival: the Super Yosakoi. The festival is held always at the end of August around Harajuku and the Yoyogi park. Yosakoi is a very unique group dance style in colorful dresses, which can only be seen at festivals. Usually the dance is very energetic and performed with lout music and sometimes even singing. It is also often a mix of modern style dance and old traditional Japanese style dancing. One of the most impressing part are the very colourful and lovley dresses each team is wearing. During the Super Yosakoi you can see performances of around 6000 participants. Most of them are University students, but there are also some older groups and even kids are joining.Performances are held on three different stages. The biggest one is just at the end of the famous Harajuku bridge, just 1 minute away from Harajuku station. A smaller second one is just on the other side of the Yoyogi park. Even it is a little bit smaller, there are chairs where you can sit and relax which is a big plus in the summer heat. Also next to it you can find the Udon festival, which is also held together with the Super Yosakoi. Many different Udon stores from whole Japan are fighting in a competition for your voting. Just try one of their soups and vote if you like it. Perfect for Udon lovers!The last stage is the parade street next to the Udon festival. Many teams will walk along that street Perfect for people, who want to see many groups in a short time. Especially for people who are interested in Japanese culture or love colorful dances and dresses, should not miss this event!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gy623-living_fashion_shibuya_ku_tokyoFri, 24 Aug 2018 14:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gy623-living_fashion_shibuya_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G09Y1-living_food_tea_fujieda_shi_shizuokaDo you love green tea, matcha sweets or matcha ice cream? Then a visit to the green tea store Nanaya in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture is a must. Their green tea all comes from the green tea plantations in and around Fujieda City. The matcha they made from those plants is used for all their sweets and ice cream. They also have different branches in Shizuoka City, Kyoto and Tokyo, but their main branch is in Fujieda, five stops away from Shizuoka Station. Let's have a look what the Nanaya – Shizuoka green tea sweets factory has to offer: Matcha ice creamNanaya is popular for its very rich machta sweets, especially their ice cream is really great. You can choose between 7 kinds of machta richness. No. 1 has the lowest richness of matcha and No. 7 the strongest. Just looking at the color of the ice cream already tells you the high matcha intension. I've never seen such a strong green-looking ice cream before. Also, watch out, your tongue will be very green afterwards. I've tried out No. 7 (the richest) and No. 6 to compare if there is a difference. And yes, No. 7 us really amazing! The matcha taste is so crazy strong. Not for nothing it is said, that No. 7 has the richest matcha flavor in the world. No. 6 was still very strong, but a little bit sweeter and lighter for my stomach. I couldn't finish No. 7 because it was too strong. If you want to have a machta challenge you should try No. 7 (even though it costs 200 yen more than the others).They also have other kinds of ice cream like sesame or houjicha ice cream, which all tastes very good.Matcha sweetsYou can find many sweets at Nanaya like matcha cakes, cookies or the popular shu cream. All sweets are full of matcha and really perfect for matcha lovers.Green tea tastingIf you are not so much a fan of sweets or ice cream, but still want to enjoy some green tea, you can do a green tea tasting at the store. For 500 yen you can try 7 kinds of tea. Most of them are green teas, but they also have other kinds like peppermint, which was my favorite. After the tasting you will get a 500 yen coupon, which you can use in their store. I used it, of course, to buy some green tea. You can also purchase all the green tea products at their online store, but of course it's best to visit one of their stores, especially if you want to try out their matcha ice cream. This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G09Y1-living_food_tea_fujieda_shi_shizuokaFri, 24 Aug 2018 10:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G09Y1-living_food_tea_fujieda_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7vZQ-living_transportation_education_kisarazu_shi_chibaMy husband and I have kind of a strange hobby. He loves to drive around by car and I love to look out of the window and see the world. We often stop at places nobody has ever been before. Exploring Japan this way is my favorite. You see many things nobody ever seen before. Especially since living long time in Tokyo and love to explore all the surrounding prefectures it is sometimes hard to find something new. Often I just check google maps and look if I can find something interesting or just a nice place. I´m a big lover of the Chiba prefecture, but slowly I´ve got the feeling to been to every street there now. Last week I´ve found a very weird looking place on google maps, which made me very curious. The place is close to the ocean and looks like an archery disk from the sky. I really wanted to know, what this means. It was kind of difficult to go there by car, only some very narrow field streets brought us there. A huge metal gate with a map of the area showed us what this weird archery disk is. The whole area is a marshland , which was also used in old days for Combat training exercises of the army, but nowadays nobody use it anymore and the area got a huge jungle. Without a huge knife it is not possible to go in. That´s why we just could have a small look over the marshland and the nearby river, but it really looked very interesting. For sure we will come back!Have you seen those unique places in Japan? Let me hear your story! To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7vZQ-living_transportation_education_kisarazu_shi_chibaMon, 20 Aug 2018 15:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7vZQ-living_transportation_education_kisarazu_shi_chibahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G6Z79-living_transportation_education_galleries_takehara_shi_hiroshimaSince I'm a huge fan of rabbits it was, for a long time, a dream for me to visit Okunoshima Island, also called "rabbit island." Okunoshima Island (大 久 野 島) is located in Hiroshima Prefecture and belongs to the administrative district of Takehara City.Unfortunately, I'm living in Tokyo and Hiroshima Prefecture is very far away (4hrs by Shinkansen) and Shinkansen tickets are very pricy. I love to use local trains, especially if I can use the very reasonable Seishun 18 Ticket. I found a friend who was crazy enough to go the whole way from Tokyo to Tadanoumi station by local train in 14 hrs. It was really a very long train ride but it also made our friendship stronger. The Okunoshima Island can be reached by ferry from the station "Tadanumi". However, you should note the departure times, as they do not coincide with the train times. Also, these days the island got very popular, so much so that it is sometimes not possible to get a spot on the ferry and you have to wait for the next one. The one way fare is 310 yen.Okunoshima Island is not only popular for all the rabbits but also for its kind of negative history.From 1926 - 1945 poison gas was produced on the island, which is why many ruins and warehouses from that time are still present (of course, they are empty now). In the 1930s, the island was declared a military restricted area, with the result that it was cut out of all registers and on maps.For the production of poison gas, rabbits were used as experimental objects, because rats, dogs or cats are more likely to spread diseases.Nowadays, there is a hotel with a swimming pool and camping area on the island. You can also explore the island by bike or on foot. To climb the mountain in the middle of the island you need about 30 minutes, but from the top you will have a beautiful view over the surrounding islands.Since rabbits were used as experimental animals (and after closure or blowing up of the plant no one cared about them) they multiplied rapidly on the island.Nowadays the rabbits are almost the only major wild animals on the island, because they have no natural enemies (except crows).Due to the many visitors to the island, the animals have become very accustomed to people and run after you when you have food. However, it is not recommended to touch the rabbits, because you never know what diseases or parasite they have. Also, some can get very aggressive when they are hungry and don't get food. Note that you can't buy rabbit food on the island (except in the hotel). Instead, rabbit food can be bought in advance at the drop off port for 100 yen. If you want to visit the island, I would recommend going there in early spring or autumn, when it's not so hot. Otherwise the rabbits will just sleep in their holes and don't want to be disturbed. Okunoshima also has a lot to offer in terms of nature. There are beautiful sand beaches and tropical flowers and palm trees all over the island that you definitely should not miss.I can only recommend the visit to the island. A dream came true for me!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G6Z79-living_transportation_education_galleries_takehara_shi_hiroshimaFri, 17 Aug 2018 10:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G6Z79-living_transportation_education_galleries_takehara_shi_hiroshimahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAn9Q-living_education_kawagoe_shi_saitamaDespite the high heat of up to 40 degrees, I wanted to go to Kawagoe in Saitama. The old traditional area with its many old houses is well known and I have been there a few times. Besides the old town there is another great place, which you should not miss on your list. North of Kawagoe station is the beautiful Hikawa shrine, which can be only reached by car. That was also the reasons why this place has been on my "to do" list for years, it´s just incredibly difficult to reach without a car.Every summer the shrine holds the wind chime festival, where many small wind chimes made of glass are placed around the shrine. There are even some small wind chime tunnels, which are beautifully light up in the evening.As the shrine is very popular especially during summer, the parking lot was very crowded, although there are two really big ones. I parked at the back entrance of the shrine, which led over a large Ema (small wooden plates with wishes on it) tunnel to the shrine building. The tunnel itself was already worth seeing.The shrine was colorfully decorated everywhere with glass games, colorful wish lists and small fish luck charms. For a small donation of 300 yen, you could fish for your small fish charm, which was available in 5 different colors with different meanings. The fish also had a small fortune note in his tail, which unfortunately did not turn out so well for me, but I was just happy about my blue fish charm.While I was at the shrine I could see a traditional Shinto wedding. Shrine helpers, priests, the bride and groom and of course all the guests dressed in traditional clothes and walked to the shrine. It looked really great, but I felt very sorry for the bride, who had to wear a very thick with wedding kimono in this heat.The visit to the shrine was definitely worth it. It was bigger than expected and there was a lot more to see than I thought.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAn9Q-living_education_kawagoe_shi_saitamaMon, 06 Aug 2018 13:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAn9Q-living_education_kawagoe_shi_saitamahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G09yR-living_money_education_sumida_ku_tokyoLast year I wanted to do something typically Japanese, which I have not done yet in Japan: Visiting a sumo game!A friend organized the tickets and together we headed to Ryogoku Station, where you can find the sumo area just in front of the station. Also in the whole area you can feel the charme of sumo. Everywhere are small little sumo figures and also many restaurants, which serves huge portion for sumo ringer. If you are lucky you can even see some famous sumo ringer walking around in the city. In front of the sumo arena was already a long queue for peoples, who still need to buy tickets. Luckly we bought our ticket in advance and didn´t had to wait. We had the cheapest tickets (around 40 €), which were very far away from the stage. However, the good point about the seat was that you had a wonderful view over the whole arena. If you do not have such good eyes, you should invest a bit more money. Unfortunately, the better places start from 200 €. Of course, the most popular places are directly at the competition ring, but you should be careful if you have such a seat. Very often the sumo ringer fell down into the audience, which can be painful.The sumo matches take place the whole day until 18 o'clock. However the interesting games are usually starting around 16 o´clock. The arena gets extremely full then.Unfortunately we had made the mistake and were already there at 14 o'clock. The 4 hours to the end were very long. The fights were usually only a few seconds, but the preparation for the competitors always lasted forever.From time to time there was also a draw, where a 4-member jury had to discuss the winner (but in most cases the fight was simply repeated).All in all, it was an interesting experience, especially if you are a fan of traditional sports, going to a sumo game is a must see in Japan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G09yR-living_money_education_sumida_ku_tokyoMon, 30 Jul 2018 09:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G09yR-living_money_education_sumida_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zVRaJ-living_food_shopping_fashion_education_tokyoTraditional Japanese handcrafts are really great! From the hand painted lacquerware to kiriko (Japanese cut glass) to indigo products you can really find something for everybody. As a fan for fashion and fabrics one of my favorite handcrafts is Furoshiki. A Furoshiki is usually a square sized piece of cloth, which was used in old days as a wraping for gifts, clothes or to transport something. In old times, when people took a bath at an onsen or a public bath house (sento), they often used a Furoshiki to stow and transport their clothes. Traditionally Furoshiki is made of chirimen fabric also called silk crepe. The fabric is made in a special weaving technique that originated in the 16th century, but nowadays other materials like cotton or even plastic is used for Furoshiki. Typical patterns are very traditional style in darker (mostly gray/blue) colors or with many flowers, but these days you can also find bigger motive in the middles only. My favorite is the seasonal Furoshiki in the design of cherry blossom or the autumn foliage. Nowadays the cloth is often used as a wrapping for the bento box, which can be used as tablecloth or for just sitting on it. Before the year 2000, the use of Furoshiki fell sharply, but since many designers use it for traditional bags, it has become popular again. The most important thing about Furoshiki is to know how to fold and tie a Furoshiki. The secret is the right folding technique and how to make a beautiful knot. You can find many knotting instructions at the internet, which can be easily used after a little bit of practicing. I use Furoshiki often as a back. Together with two bamboo rings it is easy to wrapped the piece of cloth around the rings and use it as a bag, which can even carry heavy stuff. Also as a wrapping for presents, when I´m sending something to my friends in Germany, it is very helpful and looks so good. My friends are always very happy about getting those. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zVRaJ-living_food_shopping_fashion_education_tokyoSat, 28 Jul 2018 15:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zVRaJ-living_food_shopping_fashion_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wkpje-living_education_tokyoInspired by the posting “Looking out for your pup in this summer heat“ of genkidesuka I would like to recommend some advices to keep your small pet like rabbits, guinea pig or hamster cool during the summer heat wave. Dogs usually will show you, that they feel very hot by panting. Unfortunately smaller animal don´t have that. Usually they are just laying around and try to survive the heat. I own two rabbit, which are living on my balcony, even during the summer month. We can´t keep them inside, because of an allergy of my husband, but I always try my best to give them a good life. After already 5 hot summers with my rabbits I have the following recommendation for small animal pet owner (all works for inside or outside living small pets):Frozen pet bottleOne of the best method to keep my rabbits cold are frozen water battle wrapped in a small towel. The rabbit can lay next to it and keep their belly cold. You can also use frozen ice packs, but then you have to watch out that they will not bite in it. Cold tilesIn many home centers you can find cooling pads for animal, which are very pricy. Instead of that I recommend just to buy some tiles. If tiles are not in the sun (please watch out they can get very hot), they are very good for cooling down your pet. Wet towelStrong wind from the air conditioner is not good for a pet, but if you are putting a wet towel on their cage it will give your pet a cool refreshing feeling. In case the pet cage is close to the air conditioner the wind in combination with the towel will work like a humidifier.Fresh food and waterThe most important for a pet is not hyperventilate, that´s why you should watch out that your pet is drinking enough or getting water from fresh vegetable. Recently I'm feeding a lot of cabbage, because of the high water inside. Unfortunately when it is too hot my rabbits are kind of lazy and I have to force them to drink or eat something,Even my pets are living outside, they always survive the summers in Tokyo by using all those above cooling ways. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wkpje-living_education_tokyoFri, 27 Jul 2018 15:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wkpje-living_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mg6OK-living_fashion_medical_tokyoWith the hottest summer since many years, Japan is fighting against the heat. Already many people died from a heat stroke and also a lot of people from all ages have to stay in the hospital. These days I mostly had every day one accident, where a person collapsed in the train, because of the heat.Especially people who work outside the whole day and go then to the cold trains or buildings, can get very fast problems with their circulation. Especially foreigners/tourists who are not used to the combination of the heat and the high humidity there are some advices to look forward. Wide, airy clothesThe best clothes for the hot/humid weather are wide, airy clothes, which will not stick on your body. 100 % cotton or cool tech wear are the best. Even so you feel like you are dying from the heat and you want to go naked outside, longer clothes will be better than a mini skirt. Moderately air conditioned carThe air conditioner in many trains is amazing cold. This is one of the reasons, why many people get sick very easily, especially if you are fully sweated and have to go in such a cold train then. Even it feels good in the beginning it is not good for the health. Nowadays many trains have at least one car (mostly no. 4) which is moderately air conditioned. That simply means that the temperature in those trains is from 28 – 30 degree and not so freezing cold like in the other cars. It might be a good option for people, who have big problems with the up and down of the hot air outside and the cold air inside. Sun, sun, sunThe most important is to protect yourself from the sun. Using a sun umbrella, a wide hat, long clothes and of course tons of sun cream are the best. Always watch out to not stand to long in the sun, especially during the lunch time it can get very dangerous. LiquidBecause of the heat, you will probably sweat a lot, that´s why you should drink at least 3 liter per day or get enough liquid like from watermelon or other fruits. Special drinks like OS 1 are also very helpful and give you many minerals. Caffeinated drinks like coffee, green tea or cola are bad for the body, because they will suck the water from your body. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mg6OK-living_fashion_medical_tokyoFri, 27 Jul 2018 14:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mg6OK-living_fashion_medical_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MnaWj-living_money_education_tokyoLiving in a country where the culture is totally different from what you are used to back home, can create often very funny but sometimes also frustrating situations. The last week I had two situations, where I just thought: “Oh my god this can happen only in Japan!”Morning exercise to start the summer holidaysFor most of the kids the last Friday was the last day of school before the summer break. Usually I expected the kids go on vacation the next day or just enjoy their free time. Not in Japan!When I woke up at six in the morning on Saturday, I was preparing for our trip to the beach and got very surprised when I looked out of the window. Many kids with their parents (or mostly with their dads) gathered around in front of the community center. First I thought they might prepare for an upcoming summer festival, but that was not the case. A loud music started and suddenly everybody started to do morning exercise. I really like it, when a community is coming together for such things, but not at six in the morning on the first summer holiday. That really looked kind of crazy for me. Praying for getting rid of bad luckLast week my husband asked me every evening for going with him to the shrine. I was very confused. Usually he never wants to go there, especially when it is so hot outside like these days. After I made up my mind, we went to the shrine. Suddenly my husband took out a ink pen out of his pocket and put it on the wood box of the shrine. He just bought that ink pen at a second hand store. After he finished his praying at the shrine, I asked him, why he put the pen there.“Oh I just wanted to get rid of all the bad luck from the pen, because somebody else used it and maybe he had bad experience with it”.You can guess my reaction. I was not sure if I should laugh or take him really serious. Since he made so much afford to bring the pen to the shrine, I decided not to laugh.Do you also have such funny or frustrations situations in your daily life?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MnaWj-living_money_education_tokyoSun, 22 Jul 2018 14:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MnaWj-living_money_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GQmOl-living_medical_tokyoThe Japanese health insurance system is very good compared to many other countries. Even so the insurance system was brought from my home country Germany, there are a few small differences. One of those differences is the yearly checkup and also the reminder letters from the city office for cancer or teeth checkups. Mostly those checkups are free or will be paid by the company you are working for.While living in Germany, I´ve never had such a checkup or even an offer for that. If you want to have a full health checkup, you need to make an appointment in advance (usually very long time in advance) and it will take a few hours, because all will be done by the doctor only. It is very rare to do that in Germany. Usually people just go to the doctor, when they are sick and not for prevention. In Japan I always do the yearly checkup. I think it is good way to make sure, that you have nothing serious. Like we all know many diseases appear after many years, although they have been stuck in the body for a long time. Besides those yearly checkups, it is also possible to do some cancer test. I´ve got a letter for different cancer tests every year, but I mostly don´t have the time to go. Luckly the company of my husband knows well that their employee are very busy and often don´t have the time to go to the doc. Last week we´ve got a gastric cancer risk test set, sponsored by his company. The test, which was for me and my husband, was very easy to use. Just take some blood from your finger, mix it with some mixture and put it in a small plastic tube. After that we had to fill out a small form (it was in English or Japanese) and send all together with the plastic tube back to the cancer test company. They will let us know the result in a few weeks (in case everything was right, what we did). All took us just 10 minutes, which was very easy and convenient for us. If it is just a small cancer test, I really prefer the method to just do it at home.How about you? Have you also try out such a cancer test at home?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GQmOl-living_medical_tokyoFri, 20 Jul 2018 10:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GQmOl-living_medical_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GR4ok-living_education_tokyoIt´s a dark evening and suddenly a light pop up far away. More and more lights in yellow, red, orange and blue can be seen, that´s a typical sign of a lantern festival. The summer in Japan is full of festival, but some of the most beautiful for me are the different lantern festivals, which you can especially in the Tokyo area. Let´s have a look at some of these festivals:Odaiba Marine day lantern festivalThe lantern festival is held always at mid July at the beach in Odaiba. You can find around 1000 lanterns in different colors at the whole beach. Some are prepared in a special design like the Skytree or a Panda and on the other side, you can find many lanterns, which are just packed together and have a beautiful colorful look. You can walk between the lanterns and enjoy the romantic atmosphere. If you are in the mood for a little bit entertainment, just take a stop at the small stage, where you can see different music performances or crap a Takoyaki at one of the stalls.Noryo no Yube The Lantern Festival takes place every year in late July / early August near the Imperial Palace on a small canal. At the Lantern Festival in the evening a lot of small lanterns are left on the water. To be able to do this procedure, you have to rent a small rowing boat, which is harder than expected. Firstly, the rental is only via a Japanese website, which makes it especially difficult for foreigners and then you have to be very fast, because the event is of course very popular and therefore everything is sold out quickly.At 7 o'clock it finally started and every boat left a small lantern on the water. Everyone was allowed to perpetuate a small wish on it. The whole thing was accompanied by beautiful traditional Japanese music.Tanabata Washi Candle Night 3500 candles in paper lanterns are in placed at the foot of the Zojoji temple in front of the Tokyo tower. All those lanterns are lined to form a milky way path for the tanabata festival. Even this event is just a few hours in the evening, it is really beautiful and very romantic. In case of rain, there is also a lantern path, which is under a roof. Asakusa Toro Nagashi11 th August is the day where you can see around 2500 lanterns floating along the sumida river. The event takes place close to Asakusa station between Azuma bridge and Kototoi bridge. All the lanterns have a handwritten message on them, which will slide down a small slope into the river. The event itself takes only 1 hour, but it is perfect for a small stop especially during the hot weather. Have you ever been to a lantern festival? Which one is your favorite?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GR4ok-living_education_tokyoThu, 19 Jul 2018 15:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GR4ok-living_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK9eD-living_transportation_galleries_chibaJust east of Tokyo is the neighboring prefecture of Chiba, which most tourists will see for the first time when they arrive at Narita airport. Also, Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu (Tokyo bay) is a tourist magnet. Besides that the image of Chiba is mostly one of an industrial area or a good place for playing golf, because of the large amount of golf courses in the prefecture. But Chiba has so much more to offer!Especially the Boso Penisula is full of nature, perfect for hiking or exploring the likes of the Yoro Keikoku Oku Kiyosumi Natural Park, Mt. Nokogiri or the Oyama Senmaida Rice fields terrace. Also the beautiful sandy beaches which can be found mostly everywhere on the ocean side of the Boso Penisula, are great for swimming, surfing and fishing. One of my favorite spots is the Noumizo waterfall, which is a small waterfall running through a hole. If the light is in the right position, you can see a heart in the water. It is very beautiful and romantic. Even if you don't like nature that much, there are also many cultural places of interest in the region like the Shakespeare Village, Mother Farm or the Narita Temple in the north of Chiba.If you want to have a feeling of Venice, you should go to Sawara. The town of Sawara at the eastern side of Chiba is famous for its beautiful old town and its small canals. It is possible to go around the canals by traditional boat.To enjoy seasonal flowers, I can recommend to visit the tulip festival in Sakura City or the Hattori Hydrangea Farm Festival. During the autumn season the Kajika Bridge is a great spot to the see the autumn foliage. The best way for getting around Chiba prefecture is by car, but there is also a good train service which runs around the whole coastal area. There is also a nice small and scenic train. The Isumi Railway runs through beautiful countryside and also has train cars in the design of the popular Finnish animation series Moomin. I really love Chiba Prefecture and spend most of the weekends there to enjoy the nature and the silence away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK9eD-living_transportation_galleries_chibaWed, 18 Jul 2018 20:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK9eD-living_transportation_galleries_chibahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK9O4-living_transportation_medical_education_tokyoWith recent natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, typhoons and floods in Japan, it is even more important to prepare well for such situations that are not uncommon in Japan. From time to time the local city office is publishing a safety guide pamphlet, even for foreigners, for dealing with those situations. Unfortunately those city office information are mostly general information in how to deal with natural catastrophe, when you are at work or in a building. Even so many buildings and facilites nowadays are designed to be quake resistant, there is still always a risk, that something can happen. To just stay inside a building might be the safest place, but what should you do, if you are in a train in case of an earthquake or taifun? First of stay calm! Especially earthquakes are not that rare, that´s why trains usually will stop automatically in such a case. The Tokyo Metro has published its own small pamphlet in English, Korean and Chinese called “Handy Safety Guide”. The guide tells you everything about what to do in a case of an earthquake, typhoon and sudden fire breaks out. All is very easy to understand and illustrated (lucky not in a Manga style like so often), which makes it helpful for foreigners even if you don´t understand the language. The pamphlet also tells you about the train manners and to watch out dangerous behavior on the plattform like bumping suddenly into somebody or try to catch the train, when the doors are closing. You can find that pamphlet at every Tokyo Metro Station at their Information corner or just ask the ticket counter staff for it. I think it is a really helpful and easy to understand pamphlet, which gives you all the information you will need in a very short way. You can also find information sources, which will be very helpful in an emergency. Of course all the information will also work out for other train lines like the JR. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK9O4-living_transportation_medical_education_tokyoFri, 13 Jul 2018 15:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK9O4-living_transportation_medical_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gy6yY-living_koto_ku_tokyoA big topic in Japan for every foreigner is the waste disposal. Every region has its own rules and ways of throwing away garbage. Especially as a foreigner, who is not used to separate garbage that much it can be kind of difficult. If you are moving to a new area, you will usually get a pamphlet for the garbage selecting rules in your area from your landlord or the city office. Many areas in Japan have this pamphlet also in English, Korean and Chinese but in a shorter version. Unfortunately always when I want to know how to throw something special away like a frying pan, I can´t find that pamphlet to check it out. If you just throw stuff away which doesn´t belong to the normal burning garbage, they often will not take it or in the worst case you have to pay a fee. My area in Tokyo developed a very helpful application for android and apple, where you can find all the information you will need. The app is in Japanese English, Korea and Chinese. After the installation you have to choose your living area and the garbage calendar for that area will pop up on the screen. Also at the menu you can choose every kind of garbage, which you want to throw away and how to do it. All is with pictures and written in very easy to understand English. One of the most helpful parts for me is the reservation system, when you have to make a reservation for picking up larger garbage. You only have to register your address, choose the pick up area, the garbage you want to throw away and the date. After choosing the date it will show, which and how many garbage sticker you have to buy at the convenience store. All those information are written in English and really easy to understand even you are not a native English speaker. I really like this new app. It is so easy to understand and so helpful. Since the app is kind of new, I guess sooner or later you can find it in many areas in Japan. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gy6yY-living_koto_ku_tokyoWed, 11 Jul 2018 09:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gy6yY-living_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9mlO-living_food_koto_ku_tokyoOne thing I really like in Japan is that it is so easy to get in touch with your neighborhood. My husband and I decided today to go to a very old traditional Sushi restaurant in our area. The owners were an old couple, who run the restaurants since many years. Since it was very hot outside, we were their only customer for lunch. After a very warm and friendly welcome, we sit down and ordered the specialty of the restaurant. Edomae Sushi! This special type of sushi was created the first time during the 1820s. The name Edomae just means Edo front. Since the sushi was mainly sold and prepared by local stores or stands on the street in old times, it was difficult to keep the fish fresh without ice or a refrigerator. Many of the ingredients were simmered in broth (shrimp, shells, eel). Fish like tuna and halibut were immersed in soy sauce for a few hours to prevent the rapid spoiling. Other fish like mackerel and saba were cured in vinegar and salt to keep them fresh. The Edo style sushi is saltier and sweeter compared to the sushi we are used to today. Especially the rice can be very salty, which you really have to get used to. For me it was the first time to have that kind of sushi. The sushi chef explained all kind of fish and where they came from very well. Also like in old times, he had all the fish (always just a small amount) in small wood boxes not like in many modern sushi stores in plastic boxes. Even so the rice is very salty, there is no need for using soy sauce. Nowadays not many sushi restaurants with that kind of sushi are left, that´s why it was a very nice experience. Also we heard many family stories from the owner, whose wife traveled around Europe as a photographer. They were also so nice to give me some of their paper mats, which I liked so much with the Chinese zodiac signs. When we left the restaurant, both of the owners were standing outside and waving, till they couldn´t see us anymore. It is so great to have such nice neighbors. Do you also have such experience in your neighborhood?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9mlO-living_food_koto_ku_tokyoMon, 09 Jul 2018 12:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9mlO-living_food_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNxxk-living_transportation_education_minato_ku_tokyoLike I mentioned in my article about the upcoming Tanabata festival tomorrow will be the 7th July, where many regions in Japan will celebrate the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi. Always the night before the Tanabata festival the Tanabata Washi Candle Night will be held at Tokyos Zojoji Temple. The Temple in Tokyos Minato ward is just right in front of the Tokyo tower and can be reached by the Mita line (Onarimon station) or Oeado/Asakusa line (Daimon station). For the special Tanabata night 3500 Japanese paper lanterns will be scattered in front of the main temple to the huge Zojoji gate like a small street of lanterns. The lanterns are supposed to look like the Milky way, where Orihime and Hikoboshi can meet each other. Unfortunately today was a very rainy day and most of the candles inside the lanterns were already blown out right after they set the fire on them. Still it looked very beautiful and romantic. I kind of like the idea, that Orihime and Hikoboshi will meet each other on this lantern Milky way, but I worry a little bit that because of the rain, the couple will not find their way now. It is possible to see the light up again tomorrow 7th July from 19 h – 21 h. Hopefully the weather will be better, otherwise you have to wait for the next year. On the left side of the main Zojoji temple is also a small lantern exhibition in memory for the Tohoku earthquake, which are under a roof. Those lanterns contain messages, wishes and dreams from kids of Tokyo, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. Even if it is raining outside, at least it is possible to see those colorful lanterns of the kids. If you are already at the temple don´t forget to make a wish, especially if you are in love or have love troubles. Tanabata is the perfect time for Lovewishes!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNxxk-living_transportation_education_minato_ku_tokyoFri, 06 Jul 2018 22:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wNxxk-living_transportation_education_minato_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY741-living_shopping_fashion_education_minato_ku_tokyoAs a huge fan of Japanese summer yukata, you shouldn´t miss the chance to visit the Yukata contest of the Koichi Shimbashi festival. The festival is held every year at the end of July (July 26, 2018 - July 27, 2018) on the backside of Tokyo Shimbashi station. Since Shimbashi is mainly a business district, you will see mostly salarymen at the festival.There are various performances throughout the day like dancing groups and musicians. Last year you could even see a dance group from Hawaii, which fit perfectly to the hot humid weather.The main event of the Koichi Shimbashi festival, is the Yukata competition, which always takes place on Friday at 18:30. Everyone can apply for the competition online and a jury selects the 10 best participants from the Kanto region in advance. Each of them will represent their prefecture, while the prefecture of Tokyo is always in the majority. Also most of the girls are students of just started working.Unfortunately, the process of the competition is a little bit boring. All 10 participants will present their yukata and then answer a few questions of the judge. Some even like to perform something like singing or dancing. The winner of the contest will win a trip to Hawaii for two persons, but there are also other prices like for an onsen trip, beauty sets and so on for the other participants. Even as a foreigner you can join the contest if you are fluent in Japanese. After the contest you can enjoy yukatas at the Fashion show of the famous Kyoto Kimono School. Every year the school shows the newest Yukata designs, which are sometimes very simple and unique. Especially all the different obi style are a must see. After the contest you can enjoy more music performances of just have a drink and a snack at one of the food stalls. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY741-living_shopping_fashion_education_minato_ku_tokyoThu, 05 Jul 2018 16:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY741-living_shopping_fashion_education_minato_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK972-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyoSince living in Japan for a few years, my life changed a lot. Not only the work and living situation, but also the person I was back in Germany and now had changed. I´ve had to deal with many new things and learned a lot (especially the Japanese language and culture). Let´s have a look to some of these changes in my Life, maybe you also share the same:Cooking skillsBefore living in Japan, my cooking skills were like zero. Open a can or just cook pasta were mostly the only food I ate at home. Buying some fast food or going to a restaurant was always so much easier, especially if you are working the whole day. In Japan I have way more time to cook at home and also if I want to eat something western style, I prefer to cook it by myself. The western food in restaurants tastes often different than what I know and is often kind of pricy. Since I had not much cooking experience, my dishes often end in a mess and looked kind of weird or tasted not good. Luckily my husband ate always everything without complaining. After many years and practice my cooking skills got so much better and I´ve got also very good at Japanese homemade dishes. Even I´m still not a big fan of cooking, I like to learn about all the different food, which I can find in the supermarkets here and try out new ways of cooking and eating.Bicycle riddingSince living in Japan I love to use my bicycle to go mostly everywhere around Tokyo. It is so convenient just to jump on the bike and go wherever you want without worrying about paying a fare or if the train is really working. Back in my hometown using a bicycle was way too dangerous on the streets, also bicycle got often stolen and you always needed a very good bicycle lock. Experience with kidsPart of my job is to deal with man kids from different countries and cultures every day. I never had family members who were children or worked as babysitters in my hometown. My experiences with kids were like zero. But one of my first jobs in Japan was to play with a Japanese-Austrian young boy. I´ve learned a lot during that time, especially how difficult it is for kids who grew up in two different cultures with three different languages. I´ve learned a lot how to raise my own kids later from these experiences. ClothesThe fashion in Japan is very different from western countries especially for woman. I was used to wear always very sporty clothes (most of the time jeans or trousers). Since living in Japan my style totally changed to a more female one. I wear most of the time dresses and skirts with flowers or bright colors. Also I try to cover up more my shoulders and breast, because I don´t like that many men are starring so much, if you show too much skin in Japan. Unfortunately I can´t wear Japanese clothes, because I´m too tall, which makes it sometimes difficult to get clothes without a V-neck. How much did your life change since living in Japan? Let me know your experiences!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK972-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyoThu, 05 Jul 2018 16:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK972-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2XEg-living_shopping_money_education_koto_ku_tokyoSummer in Japan also means festival season, where you can see many people walking around in beautiful colorful yukata. A yukata is a traditional Japanese cotton clothes. It serves as an uncomplicated, lighter and more everyday variant of the kimonos, as it is easier to tie and less expensive. Usually yukata are used for summer festivals or at traditional Japanese hotels. Also many foreigners like to wear a yukata at summer festivals, but unfortunately the choices are endless. Depending on the design, fabric and maker prices are from 3000 yen up to 20000 Yen or more. Let´s take a look, where to get a yukata:Yukata/Kimono storesThe first place to look for a yukata is usually a yukata or kimono store. During the summer season, you can get many different designs but usually they are a little bit pricy. The good thing about yukata stores is that you usually can try them on and get help, how to wear it the correct way. Department storesAs soon as the rainy season starts you can find suddenly many yukata at the bigger department stores like Aeon or Itoyokado. The quality of those yukatas is very good, that´s why they are also a little bit pricy (up to 15000 Yen), but sometimes you can find a good deal. Also at the department store staff will help you to dress on the yukata. Second hand storesThere are many second hand stores (Hard off, Chicago Omotesando), especially in the Tokyo area, where you can find second hand yukata and kimono. The choices are not that big, but very reasonable. Just watch out sometimes there is dust or a whole in those yukata.Online shopsMy favorite way to buy a yukata is online. There are many yukata online shops, with great deals and also very unique designs. Especially if you need a bigger/taller size (usually the biggest yukata are only till a height of 165 cm for woman) online stores will be the right choice. You can find easily complete yukata sets with shoes, belt and the yukata for only 4000 yen. If you are new to the yukata world it can be a little bit overwhelming to have so many choices. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2XEg-living_shopping_money_education_koto_ku_tokyoWed, 04 Jul 2018 10:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2XEg-living_shopping_money_education_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/we8qk-living_takayama_shi_gifuThe average high of Japanese is very small comparing to most western countries. The average man is 172 cm and woman 158 cm high (data from 2016). Comparing to an average Japanese woman I feel like a giant in Japan with my high of 180 cm. I´m often very outstanding, not only because of my western looks but also because of my height. Of course there are some taller Japanese woman and man, but it is very rare. Before moving to Japan, I´ve never thought my height will be a big problem. Since living already many years now in Japan, I had to face so many problems just because I´m to tall. One of the daily problems occur, when I visit a public toilet. First of the toilets are very low, but I already got used to it. The bigger problem for me is that, most of the mirror in those bathrooms are amazing low and I always look over them instead of seeing my face. Also when I use fitting rooms in clothes stores, many are amazing low, that I can look out of them and of course other customer can see me. It is very disgusting, when I always have to make myself smaller. Even during my weekly grocery shopping, I´m bothered by my height. The Shelfs in my supermarket are also often very low, that I hit my head, when picking something. Often I also hit my head on all the price and information tags, which are hanging down from the ceiling or the ice compartment. One of my greatest experience was when I had to stay in the hospital for a few days and my bed was too short for me. The nurses tried to extent it with many pillows, but it didn´t worked that well. I felt very bad for all the Japanese who are taller than I and has to stay in the hospital for long time. Even I´ve got used to always make myself smaller, otherwise I will often hit my head (like in the subway), it's sometimes very stressful.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/we8qk-living_takayama_shi_gifuTue, 03 Jul 2018 10:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/we8qk-living_takayama_shi_gifuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wjpOe-living_food_money_fashion_hiratsuka_shi_kanagawaOn the upcoming Saturday (7 th July) the popular Tanabata festival will be celebrated in many regions of Japan. The story behind the festival is the meeting of two stars (Wega & Altair). Usually those two stars are separated by the Milky Way the whole time of the year, except on 7 th July.The story is a Chinese mythology, where those two stars are a loving couple, that´s the reason why this festival got very popular around couples and also people, who are looking for a boyfriend/girlfriend.During the time of the Tanabata festival, you can find small bamboo trees all over the country with colorful decoration on the street and in many shops, schools and kindergarten. Traditionally, these trees are hung with small wish-pieces in the hope that they will come true. One of the biggest Tanabata festivals can be find every year in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa prefecture. The whole area around the Hiratsuka station is decorated with lanterns and bamboo trees. There are also many stages, where you can watch different performances like dances, musician, yosakoi or even the story of Tanabata. The most popular parts are all the small bamboo trees, where you can put a paper with your wish on it. There are thousands of those paper wishes in a raw. It really looks amazing. Something very special during the festival is the huge decorations hanging from the roof of the shopping arcades. You can find often popular Japanese characters like Doraemon, Pikachu or Disney characters. Since it is of course a festival, there are also all the typical food stalls like for okonomiyaki, yakisoba, long sausages, chocolate banana and so on. During the festival the city is amazing crowded and it is easy to get lost. If you looking are searching for a boyfriend/girlfriend or you just want to put a wish on the bamboo tree, this festival will be the right place for your!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wjpOe-living_food_money_fashion_hiratsuka_shi_kanagawaTue, 03 Jul 2018 09:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wjpOe-living_food_money_fashion_hiratsuka_shi_kanagawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mp76Q-living_chibaJuly/August is the typical beach season mostly everywhere in Japan. But what to bring to the beach can be different in every country. Many Japanese beaches have a shower room, changing room and sometimes even locker, where you can put your stuff. There are often also some small food stalls, where you can get a snack like yakisoba or ice cream. Unfortunately rental parasols are very rare and you have to bring them or something else to protect you from the sun. I´m going to the beach mostly every weekend during the summer season and realize, that it is sometimes difficult to know what to bring to a beach in Japan. That´s why I want to give you some advices, what to bring to the beach besides the typical stuff like sun cream, food (cooler box), swimming suits and bath towels: UV protection tentOne of the most helpful and important thing is a UV protection tent. Instead of parasols, Japanese prefer to use tents, to protect themselves from the sun. Also it is very helpful, if you have kids. They can easily play inside the tent without getting a heat shock or a sun burn. Also those tents are very handy and small, that´s makes it easy to carry them around.Beach matsI always use beach mats inside the tent otherwise you will easily stick at the tent material. Also beach mats are very comfortable and easy to clean. You can also just use them as a mat on the beach sand. During the summer season 100 Yen shops are selling many different sizes of beach mats.Beach chairFor people, who doesn´t like to sit in the sand/tent or simply just have problems with their back, a beach chair might be the best choice. Many outdoor stores have reasonable chairs to offer, which you can fold very small and carry it with you.Beach/Swimming sandalsBeach sandals are very comfortable and easy to walk around at the beach. Especially, when the sand got very hot from the sun, sandals are very helpful. Also many beaches in Japan are stone beaches and it can be difficult to walk and dangerousto walk around at the beach and also inside the water. Floating tire or other swimming toysNot only kids but also many adults in Japan love their floating tire. Often you will see the ocean full of floating tires. They are very easy to use and you it makes you to spend many hours by just relaxing in the tire on the water. But you should always watch out not to drift far away from the beach. Alternatively you can also use the floating tire for sitting at the beach. Sand toysOf course kids love sand toys for playing at the beach. Making a sandcastle or just a huge whole makes so much fun. Especially a small bucket is nice to have. You can use it for collection shells or small crayfish. I always bring a small bucket with me. Frist aid setEven it makes a lot of fun to play at the beach and in the water it is always possible that something can happen. You will hit a sharp stone and your foot is bleeding or you simply get a strong sun burn. Having a small first aid set with you, is very helpful. Especially when going to the beach with kids, it can save the day. If you are standing the whole day at the beach, always watch out to use a lot of sun cream and drink enough. Let´s enjoy the beach season!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mp76Q-living_chibaMon, 02 Jul 2018 15:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mp76Q-living_chibahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GLdZ3-food_tokyoJapanese gyoza (dumplings) are very popular in Asia, that's why it's not a big surprise to find, nowadays, many different kinds of gyoza. Usually gyoza are filled with meat and cabbage or seafood. Alternatively, you can also find many vegetarian versions filled with cabbage, carrots or corn. During my last supermarket visit I came across a very special offer -- cheese flavored gyoza produced by Nipponham. I've never seen this kind of gyoza before and thought why not give it a try, especially as I'm a super cheese lover!The package has 12 gyoza inside and a packet of cheese sauce. Even though the instructions are only in Japanese, it is easy to understand how to make them just by looking at the pictures. 1. First warm up some oil in a frying pan. Put the gyoza inside (it is recommended to put always three together) and spread out the cheese sauce around the gyoza. The sauce might look a little bit weird, but that's how it is supposed to look. 2. Put the pan lid on the frying pan and let the gyoza stew for around 2 minutes.3. Take off the lid and let it fry for another 2 minutes. After that turn on the highest flame and fry for another 2-3 minutes till the cheese gets brown. Watch out not to burn it all. 4. Last but not least, flip the frying pan on a plate and enjoy!Except for the application of the cheese source, preparation is the same as with frying regular gyoza. In addition to the crunchy cheese around these gyoza, there is also a little bit inside (including some meat). Unfortunately, the cheese taste is not that strong and kind of artificial. I'm not even sure if it is real cheese they are using, but a least it was a nice try. For the cheese lover it is for sure very disappointing. From now on I prefer to simply make my own cheese gyoza. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GLdZ3-food_tokyoThu, 28 Jun 2018 10:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GLdZ3-food_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3lg1-living_money_tokyoOne of the best things for sure are the small 100 Yen shops, which offer really everything for your daily life. From Stationary, bathroom stuff, kitchenware to food ad handcraft. They also have gardening and pet supplies. One of the newest idea are furniture. While I was walking through the 100 Yen shop Seria, I´ve found a very interesting looking DIY rack made from paper. You just have to buy all the pieces and stick them easily together. You can even decide which size or style it should look like. I think it is really a cool idea, but it can get very pricy depending on the size you want. Every piece cost 100 Yen. Even every part comes in a back of two piece, the price gets high very fast. The rack can carry a weight of 8 kg, but it might collapse in case of an earthquake. One of the good thinks about a paper shelf is, that you can easily get rid of it, when you don´t need it anymore. This paper rack might be a good solution for people, who will not stay long in Japan und just need some cheap storage option.Did you already try it out? Let me know your experience!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3lg1-living_money_tokyoTue, 26 Jun 2018 12:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3lg1-living_money_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mn5dV-living_food_shopping_money_howto_tokyoHomesickness is a problem everybody who lives in a foreign country has, at least once. It doesn't matter if you just moved to Japan or you are back from a long vacation in your hometown, homesickness is a typical and normal reaction. Everything can be so different in a new country and a new life can be very tough. Here are some tips on how to deal with homesickness if your family and friends are far away:1. Stay always in contact via messenger, Skype or lettersEven you are living in a foreign country it is very important to stay in contact with your family and friends in your hometown. Using the Internet and tools like Skype or a messenger services like Line, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger are a good way to always be up to date with your family/friends. I try to call my family at least once a week via Skype.I also have some friends who rarely use the Internet or it is just very difficult to get in contact with them because of the time difference or having a lot of work. With those friends I use the old fashioned way and exchange long letters. It is a very nice way to tell somebody all about what has happened in recent months and also it always makes me happy to get a long, handwritten letter from a friend. 2. BloggingI'm used to going to many events and traveling around a lot. To tell everybody about all these things all the time can get very tiring, that's why I have my own blog, just for family/friends, where they can always read what I'm doing in Japan. It is very helpful, especially for showing photos. 3. Getting in touch with the communityA good way not to get homesick is to become a part of your local community. Join a tea ceremony class, a karate course or help with the local festival activities. Usually any kind of help is welcome, even if you can't speak fluent Japanese. Just check out your local community center to get more information. 4. Go out with your friendsDon't sit alone at home and think all the time about your home country. Go out and meet some friends or just join a festival, visit a museum even. If you are new to Japan there are many ways to meet new people like at meet up events, Japanese language classes, festivals or even in bars. Don't be shy. Move your butt!5. Create a home atmosphereAlways, when friends visit my home, they feel like being in Europe. Of course, I love Japan, but I also love my hometown. Creating my own little European world at home gives me a very good, warm feeling. Of course, I also have a lot of Japanese decorative stuff, but mostly my furniture comes from Europe (especially Japanese furniture which tends to be too low for me). 6. Enjoy hometown foodIf you are missing your hometown, a good alternative is to have some food from your region. Italian pizza, some delicious sausages or falafel from your hometown can be very helpful if you are feeling down. Luckly, there are many international restaurants nowadays throughout in Japan. These are the points which always help me not to get homesick that much. How about you? Do you have some recommendations?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mn5dV-living_food_shopping_money_howto_tokyoFri, 22 Jun 2018 10:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mn5dV-living_food_shopping_money_howto_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wm54Q-living_shopping_fashion_tokyoThe rainy season, which runs through the whole of June throughout Japan, is, of course, a time of many rainy days, but it is also very warm during this time. It happens often that the weather changes very suddenly from a strong rain shower to right after being very humid. During these days it can be very difficult to decide what to wear when going out. Especially, deciding which shoes to wear is very difficult. Nobody wants to have wet feet or shoes soaked in water. A very good choice will be rain boots which you can find at every department/shoe store in Japan, especially during the rainy season. Luckily, nowadays you can buy not only very colorful rain boots but also very fashionable ones. Woman can choose between high cut or low cut boots in a very fashionable design. It is sometimes hard to see that the boots are actually rain boots because they just look like normal shoes. That is what makes them very good for going to the office or just if you don't want to stand out so much with colorful shoes. In particular, the low cut boots are very good during the rainy season because you will sweat less in them. Also, if you prefer a more sporty style, you can find rain boots which look like sneakers. Of course, these are made with the younger generation in mind and it can sometimes be difficult to find them in the right size. Kids can also choose from a huge variety of rain boots, from very colorful boots to simple designs or just normal looking shoes. Especially for school kids though, rain boots shouldn't be too colorful (some schools have restrictions on that). The first year when I started living in Japan, I had very often wet feet. In my hometown rain boots were not really popular and it is kind of odd to wear them, but not in Japan. As soon it starts raining outside, you can see many people walking around in rain boots. Seeing this made me feel more comfortable about wearing them so I decided to buy some too. Nowadays it is hard to live without them. I never had wet feet again and sometimes I also use them for walking in the snow. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wm54Q-living_shopping_fashion_tokyoWed, 20 Jun 2018 15:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wm54Q-living_shopping_fashion_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wm57a-food_shopping_tea_minato_ku_tokyoAre you looking for original green tea from Shizuoka without going to Shizuoka? If so, I have just the solution for you. Shizuoka is well known for its great green tea products, but not everybody has the time to visit the prefecture regularly to try out tea from there. In case you are living in Tokyo you can find some green tea products from Shizuoka at special tea shops or at the food markets of Takashimaya or Mitsukoshi shopping centers, but if you want to have a better selection I recommend to visit the “Nagamine Seicha Shinbashi (長峰製茶 新橋店)” store.The Nagamine Seicha Shinbashi store is in the neighborhood of Shinbashi, a well known business and entertainment district close to Tokyo station. The store can be found in a small side street close to the Shinbashi Shiogama Shrine. The Nagamine tea headquarter factory is located in Yaizu City, Shizuoka prefecture, famous as a fish town. The tea production area of Nagamine has been in existence for 70 years (since the early Showa era). You can find many different kinds of teas at their Tokyo store. You can choose from very strong flavored green tea but also light ones or those with special aromas. They have many green tea-based snacks like nuts wrapped in green tea or green tea candies. They also have all kinds of green tea products which you need for a tea ceremony. The staff here are very friendly and will help you with all your questions. It is even possible to try out some green teas for free. The store also has an online store through which you can order every kind of green tea directly from Yaizu, including different kinds of gift sets, all full of green tea products. If you are not such a big fan of tea, I recommend you try out their very delicious green tea soft cream ice for 250 yen in a cone or paper cup. The ice cream is not very sweet, but very refreshing during the hot summer days. I really liked that they put some extra green tea powder on the ice cream, which made it very special. I've never seen this powdered ice cream before. Or try some of the traditional tea sets with a cup of green tea and some Japanese sweets, which you can enjoy on a bench in front of their store. If you are close to the Shinbashi area of Tokyo, don't miss the chance to grab some delicious ice cream from the Nagamine Seicha store! It tastes so different from normal green tea ice cream and is really an experience. This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wm57a-food_shopping_tea_minato_ku_tokyoMon, 18 Jun 2018 13:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wm57a-food_shopping_tea_minato_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoxQ2-living_education_tokyoI've already written about some small differences in the mixed relationship of me and my husband living in the center of Tokyo. You can read about this in part 1. Let's have a look at more differences between me and my Japanese husband:The up and downs of the weatherIt's sunny and humid, I feel sick. It's cold the next day, then hot and often cold again, I feel sick. I feel pain in my teeth or around my appendix scar, which means the weather will drastically change again.How I feel every day depends so much on the weather. In Germany we even have our own word for it. “Wetterfühlig” simply means to feel every tiny change from the weather. In Germany that is a big topic. A sudden weather change to 35 degrees and everybody will feel bad and not only from the high temperature. In Japan it is mostly the case from the ups and downs of the humidity, especially during the rainy season.The first time when I told my husband about that phenomenon, he thought I was making a joke. Do you feel suddenly amazingly sleepy even though you've slept enough? I would say it is from the weather. You suddenly have a strong headache? It´s the weather!For sure the weather effects our daily life, but in Japan it is not a big topic. Of course, they remark about the heat or the cold but they don't think about it like we do in Germany. After saying too often that something is because of the weather, my husband makes fun of me and uses the same phrase for every problem which pops up, even if it has nothing to do with the weather.DishwashingNow you surely think what is so special about washing the dishes? Usually you will let the water run, use a sponge with soap and then clean the plates. After that just put them in the dish rack to dry. Here comes the point: My husband always says I want to poison him. First I was always very confused about what he meant. When I wash the dishes with soap, afterwards I rinse them with water and let them dry, but I don´t check if there might be some soap left. Anyway, this will go away in during the drying process, but the Japanese care very much about that small thing. Often my husband rinsed all the dishes again, when I left the kitchen. It's so ridiculous for me. If this really was a serious problem many people would be already dead. By the way, this topic was also a very big thing in the Japanese movie, “My darling is a foreigner”.Daily hair washingWhen I first stayed at the family house of my husband my mother-in-law was very shocked that I don't wash my hair every day, only every other day. In Japan it is totally normal to wash the hair every day. The very thick and strong Asian hair gets oily very fast and needs to get washed often. But for most western hair, especially for thin hair, it is very bad to wash it every day. It took me a lot of time to make my Japanese family understand this.Oyasumi nasai / good night11 p.m. in the evening it is suddenly very silent in our apartment. While I was watching TV on my PC, I was thinking that my husband is just reading something in his room, like he often does. But when I checked out what he is doing, he was already sleeping in the bed. That situation always confused me. Of course we don't need to go to bed together, but at least say something like “Good night” or “I will go to bed.” This is something I also heard from many of my friends, who experienced the same with their Japanese partner.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoxQ2-living_education_tokyoTue, 12 Jun 2018 10:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoxQ2-living_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1ANv-living_transportation_nagara_machi_chibaAt the moment you can enjoy the rainy season in Japan, which does not automatically mean that it rains all the time, but there more rainy days than usual. All the rain brings very humid air, which announces the beginning of the tropical summer.Although a lot of rain was announced for Sunday, I still wanted to visit the Hattori Hydrangea Farm close to Maobara in Chiba. The hydrangea is Japan's most typical rainy season flower. It always blooms from the beginning to the end of June, exactly at the rainy season.The Hattori Farm is not a real farm but rather a small country house, which is completely surrounded by a huge hill full of hydrangeas. We were very fortunate that it did not rain during our visit and we were almost alone. We could enjoy all the beautiful flowers wonderfully without being overrun by crowds.The entrance to the farm costs 500 yen, but is absolutely worth it. You can stand in a huge sea of flowers in blue, purple, pink or white. Sometimes the flowers were also arranged in different colors, so that one stood partially is in a complete sea of purple or blue flowers.If you are planning to go up the hill, it is recommend to wear hiking shoes, because the way is very slippery not only when it´s raining. It is also possible to buy hydrangeas and fresh vegetable from the small farm.You can reach the Hattori Farm by train to Mobara station and then use a taxi for 10 minutes. There are also bus tours, which will bring you to the farm and also to the Kasamori Kanon (a very impressive temple). Unfortunately that tour is only in Japanese. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1ANv-living_transportation_nagara_machi_chibaMon, 11 Jun 2018 14:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1ANv-living_transportation_nagara_machi_chibahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z4lqp-living_transportation_galleries_aomori_miyagi_yamagata_fukushimaTohoku with many beautiful lakes, mountains and forest is so rich with nature, that a journey to this area is always a great experience.I visited Tohoku for the first time in 2012, just one year after the big Tohoku earthquake. Together with my husband we went on a one-day trip to Hiraizumi (Iwate Prefecture), which is a very popular tourist destination, especially among the Japanese. After visiting the Motsuji temple with it's small lake and Takkoku no Iwaya, a temple constructed into the foot of a cliff, my favorite spot was the Chusonji temple. Hiraizumi's most famous attraction is the Chusonji temple, which is very beautiful, but what I loved the most were the paths lined with very tall trees that you will walk along to the shrine area. Also, the nearby river with the giant rocks is great. My second trip to the Tohoku area was in 2017, together with a friend. We traveled around Aomori, Miyagi and Yamagata. During that trip I saw a lot of the great nature in northern Japan, especially as we mostly used local trains, which are perfect for enjoying the countryside. The most impressive places during that trip were the Takayama Inari shrine with its many red gates, in the western part of Aomori, where we were mostly alone, and Yamadera in Yamagata. The temple area of the Yamadera is high up on a steep hillside from where you have a magnificent view down to the valley. Especially in summer, when the whole mountain area is fully green, is looks so beautiful and mysterious. Also if you are in Aomori I recommend that you visit the Nebuta Festival Museum, where you can see giant lantern festival floats for the yearly summer festival in that area.The last time I went to Tohoku was in spring 2018, when I visited Shirakawa in Fukushima for a day trip. I was very surprised that the cherry blossoms were still blooming at that time, even though they were totally faded in Tokyo. Also, Shirakawa castle with the nice castle park just next to the station was a fantastic place for a spring walk. I could just visit a few places in Tohoku up to now, but for sure in the future I will go there again to enjoy the beautiful nature. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z4lqp-living_transportation_galleries_aomori_miyagi_yamagata_fukushimaWed, 06 Jun 2018 10:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z4lqp-living_transportation_galleries_aomori_miyagi_yamagata_fukushimahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MEq3v-living_transportation_education_tokyoSince living in Japan I love to use the public transportation, especially the local trains. You can go almost everywhere by train in Japan (except some very rural areas). It is so convenient to go around except during the rush hour. Unfortunately the train fees in Japan are very high but sometimes it is possible to get some discounted tickets like the "Seishun 18 Ticket" or day tickets.As I love traveling, I'm using locals trains a lot. One day I saw at a small train station a stamp of the station. Those stamps can be found at many train stations, which often come with a picture of nearby attractions or something popular for that reason like mascots or food.In the beginning I collected those stamps on small pieces of paper which were always next to the station's stamps themselves, but it is not that nice to have a bunch of small paper pieces. I checked the Internet and found some very cool stamp books, which are made for those station stamps. Of course, you can also just use a normal note with plain white paper, but the stamp books are kind of special. The paper is way thicker than usual, to prevent the stamp from pressing through the page. Also, each page is perfectly designed for a stamp and you also have space to write down from where it is from. The book comes with a small paper which you can use to dry the ink when using a stamp. Usually you can find stamps inside or outside of the station close to the ticket counter, but sometimes you have to ask the station staff, because they have them in their office. In the Kyoto area I've found even stamp machines, which made very beautiful stamps. I really love my stamp book (I already have 5 of them) and carry it around every day. You never know when you will find a cool stamp. Not only train stations, but also at services areas and many tourist attractions like Tokyo Tower or some museums, have their own stamp. There are also sometimes stamp rallies of popular characters, which can be collected in a stamp book, too. Nowadays you can also find stamp books for special themes like for castles or Japanese gardens.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MEq3v-living_transportation_education_tokyoMon, 04 Jun 2018 18:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MEq3v-living_transportation_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mn5KE-living_food_money_tokyoThe summer season is starting soon in Japan. The air gets hot and humid and the air conditioner needs to be turned on. Japanese summer can be very tough, especially if you are not used to the humid climate. For me it is also the best season to go on a diet. My appetite shrinks because of the hot weather and also the motivation to cook something is very low during this time. Japan is famous for its seasonal dishes and, yes, of course there are many for the summer season. Let's have a look at the most popular summer dishes in Japan:Hiyashi Chuka – Japanese cold noodlesOne of my favorite dishes during summer is Hiyashi Chuka -- cold ramen noodles with various sliced toppings like tamagoyaki, ham and cucumber. It comes with a sweet brown sauce. Almots every supermarket and convenience store across Japan are selling this cold noodle dish. SomenAnother noodle dish is somen, which are very fine, long, round white vermicelli made from wheat flour. The cooking time for somen is very short, which makes them an easy and fast dish to prepare. You can eat them cold or warm together with vegetables and soy sauce. Nagashi somen parties, which just means "running/flowing somen" are very popular in Japan. The somen noodles run through bamboo shoots on a water slider and you need to catch them with chopsticks before the bamboo shoots end. These parties are a very fun way to eat somen noodles with others.YakitoriSummer is the also the time for summer festivals which you can find all over Japan. Small food stalls selling every kind of food from yakisoba, chocolate bananas to grilled fish. One of the most popular dishes at summer festivals is yakitori, which are small sticks with grilled chicken, seafood, vegetable or pork/beef. The grilled meat is very soft and the smell of the meat will make your mouth water. There are also many yakitori restaurants, where you can enjoy many different kinds of meat. For sure, the most interesting way to enjoy yakitori is at one of the small yakitori booths which pop up only in the evening on the streets and often only have a few seats. Eating at these booths together with other salarymen will give you the feeling of being back in time. KakigoriAlso very popular at summer festivals is the crushed ice kakigori, which comes with different kinds of sweet syrup sauces like strawberry and calpis taste. You can easily make kakigori at home if you owning a kakigori machine, which you can buy for less than 1,000 yen.WatermelonThe number one summer food in Japan is for sure watermelon. Even in many anime you will find a scene where somebody is eating a watermelon sitting in a traditional house or playing on the beach with a water ball in the form of a watermelon. There is also a popular game for kids on the beach, where you have to hit a whole watermelon with a wooden stick. The difficult part is that the eyes are covered with a piece of cloth and you can not see where to hit. Mugicha“Mugicha” or barley tea, while not a dish, is for sure one of the most popular drinks during the summer in Japan. If you drink it cold, it is very refreshing and also very healthy, that's why it is very famous among the Japanese and way better than all other sweet drinks. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mn5KE-living_food_money_tokyoWed, 30 May 2018 14:35:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mn5KE-living_food_money_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY4bB-living_shopping_education_familylife_tokyoMe and my husband have already known each other over seven years. Seven years with many ups and downs. There have been many happy and great situations but also some not so good experiences. Living in a mixed relationship (he is Japanese, I'm German) can make life sometimes very complicated but also funny. Of course there are many situations which are typical in every relationship, but having a different cultural backround and language can make it even more difficult to be together. Besides those typical culture and language problems, I want to write in this article about the very small differences my husband and I experience in our daily life very often.Don't forget to lock the door When I stayed over a half year during my work and holiday at my husband's apartment it happend quite often that I forgot to lock the door. In most of the areas in Europe when you shut the door it will be automaticly locked without having to do something else. Unfortunately this is not the case in Japan. To lock the door you really have to use a key and lock the door, otherwise it will be open and everybody can go in. Especially during the beginning of my stay in Japan it happend often that I forgot to lock the door and I was outside the whole day without knowing it. Luckly nothing bad ever came of this and, of course, I learned my lesson and now always check twice if the door is really locked. Shopping every day Always when we visit Europe my husband is very surprised that, in most cases, all stores are closed on Sundays and public holidays, and of course most of the restaurants are closed too. Sunday is for resting and spending time with the family, that's why in many countries, where Christianity is the main religion, stores are not allowed to open. This can be troublesome for people who are not aware of the custom, but as soon as you get used to that situation, you can prepare yourself. I grew up in Germany, that's why it is so normal for me that everthing is closed. It was a big surprise, when I heard everthing (except some small stores) are open on Sunday here in Japan and you really can go shopping every day. It is very convenient, but I also feel bad for all the workers who have to work every day. Ventilate the house The first time I opend all the windows in the morning to let fresh air into our apartment, my husband thought that I was crazy. Especially during the winter, he still thinks that I want to kill him. For a German, this is something so normal. We call it „lüften“ which just means to ventilate the room. It is for getting rid of the bad, used air in the room and also for killing the bacteria in the bed sheets. In Japan I just do it in the morning, but when I lived in Germany, I did it at least twice a day. Even in many apartment rental contracts in Germany it is written that you have to do it. It keeps the moisture outside and protects the apartment from mold. Still my husband doesn' understand why I'm doing it, he just gave up complaining about it and at least we never had mold problems in our apartment. Consumption tax I'm standing at a supermarket cashier, already with the exact coins for the drink and onigiri in my hand and suddenly the cashier tells me a totally different price. I've got very confused and speechles. In the end I just payed what she told me. After checking the receipt I realized that all the pricetags at the supermarket are without consumption tax. That means that you always have to calculate 8 % consumption tax extra to the price. Sometimes you also find the price including the tax on the price tag, but usually it is written in very small text. In Germany all price tags really show what you have to pay, all including the consumption tax, which makes it way easier. I don't get why stores in Japan don't have the same system. As a buyer I don't care about the price without tax. I just want to know what I really have to pay. Those are just a few experiences, more will follow at part 2. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY4bB-living_shopping_education_familylife_tokyoFri, 18 May 2018 15:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY4bB-living_shopping_education_familylife_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9pd8-living_food_shopping_tea_fujieda_shi_shizuokaI visit Shizuoka Prefecture very regularly because a part of my Japanese family lives there. With the Shinkansen you reach Shizuoka City in less than 1 & 1/2 hours, which makes traveling very comfortable and you can easily make a day trip to the region. Besides visiting my relatives, I also love to explore the area. Shizuoka is full of beautiful nature. From the ocean side of the Izu Peninsula to the mountains close to Shizuoka City, the prefecture has something to offer everyone. The prefecture is also home to Mt. Fuji which you can see from nearly all parts of the prefecture. Shizuoka is also very popular for its green tea. You can find green tea fields or plantations almost everywhere in the mountain areas. It's really a nice feeling to walk around the green tea fields and have a chat with the farmers who take care of the tea plants. For me, it is also always amazing as to where you can find those green tea fields. Sometimes you will see them on very high cliffs or places which are inaccessible by any transportation. In such cases the tea farmers use small carts which run on a track through the fields. Some green tea farmers also offer green tea tours, through which you can learn everything about green tea. The Shizuoka tourist website offers many of those tours, also in English: Green tea toursOf course, not everybody has the time to go on a tour, but if you still want to experience the green tea culture of Shizuoka, how about buying some green tea? At almost every souvenir shop in Shizuoka you will find a great selection of Japanese green tea from the region. Each tea has its own unique green tea flavor. Also, green tea is very good for health, which has made tea very popular in Japan. One of my favorites is the Shizuoka Tea Paving (深蒸し茶), which is a very deep steamed tea with a strong flavor. Even the package contains green tea powder, and you have to use a tea strainer and tea pot to make the tea. Pouring only hot water in a cup is not possible. The tea is also very good for using in a tea ceremony. And as the price is not that high, it is perfect for beginners, who are still learning to prepare the perfect green tea. If you are planning to visit Shizuoka prefecture, don't miss the chance to visit a tea plantation or try out some of the great green teas, you can find everywhere!This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9pd8-living_food_shopping_tea_fujieda_shi_shizuokaWed, 09 May 2018 16:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9pd8-living_food_shopping_tea_fujieda_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5KDr-food_tokyoMany foreigner know for sure the popular mind chocolate „After eight“, which is a peppermint cream surrounded by dark chocolate. Especially in Great Britain and Germany it is very popular. When I moved to Japan, I really missed that chocolate, which gives you a nice fresh smell in your mouth after eating it. Most of the chocolate here is very sweet and I can not eat much of it.Last time when I stopped at a nearby convenience store, I´ve found the baskin robbins chocolate mint chocolate. First of I was surprised to find something with mint inside, because that herb is not that popular in Japan than in other regions of the world.The chocolate package has 10 small separated wrapped chocolate pieces. The mint cream inside the chocolate really tastes like the delicious mint ice cream of 'baskin robbins.' The surrounded milk chocolate also melts like ice cream as soon it is in your mouth. The flavor is very similar to my favorite 'after eight' chocolate, but there are some small differences. First off, all the baskin and robbins chocolate is made of milk chocolate and not dark chocolate. The milk chocolate makes it a little bit sweet. Also the size if different, which also affects the taste. After eight is very thin and most of it is mint cream. The 'baskin robbins' version is more like a chocolate bar with more chocolate than mint. Both of them have a strong mint flavor and taste very good. The perfect chocolate for chocolate mint lover!Mostly every convenience store and also 'baskin robbins' stores sell the chocolate mint chocolate. This new chocolate version is out on the market since April 19th. It is a limited time chocolate for 140 yen. Check it out if you are a mint fan!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5KDr-food_tokyoFri, 04 May 2018 08:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w5KDr-food_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MEqpD-food_toshima_ku_tokyoFinally, the long-awaited Sailor Moon Cafe in collaboration with My Melody opened in Tokyo. After being in Osaka, Nagoya and Sapporo, Tokyo is the last stop of this cafe. That's quite fair, because most of the Sailor Moon events are exclusively in Tokyo. The Sailor Moon Café is part of “The guest Café”, which is hosting the Sailor Moon Café at the 7 th floor of the Parco building in Ikebukuro.The cafe itself is completely from outside and inside filled with Sailor Moon. You can find a Sailor warrior in every corner of the cafe. I mostly liked all the balloon candies that hung from the ceiling and fit perfectly with the theme. The cafe itself is quite small and was relatively empty during my visit. It was the first time for me to relax in a theme cafe and just spend time eating and chatting or listening to the Sailor Moon music could spend. At the last Sailor Moon Cafe where I was, there was a time limit and it was quite loud and crowded. Also as a small present, I´ve got a small poster in the design of the Sailor Moon Café. It is also possible to buy some Sailor Moon goods which are limited to the café only. On the menu were mostly sweet desserts and coffee drinks. I choose a melon soda with vanilla ice cream on top and a plate with many different types of ice cream. My friend had an ice cream parfai and a parfait and an ice coffee, which unfortunately were both littered with tons of cream. Of course everything was done in the Sailor Moon design.The food was better than any other cafe I have been to. However, as always the high price and that there was too much cream is a negative point. Nevertheless, it was a nice visit and a must for Sailor Moon Fans. The café is open from 2018/4/20－ 2018/5/21.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MEqpD-food_toshima_ku_tokyoSun, 29 Apr 2018 14:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MEqpD-food_toshima_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7jen-living_education_bunkyo_ku_tokyoMany people associate Japan with Anime &Manga, especially all the school girls anime are very popular. As a fan of those cute school uniform, I´ve recently visited an exhibition about Sailor style school uniforms. The exhibition was held at the Yayoi Art Museum at the Bunkyo Ward in Tokyo. Even the name of the museum is kind of creepy it only is the name of the area and has nothing to do with erotic acts. The exhibition is held from 29 March to 24 June 2018.You can see many different kinds of sailor school uniform from different generations. From British style navy blue uniforms from the 20 th century to current ones. There are also many very old paintings and fashion magazines from 20 th century. It is very interesting to see so many different sailor school uniform styles. Also on display are three pictures of the popular Anime Sailor Moon. Every month one of the three pictures is an original art of Sailor Moon (the other two are just copies). You can also buy postcards of those pictures at the entrance of the museum. There is also a second exhibition about Takehisa Yumeji, which displays many old drawings and photos of young girls in kimonos or western style clothes. The entrance fee for both exhibitions is 900 Yen for adults and 400 Yen for kids. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7jen-living_education_bunkyo_ku_tokyoWed, 25 Apr 2018 09:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7jen-living_education_bunkyo_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1ALA-living_transportation_education_futtsu_shi_chiba_hachioji_shi_tokyo_otsuki_shi_yamanashiLiving in Tokyo can be sometimes very stressful, that's why it is very good to sometimes rush outside of the city and enjoy a little bit of the nature in the neighboring prefectures. Most of Japan is covered by mountains, this means there are many good places for hiking. Let's take a look at three of my top recommendations for hiking near Tokyo.Tokyo – Mt. TakaoTakao Mountain, with a height of 600 m, is located in the city of Tokyo-Hachioji and is a very popular tourist destination. The mountain itself has about 5 different hiking routes that lead past shrines and excursion platforms. All routes up Mt. Takao vary in their difficulty, but of course the most popular route is the easiest way. If you are not that good at hiking it is even possible to use a cable car to go up to the top of the mountain. The closest station to Mt. Takao is Takaosanguchi which can be reached by the Keio Line from Shinjuku in around 50 minutes. Especially during the autumn foliage season the mountain is very popular for its colorful leaves and it can get amazingly crowded. Sometime so crowded, that you have to wait in a line to go up to the top.Chiba – Mt. NokogiriThe closest station to go to Mt. Nokogiri is Hota station. You can go to the top of the mountain by car or by cable car or just hike up to the top in around an hour. From the top you will have a beautiful view over the ocean and the nearby city. At a small booth you have to pay 600 yen to visit the path that leads around the many stone statues and the great canon and Buddha statue. The 100-Shaku Canon statue (百尺 観 音) is about 30 meters high and was carved into the rock face. If you stand in front of it, it is really an incredible sight. Just a few meters from the canyon rope is the "Ruriko viewing platform" from which you will have a beautiful view over the area. While walking down the mountain you will cross the path of the 1,500 stone figures of Tokai Arhats. These figures are scattered all over the mountain and come from the artist Jingoró Eirei Óno and his 27 helpers. They worked on all the characters for about 19 years and distributed them around the mountain. Unfortunately, many of the statues were destroyed during an anti-Buddism movement in the Meji era, which is why only a few parts of the statues are still preserved. Even though Mt. Nokogiri is just 330 m high, going up can be very tiring if you are not used to hiking. Yamanashi – Mt. TakagawaIt takes around 2 hrs from Tokyo station to Hatsukari station in Otsuki, Yamanashi prefecture. Even though the station is very small, you can find some good hiking and sightseeing maps. Just in front of the station are three different hiking courses to different mountains. At the entrance of the hiking course is a small clicker in a wood house, where you have to click to tell how many people will go up to the mountain. This is a precautionary measure in case someone is lost or may be attacked by wild animals like bears or monkeys.The hike runs through a dense grove up the mountain. At first the path is easy going, but the higher you go, the harder and steeper the path gets. Interestingly, there were two ways on the same hiking course to go up the mountain, a way for women and a way for men. The one for men is even steeper than that for women. Partly the way can be very narrow and sometimes not even recognizable, because everything is covered with leaves. Sometimes there are even safety ropes where you have to hold on. During my visit I saw five monkeys right in front of me who were not scared of humans, but you should always watch out even if they seem to be harmless. The top of the mountain has an altitude of 976 m and is perfect for a small picnic. There is a great panoramic view over the mountains and Otsuki. If the weather is very good and clear, you will have an amazing view of Mt. Fuji.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1ALA-living_transportation_education_futtsu_shi_chiba_hachioji_shi_tokyo_otsuki_shi_yamanashiMon, 23 Apr 2018 17:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1ALA-living_transportation_education_futtsu_shi_chiba_hachioji_shi_tokyo_otsuki_shi_yamanashihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2EAn-living_shopping_taito_ku_tokyoI am now at an age when all around me have children or are pregnant. Of course that is a very great thing, but as a friend it can get kind of hard to always decide for a new present for the mum/kid. 4 of my friends will have a baby soon this year and I really struggle to find the right present. I don´t want to give the same to everyone and also typical presents like clothes are not so mine. Also two of my friends are huge fans of the Japanese studio Ghibli and love their products. That´s why I checked out the famous Ghibli store “Donguri” at the Solamachi Skytree town to get some ideas. They have many cute Baby clothes, towels, small bottles or rattles in a Totoro design. Unfortunately most of it is only from the popular Anime Totoro, but of course all is very cute. All is very pricy and kind of a typical baby present. But then suddenly something very new caught my eyes. In a corner was standing a small cat bus from the Anime Totoro. Of course everybody, who likes the studio Ghibli knows that cat bus very well. The great thing about the cat bus was that it was a rocking horse for kids. A really great idea! Unfortunately the price was crazy too. Around 20.000 Yen for a small rocking horse or cat in that case. In the end I decided for a diaper cake of Totoro, which is very practical and also cute. image source: Amazon.co.jpDoes anybody of you has a nice idea for a baby present with a Japanese theme?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2EAn-living_shopping_taito_ku_tokyoFri, 20 Apr 2018 11:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2EAn-living_shopping_taito_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MvP2J-food_shopping_shirakawa_shi_fukushimaUsually I'm not a huge fan of buying omiyage. Snacks and drinks are especially popular as gifts for friends and co-workers here in Japan. But during my last trip to Fukushima Prefecture I had some time to spare and checked out all the different souvenirs. Between the many different kinds of snacks, a drink with a very interesting name caught my eye. It was called “sarunashi” which you can simply translate as "monkey Japanese pear." I was wondering what do monkeys have to do with pears. Maybe they love to eat them? Or is there some monkey inside the drink? Or maybe more simply, the area is popular for monkeys?First, I asked the store staff if there is alcohol inside, because I can not drink it then, but she said it is just juice. Also, the package told me that there is 10% fruit inside, which seemed to be not that much for a juice and made me even more confused, what really might be inside. It smells a little bit like the green gummy bear of Haribo, but the taste is totally different. Initially it tastes a little bit sour, then very green, and in the end very sweet, which comes from the honey inside. It is very hard to describe. It is a little bit like a thin green smoothie with sugar. Unfortunately, there is no Japanese pear (nashi) taste or anything else in that direction. After you get used to the taste it's good, but the smell and the very dark green color is a little bit repulsive.The small can, only 190 ml, costs 220 yen, which is kind of pricy but totally normal for omiyage stuff. You can get the “sarunashi” drink at the typical souvenir stores in touristy areas of Fukushima. I bought from a small omiyage store at Shirakawa station, south of Fukushima.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MvP2J-food_shopping_shirakawa_shi_fukushimaTue, 17 Apr 2018 16:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MvP2J-food_shopping_shirakawa_shi_fukushimahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAWav-living_transportation_uonuma_shi_niigataThe cherry blossom season already ended in Tokyo a week ago and the weather is getting warmer and warmer but also very stormy. It´s time for the spring storms, which are foreteller of the rain season. For me it is the perfect timing to travel around. All starts to bloom and the weather is still very chilly and comfortable, especially if you want to go hiking. Last Monday I´ve been on a trip from Tokyo to a small town in Niigata. When I started in Tokyo it was 20 degree and very sunny outside and the weather forecast for Niigata was slightly the same. But as soon I came closer to the mountains of Gunma/Niigata I was kindly shocked. The train ran from the green and cherry blossoms fields of Gunma (the neighboring prefecture of Niigata) through a very long and dark tunnel to the very popular Ski resorts of Yuzawa. When I looked out of the window I was kind of shocked. The whole mountain area was full with snow, even the thermometer told me that there are 20 degree outside. I was just wearing a thin sweater and shorts and thought, that I will be totally frozen, when I leave the train, but it was no problem. My goal the small town Itsukamachi is popular for their good quality rice and of course all the great rice fields you can see everywhere. The best place to see the rice fields of the town is from the mountain Rokumangi, which is around 20 minutes walk away from the station. The mountain is 321 m high and the way up is kind of steep, but it is absolutely worth it to go to the top. The great view over the rice fields and the town, which is surrounded by high mountains is breathtaking. Even so all the rice field were still covered with snow, the mountain itself was snowless and somehow it was kind of hot on top. During spring the mountain is also very popular for thousands of little purple violets, which you can find along the whole way up the mountain. That´s why you can also see many older hikers there, who like to enjoy those flowers. Even so if you are lucky you can see many butterflies dancing on top of the mountain.I´ve just could spend a few hours in that small town, but it was a very nice trip and I learned a lot about rice fields, during my walk around. Also that I should always prepare for every kind of weather, even the weather forecast tells me something different. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAWav-living_transportation_uonuma_shi_niigataSat, 07 Apr 2018 15:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAWav-living_transportation_uonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1Ad5-living_koga_shi_ibarakiMarch / April is the time of cherry blossom in Japan. However, there are also many other beautiful flowers that bloom at the same time. By now I have become a bit tired of the cherry blossom and was looking for something new. So great fan of the plum blossom, which usually blooms in late February/early March in Japan, I was amazed to find a very similar great flower: The peach blossom!You can reach Koga by train in around 70 minutes from the Tokyo Station via the Utsunomiya Line. From the train station it takes about 30 minutes to walk to Kogasogo Park. Alternatively, you can take a bus that takes you directly to the entrance of the park.Right at the beginning I was greeted by different colored peach trees, which stood along a small creek with mini wooden bridges. Behind it was a small stream that formed several small ponds in the park. But the best thing was of course more than 100 peach trees scattered throughout the park on large meadows.It felt like you were dancing through a large orchard. The most amazing thing about the peachtrees is that they are relatively low and therefore you can stand wonderfully between the branches with their incredibly great blossoms instead of cherry trees under the treetop.In addition, the trees bloom in very strong colors. Particularly impressive are the very strong pink and red blossom, not to compare with cherry blossom. Especially when several trees stood behind each other, the whole background looked incredibly pink, which is really breathtaking. There are also several festival booths at the side of the park, where you can buy some snacks, bentos and something to drink. Perfect for a picnic under the peach trees.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1Ad5-living_koga_shi_ibarakiSun, 01 Apr 2018 12:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1Ad5-living_koga_shi_ibarakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY4o6-living_transportation_education_yaizu_shi_shizuokaUsually I'm living most of the year in the heart of Tokyo, but every summer during the obon season and for the new year season I´m spending a lot of time in the hometown of my husband. Originaly my husband was born in Hiroshima but he spend most of his live in the small fishing village Yaizu, which is very close to Shizuoka City. From Tokyo it takes only 80 minutes by shinkansen to Yaizu station. Yaizu is popular port for commercial fishing and also many fish you can eat at the restaurants in Tokyo is coming from that small town. Also the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Shizuhama Air Base is located in Yaizu. Yaizu Shrine Grand Festival (Ara Matsuri)The small town has every summer a huge summer festival. The Yaizu Shrine Grand Festival (Ara Matsuri) is known as Tokai´s (Tokai region) number one Ara (boisterous) festival. It is held every summer from August 12 th and 13 th at the Yaizu shrine, which is just 13 minutes walk away from Yaizu station. Two huge Mikoshi carried by a few thousand people dressed in white parade festival clothes walking around the town of Yaizu yelling an unusual shout "anetton". You can hear people shouting that word the whole day. It is a festival that is being protected and guarded by the pure and simple feelings towards the God of the predecessors in the sense that it faces God with a feeling.The costume of the festival is said to be white, that´s why everybody is wearing white clothes from top to bottom. White is a color representing purity just like the national flag Hinomaru's white background, and it shows that the body and mind are pure in participating in the festival.The festival is a typical local festival where it is very easy to get part of the community. Even if you are visiting the city just for one day, everybody will welcome you for joining the festival with them.Yaizu Marine FireworksOn August 14, every year, just right after the Yaizu Shrine Grand Festival, you can enjoy the very great and beautiful Yaizu Marine Fireworks. From 19:30 – 20:30 h around 5000 fireworks will light up the night sky of the Yaizu New Port area. The port is just 15 minutes on foot from Yaizu Station.The firework just right over the ocean is really gorgeous and great. The audience can sit on the floor of the port on blue plastic sheets, which are prepared by the organizer, but you can also bring your own one. You don´t have to worry about a good seat. It is possible to see the fireworks from most of the places at the port. Since the fireworks can be seen directly above the sea, there are beautiful reflections in the water. Also the firework is very close it can get kind of scary, because it is very noisy and sometimes you will get the feeling that the lights are falling down on you. On the other side there are always some very cute character fireworks like of Hello Kitty of Pikachu from Pokemon. For me this firework is one of the bests because of the beautiful ocean view (sometimes you can even see Mt. Fuji in the back) and the great firework show.If you happen to be close to Shizuoka you shouldn´t miss that firework!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY4o6-living_transportation_education_yaizu_shi_shizuokaThu, 29 Mar 2018 08:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MY4o6-living_transportation_education_yaizu_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7RV-living_shopping_money_tokyoAre you ready for a Hanami party? Cherry blossoms will fully bloom in most of the areas of Japan (except northern Japan). That means it is time for the popular Hanami parties. Sitting under the cherry trees with your friends or co-worker incl. a nice drink and some delicious food will make your party perfect. But first of all you will need some supplies for your picnic like a blanket or plastic seat to sit on it or plates, cups and knives and forks. 100 Yen shops have a very good and reasonable selection of all what you will need including many beautiful cherry blossom design stuff like letsets or fake cherry blossoms. You can read about these selection at Hanami Picnic supplies at Daiso article.If you want to invest a little bit more and keep it for a longer time period (most of the 100 Yen stuff doesn´t last that long), you can also find very nice picnic stuff at Ikea.Ikea has it´s own little cherry blossom picnic collection. You can choose between, very good hard plastic tableware, coffee mug, Bento boxes and napkins. But for sure one of the best products is the plastic seat in the cherry blossom design. it will gives you the feeling of sitting in cherry blossom and not only under a cherry blossom tree. They also have a trolley in the same design as the plastic sheet. It is perfect for bringing everything to your picnic. I was very surprised to find cherry blossom stuff at ikea, but you can get really good products for a reasonable price there!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7RV-living_shopping_money_tokyoSat, 24 Mar 2018 20:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7RV-living_shopping_money_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7g4-living_education_familylife_toyokawa_shi_aichiTraditions are huge part of Japanese culture. One of the traditions of my family here in Japan is to visit, every spring, a famous shrine and join a shrine ceremony. As an atheist these ceremonies are kind of strange for me, but it is also an experience to take a look into Japanese traditions and religion. Every year we visit the Toyokawa Inari Shrine in Aichi Prefecture. Even though my family lives in Shizuoka we go to that shrine, which is 100 km away from Shizuoka. The shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the god of fertility, rice and agriculture, industry and worldly success. The shrine is also one of Japan’s big three Inari Shrines.Before joining the ceremony inside the main shrine building, you have to fill out a paper with your praying wishes. You can choose from a long list like wishing for health, for a kid, good exam results or help for your business. After paying a fee (from 5,000 yen – 30,000 yen), you will be guided to a waiting room. After a cup of tea and a chat with other participants in the tatami waiting room, one of the staff members will bring you to the inside of the main shrine. Making ones way through the many buildings of the shrine which have views to the beautiful zen garden is already a great experience for a foreigner. Usually, it is not permitted to take a look inside. Inside the main shrine, every participant will sit down in front of the altar. After a view minutes some monks will come in and start the ceremony. The ceremony is full of energy. You can hear drums and the singing of the monks, which gives off a very mystic atmosphere. Mostly, at the end ceremony, the monk will tell your name, where you are from and what you wish for. My father in law used to wish for good luck for his business, that's why we always go to that shrine. After a lot of bowing, the ceremony will end and everybody leaves the shrine. Many shrines also offer a monk lunch after the ceremony. We always take that opportunity to try out the very healthy food. Usually it is fully vegan food. That means no fish, no meat or eggs. It is supposed to clean your body from all the unhealthy, fatty food many people eat. Especially for a foreigner, a shrine ceremony in Japan is a wonderful experience to learn about Japanese culture and religion. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7g4-living_education_familylife_toyokawa_shi_aichiWed, 21 Mar 2018 17:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7g4-living_education_familylife_toyokawa_shi_aichihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MgPWd-living_transportation_yamanashiSpring is the beginning of everything in Japan. A new school year starts in April also many company fiscal year will start at that time. The typical sign of spring are cherry blossom trees. You can see everywhere around Japan people celebrating the cherry blossoms with a hanami party or just enjoying the beautiful flowers. Beside the cherry blossom and also the plum blossom, which are blooming a little bit earlier there are two more very beautiful blossoms blooming at the same time. Peach blossom and magnolia should also stand on your list, if you don´t want to miss the beauty of spring. Peach blossom are very similar to cherry blossom, but they are mostly two colored (white/pink) and already have many green leaves. Also the sweet smell is very strong and similar to plum blossom. You can find many peach trees at the Yamanashi prefecture, where are tons of fruits tree fields.Magnolia trees can be found everywhere around Japan with it´s beautiful white and strong pink flowers. The blossom of magnolia trees are very huge and a great eye catcher. During the peak season it is very nice to walk through magnolias fields to enjoy the great sweet smell of the flower. Unfortunately as soon the magnolia starts to fade, they can get very stinky. Of course cherry blossoms are the most popular to see in Japan, but it is also nice to see different blossoms from time to time, especially if you are already living a few years in Japan and already saw enough cherry blossom. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MgPWd-living_transportation_yamanashiTue, 20 Mar 2018 09:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MgPWd-living_transportation_yamanashihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G63vQ-living_food_fukuroi_shi_shizuokaOn my last trip to the Shizuoka prefecture, I and my family made a stop at the Katsuragi Hotel Kitanomaru in the mountains of Fukuroi. The hotel is part of a large golf course in the mountains. When we arrived at the hotel I was really impressed. We were greeted by a huge old entrance gate. After having crossed it, you are standing on a spacious forecourt in front of the main building.The hotel itself includes 7 different old country houses which have been restored and is owned by the famous Yamaha Group, who want to give the hotel a sense of old-fashioned Japan. Visitors who stay at the hotel shall feel like beeing a landlord.When entering the house, you will be greeted by many staff who will take care of all the quests. We just wanted to have a coffee in the lounge. From there we had a beautiful view of the Japanese garden, which you can see throw very large windows. We were served by a young lady in a beautiful green kimono, who gave us the feeling of beeing very special guests.The hotel has several party rooms and guest rooms and a small pool. Everything is in an old Japanese style. Each room is beautifully clad in wood, giving you the feeling of being back in time.After we finished our coffee, we went for a walk in the garden, which is a great eye-catcher, especially in autumn. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G63vQ-living_food_fukuroi_shi_shizuokaMon, 19 Mar 2018 14:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G63vQ-living_food_fukuroi_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoxoW-living_food_tokyoWhen I came to Japan for the first time, I was very surprised about the high prices for mostly everything. Compared to my home country of Germany, almost everything is way more expensive than what I had been used to before. It was really a shock for me when I went the first time to the supermarket and spent around 10,000 yen for food which is just for a few days. Since that day I realized that I really have to think about what to buy, in which season and if I really need it now. Many Japanese housewives go to the supermarket every day or every other day in order to get really fresh food. In Germany I used to go to the supermarket every 1 or 2 weeks only. I didn´t care so much about a lot of fresh food, that's why I could just store many food items in the freezer for long time. Since living together with my Japanese husband, who cares very much about what kind of food we are eating and if the food is fresh, I had to totally change my living style. For me, food was for a long time just something to fill my stomach. It doesn't matter if it is healthy or tastes good as long my stomach is full. Now I have learned how to cook and look for good and fresh ingredients at the supermarket here in Japan. Nevertheless, I still often stand in those supermarkets and think about the high prices.Let's have a look at the different grocery prices (comparing central Tokyo with central Berlin):Meat & FishThe prices for meat are very similar in Germany and Japan, but the amount or the shape of the meat is totally different. Japanese supermarkets stock mostly very thin meat slices (pork and beef), instead in Germany you can find only very thick meat like with a pork chop, for example. Thicker meat costs, of course, way more in Japan, although if it is on sale it costs the same as in Germany. Even though parts of Germany are close to the ocean, fish is not that popular and often crazy expensive. As a fish lover, Japan is a paradise with many different kinds of fresh and reasonably priced fish. You can already get a whole fish for under 100 yen and it tastes very good. On the other hand, if the fish is very fresh, it will cost a lot to buy some in Germany. Vegetable & FruitsIn Japan you have to buy vegetables depending on the season, otherwise it can get quiet expensive. If you don't like Japanese vegetables, it may also be kind of difficult to get some reasonably priced vegetables. Paprika, tomatoes, cauliflower, beans or other typical western style vegetables can be really expensive in Japan. I recommend checking out local farmer stores to get vegetables for under 100 yen. In Germany vegetables are very cheap and still good -- three paprikas for 150 yen or a 5 kilo bag of potatoes for 500 yen is totally normal. Since I own rabbits, I feed them lot of leafy vegetables, which is incredibly expensive in Japan.Also, fruits are crazy expensive in Japan -- an apple for 150 yen or strawberries for 400 yen are standard. Even so, the variety of fruits is not that high in Japan. Depending on the season, you often only have the choice between oranges, apples and bananas. In Germany there are many different kinds of fruits grown by local farmers and also many are exported from Spain. The supermarkets are always full with tons of fruits for very good or reasonable prices. Also, many families have their own fruit trees at home such as cherry or plumtrees. I used to spend the whole summer just sitting in our garden and eating tons of berries, cherries or plums from the trees. Dairy productsFinding dairy products for under 100 yen in Japan would be like a dream for me. Milk and eggs cost usually between 150 and 300 yen, butter and cheese over 500 yen. Especially butter and cheese are crazy expensive, so much so that it is rare for me to enjoy a piece of cheese. People in Germany love milk products. You can find milk, yogurt other milk products usually for under 100 yen. Cheese and butter are very reasonable compaed to other countries.To summarize, all food except fish products cost a lot more in Japan than they do in Germany. In addition, the food variety at the supermarket in Japan is not very diverse, since export from other countries is rare.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoxoW-living_food_tokyoFri, 16 Mar 2018 10:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoxoW-living_food_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mn50o-food_shopping_tokyoMarch and April is the time of the year were you can find beautiful cherry blossom trees everywhere around Japan. It is also the season during which you can find many different cherry blossom (sakura) products. From special drinks, sweets, and ice cream to cosmetics with cherry blossom flavor Japan really has something to offer everyone during that season. Usually I'm not a big fan of cherry blossom products. To be honest, what can you expect from the flavor of a cherry blossom? Cherry taste? Green taste? For me many products often taste like soap. Therefore, I always struggle to try out new cherry blossom products. During my last visit to the supermarket the new cherry blossom sweets and drink selection caught my eyes and I thought I should give it a try and buy some. I chose the cherry blossom latte (Sakura Latte) powder. You can easily mix the powder at home with cold or hot water. Just put 3 tea spoons of sakura powder and hot water in your favorite coffee cup and mix it well. Alternatively you can also use milk, which makes the taste more creamy. I prefer to use milk for those products otherwise the taste is very thin. The cherry blossom latte tastes like a creamy milkshake with a small taste of cherry blossom or, moreover, it tastes a little bit like strawberry. If you like to enjoy such kind of lattes at home, this powder will be perfect for you. Also, it could be a nice souvenir to bring back to your home country. You can find this cherry blossom powder at almost every big supermarket in Japan like Aeon, Ito-Yokado or Seiyu. You can also find it at the international supermarket Kaldi. Just watch out for seasonal products and you will find it!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mn50o-food_shopping_tokyoThu, 15 Mar 2018 09:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mn50o-food_shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9p99-education_tokyoEvery week I teach German and English to two small, little Japanese girls. They already have English in school, but their parents like to have some more language support for their kids. Also, when they were in kindergarten, they spent one year in Germany and learnt a little bit German. In order to keep up their German for the future, I also help the kids with their studies. The good point is that English and German have very similar grammar and also vocabulary, that makes it very easy to teach both language together to the kids.The kids are still in elementary school, that's why I was looking for some teaching materials which are easy to understand for kids. After trying out many books and flashcards, I've found the perfect book for us. The “Japanese Illustrated Dictionary” is in English and Japanese with many pictures perfect for kids. The book starts with vocabulary around the house and lives of each of us. You can find all the words for the most important interior of each room and also for going to the supermarket or restaurant. These are pictured and are listed in English / Japanese. After that you will find vocabulary about different topics like all kind of fruits, colors, expressions and even verbs. The book has around 1,200 different vocabulary, all with pictures and very easy to understand. Especially good for young learners is that each page has just a small amount of vocabulary and is not fully packed like in other English/Japanese dictionaries for kids.The book also has an audio CD with all the vocabulary from the book. The kids can easily listen to the audio and repeat it, even if I'm not with them. The “Japanese Illustrated Dictionary also covers some ”typical Japanese themes like what can you find in a tatami room, Japanese food, and cultural words. All in one it is a very nice book for teaching kids the language. I also used it myself to study Japanese in the beginning because it is way easier to remember vocabulary through pictures than just reading the word alone. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9p99-education_tokyoWed, 14 Mar 2018 09:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9p99-education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zVO0p-living_food_shopping_transportation_hamamatsu_shi_shizuokaBetween the mountains of Hamamatsu you can find a small fairytale called Nukomuri Forrest. Cute little houses created by the famous architect Shigeyoshi Sasaki will bring you in a different world. The architect created his dream place with a mythical fairytale ambience. You can find similar houses of this architect everywhere around Japan. Many of them are small restaurants and cafes. The small village into the mountains has a restaurant, a cafe, some small shops, an art gallery and a small car museum. All is in a design of an old European village surrounded by mountains and tall trees. The cafe has very delicious cakes, which are very popular and sold out very soon right after the opening. If you are walking through the small garden, you will feel a little bit like walking through the world of Moomin, which makes that place to the perfect wonderland for kids. Unfortunately it is kind of difficult to go there without a car. There are two big paid parking spots for the forrest. Alternatively you can use the Bus (bound for Kanzan-ji) from Hamamatsu Stationand get off at sujikai-bashi bus stop.The village is open from 10:30 - 18:30 h (except on tuesdays).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zVO0p-living_food_shopping_transportation_hamamatsu_shi_shizuokaTue, 13 Mar 2018 14:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zVO0p-living_food_shopping_transportation_hamamatsu_shi_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8Q5L-living_shopping_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyoWhen people hear that I'm living in Tokyo, everybody just thinks life there must be so easy and great and, for sure, everybody can speak English. This might be right if you are living in one of the typical foreigner areas of Tokyo like Roppongi or Setagaya, but if you are living in a not-so-popular area of Tokyo, you might have to struggle a lot even living in the Japan capital. When I moved to Tokyo 5 years ago, me and my husband had to decide where to live. He used to live very close to Tokyo in a one room apartment, which was amazingly expensive and way too small for two persons. He is working very close to Tokyo station and we both decided not to waste anything by commuting half of the day from outside of Tokyo. That's why we ended up to live in Koto-ku close to the Tozai Line, which brings us to Tokyo station in 5 minutes, or in 15 minutes by bike. When we moved to our new home, I was the only caucasian foreigner in that area. There were already some Indians but no other caucasians, that's why I caught a lot of attention from everybody. In the beginning it happened so often that people stared at me or sometimes even run into something because they were so shocked/surprised to see a red hair foreigner. By the way, that happened very often in the supermarket. Even after many years living here there are still some people who just can't stop looking at me or asking weird questions about my hair, why I'm so tall for a woman or even remarking that I look like a doll and they want to touch me. After a while I got used to those situations and decided just to ignore those people and try to act like every other person. When I go to the supermarket I just smile and am kind to every old lady who asks me where I come from. After 5 years those situations became rare because people in my neighbourhood got used to seeing me. Now I often have a chat with the nice lady of the post office, who is always sad that she has never been to a foreign country in her life, that's why she is always very happy if she can talk a little bit with me about my hometown. We already came to be very good friends and she helps me often if I have problems with filling out some bank or postal documents at the post office. Also, sometimes I help her when a foreigner has trouble with sending a package and can't understand what the problem is. I often help with translating from Japanese to English (I really go there that often).The same happens with the delivery guys who bring me packages every week (mostly mineral water). If I meet them on the street they always greet me or if they have a package for me, they ask me when it will be fine to come over. My husband is always very surprised that everybody knows my name. What helped me the most to get integrated into the neighbourhood was to always be kind and have a huge smile for everyone. That really helped a lot. Nowadays two share houses which are very popular especially among German people opened in my area, here in Koto-ku, Tokyo. People are getting more used to foreigners now and don't stare at me that much anymore. Looking forward to the Olympics which will be also held in my area, more and more signs are in English now and also you can find more and more people who can speak English, even at the city office.My advice for moving to a new area is: Don't be shy! Try to always be nice and have a smile ready. Even if your Japanese is not that good, give it a chance!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8Q5L-living_shopping_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyoFri, 09 Mar 2018 10:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8Q5L-living_shopping_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1AX1-living_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyoBesides the popular biennial Tokyo Motorshow, you can find other great places in the Japan capital if you want to enjoy many cool new and old cars. The Megaweb “Look, Ride, Feel” Car Theme Park from the Japanese car maker Toyota has its home in Odaiba just next to the Venus Fort. The park has three different areas: The History Garage, City Showcase and the Ride Studio.Toyota City ShowcaseYou can see the newest models of Toyota at that showcase room, before they can be seen anywhere else. Also you can find next generation technology and motorsports. It is even possible to experience Toyota's advanced technologies while playing or trying out simulators.At the Showcase room on the 1st floor it is possible to try out some of the newest Toyota cars on a small 1.3 km track. One ride costs 300 yen and you have to make a reservation in advance.History GarageThe History Garage is the perfect place for all vintage car lovers. You can find cars from the 1950s to the 1970s from around the world. The cars are all set in a nostalgic, great-looking town where you can also enjoy a little bit of the old Japanese lifestyle. You can find an old toy store, a post office and even a small living room in the design of the 1960s.Also, literature and small model cars from Japanese and foreign car makers can be find in a very long corridor, which has an atmosphere of a car library. There is also a small exhibition about motorsports cars. Actual vehicles used in rallies are featured in the exhibition.Ride StudioAt the Ride Studio kids and visitors of all ages can learn about the fun of driving as well as learn about traffic rules. They have different car types for indoor and outdoor. Indoor (200 – 300 yen per ride):The Camatte car can be enjoyed together with the whole family inside. The PIUS car and the Petit Ride is made for small children. Kids can even try out assembling a hybrid car for themselves. It's the perfect way to understand the structure of a hybrid vehicle. Outdoor (300 yen per ride):Kids/adults of the height of 120 – 170 cm can enjoy the outdoor e-kart ride course. The course is 200 m long and you will be instructed by the staff on how to have a safe ride. The Mega Web Car Theme Park is the perfect place for the whole family especially if you love cars.Access: 3-12, Aomi 1-chome, Koto-ku TokyoClosest stations: Tokyo Teleport (Rinkai Line, TOEI Bus, Keikyu Bus), Aomi (Yurikamome Line)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1AX1-living_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyoThu, 08 Mar 2018 10:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1AX1-living_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7r4-living_shopping_money_education_tokyoWhen I was moving to Japan in 2011, I was in charge of taking care of our apartment. That meant I have to do all the cleaning, laundry, cooking and so on. In the beginning it was kind of difficult to adjust to the Japanese style of how to wash clothes (using only cold water) or how to wash the dishes. Everything seemed to be so different than in my home country. One topic which always kept me worried was how to best clean the bathroom area. Japanese style bathrooms are one small room with a bathtub and the area next to it for cleaning your body. If you are taking shower or a bath usually the whole room is getting very wet (including the ceiling and all walls). Most of the bathrooms have a ventilation system or at least a window to dry the room after using. But still, you can find very soon in every corner some mold, which comes from all the humidity. This mold looks of course very dirty and is also not good for the health, that's why I was looking for something to easily get rid of the mold.The most popular product for fighting against the mold is "Kabikira" (カビキラー) or just "mold remover." You can find that product in every drugstore, supermarket or home center in Japan. It comes in different versions (like for cleaning the washing machine), but the best is of course the plain version. Kabikira can be used for every kind of mold problem in the bathroom or kitchen area. It is perfect for rubber seals such as on walls, tiles, mats, shower curtains, doors and so on. It can not be used for sand walls, fiber walls, plaster, padded walls, decorative steel plate walls of the unit bath (the type with magnet), metallic products such as enamel, aluminum, brassiere (causes rust), wooden products, bristle brushes, and brushes.Kabikira is also very good at getting rid of old coffee stains in cups or if some plates got dirty after many years of using. You should be sure to clean cups very well after using the mould remover. How to use kabikira:Spray the mold remover on the moldy spot and wait for around 15 minutes. After that, clean the spot with water. If there is still some mold left, you can easily wipe it away.Make sure that the liquid does not get in your eyes or mouth. Do not use it for applications.Pay attention to clothing and carpets as Kabikira will cause discoloration, that's why it's better to watch out that you will not get in contact with the spray.If you are careful while using Kabikira, you will see that this is a perfect cleaning product for your bathroom and kitchen.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7r4-living_shopping_money_education_tokyoTue, 06 Mar 2018 10:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7r4-living_shopping_money_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7jQ0-living_transportation_edogawa_ku_tokyoThe current cherry blossom forecast says that cherry blossoms will be full bloom at the end of March in Tokyo. Even so these are the most popular cherry blossoms, which you can find everywhere around the country, you can already enjoy some blossoms now. The Kawazuzakura is a very early blooming cherry tree, which is blooming from the beginning of February to early March. These cherry blossom is a five petals sakura in a soft pink tone and usually a little bit bigger than usual cherry blossoms. Also these cherry blossoms last way longer than all others in Japan. The name Kawazusakura comes from a little town at the Izu Peninsula (Shizuoka prefecture) where you can find a large number of those cherry trees. Every year the town celebrates the Kawazu sakura matsuri which will be held from 10th February to 10th March 2018.Alternatively you can find also some of those trees in Tokyo. If you are already seeing some cherry trees fully blooming it will be for sure a Kawazuzakura. If you want to make sure to see one of those beautiful cherry trees, you can visit the Kasai Rinkai Park, close to the Tokyo Disney Land. The park has a few of Kawazuzakura trees and also some other earlier blooming cherry trees. Before the big cherry blossom season starts you should check out the beautiful Kawazuzakua!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7jQ0-living_transportation_edogawa_ku_tokyoMon, 05 Mar 2018 13:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7jQ0-living_transportation_edogawa_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3l7Y-food_shopping_tokyoAs a huge fan of the small cute racoon Rascal, who is very popular in Japan, I was very surprised to read about the newest collaboration. The popular Gyodon chain restaurant and Rascal have a new Campaign at their restaurants.If you are going there and buying any type of Gyodon (of butadon, curry...) and add a set for 180 Yen, which usually comes with a drink and fruits, you will also get one of 6 diffrent types of cute Rascal Magnets.All magnets have a sukiya design, holding a bowl of Gyodon or Curry or wearing the apron of Sukiya. The idea behind that campaign is to bring more families into the restaurant. Usually 90 % of their customer are male. Actually it seems to work well. During my visit already many family came and all orderd of course the Rascalset for their kids.A great campaign for fans of Rascal and for sure a good business for the restaurant.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3l7Y-food_shopping_tokyoSat, 24 Feb 2018 13:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z3l7Y-food_shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MxXy6-living_education_familylife_tokyoEvery few months the time comes for visiting the Japanese family of my husband in the countryside. OK, to tell the true, it is a small city close to Shizuoka. For me, living in the center of Tokyo, the small city really looks like the countryside, which is not a problem at all because I love the nature. Unfortunately, my parents in law don't like to go out that much. That's why we are sitting mostly in their home during the visit and eat, talk or just be lazy. But there is one thing I always realize when I visit my parents in law or other Japanese families at their home. The TV is always running even nobody is watching or nobody is in the room. Also, if guests come for a visit, the TV is still on. It is really strange to me, especially given that I rarely watch any TV. First of all, Japanese TV is a nightmare for me (like for many other foreigners) and also, if I really want to watch something, I will watch it online and really focus on it, the opposite than in Japan.I always have the feeling that the TV for Japanese people is more to give the feeling of not being alone at home. Even when we are sitting together for lunch or dinner with the whole family, the TV is always running in the background for the entertainment, especially for the older generations. Listening and talking to each other seems to be very tiring nowadays for many people; an evolution which makes me very sad. Nobody is really able to communicate anymore. Of course it's not only about watching TV, also using smartphones or tablets all the time, while being together with the family. Although I am still very young, looking into the future scares me. I'm kind of traditional and like the feeling of everybody sitting together and enjoying the time we can spend, without TV/smartphone. Luckly I have been able to change the situation in my Japanese family a little bit and my parents in law turn always turn off the TV when I'm around. The influence of my not feeling well with always having the noisy TV at my back made them change the situation. It's just a small step, but I already can feel how we all talk and pay attention to each other more. On the other hand, when my husband and I are alone at home, we rarely watch TV. Even when my husband likes to watch some evening shows, he soon gets tired and turns it off. Maybe it’s a generation thing, that the older generation is more addicted to the TV and the younger more to smartphones/tablets. How about your experience? How is the situation in your home?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MxXy6-living_education_familylife_tokyoFri, 23 Feb 2018 10:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MxXy6-living_education_familylife_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MgPjY-living_transportation_takasaki_shi_gummaThe Shorinzan Darumaji Temple is a 2-hour train ride from Tokyo near Gunma-Yuwata Station. From the station you have to walk around 15 minuts to the temple, which is on a small mountain. There is also a bus, but it doesn´t run that frequently, that´s why it is better to just walk. The Shorinzan Darumaji Temple is the birthplace of the famous Daruma doll, which is one of the best-known lucky charms in Japan. The temple was built in 1697 and houses many different Daruma dolls, which can be viewed in a small exhibition and also everwhere around the temple. Every year at the beginning of the new year, old Daruma dolls are burned and piled up on the forecourt. Some of them were already burned during my visit. The remains, however, reminded rather of giant egg shells, as to old Daruma dolls.The temple complex is very large and has several platforms from where you have a nice view over the city. Of course you can spot some Daruma figures in every corner. Even on the way to the temple you can find Daruma really everywhere. like on traffic signs, vending machine and statues.If you are already in the Takasaki area, I would recommend to visit the Daruma temple!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MgPjY-living_transportation_takasaki_shi_gummaTue, 20 Feb 2018 22:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MgPjY-living_transportation_takasaki_shi_gummahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7j9A-living_bunkyo_ku_tokyoSlowly it gets warmer and warmer outside. Spring is already knocking in the door. In Japan, it is the time of the beautiful plum blossom. From late February to mid-March, you can usually admire countless beautiful plum blossoms in the Kanto region.This year I decided to visit the Yushima Shrine near Ueno Park. The shrine is located just a few minutes from Yushima station. The shrine itself is located on a small hill, which you have to go up first to get reach the shrine area.According to legend, the shrine was founded in 458 in honor of the deity Ame no tajikarao no mikoto. In 1355, because of evil dreams that the inhabitants of Yushima had, Sugawara no Michizane was worshiped in a place under an old pine tree. Since the plum blossom was the coat of arms of Sugawara, this shrine is especially known for its plum blossom.The shrine has many different plum trees, but all bloom at different times. You will have the best view of the flowers in the small park that belongs to the shrine. During the plum festival there are also small stalls where you can buy food and drinks and enjoy them under the plum blossoms.There is also a small bonsai plum tree exhibition, where you can admire many different bonsai plum trees.I also was very lucky to see between the flowers a "uguis", a sparrow bird with a wonderful green feather dress. The bird is a typical sign of the beginning of spring.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7j9A-living_bunkyo_ku_tokyoTue, 20 Feb 2018 13:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7j9A-living_bunkyo_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GWPnO-living_transportation_education_miyazu_shi_kyotoLiving in Japan for a few years, I've gotten very sick of visiting typical tourist attractions in Japan. Those places are mostly overrun with people and I can't really enjoy visiting them anymore. That's why I'm looking more and more for some hidden spots when I'm traveling around Japan, even it might be kind of difficult to go there. One afternoon I saw a really great photo of a small fishing village in a magazine. Actually, it was a commercial for some fishing products, but I was more interested in the background of that photo. After doing a lot of research I've found that this place is in Kyoto, but not in Kyoto city. It is at the northern part of Kyoto prefecture close to the Sea of Japan. The fishing village of Ine has very unique buildings which are called "funaya." Those funaya are small boathouses. On the first floor you can find the boat/workplace of the owner along with their fishing equipment, and the second floor is mostly a storage space or sometimes people even live there. In Ine you can find those boathouses stretching for 5 km around the bay area. The houses date back from the old times of fishing and farming industries (around the 1700s), but they still represent the lifestyle of the fisherman these days. This place is the only place in Japan, where you can find so many beautiful fishing houses on the coast. Some of boathouses at Ine are renovated now and are used as small restaurants or as accommodation. From the Ine pier you can even go on a boat cruise, which takes around 30 minutes and costs 680 for adults and 340 yen for children. How to get thereFrom Kyoto Station you can use the Limited Express Hashidate to Amanohashidate Station. The ride takes around 2 hrs and costs 4,500 yen one way. From Amanohashidate, which has one of the three most beautiful landscapes in Japan, you have to take the Tankai bus from the front of the station to Ine. The bus sign and even an explanation how to go to the fishing village is written in Japanese and English. The bus only runs every hour and the ride takes up to 70 minutes (depending on the weather). If you want to go on a boat ride you should get off at the Ine-wan-meguri Hide, where Ine Bay Cruising operates from. If you just walk around the town, you can go straight to Ine station from where you have a perfect view over the boathouses. Best season to goDuring the winter season the region receives heavy snowfall and many rainy days. Even though the bus to the village is in operation, everything in town will be closed. It is nice if you want to take some photos in the snow, but it is not really recommended. Usually there is a very strong, freezing wind in winter, which makes it feel even colder.Spring and autumn can be a little bit chilly and the weather is very changeable and even in late March you can still have snow in that area. Summer is, for sure, the best season to visit Ine, with a lot of sun and warm weather, you can enjoy a nice boat ride around the village. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GWPnO-living_transportation_education_miyazu_shi_kyotoFri, 16 Feb 2018 10:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GWPnO-living_transportation_education_miyazu_shi_kyotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mp7eB-living_transportation_education_nikko_shi_tochigiFor most people winter is the perfect season to go to warm places for their vacation. Also, the snowy mountains of the Alps are very popular too. In Japan you can find both; the warm islands in the south and the north with tons of snow.Even though the winter season in Japan is not so popular for traveling around, you can find some very nice places and festivals, which you can enjoy only during that season.Besides the very popular snow festival in Sapporo (Hokkaido) there is another great festival, the Kamakura festival in Yunishigawa, with tons of snow. In the north of Nikko, deep in the mountains, is the small town of Yunishigawa, which is very popular for its many hot onsen (hot springs). Unfortunately, this place is very difficult to reach by public transport. The normal route would take you from Nikko by train to Kinugawa Onsen, where World Square Park and Edo Wonderland are. From there you need another one-hour local bus ride to Yunishigawa. However, this bus departs only very rarely and is very busy, especially in the winter season.Even Nikko itself has no snow, Yunishigawa for sure always has tons of snow.The Kamakura festival is more than 100 years old in that area. Kamakura are small snow houses that are lit with candles in the evening. These snow houses can be found in all sizes throughout the city.There are two main spots for seeing those snow houses. The big light up will be in the evening (till 21 h) by the riverside, but also the open air museum nearby has many beautiful snow houses and illuminations. The open air museum has many small snow houses, but also larger ones where you can enjoy a barbecue or a nabe pot (hot soup with vegetable and meat). The bigger snow houses are very warm and totally quiet. You hardly hear anything from outside. The museum also offers other attractions like several old farmhouses which show the life of the farmers from old times. By the way, there were also straw ropes for your shoes, so you do not slip on the completely frozen snow. This method also dates from time long ago and is still a good way to walk in the snow.A 10-minute walk from the museum is the main event of the Kamakura festival, which takes place every year from the end of January to the beginning of March. At the Yunishigawa River are 100 small snow houses right on the riverbed that look like little snowy mountains during the day. Next to the river children can also borrow plastic sledges to slide down little hills. Unfortunately, it was not for adults.In the evening, the snow houses on the river look absolutely gorgeous. The different light ups are so beautiful and somehow it seemed as if little Smurfs are living in the houses. It is sooo romantic!Since the festival is not so well known, it is not crowded.You can also find throughout the whole town some snow illuminations and really great snowmen. Just take a look around and enjoy the beautiful snow world. I recommend staying in the town for one day, to fully enjoy the festival. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mp7eB-living_transportation_education_nikko_shi_tochigiSat, 10 Feb 2018 18:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mp7eB-living_transportation_education_nikko_shi_tochigihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zaNVg-living_food_shopping_tokyoValentine Day is just around the corner. The February 14 is a big day in Japan. Girls/woman are giving selfmade chocolate or other sweets to their beloved ones.But how about you are not a big fan of sweets??In my case, I don´t like sweets that much, especially japanese sweetness is way to much for me. While walking through my local supermarket, I´ve found a great alternative for me. Mozzarella cheese in the shape of a heart. As a huge cheese lover this great idea caught my eyes and for 200 yen it is also not that expensive. The is one piece of Mozzarella inside the package, just like the normal version with the same weight. The diffrence is that it has the shape of a heart and you can also cut it into many slices of heart shaped pieces. It is perfect for a plate of tomato mozzarella and basil.For sure if your partner also loves cheese, he/she will love it and for sure understands the message you want to give to him/her!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zaNVg-living_food_shopping_tokyoSun, 28 Jan 2018 21:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zaNVg-living_food_shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GypoD-money_transportation_tokyoLiving in Tokyo and going around by train can get very expensive if you have to use trains every day. In case you are just using the Tokyo subway (Metro) there are a few tricks to save a little bit of your hard earned money. Pasmo/Suica CardThe Pasmo/Suica is a non-contact, rechargeable electronic ticket in the form of a credit card-sized chip card that can be used in the Tokyo area and partly also in other areas of Japan. The card makes it very easy to use the subway by just taping the card on the ticket gates when the fare will be charged. You don't need to buy a paper ticket. Also, you are getting a small discount by using the card. Changing trainsHave you ever seen, that some gates have different colors than others when changing to a different subway line? Those gates (often in orange or pink) are for people who are changing the subway line and don´t want to fully check out of the platforms altogher. If you tap on these gates, no extra fee will be charged to your card. If you just use a normal gate, you have to pay twice.Coupon ticketsThe Tokyo subway (Tokyo Metro) offers three kinds of coupon tickets, which can be used at any subway station. The Ordinary Coupon Ticket is sold in a pack of 11 tickets and has no time or day restriction. The price of those ordinary Coupon Tickets is the same as if you buy 10 regular tickets. The good point about it is that you will get one ticket for free. The second Coupon Ticket is the Off-Peak Coupon Ticket which can only be used Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays and holidays as well as December 30 - 31 and January 2 – 3 and comes in a pack of 12 tickets.The third option is the Weekend/Holiday Discount Coupon Ticket, which can be used only Saturdays, Sundays and holidays as well as December 30 - 31 and January 2 – 3 and comes in a pack of 14 tickets. Tokyo Metro 24-hour TicketThe Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket offers unlimited rides on the Tokyo subway for 24 h. It costs 600 yen for an adult and 300 yen for children. The ticket is perfect if you are using the subway very often. It is even possible to use it in the evening of the first day and keep using it the next day, until the evening.If you are planning your day in Tokyo very well, you can save a lot of money using the methods / tickets above.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GypoD-money_transportation_tokyoFri, 26 Jan 2018 17:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GypoD-money_transportation_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1AVV-money_transportation_kyotoAfter Tokyo, Kyoto is the most popular city for tourists coming to Japan. Even many Japanese visit the city very often. Kyoto offers so many nice temples and shrines and, of course, the popular geisha area of Gion. There are a few options for the traveler to get around Kyoto:Local trainsThere are a few local trains from JR and private train companies (Keihan line, Hankyu line, Kintetsu line, Keifuku line, Eizan line), which are running mostly to the outerskirts of Kyoto. It is convenient to use these trains / lines if you want to go to the bamboo forrest of Arashiyama, to Uji Byodoin Temple or the popular Fujimi Inari Shrine. If you have a Japan Rail Pass you can use all the JR trains but not the private lines. Also, the seasonal "Seishun 18 Ticket" is a good choice for unlimited rides on the JR lines, including those in and around Kyoto.Kyoto SubwayThere are two subway lines running through Kyoto. The Karasuma Line runs from north to south and the Tozai Line runs from west to southeast. The subway is a good choice for visiting places in central Kyoto like Nijo Castle or the Daigoji Temple.The fares for an adult range from 210 – 340 yen for a single ride. It is possible to buy a Kyoto City Subway one-day pass which allows you unlimited rides for 600 yen. You can buy the pass at the Kyoto Tourist Information Center or on the second floor of Kyoto station. The pass even gives you some discounts on admission to the Municipal Museum of Art, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Zoo, The Museum of Kyoto and the Kyoto International Manga Museum.Kyoto City Bus One Day PassThis one day pass offers unlimited rides on all Kyoto City buses within the applicable flat-fare routes. If you want to go outside of central Kyoto you have to pay an extra fee (for example, if you want to go to Arashiyama by bus). The ticket costs 500 yen and can be purchased at the Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Center, Commuter Pass Sales Booth, Kyoto City Bus Management Center, on the Kyoto City Bus or at any Kyoto subway station. Also, many hotels sell this bus ticket to their guests. All bus signs are in Japanese and English in Kyoto, so you don't have to worry about missing the right station.The pass is valid for one day but you have to pay an extra fee if you want to use the late night bus. Renting a bicycleIf you are not in a hurry and would like to explore Kyoto a little bit deeper, it might be a good option to rent a bicycle. It is very convenient to go around the city by bicycle and most of the popular tourist attractions even have a small parking spot for them.You can rent bicycles at Kyoto Station, at the Golden Pavilion, and also in Arashiyama. The fee for the whole day typically costs around 1,000 yen. It is even possible to rent a bicycle only for a few hours.Finally, it can be said, that you should basically choose the mode of transportation in and around Kyoto depending on the places you want to see and what is most convenient for you. For central Kyoto, the bus and bicycle are the best options. For places farther away, you should use the local (JR) trains or the Kyoto Subway. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1AVV-money_transportation_kyotoThu, 25 Jan 2018 19:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1AVV-money_transportation_kyotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GypDD-living_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyoIt was a big surprise, that a few days ago so much snow felt in Tokyo. Everywhere on the news you could see how people had to struggle with the trouble the snow made for most of the people who had to work. Many trains and also airplane were cancled and if there was no other chance for going home, you had to stay in town or hope for a taxi or bus. I was very luckly that my work in the evening was cancled because of the snow and I could just stay at home and enjoy the beauty of the snowflakes.I´m living on the eastside of Tokyo, where the snow was not that strong during the day or at least close to the ocean it mostly melted before it reached the ground.In the evening it was cold enough, that also my area got very white. I used that chance to walk around enjoying the snow and take some pictures.Getting dressed in rainboots, two pairs of tights, a thick wintercoat, a very thick scarf, a cap and of course gloves, I was perfectly prepared for the cold weather. Moreover I felt way to hot, but better than freezing.When I arrived at the closest station, everybody was in a hurry to catch a train or bus. The lines at the bus stations very crazy long. Surprisingly the Tokyo busses were well prepared and most of them had snow chains. The opposite for normal cars. All skidded across the streets, which looked very dangerous for the cars and pedestrian.Unfortunately nobody realy cared about the good sights of the snow. When I arrived at the nearby shrine, I just thought, it is so beautiful when all is white. Also love the silence when snow is in town. Everything looks suddenly very peaceful. Especially if you walk a path were nobody else walked before it is such a nice feeling, when listening to the sound of your steps and you can see only your footprint.In my area I was the only person who really enjoyed the beauty of the snow, except some little kids who build a snowman. Especially in Tokyo it is so rare to have so much snow, that you should really enjoy it. Usually I always have to go to north of Japan for my snow walk. Maybe we will have again a snow day in Tokyo soon. Please enjoy it and don´t think only about the bad sides!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GypDD-living_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyoWed, 24 Jan 2018 11:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GypDD-living_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zD69Y-living_food_education_tokyoSetsubun, the division of the seasons, is celebrated nationally on February 3 or 4 (depends on the region), the day before the beginning of spring. The focus is the defense of the demons, the Japanese Oni.The Oni is, according to Japanese folk belief, a special class of demon. They look very similar to humans but have three eyes, a big mouth and horns. According to their beliefs, they come from the north-east and bring disease and unhappiness.At Setsubun, also called the bean festival, the houses are tossing roasted beans, mostly broad beans, in the fortunate southern direction, and in the northeastern direction of the demons. While doing this it is a ritual to say "Let the demons out and the luck in!" After that you can collect and eat the beans.Many stores are selling cute snackpacks with diffrent roasted beans, which are very popular around kids.There are also many bean festivals at the local shrines on Febuary 3/4. One of the most popular in Tokyo is at the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, which attracts every years thousand of visiters. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zD69Y-living_food_education_tokyoMon, 22 Jan 2018 14:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zD69Y-living_food_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gb2gB-living_money_transportation_education_kyotoIf you are coming to Japan for the first time, you will be surprised about the large amount of shrines and temples everywhere. Especially for western people, shrines and temples are something very new and unique, that's why it's kind of difficult to understand all the rules and traditions around a shrine/temple visit.Even if you don´t believe in Shintoism or Buddhism, a shrine/temple visit in Japan can be a great experience, if you know about the backgrounds.Shinto and Buddhism, the two most important religions in Japan, are not always easy to distinguish because of their long common history. Shinto mostly exists only in Japan and is a polytheistic, animist or theophobic religion. The buildings or places of worship of Shinto are called Shinto shrines.Buddhism is a teaching tradition and religion that originated in India. The buildings, or places of worship, of Buddhism are temples and are often very colorful.In the following I will describe the experience of visiting a Shinto shrine. There are few differences to visiting a Buddhist temple in Japan, so this description can also be used for visiting the latter as well.First of all, you will probably stand in front of a big gate before going to the Main building. At larger gates you can often find guards, who are supposed to ward off evil spirits. You should bow at the entrance to ask the god of the deity to let you in. Right after the gate you will usually find a small place for cleaning. Before praying, you should symbolically clean yourself. There are some rules to follow:First off, wash your left hand, then your right hand. Fill you left hand with water and clean your mouth. After that you should wash again your left hand and in the end the trowel / scoop used to collect the water. During the cleaning process, you should not touch the trowel with your lips.The next step will be the main shrine building where you can pray for health, a good exam or whatever you wish for. Praying also follows a certain ritual, so please follow this procedure.Throw a five yen coin in the box of the main altar and bow one time. Most of the shrines have a bell (sometime a huge one), which you should ring at least one time. After that it's time for praying. Let the god of the shrine know what you would like to have (in silence). In the end, bow again and offer your thanks to the god. Unlike the praying at a shrine, you don't have to clap your hands at a temple.Small wooden plaque (ema)Alternatively you can buy at the temples or shrines of Japan, a small wooden plaque (ema) usually with the logo of the temple/shrine or the current zodiac sign. On the plaque you have to write your wish and hand it to the shrine wall with the others. You can also just bring it back home as a souvenir. After the wall is full, the wooden plaque will be burned so that the desires can soar into the sky. Talismans (Omamori)Often you can find small little bags at the shrine shop. These are little talismans and should protect the wearer from all bad evils. There are talismans for every situation. For health, happiness, for getting a baby or for a good result in an exam. It is a secret what is hidden inside the bag. You should not open the bag, otherwise the effect will be gone.The Guardian (Ofuda)For whole companies/businesses or households you can also buy a guardian called Ofuda. The guard is marked with the logo of the shrine / temple and its gods. They are often made of wood or paper. Usually you will get those after paying a special amount of money (starting from 5,000 yen) and joining a little ceremony. Fortune telling (Omikuji) If you see a cabinet with many compartments or a small box with little papers inside, you have found the omikuji (common to both shrines and temples in Japan). If it is just a box, you can throw in the money which is written on the box (usually 100 or 200 yen) and take a fortune telling paper and read it. Some places has an english version which is very foreigner friendly.In case there is a cupboard you have to do the following steps:1. Throw 100 yen into the designated slot next to the cabinet.2. Shake the box and take out a small stick from the box and check the number written on it (usually in Japanse).3. Locate the number on the drawer and take out a piece of paper from there.4. Now you can read your prediction.In case the prediction is not that positive you can fold the paper and hang it on a wall or tree together with the other unlucky predictions. Often you can find many statues and symbols around the shrine. All of them has their own meanings. Most of them you can only find at bigger temples.Three JizoStroke the jizo statue (typically associated with a Buddhist temple) using your right hand, or both should you want to become a more positive person.Hotei – the deity of good fortuneHotei is a Chinese Zen Buddhist monk, who is an incarnation of Mirokubosatsu (god of love and kindness), and is thought to bring prosperity.Mani WheelsA Mani wheel is a Buddhist object in common use by Buddhists known throughout the world. Mani wheels contain the Heart of Sutra. Earn merit by turning it once. If you have wishes regarding the health, longevity, etc. walk around the hall clockwise and keep touching and turning the wheels with your right hand. Temmangu OxOxen are regarded in Japan as messengers of Tenjin-sama, a Shinto deity. The ox is said to bear suffing on your behalf. Touch the part of the ox that matches a part of your own body should it be undergoing some degree of suffering.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gb2gB-living_money_transportation_education_kyotoMon, 22 Jan 2018 13:35:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gb2gB-living_money_transportation_education_kyotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1APv-living_education_familylife_tokyoSince living in Japan I have always celebrated the New Year together with the Japanese family of my husband. New Year or "Oshogatsu" (as it is called in Japan) is the most important holiday in Japan. In my home country, Germany, the New Year is celebrated on December 31 with a big party and fireworks (like in many other western countries). New Year's day is usually for sleeping and cleaning up the mess from the party!In Japan most of people go back to their hometown for the New Year's celebration. December 31 is not an important day. Mostly, people just watch special New Year's TV programs like the music show “Kohaku,” or just do whatever they usually do on any other day. Many go already to bed before it is even midnight. In my family here in Japan we eat cold soba noodles (they represent a long life) at midnight and watch the ringing of the bell at the shrines around whole Japan on TV. This bell ringing at the shrine is the only noise you will hear when the New Year starts. No fireworks, no cheers of "Happy New Year!", no hugging of friends and neighbors.The New Year starts very silently and usually people just go to bed after midnight.For a foreigner this celebration is kind of weird and it takes time to get used to.The main celebration in Japan starts on the morning of January 1 when everybody hurries to the shine for “hatsumode”, the first shrine visit of the New Year. You can also get some lucky charms, like a long arrow, for your house and your family or just pick an "omikuji" to see what will happen this year to you.Many people will dress up in kimono and also the kids often wear very cute kid's kimono for their first shrine visit of the New Year. This year I could even see many small dogs in kimono at the shrine!After the shrine visit people go back to eat breakfast. The New Year's breakfast is something very special. Usually you will have a huge "osechi" box, which is a special New Year dish. Each small dish has a special meaning celebrating the New Year. The taste is very different from what western people are used to, that's why it might not be something for everybody. It took me years to get used to the tastes and now I love it to eat it. You can order these osechi boxes from popular stores and restaurants or just buy all the ingredients at the supermarket and make it by yourself. Watch out if you buy it all separately, it can get kind of expensive.Also, it is a tradition to serve a small cup of sake before starting with the osechi. The youngest family member has to serve the sake for the oldest family member and then it goes around. Everybody will drink from the same small plate. I like those old Japanese traditions, but drinking and eating kind of weird food in the morning is sometimes very hard for me. Since it is only once a year, I can stand it though.The day, usually, will continue relaxing at home or taking a walk outside. Typically, everybody is using the days on and after New Year to relax from the hard working life and to spend some time with the family.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1APv-living_education_familylife_tokyoSat, 20 Jan 2018 12:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1APv-living_education_familylife_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G63PR-education_bunkyo_ku_tokyoIt just takes 15 minuts on foot from Iidabashi Station to the Tokyo printing museum at the Toppan building. The museum has diffrent exhibitions which are changing every two to three months.The current exhibition is about old Japanese kid's books from the 18th century for kindergarten aged children. Most of the pictures and books you can see at the exhibition are from the popular "Kinderbook" which is one of Japan’s longest continuously running publications.All the pictures are a perfect reflection of the changes in society, educational policies and customs of the daily life of the children during that time period.Even the whole exhibition is only in japanese, you can just look at the pictures to understand the life from the old times. Also the drawings are very colorful and cheerful. Especially during the war time the Kinderbooks are very interesting.Including the entrance fee of 500 Yen is also a small exhibition about the book printing. You can see many old documents from diffrent countries and the way they were made.Where: Toppan Printing Bldg, 1-3-3 Suido, Bunkyo-ku, TokyoWebsite: 90 years of KinderbookTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G63PR-education_bunkyo_ku_tokyoSun, 07 Jan 2018 16:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G63PR-education_bunkyo_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GRvyK-living_shopping_money_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyoMonzen Nakacho is an old part of the Koto district in eastern Tokyo. Kōtō is located between the Sumidagawa (Sumida River) in the west and the Arakawa (Ara River) in the east. The two rivers form the border with the districts of Chūō in the west and Edogawa in the east. To the north is Sumida, to the south the bay of Tokyo. Most areas of the district were only created since the Meiji restoration by land reclamation. Monzen Nakacho is one of the most important areas of that district. Monzen Nakacho is part of the old Fukagawa area which is one of the oldest parts of Tokyo. It is known for its relations to the famous Japanese poet, Matsuo Bashō, who wrote one of his most famous poems in that area.The area has a very typical Shitamachi charm with many old and new buildings. You can reach Monzen Nakacho by the Tozai or Oedo Subway line trains. Also, many buses from Tokyo station, Skytree or Odaiba run through that area. Monzen Nakacho is even very close to Tokyo Station and the financial district of Otemachi/Nihonbashi, the area is not very busy and is a good place for living.The area offers many interesting activities for familis. Let me introduce some of my favorite spots:The riversideJust 10 minutes away from the station is the Etai Bridge, which connects the Koto and Chuo districts. From the bridge you will have a great view over the Sumida River, the island Tsukishima and the river bank. Especially in the evening it is such a magical place, when all the small lights in the apartments are shining like little stars. Many professional photographer take photos of that beautiful spot. You can often see it in Japanese movies and TV dramas. The whole Monzen Nakacho area is often used for filming.By the river side is a small park which is perfect for jogging or a picnic. Especially in summer and during the cherry blossom season, many families enjoy the view to the river and have picnics here. Also, some nearby share houses use the river park area for their international share house parties. If you have little kids, who need to practice riding their bicycles, you can use the free little bicycle course for kids. It has small traffic lights, zebra crossings and stop signs like on the real streets, but is all made for kids! In summer kids can also enjoy the small water park next to the bicycle course for free.If you are lucky, you can listen in the evening to some live music. Many musicians are practicing at the riverside. I have already listened to a violin player, saxophone player and a whole jazz combo. Mostly during the summer season, you can listen to many different kinds of music there. Art at the canalsideThere are also many small canals running through the area. The city created many nice but small parks and playgrounds around those canals. As part of the Furuishibagawa Water Park you can enjoy a small art gallery. There are many beautiful and really great drawings from the 90s on the walls of the park. It's the perfect area for art lovers to enjoy a small Sunday walk.Tomioka Hachiman shrine & Fukagawa geisha districtMany people associate with the famous Tomioka Hachiman Shrine just a few meters away from the station. The shrine was founded in 1627 and has a small Japanese garden including a pond next to the main building. The shrine is also known as the birthplace of Kanjin-zumō the origin of the current professional sumo. Every three years the huge Tomioka summer festival is held round the shrine, with a great mikoshi parade and many cultural performances (shamisen, noh-theatre or taiko). Especially during new year it is very crowded around the shrine, but also very lively.The area around the shrine is part of the old Fukagawa area, which had a huge redlight district during the Edo period. Also, many geisha houses were in that area. If you are lucky, you can still see geisha walking around the area. Just next to the station, Exit 6, is a small old walking path where you can find many tiny izakaya restaurants. Those restaurants mostly have space for 3-5 customers, which gives them a very family atmosphere experience to have a drink there. At night, when all will be lit up, it looks so beautiful. Cherry blossom canalDuring the cherry blossom season the canal area just next to the station is a very popular spot for hanami parties or just for taking a walk under the beautiful cherry blossom trees. Many people in kimono use the chance to take some photos by the canal side. For a few bucks it is possible to go on a small boat tour under the cherry blossom trees or even bring your own canoe.Monzen Nakacho has many great places that can be enjoyed for free, by the whole family. Playgrounds and parks are alomst everywhere, even though Monzen Nakacho is in the center of Tokyo city.If you are near my town please have a look around and enjoy the old part of Edo!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GRvyK-living_shopping_money_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyoMon, 01 Jan 2018 21:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GRvyK-living_shopping_money_transportation_education_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7mA-money_transportation_tokyoLiving in Japan for a few years now, I realized that it is kind of difficult to travel around on a low budget. If you are not a fan of flying or night bus rides, the last choice for getting around these islands will be by train. The Japanese train system is really great and you can go almost anywhere by train. In addition, the trains are usually very punctual, which is a big plus. Unfortunately, train fares are very high in Japan and if you are not a tourist in Japan, you are not allowed to use the Japan Rail Pass or any other rail passes which are just limited for tourists.A good alternative then is the Seishun 18 Ticket, which allows you (even if living in Japan) unlimited rides on local and rapid JR trains. The ticket can not be used on shinkansen and express trains. Also, private railways will not accept the ticket. It can also be used for the JR Miyajima ferry between the mainland and the island of Itsukushima. Unfortunately you can use the Seishun 18 Ticket only during the spring, summer or winter season, when school/university is off. Usually the ticket is made for students. They can go around Japan during their school break. The validity period changes slightly every year, that's why it's better to check out the JR website for the validity period. Also, the sales date starts a few weeks before you can use it. The ticket is valid for five days and can be used any five days within the valid period. The ticket can be used by up to five people, but they have to travel together on that day. For every person you will get one stamp, this means if five people travel together on one day, the ticket can be used only for that day and will be expire after the day.The price for the ticket is just 11,850 yen, which is 2,370 yen per day.Especially if you travel far away the ticket is a great deal, but it will take a lot of time and you really should love using local trains! Often it will be very crowded and it is not recommended to carry a lot of luggage with you. I'm using that ticket every spring break and in winter for the end of the year. Here is a small example for a good local train trip:It takes around 8 hrs from Tokyo to Kyoto by local train (same time like highway busses). If you go back and forth it costs usually 16,420 yen, which is already way more than the price of the Seishun 18 Ticket, but you can use the ticket still for another 3 days. From Kyoto you can go on side trips to Fukui, Tottori, Osaka or any of the other neighboring prefectures. I recommend to go on the first day as far as you can and then stay in that area and explore what is close by. The ticket is perfect for train lovers and if you want to be very flexible while traveling around. Also, you have to change trains very often which can be kind of tiring but it is a good chance to meet new people in the train. I've found some of my best friends during those train rides!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7mA-money_transportation_tokyoSat, 30 Dec 2017 17:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zK7mA-money_transportation_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wXqNX-education_tokyoDuring my last visit at the nearby shrine, I´ve found a paper with a small simple doll drawing on it and was very confused for what can I use it.Those doll is called Katashiro (形代) an object which belongs to the Shinto rites as a scapegoat in the exorcism of ritual impurities or evil influences.Before using it you have to write down your name and age on the body of the doll and then blow 3 times in the direction of the shrine to the paper doll. This will help you do get rid of evil influences and gives you luck for the next year.Some people are even wipe it on the body for really getting rid of all the bad influences.You can find it mostly a few days before new year, so please have a visit at your local shrine, before 2018 and don´t forget a small donation for that service!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wXqNX-education_tokyoSat, 30 Dec 2017 17:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wXqNX-education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MPOKd-living_shopping_transportation_education_nikko_shi_tochigiThe Japanese culture and history is very unique and a great experience for every foreigner. If you want to do little time travel and visit the old Edo period, you should visit the Edo Wonderland theme park.The Edo Wonderland is a cultural theme park (established in 1986), which focus on the life and culture of the Edo period. The park is in the Kinugawa Onsen area of Nikko, just 2 ½ h away by train from Tokyo. The One day pass for the theme park costs 4700 Yen for adults and 2400 Yen for kids. If you are going there from Tokyo by train, you can use the Edo Wonderland & Nikko City Area Pass of the Tobu Railway for 6610 Yen. The ticket includes the train ride back and forth from Tokyo to the Kinugawa Onsen area and the entrance fee for the theme park.The park has a wide variety of old building from the Edo period like rural lodgings or samurai residences. You can visit all houses and get a feeling of how it was to live in that time. The village is divided into five areas: Kaido (Road to Edo), Shukuba-machi (Inn Town), Shokagai (Market District), Buke-yashiki (Samurai Residence), and Ninja no Sato (Ninja Village). As a special experience it is possible to dress up in the Edo style and get part of the village. You will see everywhere in the theme park staff walking around and looking and behave like they are still living in the Edo area. You can find all kinds of groups from lower, middle and upper classes. The park offers seven different theaters where you can experience many different traditional themed shows like a ninja show or the Wakamatsuya show. You can also enjoy some shows outside on the street, that´s why you should always watch out what you are doing. The old edo police have always an eye on you. There are also some parades and seasonal festivals like the Edo WonderNight, Oshogatsu, Hinamatsuri or Tanabata, which you can enjoy in the theme park.The theme park also has to offer many experiences for kids and adults. Why not dress up like a ninja or learn how to be a samurai and use a sword or try out if you are good at archery. There is really something for everybody. If you prefer it a little bit calmer, you can take a boat ride in an old wood boat through the canals around the Edo townscape.The village also offers some restaurants for soba, ramen or washoku. Just choose what you like and take a seat in the great edo style restaurants.The Edo Wonderlands is often the set for films or dramas. It has their own film studio with a large open set which is used for domestic and also international productions. If you can´t speak Japanese, you don´t have to worry. Most of the staff can speak English and also the theme park map is available in English, French, German, Thai, Korean, Russian and Chinese. The park is really a very nice experience for the whole family. It is difficult to enjoy all in one day, that´s why I recommend to spend at least two days there.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MPOKd-living_shopping_transportation_education_nikko_shi_tochigiSun, 24 Dec 2017 07:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MPOKd-living_shopping_transportation_education_nikko_shi_tochigihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GRvdg-living_food_shopping_transportation_education_hokkaido_sapporo_shi_hokkaido_hakodate_shi_hokkaidoAre you planning to go to Hokkaido, Japans northernmost island? Then I might have the perfect travel itinerary for you!1. day - Tokyo to SapporoThe shortest and cheapest way to go from Tokyo to Sapporo is by airplane. Reasonably priced airlines are Jetstar and Vanilla Air (around 5,000 yen one way) or if you want a little bit more comfort JAL or ANA (around 25,000 yen). Also, JAL and ANA operate flights to Sapporo out of Haneda Airport. If you are living in the west side of Tokyo, departing from Haneda might be a better option for you, otherwise you first of all have to go the long and expensive way to Narita Airport where the low cost airlines operate. Flight time is around 1.5 hrs. Flights to Sapporo arrive at The New Chitose Airport which is not in the center of Sapporo. You can use the JR Chitose Line (1,070 yen) or the bus (1,030 yen) to get to the downtown of Sapporo. The ride takes 60-90 minutes. Sapporo has so many nice sightseeing spots. What follows are my recommendations:Odori ParkOdori Park is 1.5 km long and is located in the heart of Sapporo. During the summer season, you will find many beautiful flower arrangements in the whole park area. Also, it is a popular spot for festivals like the "October Festival". In winter the very popular snow festival will also be held at that park.Clock TowerThe clock tower is just close to the Odori Park and a typical sign of Sapporo. The building was constructed in 1878 as part of a college. Nowadays you can find a museum inside, but the old clock bell, which is from America, is still part of the building. Okurayama Ski JumpA little bit outside of the city is the 90-meter-long Okurayama Ski Jump. In winter, the ski jump platform will be used for winter sports events like World Cups, but during the summer season you can go up to the observatory at the top of the hill and look down like a ski jumper is does. You will have a great view over the city from this spot. There is also a small museum about ski jumping and other winter sports at the facility. Historic Village of HokkaidoMy favorite spot when visiting Sapporo is the Historic Village of Hokkaido, which is a nice open air museum with around 60 typical buildings from the Meji and Taisho periods. You can take a look inside all the buildings and some nice volunteers will talk about the history of that building or you can join one of their handicraft courses. It's a really great spot if you are interested in Japanese history.2. day – Countryside of HokkaidoFor the second day it is best to rent a car for traveling around Hokkaido. Hokkaido is popular for it's beautiful nature, which you can explore the best by car.Very popular are the Furano Flower Fields, which are very popular in summer, when all the lavender is blooming. Also during other seasons, you can find many beautiful flowers in that field. The Blue Pond in Biei is another very nice spot at which to see the beauty of Hokkaido. The amazing blue color is the result of an accidental presence of colloidal aluminium hydroxide in the water.3. day - Sapporo to OnumaLeaving Sapporo on the third day to go to the south of Hokkaido and to Onuma Park. You can go there by limited express train in around 3 hrs. Onuma Park makes for a perfect stop if you are also planning on going on to Hakodate. Onuma Park is just between the two big lakes, Onuma and Konuma. You can explore the lakes and small islands, several of which are connected with each other by small bridges, on foot or you can rent a bicycle. The park is the perfect spot for a relaxing day surrounded by nature. 4. day – HakodateFrom Onuma Park it only takes 1hrs to go to Hakodate, Hokkkaido's third biggest city. Hakodate was the first harbor city opened to international trade.There are many great sightseeing spots in Hakodate waiting for you to explore. For example, the Fort Goryokau inc. the Fort Tower (the fort has the shape of a star) or the beautiful Motomachi, where you can find many western buidlings from old times.The most popular spot is Mt. Hakodate from where you have a great view, especially in the evening, over the city!5. Day Hakodate to TokyoFor the last day, you should make a stop at the morning fish market of Hakodate to try some fresh fish, before heading back to Tokyo.If you want to fly back to Tokyo, you can again use Vanilla Air (around 6,000 yen) or JAL and ANA (around 13,000 yen). The flight time is around 1.5 hrs. Alternatively, you can also use the new Shinkansen from Shin-Hakodate to Hokkaido which takes around 4.5hrs to reach Tokyo. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GRvdg-living_food_shopping_transportation_education_hokkaido_sapporo_shi_hokkaido_hakodate_shi_hokkaidoTue, 19 Dec 2017 11:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GRvdg-living_food_shopping_transportation_education_hokkaido_sapporo_shi_hokkaido_hakodate_shi_hokkaidohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr8PX-living_transportation_chiyoda_ku_tokyoFinally, the old station building of Tokyo Station, which was built in 1914, was restored and completed. The old building style of the Neo-Baroque shines again in full glory including the new Tokyo Stations Hotel. The interior of the lobby has also been restored and is a real eye-catcher.Also, the entire forecourt, which was just a major construction site for years, was redesigned and now offers plenty of space for bus and taxi stops seating.The best view of the station building is from the following three places:Gyoko-doriBetween the Maranuchi and Shin-Maranuchi building is a small strip called Gyoko-dori, which connects the Imperial Palace with the Tokyo Station. Regular festivals such as the Dream Yosakoi are held on the small section. It is also the perfect place for group photos right in front of the station building.Maranuchi BuildingOn the 5th floor of the Maranuchi building is a small viewing terrace, which offers a beautiful view of the old station building. Unfortunately, the terrace is closed in the evening, but during the day you should use the chance for taking photos from there.Kitte ShoppingcenterThe Kitte Shoppingcenter also has a small garden terrace from where you can enjoy a beautiful view over the station and the Maranuchi area. Especially in the night, when all the office buildings are lighted up, you will have a great view!If you are at the Tokyo Station area please have a look!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr8PX-living_transportation_chiyoda_ku_tokyoSun, 17 Dec 2017 21:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr8PX-living_transportation_chiyoda_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z4lYJ-living_food_shopping_money_amami_shi_kagoshimaAmami Ōshima is an island belonging to the Amami group in the Pacific Ocean close to the Okinawan islands. It is part of the Japanese prefecture Kagoshima and can be easily reached by airplane or ferry. From Tokyo it takes around 2 ½ h or from Osaka 1 ½ h by plane. Due to its southern location, the island has a humid subtropical climate with very hot summers and mild winters. Since Amami Oshima is an island, the main focus of the local cuisine is on fish and seafood. But you will also find a lot popular dishes with chicken, pig or goat. Let´s take a look at some of the most popular dishes from the island:KeihanKeihan just means chicken rice and is the most popular dish at the island. The main ingredients are chicken broth, rice, chicken slices, mushroom slices, sliced egg, green onions and ginger. Depending on the restaurants the ingredients can be a little bit different, but it is always served with rice in a chicken soup and of course with chicken. You can find restaurants, which are serving that dish mostly everywhere around the island. It is still very popular by the island residents. Keihan is very healthy and light, that´s why it is perfect for the very hot humid summers on the island.Goat soupAnother specialty of the island is goat soup. Not easy to find, as the production of goat meat on the island is declining, but especially in larger cities like Naze or Amami City, it is no problem to find this delicacy. The soup contains fresh vegetable and sliced goat meat. The goat meat has a very strong taste, that´s why it might be nothing for everyone. Bluefin tunaThe Serouchi Town, southern part of the island, is popular for its huge Bluefin tuna farming. The Bluefin tuna sashimi is very popular at the island and a must try! It is really very delicious. Giant lobsterOf course there are many kinds of delicious shells and other seafood, you can find on the menu in Amami, but the giant lobster is really great. I´ve never seen before such a huge lobster. The white grilled soft meat is really melting on the tongue.Grain MisoGain Miso often mixed with a wide variation of ingredients like fish, pork and vegetable is very typical side dish for a dinner on the island. Perfect with a bowl of rice, some Bluefin tuna and a bottle of beer!Papaya picklesYou can find many tropical fruits on the island like mango, papaya or Pitaya. One of the specialties is the papaya pickles as a small side dish. The papaya has a lightly salty taste and is sliced like very thin paper. Don´t expect any fruity taste, it really taste like normal salty pickles!My recommendation for trying out most of those dishes is very beautiful Beach Restaurant “Bashayamamura”, just 10 minutes away from the Amami airport. The Restaurant belongs to a nice hotel with a huge beach terrace, straw huts and giant palm trees. You can even have a barbeque at the beachside with a great variety of seafood and good meat! The restaurant is very popular around the island and also many foreigners can be found there in the evening. The staff can speak Japanese and also English. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z4lYJ-living_food_shopping_money_amami_shi_kagoshimaSat, 16 Dec 2017 21:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z4lYJ-living_food_shopping_money_amami_shi_kagoshimahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8Q7Y-living_shopping_money_transportation_medical_health_tokyoDuring winter it's getting very cold and wet outside, making it the perfect season to get sick and catch a cold! Especially since there are no good insulated houses in Japan, you can catch a cold even faster over here. To avoid catching a cold in Japan there is some advice you should follow:Heat up your roomIt is always important to keep your body warm to stay healthy. At home you can use your air conditioner to heat up the room or use an electric carpet to keep your feet warm. Japanese also prefer to use a kotatsu (heated blanket over a table), but it takes up a lot of space. Many blankets and warm clothes are helpful, too.HumidifierIf you are using the air conditioner a lot for warming up your room, you should watch out, that the air is not getting too dry. You can use a humidifier to avoid too much dry air, which is not good for your mucosa. You can also put some bowls with water in your apartment, to give a little bit of moisture to your room. Hot bathThere is a reason why the Japanese are taking a bath every day. It's not only for relaxing and cleaning the body, it is also good to make your body stronger. If you are sweating a lot in the hot water, your health will get stronger after a while, also it will keep you warm for a while afterwards.ClothesIf you have to go out, it is recommended to wear many layers instead of just a sweater. All the clothes will keep you warm and if it is getting too warm, you can just take one layer off.MasksThe air during winter in Japan is amazingly dry, that's why you can see many people wearing masks on the street. The mask helps you to keep your nose and throat moist, also it protects you from bacteria flying around in the subway or when somebody is coughing. Also for a good sleep at night you can wear a mask and use a humidifier to protect you from the dry air.FruitsDuring winter you can find oranges and mandarins really everywhere in Japan. Every supermarket is selling tons of them and also many people have their own tree at home. Eating a lot of vitamins, especially from fruit, is very important for your health. Even though the fruit prices in Japan are a little bit high, you should invest that money in staying healthy!I hope these tips will help you through the winter in Japan without catching a cold!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8Q7Y-living_shopping_money_transportation_medical_health_tokyoThu, 14 Dec 2017 10:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8Q7Y-living_shopping_money_transportation_medical_health_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wemX4-living_shopping_money_tokyoWhen traveling around there is always one question at the end of the day: Where to stay for the night? Most of the travelers are booking a hotel room in advance, but some are just spontaneous and look for a place to sleep on the same day. Japan, especially, offers many choices for the perfect place to stay:HotelThe number one choice is mostly to stay at a normal hotel or business hotel. You can easily book them on a travel website like "Expedia". Staying in a hotel in Japan is the most uncomplicated choice. Just book it, check in and enjoy. Usually the reception is open 24 hrs which makes the check in and out process very easy. Average price: 5,000 yen per person per night ~ (depending on the area)Love hotelA Love hotel a good choice if you just want to stay a short time (usually an hourly / two hourly fee), but it is also possible to stay the whole night. The rooms are mostly very fancy and often have some gadgets like games or costumes. Fancy Love hotels are really a great experience, everybody should try at least once.Average price: 1,500 yen ~ (hourly rate)HostelHostels are the typical choice for low budget traveler in Japan. Usually you have to share your room with many other people (women and men may be separated) and sleep in a bunk bed. The shower and toilets are separate and of course you have to share them with everybody. Average price: 1,500 yen per person per night~ (depending on the area) Air BNBSince many hotels are fully booked in the big cities in Japan, Air BNB rooms are getting to be more and more popular. You can book a room on the Air BNB website, depending on your needs. Most of the rooms are inside an apartment/house, where the owner is also living, but sometimes you can also find a whole apartment for yourself or your party. Never forget it is not a hotel, there are special check in times and you should never forget, that the apartment is not your own. So please keep it clean! Especially for bigger groups this is a good choice. Average price: 1,500 yen ~ (depending on the area)RyokanA ryokan is a traditional Japanese guesthouse. The rooms are often only tatami rooms and you will sleep in a futon. Many ryokan also have a small onsen and serve traditional Japanese dinner (often in your room). It is the perfect place for Japan lovers, who like to feel the old atmosphere of Japan.Average price: 7,000 per person per night ~ (depending on the area)Couch surfingAlso popular among young people is couch surfing. You can find a room, or better, a couch/bed on which to sleep on popular couch surfing websites. Usually people just offer their couch for a day or a few days in their room, so don't expect any comfort. Mostly that service is free or very reasonably priced. It can be the perfect way to meet new people but always watch out, not every place is really good.Average price: 500 yen ~ (but often free)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wemX4-living_shopping_money_tokyoTue, 12 Dec 2017 17:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wemX4-living_shopping_money_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GWPqe-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_education_okinawaOkinawa is Japan's most southern prefecture. There are around 363 small and big islands of which only 49 are inhabited. The prefecture is well known for its beautiful beaches and nature. If you think you would like to visit one of the islands the following 5 reasons might help you to make your final decision for a trip to Okinawa:Every season is a good seasonOkinawa is a subtropical island with very hot and humid summers. Especially in July and August temperatures can go up to 40 degrees. Even though it is the typical beach season you should protect your body well from the very strong sun.During the rainy and typhoon season in May and again in September it is not so recommended to visit the islands. Even though the temperature is still high it can rain and be very windy most of the time. If you don't want to go swimming and would rather explore the island, February – March and October – November might be the perfect seasons for you. The temperature is usually between 15 and 20 degrees and it is not that humid, perfect for a nice walk at the beach. Also the cherry blossom season starts in early February. Beaches and outdoor sportsOf course the southern islands are very popular for their beautiful sandy beaches, which you can find almost everywhere. The beaches are the perfect spots for surfing, diving or just swimming. Popular beaches are Mibaru or Okuma beach, but you can really find nice beaches in every area. Personally I prefer the small beaches, where you are mostly alone. Even if you don't want to stay on the main Island of Okinawa you can easily go on a side trip to Miyako or Ishigaki Island, which are very popular tourists spots. Smaller islands which are way closer to the main island and can be easily arrived at on a one day trip by ferry are Kumejima, Zamami or Tokashiki. Okinawan foodDue to differences in culture, history and the climate there is a different food diversity in the Okinawan cuisine than in the rest of Japan. Very typical dishes are the "champuru" dishes which just means mixing many ingredients together. Like goya with egg and rice (bitter melon, mostly used in Okinawa) or stir-fried vegetables with tofu. Also, tropical fruits like papayas are often used as a vegetable (like for pickles). The squid ink soup or pasta also got very popular across the whole of Japan and can even be found at chain restaurants like Saizeriya.One of my favorite dishes is the small side dish "umibudo" which is just green seaweed in the shape of small grapes. After dipping it in vinegar soy sauce and ponzu it is a perfect snack. Okinawa cultureOkinawa used to be called “the Ryukyu Kingdon”. Their unique culture, a blend of a variety of cultures of neighboring areas in Asia, is still alive in Okinawa. The best place to explore the old culture of Okinawa is at the Shurijo castle, just 30 minutes away from Naha airport. The castle stands on top of a hill in Shuri, the ancient capital of Okinawa. Compared to typical Japanese castles, this place looks totally different with its red roofs and walls. Especially in the night when the castle will be lit up it is a very romantic spot!Also at the Ryukyu Village, which is a small theme park, you can explore the old culture. You can take a look at traditional old residences and join one of the workshops like playing the sanshin guitar or pottery. There is also another, bigger, theme park called the “Okinawa World” which gives you a good view over the old Ryukyu kingdom. The main attraction is their huge cave and the Kingdom Village with many replicas of a traditional Ryukyu village. Fish diversityOkinawa is the perfect spot for diving. You will find a great diversity of fish and sea creatures in the ocean and of course many beautiful corals and other ocean plants. A very popular diving spot is Cape Maeda where you can find a wide variety of marine life and also a huge cave. If you prefer to see the ocean life without going under the water, you should make a stop at the second largest aquarium in the world. The Okinwa Churaumi Aquarium has 77 water basins. A coral basin with over 70 different kinds of corals, an ocean basin with a water temperature of only 5 degree and the main basin, which has many smaller fish, several manta rays and whale sharks. A visit to this very huge aquarium is a great experience for the whole family.Are those good reasons to visit Okinawa? Share your experience!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GWPqe-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_education_okinawaFri, 08 Dec 2017 11:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GWPqe-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_education_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GlkgX-living_transportation_education_katsura_shi_chibaAs a Chiba lover, I like to explore new areas in the prefecture. My last trip was to the Awa-Katsuyama castle ruin, which is on a mountain just next to the sea. After a short walk upwards the hill we arrived in front of a viewing platform, which had the design of a castle. Real remains of the old castle are no longer there. However, the view from the viewing platform is really a dream.You can will have a great view over the nearby city, as well as over the harbor and the sea. There are also two large islands in the water, which used are mostly used by the local fishermen for catching fish and shells.During good weather it is even possible to see Mount Fuji from there. Unfortunately, it was a bit cloudy and you could not really see anything on the horizon. On the way back from the mountain we have found an old path that is no longer used. Curious as we always are, we've walked around through a small jungle and found an abandoned shrine. Too bad that no one cares about that shrine anymore.Have you found those little secret spots during your trips? Share you experience!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GlkgX-living_transportation_education_katsura_shi_chibaMon, 04 Dec 2017 14:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GlkgX-living_transportation_education_katsura_shi_chibahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wk7eZ-living_money_education_kagoshimaNowadays, many people, especially young people, use a so-called selfie stick to take pictures of themselves in front of famous landmarks.Nowadays, many people, especially young people, use a so-called selfie stick to take pictures of themselves in front of famous sightseeing spots. Unfortunately, these selfie sticks are becoming more of a problem in many places where many people are coming together. By carelessness, many are just in the way or meet other people with the sticks. That´s why a lot of sightseeing spots prohibited to use these sticks these days.On my last trip to south of Japan, I´ve found a good alternative for thoese selfie sticks. At some popular viewpoints/sightseeings spots you could find a camera stand for putting your camera and use the self-timer for the perfect photo. Especially if you are in a big group this is perfect. You can even put your mobile phone and move the camera stand around to find the perfect photo view point for you. I realized it´s not even perfect for groupphotos but also for sunset or photos in the dark, because the camera stand is very stable.Maybe sooner or later you can find those camera stands everywhere!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wk7eZ-living_money_education_kagoshimaSat, 02 Dec 2017 17:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wk7eZ-living_money_education_kagoshimahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr8ye-living_food_shopping_transportation_gifu_shi_gifuThe top spots for tourists coming to Japan are usually Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Mt. Fuji, but there is another spot which is getting more and more popular, especially in winter. The beautiful winter illuminations of the old mountain village of Shirakawago is very popular around the world. Unfortunately you can see those illuminations on 4 days of the year and of course the bus tours to go there are mostly sold out after a few minutes.Anyways, Shirakawago and the neighboring Gokayama are nice places to visit any season of the year. There are bus tours from Takayama City that go to both places on one day. From Tokyo you can easily go to Takayama by train (around 4 ½ hrs) or by Nohi Bus (around 5 ½ hrs). From Takayama Station you can make a bus tour reservation at the Nohi Bus Center for the Shirakawago/Gokayama tour. Alternatively it is possible to book your tour in advance on their website. The bus company offers a great package to explore the places without being tied so much to a group.The trip started with the first stop at the small village of Ainokura, Gokayama, which is located in Toyama Prefecture. The peace and the beautiful houses at that small village were very impressive. We had around 1 h (which is totally enough time) to explore the small village by ourselves. Only about 80 people are living in that small mountain village. Many of the houses also offer overnight accommodation, mostly for backpackers.Gokayama and Shirakawago are popular for their old traditional house style called "Gassho-zukuri". The houses have an approximately 60 degree curved roof which is covered with thick straw. Due to the very sloping roofs, in winter, snow can easily slip down without damaging the house. You can find houses of different sizes (up to four floors), which were mainly used by large families.After visiting Gokayama, the bus brought us back to Shirakawago in Gifu Prefecture. From a high mountain platform you can have a beautiful view of the small village. We also had lunch (included in the bus tour) with our bus group on the mountain, which consisted of typical food from the region.After the lunch we went down to the village. To reach the village you have to cross a huge suspension bridge over the beautiful Shokawa River. The bridge is a little bit shaky so please watch out if you are scared. Our first stop was at the open-air museum (entrance fee included in the tour). The open-air museum gives you a nice view over the traditional houses in Shirakawago. You can visit all houses from the inside and even go up to check out the interesting roof construction. The museum is a perfect spot to start your tour in Shirakawago, especially if you are interested in the history and design type of the village. We also got a coupon from our bus tour to try out some sake ice cream and red bean soup with mochi at the museum. Don't miss that chance, it really tastes good!After the museum we had around 2 hrs for walking around Shirakawago and exploring the whole village with its beautiful houses and to have more snacks at one of the restaurants. Unfortunately the whole village is very packed with tourists, which destroys a little bit the atmosphere. If you want to take many photos of the wooden houses, I recommend to do that in the open air museum, because it is less crowded. The bus tour ended at 3:00 pm back in Takayama, but it is even possible to stay longer in the village. You can get a bus coupon for going back at a later time. The whole bus tour costs per person 6,690 yen (Kids 4,420 yen) and was really a great deal and a great experience!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr8ye-living_food_shopping_transportation_gifu_shi_gifuWed, 22 Nov 2017 16:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr8ye-living_food_shopping_transportation_gifu_shi_gifuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAWBQ-living_food_shopping_tokyoFrom 21 st November 2017 Lawson stores will have a second campaign of the cute character Kirby. 2017 is the 25 th anniversary of the pink monster!Lawson sells some special Kirby products limited only to some special stores. But you can also try some food in the design of Kirby.They sell pink nikuman in the design of Kirby. Just search for the nikuman corner close to the cashier at your Lawson store and a cute face wll smile at you!The price for one Kirby nikuman is 198 Yen (including tax). Please have a look and enjoy!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAWBQ-living_food_shopping_tokyoWed, 22 Nov 2017 15:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAWBQ-living_food_shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G082R-living_transportation_education_aomori_iwate_miyagi_akita_shi_akita_yamagata_shi_yamagata_fukushima_shi_fukushima_tochigiIf you are coming to Japan as a tourist, there are many places you might like to see in a short time and preferably for small amounts of money. Japan Railways (JR) offers many great deals for tourists traveling around Japan, unfortunately those great deals are only limited to tourists.Of course, the most popular train ticket is the Japan Rail Pass, which most tourists in Japan know well. The pass offers you unlimited rides in the whole Japan for 7 or 14 days. The time period is limited however, and also you can not use all high speed Shinkansen. The pass is only good if you use it for very long distances and if you really travel around every day. If you would like to go just to one area of Japan, it might be better to use one of the other special railways passes JR offers for tourists. I'm introducing here the "JR East Pass", which you can buy for coverage of the whole of the Tohoku area (north Japan) or for the Nagano/Niigata area.The flexible five-day pass (any five days within 14 days of issuance, including the day of issuance) can be used in the whole Tohoku area, as well as in Tokyo. You can use all types of Shinkansen (even those trains you can not use with the Japan Rail Pass) and all local trains used by JR, including the Izu Kyuko Line, Aomori Railway, Iwate Galaxy Railway, Sendai Airport Transit and the Tokyo Monorail. The pass comes with a small map of all the trains you can use in the Tohoku area. It is even possible to use that pass for going to Izu in Shizuoka but only by local trains.The good point of the JR East Pass is that you don´t have to use it 5 days in a row like the Japan Rail Pass. You can use it on any day of a 14-day period. That makes traveling around very flexible. The prices for the pass vary on where you will buy it. You can order it in your home country of from a travel agency in Japan.In case you want to use the pass on special cars like the Green Cars, GranClass, individual compartments, Liners or sleeper cars, an additional purchase is required, such as a limited express or sleeper ticket. Also, if you need a seat reservation for the Shinkansen, you can get one for free at the JR counter. Advance purchases from Outside JapanIf you purchase the pass from outside of Japan through a travel agency or online, you will get an e-Ticket, which you have to exchange at an exchange location (like Tokyo Station, Narita/Haneda Airport). Your passport is required for getting the JR East Pass.Purchasing directly in JapanSome people want to be flexible and can not decide beforehand if they need a pass or not. In that case it is also possible to purchase the pass directly in Japan (the price is a little bit higher). Just show your passport at a location where the JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) is sold and you will receive a pass after confirmation of eligibility.When using the pass, you will get a date stamp for each day you are using it at the station. After you've got the stamp, you just have to show the pass to the station staff every time you want to enter or leave the platform. The Pass is really perfect for traveling around north Japan for a good price. Given that you can use the pass from Tokyo makes this deal very great. Let's explore Tohoku!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G082R-living_transportation_education_aomori_iwate_miyagi_akita_shi_akita_yamagata_shi_yamagata_fukushima_shi_fukushima_tochigiTue, 14 Nov 2017 10:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G082R-living_transportation_education_aomori_iwate_miyagi_akita_shi_akita_yamagata_shi_yamagata_fukushima_shi_fukushima_tochigihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zaND9-living_shopping_money_transportation_education_nikko_shi_tochigiOne of the typical sightseeing spots for tourists coming to Tokyo and wanting to go on a day trip to the neighbouring prefectures is Nikko. Nikko is located about 140 kilometers north of Tokyo in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture. The city is popular for the famous Toshogu shrine, Lake Chuzenji, the beautiful marshland and nature with many big waterfalls. Also the popular Onsen area Kinugawa with many nice onsen is in the same city. There are a few ways to go to Nikko. If you don´t go there on a bus tour, the best and easiest option is to use the local train from Tokyo. The Tobu railway offers a great deal for people who like to go to Nikko, especially if you going there for more than one day, Tobu railway is the best choice. You can choose between three different passes for the Nikko area:Nikko all area passThe pass can be used for 4 days in the Nikko area. It is valid for a round trip on the Tobu railway between Asakusa and Shimo-imaichi Station. You can also use all buses in central Nikko and around Lake Chuzenji and the Kinugawa Onsen area. Fee for the main shrines are not included in the pass but you can get a discount at the following tourist facilities:• Nikko Natural Science Museum• Akechidaira Ropeway• Lake Chuzenji Motor Vessel Regular Service (operates from mid-April to late November)• Low-Emission Bus (operates from mid-April to late November: Akanuma-shako to Senjugahama)• Nikko Kirifuri Skate Center (winter season, outdoor skating rink)• Kosugi Hoan Museum of Art, Nikko• Nikko Astraea Hotel• Tobu World Square• Kinugawa Koen Iwaburo• EDO WONDERLAND Nikko Edomura• Kinugawa Onsen Ropeway• Monkey Mountain• Kinugawa Line Kudari (river boat ride) (operates from mid-April to late November)Nikko city area passThe Nikko city area pass is valid for 2 days in the Nikko area. It is also valid for a round trip on the Tobu railway between Asakusa and Shimo-imaichi Station and for the buses in the center of Nikko. It is perfect if you just want to visit the popular shrine area and for making a stop at the Kinugawa onsen. The ticket costs 2480 Yen during weekdays and 2960 Yen on the weekend. You will also get special discounts in the same facilities like with the Nikko all area pass. Theme park & Nikko area city area passThe last special pass for Nikko is for all theme park lovers. Like the others passes you can use it for a ride between Asakusa and Shimo-imaichi Station and also for the busses to the shrine and theme park area. The pass is valid for 2 days. You can choose between 3 different options for that pass:The Tobu world square park is a nice small miniature park with popular sightseeing spots from Japan and the whole world. Walking around that park is like traveling around the world. It is really a great place also for kids!The Edo Wonderland wonder brings you back to the old edo period. It is a great theme park for enjoying the old times and see the life of the people from the edo period. They offer many shows like a samurai show or traditional dance performances. You can even dress up in the edo style. It is a great experience for the whole family. Depending on what you like to do in Nikko, you can choose the right pass for you. The passes are a great deal for exploring the area and even in a group it is very reasonable. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zaND9-living_shopping_money_transportation_education_nikko_shi_tochigiThu, 09 Nov 2017 10:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zaND9-living_shopping_money_transportation_education_nikko_shi_tochigihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wN9YA-living_money_transportation_education_tokyoSlowly it's getting colder and colder outside and the winter is just knocking on the door here in Japan. Although many people think that winter is just the season to sit at home wrapped in a warm blanket or in an onsen to keep warm, winter in Japan is also the perfect outdoor sports season!If you love snow and cold weather there are many fun sports you can do in winter, which will also keep you warm. 1. Ice SkatingMy favorite sport is ice skating. Every year I'm waiting for the winter season so I can go ice skating. In Tokyo there are outside ice skating rinks, especially during the Christmas season when it is very popular.My recommendations for a nice ice skating experience are the rooftop of the Solamachi shopping center (Skytree) or the Tokyo Midtown Ice Rink. At both places you can see nice Christmas illuminations after skating or enjoy lunch/dinner at a nearby restaurant/Christmas market.Unfortunately this outdoor sport is very popular and rinks are often crowded. If you prefer a more relaxed ice skating experience (or just want to practice your skills), you can go to Edogawa Skate Rink, which is very huge and reasonably priced. For a nice ice skating experience surrounded nature, you can check out the Nikko Kirihuri Skate Center which has a great outdoor skate rink surrounded by mountains!2. Ski and SnowboardingOf course the most popular winter sports everywhere around the world are skiing and snowboarding. The Japanese Alps in Nagano or the mountains of Hokkaido host very popular resorts, not only for Japanese people. For a day trip from Tokyo you can also go to Yuzawa (Niigata), which is very close and there are often special discount tickets for the ski season. Please book your train tickets in advance, because trains to the ski areas can get very crowded! 3. Snow hikingIf you love snow and nature, snow hiking might be the right choice for you. I really love it, to walk on the fluffy white snow and hear the cracking of each step as I'm doing it. There are many nice places to go snow hiking in Japan like the Nikko marshland or Oze National Park in Gunma. Don't forget to prepare yourself well though. Get snow boots or ski shoes and, of course, warm outdoor clothes, otherwise it can be dangerous if you stuck in the snow. There are also many tours organized by locals or travel agencies offering safe snow hiking in nature. If you are not that experienced, I would recommend such a tour.4. Ice fishingA very relaxing sport for the winter is ice fishing. Generally fishing is very popular the whole year in Japan, but Ice fishing is really very special. It is really a lot of fun if you are going in a group, making a whole in the ice and waiting to catch something. Usually everybody is sitting around the hole and waiting. The atmosphere is similar to sitting around a nice campfire and having a chat with friends. Of course it can get cold very fast, that's why you should prepare yourself well beforehand. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wN9YA-living_money_transportation_education_tokyoTue, 31 Oct 2017 09:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wN9YA-living_money_transportation_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zaNyN-living_food_shopping_tokyoThere are many unusual sweets in snacks in Japan which might be kind of weired to a foreigner, but you should always try them first, before saying it´s nothing for you.A very typical japanese sweets are little mochis, which you can get in many diffrent flavors like filles with a real strawberry or machacream. There are really thousends of mochis flavors and each region has it´s own special one. For a foreigner the very sticky consistency is something you need to get used to. You will love it or you will hate it.These days I´ve found a very nice flavor of mochi at the popular store "Kaldi" which sells many international but also japanese products. They have a mochi with the flover of peppermint and inside is some chocolate creme. It is really a great mix. Not so sweet, but very refreshing because of the peppermint. That mochi is a perfekt combination of japanese sweets and western influence, because peppermint is really rare to find in japanese seets/kitchen.Please have a try!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zaNyN-living_food_shopping_tokyoSun, 22 Oct 2017 16:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zaNyN-living_food_shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MvPvk-living_shopping_money_shibuya_ku_tokyoThis year is the 40th anniversary of the popular WMT Anime Rascal the raccoon. At the Kiddyland in Harajuku you can find a small rascal orner with many special goods. Many people love the little sweet cheeky raccoon Rascal. There is also an own backery in Kichioji of that character. Therefore, I was not surprised to read that again many new Rascal products appeared on the market.Since it was a raining day, I was luckythat the Kiddyland was very empty and I didn´t had to wait to check out the rascal corner. There were goods on the first and second floor. Right at the entrance of the Kiddyland was the new collection, which will only be there for two weeks. If you buy something with a value over 1500 yen, you will get a huge Rascal bag for free. Of course I did not miss that chance.On the second floor there were old rascal products, which were mainly collaborative goods with other well-known characters.After I left the Kiddyland and went back to the station, I found a poster of rascal at the closeby department store Tokyo Plaza Omotesando. On the third floor of the shopping center was another small popup store with many products from Rascal.Amongst others, there was an own unicorn x Rascal collection. The colorful unicorn is currently very popular. You could even take some photos with the unicorn and rascal together at a own photo section.There were also some Gashaponautomaten with different goodies, where I could get a totally sweet stamp.If you are a lover of that small cute raccoon, you should make a stop at Harajuku!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MvPvk-living_shopping_money_shibuya_ku_tokyoSun, 22 Oct 2017 16:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MvPvk-living_shopping_money_shibuya_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9pn9-living_shopping_money_education_howto_tokyoRecently one of my friends (26 years old girl from Germany) just moved to Tokyo and decided to stay in a sharehouse. I helped her searching for the right place and to move in. In the following will be a small interview with her about the experiences about finding a sharehouse and about living inside:Why did you come to Japan and how long do you want to stay?I will study at a university for around one year in the center of Tokyo.What were your criteria when looking for an accommodation?The accommodation should be as central as possible, that I can go by bicycle to the university and don´t have to be in crowded trains and spend too much money on transportation fees. The rent incl. additional costs should not be more than 60,000 yen per month, which is already high for a student. Also it was important to me that I have my own privacy and don´t have to share the room with another person. Another important criterion was that using the washing machine and shower are included in the rent. In some sharehouses you have to pay extra for those.Why did you choose to stay in a Sharehouse?The rules in the sharehouse are more relaxed than in a student dormitory, that´s why I decided to choose a sharehouse. I can have guests in my room or let someone stay with me. Also sharehouses are much cheaper compared to one-room apartments or guest-families. Another advantage is that in case you want to rent your own apartment, you will mostly need a Japanese creditor. If you choose a sharehouse you don´t have to worry about those.How is your life at the sharehouse?You are part of a small house community, where everyone follows their own routine. The Sharehouse is spread over 5 floors. The first floor is just the entrance of the building. On the second floor are 6 bedrooms, a shower, a toilet, a kitchen, as well as a small lounge with TV, PC and printer. The third and fourth floor has 7/8 rooms, a shower and a toilet, while the fifth floor has only five rooms, a shower, a toilet and a small kitchen. Even there is just one shower on each floor it is not a big problem, because everybody has a different daily life rhythm and is using the shower room at different times. During the week I usually get up at 7.30 h. Some people already left the house at that time or are still sleeping. Afterwards, I am going to the fifth floor to prepare my breakfast. Usually I will meet the same people every day at the same time in the kitchen or at the house. During the day I see less people in the house. Mostly they are outside or just staying in their room. Usually you will see your roommates only in the morning and evening.In the kitchens are always several refrigerators. Each room has a compartment in the refrigerator, where you can store your food and there is also a small area in the kitchen cabinet for each room where you can put your own stuff. tableware and cooking utensils are provided by the sharehouse. There are also four washing machines and two dryers, which can be used free of charge. But it is not allowed to use them from 10.30pm to 8am. However, since the small lounge is quite small, most of the life is either outside the sharehouse or in the own room.What about your roommates? Nationalities? Differences?The sharehouse has 26 rooms, which are all occupied and in some rooms two people share a room. About 70% of the residents come from Asia, 30 % from Europe and Amerika. some of my roommates are Japanese, other Chinese and also Taiwanese. There is also another girl from Germany, two from England, one from France and one from America.One of the biggest differences seems to be the understanding of hygiene. The common rooms and toilet/shower are not really kept clean by the Asians, while the others pay well attention to clean the space after using it. Would you choose again to stay in a sharehouse?I would choose again to stay in a sharehouse, but for the next time I would make sure that the number of roommates are not more than 10 people. Also I would prefer a sharehouse for women, just because of the hygienic aspects.Which rules to you have in a sharehouse?From 10:30 pm until 8 am you shouldn´t make any noise inside and outside of your room in order not to disturb the other roommates. Unfortunately many people don´t are much about that rule. Also for every month there is a garbage plan (beside from separating garbage) in which is shown who is responsible for bringing out the garbage to the collection point on which day of the week. If you forget your duty, you have to pay a high penalty fee. If you are not at home on your duty day, you can ask a roommate or the house leader and somebody else will do it.Also you are supposed to keep the shower, toilet and kitchen clean after using it, but many people doesn´t care that much. How about the costs?The rent for my 7.18 m² room is 58,000 yen + 12,000 Yen additional costs per month with shared bathroom and shared kitchen in the center of Tokyo. The cost includes free Internet, as well as the use of the washing machine/dryer and printer.Any recommendation for a sharehouse?Especially for Tokyo the website of “tokyosharehouse” is very helpful. You can also look for sharehouses in whole Japan there, but it doesn´t have so many.The good side is that you will find many pictures of the rooms and common areas. Also you can choose some conditions (size of the room, one person per room only, time period). Some agencies only offer rooms for long-term stays (more than 3 or 6 months) or there are restrictions like you are not allowed to be older than 35 years old. Furthermore you can choose sharehouses only for women /men, the number of rooms in the sharehouse, how often the house will be cleaned or if the use of washing machine/dryer s free of use or not. All in all I would recommend the site to anyone who decides for a sharehouse in Japan and especially in Tokyo!I hope this little interview can provide a good insight how it is to live in a sharehouse for a short time.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9pn9-living_shopping_money_education_howto_tokyoMon, 16 Oct 2017 10:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9pn9-living_shopping_money_education_howto_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7jje-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_hiroshimaOne of my favorite cities in Japan is Hiroshima. Hiroshima is on the west side of Japan in the Chugoku area. You can reach it in 4 h by Shinkansen from Tokyo (or in 90 minutes from Osaka). Hiroshima also has a small airport, but flights are not that frequent. Besides the historical background of the city in the Second World War, there are also many cultural places to discover.1. Mitaki templeThe Mitaki temple is a 15 minute walk away from Mitaki Station. Even many people who live in Hiroshima don´t know this beautiful and quiet hidden place in the mountains. Right next to a graveyard you have to walk up the mountainside where you can find the main temple. On your way through the temple complex you will cross many Buddhist signs and jizo statues with red caps and also some very nice old buildings.The real charm of this area is the beautiful nature on the way. There are tons of stones fully covered with moss and you can also hear the rippling of a small brook. Especially during the autumn season this is a great spot to enjoy Japanese red maple leaves!2. Hiroshima castleJapan has so many old castles, that it is not a big surprise to find one in the center of Hiroshima. Originally built in the 1590s, the castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945. The replica built in 1958 serves as a museum for the history of Hiroshima before the Second World War. The castle park is a nice spot for a picnic and gives you a little bit of the feeling of old samurai times. 3. Peace Memorial ParkThe Peace Memorial Park is just a few minutes away from Kamiyacho Station. The park was created after the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki destroyed the whole area. The aim was to rebuild the district of Nakajima on an island between the rivers Motoyasu-gawa and Honkawa as a recreation area for the city's population. At the same time, the park should offer the opportunity to mourn the victims and to think about the effects of an atomic bomb, but also as a landmark and memorial for peace. You can also find the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in the park, where you can find all information about the atomic bomb disaster. 4. MiyajimaThe popular island of Miyajima belongs to the three most beautiful landscapes of Japan. You can reach Miyajima by ferry for passengers or for those with the cars. The popular sight on the island is the beautiful Itsukushima Shrine with its huge red gate standing in the water (only at high tide). The main buildings of the Itsukushima Shrine are on elevated platforms, the piers are floating in the water, that’s why the entire complex seems to float. Also, part of the shrine is the oldest preserved Nō stage in the world. Many deer live on the island, and they like to get close to humans (and sometimes like to eat your belongings). If you like hiking, you can go up to the Misen mountain on foot or by cable car. The center of the island is completely covered in forest, below the north side of the mountain there is even a jungle. It is even possible to stay overnight on the island. You can enjoy the view of the lit up shrine and great red gate, but unfortunately most of the stores and restaurants are closed in the evening. 5. Hiroshima tramAlways when I visit Hiroshima the highlight for me is to use the old streetcar. The first tram was running through the center in 1912. Since then many tram lines have been added and also many different trams from different periods. They have very old trams but also some new ones. If you are a tram lover, I recommend to go from Hiroshima station to Miyajimaguchi station. It takes up to 60 minutes but it is absolutely worth it if you are using the oldest tram. To see the charm of the wooden benches and the old bell of the tram is like a little kid's dream. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7jje-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_hiroshimaWed, 11 Oct 2017 14:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7jje-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_hiroshimahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gb2O0-living_food_shopping_money_fashion_education_koto_ku_tokyoOn October 1 2017 the Tokyo Vegan Gourmet Festival was held at the Kiba park east of Tokyo close to the Kiba station (Tozailine). There were many popular vegetarian stores from all over Japan, who had a big variety of vegan food. All stalls at the festival didn´t use any animal products (no meat, fish, eggs, dairy, honey or refined sugar). You could even find oranic clothes and underwear. All was 100 % organic!The food stalls had many natural products including organic, macrobiotic and raw foods, which are good for the health of your body. Mostly every stall had signs in english and it was always displayed which incredients are used for their products. If you love vegan/vegetarien food this festival which is hold every year is the perfect place for you. You can find many interessting stores which service rice burgers, vegan hot dogs, vegan bread and cakes or even vegan ice cream.After trying out all the vegan food, you could also use the chance and join one of the open air yoga courses just next to the stalls.The same festival is also held in Nagoya on October 22nd and in Kyoto on November 12th.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gb2O0-living_food_shopping_money_fashion_education_koto_ku_tokyoMon, 02 Oct 2017 15:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Gb2O0-living_food_shopping_money_fashion_education_koto_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zD4Zz-living_shopping_money_transportation_tokyoComing to Japan for a short or longer time, you will realize that the Japanese transportation system is very good. Always on time and you can go mostly everywhere, but all has its price. Especially the train fee can get very high per month if you are using the train often or changing often between subway and JR trains. A good alternative if you are living in the center of Tokyo or just for shopping at the supermarket is to use a bicycle. You can save a lot of money and you will also do something for your health (you will also save on the costs for the gym then!).There are different ways to buy/get a bicycle. Especially if you are in Japan only for a short time it is cheaper to buy a used one. Let´s take a look at the 5 ways to buy a bicycle:Bicycle Stores Of course the easiest way is to go to a bicycle shop and buy a brand new bicycle there. Prices are starting from 10,000 yen up to 30,000 yen and more. The store will also do the registration of the bicycle for you (you need to do that in Japan) and often you can go there for some small repairs which they will do for free. Going to a bicycle store is the easiest and also the most expensive way to buy a bicycle in Japan. CraigslistIf you are ok with a used bicycle you can also check out Craigslist. Many foreigners who just stay a short time in Japan are selling their bicycle there. It is a good opportunity to find a good deal. But be careful when meeting with somebody that it is at a public place. You never know who you will meet. Also make sure that you really get what you wanted, check the bicycle well and also ask for the registration papers, which you need to change them at the police station to your name. I already bought often something on Craigslist and never had any big trouble.Second Hand StoresBig second hand stores in Japan like Off House or Hard Off also sell used bicycles. Prices vary on the condition and type of the bicycle. The good point is that they will also do the registration progress for you. Often those stores have very expensive electric bicycles or sports bicycles for a good deal.Facebook GroupsThere are also many flea markets or exchange groups on Facebook where you can also look for a good used bicycle deal. It might take a little bit of time to find what you want, but if you are not in a hurry you can make for sure a good deal. Especially at the foreign groups you can find many used bicycles.Flea MarketsAlso huge flea markets often have some used bicycles, but it´s more difficult to find them. If you like to bargain, this might be a good choice for you. Don´t forget to ask for the registration papers and make sure that it is working well.I´ve already bought bicycles for me and my friends at the bicycle store, Craigslist and a second hand store here in Japan. All were in good condition and, especially with the used ones, I got good bargains. If you are looking for a bicycle in Japan and don´t care whether or not it is new, just try out one of the above ways!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zD4Zz-living_shopping_money_transportation_tokyoWed, 27 Sep 2017 10:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zD4Zz-living_shopping_money_transportation_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2bVw-living_food_shopping_money_tokyoLiving in Japan can be very expensive, especially if you are living in the center of Tokyo where prices for fresh food from the supermarket can be very high. If you are living on the outskirts of Tokyo it is much easier to find reasonably priced food like at small farmers markets. Even when you are living in the center, though, there are some ways to save some money during your weekly shopping at the supermarket.Point CardNowadays most of the supermarkets have a point card. With your daily purchase you can collect points. Usually 100 Yen gets 1 Point. There are also some days when you can get double points, depending on the supermarket.You can use those points for your next shop - 1 Point is 1 Yen. Of course, it takes a while, but if you always go to the same supermarket for a long period, you can really collect a lot of them.Half price food in the eveningAlways in the evening you can find many discounted food items like sushi, bento or discounted meat which will expire soon. Wait for the staff who will put discount stickers, 20 % or 50 % off, on the food and take the chance to get it. Usually they do this around seven in the evening. Many housewives and salarymen are waiting for this discount. That's why you have to be really fast and sometimes very pushy. It really can be like a small fight to get what you want.Old vegetable cornerMany supermarkets have a small discount corner for vegetable and fruits. The food inside that box cannot be sold on the next day anymore, that's why they are sold at a high discount. Watch out though, sometimes they look really bad and you shouldn´t take them even for such a low price. But if you are planning to eat it the same day, it shouldn't be a big problem. Discounts on a specific daySome supermarkets have a special 5 % discount on all their products on a specific day of the week. You should check out the website of your local supermarket or read their pamphlets at the supermarket corner. Discount sealWhen you already check out the website of your local supermarket, you should also look for the discounted seals. Every week before opening the store, many supermarkets will give away some discounted seals which you can put on every item you want to purchase. Many older ladies use this chance to get some discount, so you should hurry to get some. My local supermarket even has special discount seals for people over 60 years old.Sale sectionLike every store, also supermarkets in Japan have small sale corners, where you can get stuff cheaper than the regular price. Mostly this is for products like oil, sugar, flour, yogurt or bread. In that corner you can often find stuff you don´t need to buy every week but maybe every month. It's a good deal to wait till they are discounted. These are my recommendations to save some money at the supermarket in Japan. You will not find all these deals at every supermarket, but mostly at the bigger ones. Please enjoy your shopping and watch out for good deals!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2bVw-living_food_shopping_money_tokyoThu, 21 Sep 2017 16:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w2bVw-living_food_shopping_money_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w27VM-living_food_shopping_money_medical_education_tokyoSlowly it's getting colder outside and the autumn season is just around the corner. Seasonaly, food plays a big role in Japanese life. Every season has different types of vegetables, fruits, fish and meat to enjoy. The typical vegetables for autumn in Japan are sweet potato, taro root, mushrooms (especially the very expensive Matsutake), pumpkin, sudachi (a citrus fruit) and Japanese chestnuts, also called kuri. Here are three of my favorite autumn recipes which are also used in many Japanese households:Japanese chestnut rice (Kurigohan)Ingredients:- 2 small cups of Japanese rice- ¼ cup of mocha rice- 1 Tbsp. sake- 3 cups of water (for the rice)- Around 20 japanese chestnuts- Black sesame seeds- SaltPut the Japanese rice and the mocha rice together in a bowl and wash them. After you have cleand the rice you can already put it in your rice cooker (but don't turn it on!). Boil the Japanese chestnuts in water for around 30 minutes. After that you have to peel the whole skin (till the yellow part). This is the hardest part of the cooking. The skin is very hard but inside is very soft. Watch out not to break some fully. Put the water, 1 Tbsp. of sake and a little bit salt into the rice cooker. Also put the peeled chestnuts on top of the rice. They should swim a little bit on the surface. Set your rice cooker to normal cooking mode and wait till the rice is done.In the end all water should be gone. Mix the rice and chestnuts well and put some sesame seeds on top. The first part of your autumn meal is done!Mushroom clear soupIngredients:- Mushrooms ( I prefer king oyster mushrooms, but usually you make this soup with Matsutake)- Fishcake- Mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley)- 400 ml water- Fresh or instant kombu- 1 tbsp. Sake- ½ tbsp. Mirin- ½ tbsp. Soy sauce- SaltStart boiling the fresh kombu in 400 ml of water for around 20 minutes or just put instant powder into the water. Take out the fresh Kombu. Clean the mushrooms and cut them into slices. Put the sake, mirin, soy sauce and a little bit into the water, mix it and let it cook for 5 minutes.Cut the fishcake into small pieces and put them together with the mushrooms into the soup. Boil all for 5 minutes. At the end cut a small leaf of mitsuba, tie a knot and put it into the soup. As soon as you put the mitsuba you should serve the soup!If you like, you can also put in small pieces of chicken or shrimps, depending on what you like.Main dish – Sweet soy sauce chicken wingsIngredients:- 6 chicken wings- Flour- 2 ½ tbsp. Mirin- 2 ½ tbsp. Sake- 2 ½ tbsp. Soy sauce- 2 tbsp. sugar- Sesame seedsFirst wash the chicken wings and dry them with kitchen paper and coat them into flour. Heat up oil in a frying pan and put the chicken wings inside. Fry them until brown on both sides. Mix the mirin, sake, soy sauce and sugar together and put it on the chicken. Put the lid of the frying pan and cook all for a few minutes. Don't forget to turn them! After a few minutes they are ready. Serve them on a plate and sprinkle some sesame seeds on them.Your full autumn meal is ready!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w27VM-living_food_shopping_money_medical_education_tokyoThu, 14 Sep 2017 11:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/w27VM-living_food_shopping_money_medical_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr1rG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_kanazawa_shi_ishikawaKanazawa is one of the big cities in Ishikawa prefecture. You can reach Kanazawa by nightbus (around 8 hrs) or with the new Shinkansen which goes straight to Kanazawa in 2 ½ hrs. Since there is a direct Shinkansen connection Kanazawa got very popular with tourists. For getting around in Kanazawa you can use a Loopbus (dayticket 500 yen) which will bring you to all the popular sightseeing spots.Here is my must see list of Kanazawa:1. Oyama ShrineThis shrine is located on a small hill and was constructed in 1599. There is a very nice, small Japanese garden around the shrine, but the main attraction is the beautiful main gate, which was designed by a Dutch architect. The gate has influences of Asian and European architecture and is very unique in Japan.2. Kanazawa BurgThe castle was constructed in 1586 but was mostly destroyed from many big fires. Only the Ishikawa gate is left from the original building. All other parts are reconstructed. The castle park is very huge and a popular photo spot during the cherry blossom season.3. Kazuemachi Chaya DistrictThe old geisha district Kazuemachi is located alongside a river. There are still some Chaya houses and restaurants located in that area. Chaya houses are the traditional places were geisha perform dances and play shamisen to entertain their customers.Especially in the evening, when all is light up around the river and bridges, you can really feel the atmosphere of old times and if you listen carefully, you might be able to hear the sounds of a shamisen.4. Higashi Chaya DistrictClose to the Kazuemachi Chaya District is the largest and by far the most interesting geisha district. There are many small narrow streets where you can find many old traditional houses. Especially in the evening the chance is very high to meet a geisha there. The main street has many small stores, restaurants and cafes. 5. Kaikaro TeahouseAt the Higashi Chaya District you will have chance to visit an old tea house. The entrance to take a look into all the rooms of the Kaikaro Teahouse costs 750 yen. The teahouse is very beautiful and you can see some beautiful kimono and old geisha items. After visiting all the rooms you can sit down and enjoy a cup of tea and some sweets which are included in the entrance fee. 6. Nagamachi Buke Yashiki DistrictThe Nagamachi District is an old samurai area. Many streets and houses still look the same as from the samurai period and some old houses can be visited. I've visited the house of the "Nomura Family". At the entrance is some impressive samurai armor from the old owner of the Nomura family. You can also see some treasures of the family. The highlight is the beautiful small Japanese garden.On the first floor is a tea room, where you can participate in a tea ceremony if you want. 7. Kenrokuen GardenKenrokuen in Kanazawa is one of the "three famous gardens of Japan".The garden was designed by the Maeda family. It is located between the Asanogawa and Saigawa rivers, which lead to the castle. Kenrokuen offers a good view to the wide landscape and also to Mt. Haku in the southwest. There are many huge trees which are more than a few 100 years old. Especially in autumn the garden is a perfect spot to watch the coloring autumn leaves. 8. Teramachi Temples and Nishi Chaya DistrictClose to a mountain at the Sakurabashi (cherry blossom bridge) are located many small pretty temples, which are now used as residential houses. There is also an old small geisha district, but less popular than the huge one in the Higashi Chaya District.9. Utatsuyama Temple areaJust behind the Higashi Chaya District is a small hill where you can find between old houses and trees a nice temple area. You can also find some beautiful gardens.10. Omicho MarketOmicho Market is the big fish market in Kanazawa. You can buy the freshest fish there in the morning or just try one of the small restaurants, which are everywhere at the market. One of the popular local dishes are the white shrimps. Please give them a try!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr1rG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_kanazawa_shi_ishikawaFri, 08 Sep 2017 18:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wr1rG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_kanazawa_shi_ishikawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GW1OM-living_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_howto_tokyoIf you are a fabric lover like me and always looking for a good deal or a big selection of fabrics there are various places in Tokyo to find wonderful fabrics.Nippori Fabric townThe most famous area for all kinds of fabrics is the Nippori Fabric town northeast of Tokyo. Between Nippori, Usuguidani and Mikawashima Station are around 80 small and bigger fabric stores with a great selection of Japanese fabrics, leather, patchwork fabric and so on. You will also find all kinds of sewing materials like buttons, zipper or ruffles.Especially the chain Tomato has many nice deals for 100 Yen and also many nice printing fabrics for a low price. The store Zak Zak has a great choice of all kinds of buttons. It is really a paradise. If you are looking for traditional japanese fabrics, you should visit the Mihamakuros Store just next to Tomato. I recommend to go there during the week, when it is less crowded. At the weekend the small stores are very packed and it is very stressful to get what you want. Also many stores are not open on Sunday.Okadaya Handcraft storeOkadaya is a handcraft store with the main department in Shinjuku at the East Exit of Shinjuku JR Station. The store is in two buildings. One has all kinds of fabrics like wool, printed one or decoration fabrics. At the entrance is also a small sale corner where you can get some reasonable fabrics.Just on the opposite side of that store is a building with the second store. You can find all kinds of accessoires, buttons, lace, sewing and knitting tools. You can also check out some sewing machine there.You can find Okadaya stores in the whole Kanto area not only in Tokyo.Also the Okadaya company has recently opened a few more stores under the names “mano crear” which are smaller stores for handicraft tools, fabric and creative works.YuzawayaYuzawaya is also a huge handcraft department store, which you can find in whole Japan. They have a great selection of all kinds of handcraft for sewing, knitting, quilting, decorating and so on. Especially if you are looking for nice fabrics for kids this store is the right place to go. Even the store is slightly more expensive, they have a very great selection especially for traditional Japanese fabrics.Craft Heart TokaiCraft Heart Tokai has some nice small stores for all kind of handcraft. If you like to work with pearls, wool or fabrics this is the right place for you. The stuff is always very kind and helpful. If you ask them, they will also show you some handcraft ideas and tricks. They also have some sewing machine, which you can try out with their help.There are Craft Heart Tokai stores in the whole Kanto area.DaisoThe 100 Yen Shop Daiso is popular for all kinds of products just for 100 yen. Many Daiso stores also have a small handcraft corner. The huge Daisos have a great selection of handcraft material and sewing tools. Even all cost 100 yen the quality is good. Especially if you need some sewing tools, Daiso is very reasonable comparing to the big department stores. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GW1OM-living_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_howto_tokyoTue, 22 Aug 2017 13:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GW1OM-living_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_howto_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mgb6w-living_food_shopping_money_education_howto_tokyoWaste disposal is a very comprehensive issue in Japan. The following waste disposal instruction is from my residential area, but mostly corresponds to many other places (there are some small differences). Depending on whether you live in your own house or in an apartment, there are of course differences. In large apartment buildings, there is often a separate garbage room, where all the waste is sorted into different categories. Later it will be placed in front of the apartment depending on the pick-up day. In the case of your own house, you have to take care of your garbage by yourself (in the case of incorrect sorting, it can happen that the garbage is not taken) and put it before 8:00 o'clock at the waste disposal collection spot in your area. Sometimes you even have to use special bags for your garbage. In order to always know when and which garbage is picked up on which day, your city office will issue a rubbish calendar every year, where all the days are shown for your city area.In my residential area the garbage is separated as follows:Plastic and packagingThis includes all plastic packaging, all of which have a "プ ラ", plastic lid closures of bottles and also plastic bags.In all cases make sure that the plastic and packaging are cleaned of dirt and all seals are removed as far as possible.Styrofoam packagingAll polystyrene packaging must be separated from other packaging. These packages are mainly found in fish and meat. Therefore, it is particularly important that these are well cleaned beforehand. The packs are packed without a plastic bag into a box.PET bottlesPET bottles must be completely removed from signs and lids and also cleaned from inside. Although a PET bottle is also made of plastic, these are separated in a different box. CansCans must be completely cleaned from the inside and will be collected in a separate box.Glass bottles and glassesGlass bottles (especially alcohol) and glasses must be completely cleaned from the inside. Please take care not to put any broken glass in the box.Paper, newspapers and cartonsPaper / newspapers and cartons must be tied separately from each other in order to ensure easy removal.In this case, cartons also include milk or juice packs which have to be cut and cleaned from the inside.All the above mentioned rubbish types are collected 1 x week.Combustible wasteThis is all leftover garbage which can be burned easily.Combustible garbage is collected twice a week.Non-flammable wasteThese include, in particular, plastic products with metal pieces (like umbrella), porcelain or knives. All metal objects and electronic devices under 30 cm.This garbage is collected every 2 weeks 1 x.Large garbage (larger than 30 cm)This includes all garbage of more than 30 cm such as furniture, electrical appliances or even blankets. This garbage is picked up separately. It has to be registered at the "Large-sized Waste Reception Center" and you have to make an appointment. In my living area, a sticker has to be bought in the supermarket or 24 hour shop which is available in different price categories (depending on the size).Air conditioning, TV, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers and freezersThese electronic devices are extra picked up and do not count to large garbage. However, an appointment for collection must also be made at the "Household Appliance Disposal Center". They will also charge you for collection.Sometimes electronics stores where you bought the devices also offer a free return.Batteries, incandescent lamps, LED lamps etc.Many shops have collection boxes at their entrances. I have an own collection box for batteries in my house. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mgb6w-living_food_shopping_money_education_howto_tokyoTue, 22 Aug 2017 12:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mgb6w-living_food_shopping_money_education_howto_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9rnz-living_food_money_education_howto_tokyoThere are many ways to find a partner in Japan. Nowadays it is very popular to find a partner at the internet on popular dating sites or a friend is introducing each other, but still there are some classic ways to find a partner, which are very unique to Japan. I would like to introduce one of the three most widespread:Gokon (合 コ ン)A gokon is usually organized by a female and a male person who already know each other and invite an equal number of male / female persons. It is the best if the participants do not know each other before. Usually these meetings take place in an Izakaya, where all participants are separated from each other by women and men.Depending on their interests, the participants also change their seats. At the end of thoses meetings, telephone numbers / mail addresses will be exchanged and with a little bit luck you might find the right person for you.I also went to a Gokon one time. However, I did not know that before. In the end it ended with all the guys asking me how to get a foreigner (since I was already married). In general, I do not think those events are a good way to find a partner. The conversations are often very superficial and everyone tries to be particularly funny and happy. Omiai (お 見 合 い)An Omiai is the traditional way of marriage in Japan.Especially many years ago, this kind was still very common. If a women over 25 and men over 30 were still unmarried, they were called an old Christmas cake. It was very difficult to find a partner if you are older. Very often a matchmaker was arranged at the request of the parents, to find the right marriage partner for their kid. Often the background of that is that the parents want to have grandchildren.A short profile with all important information about the person is created and a selection made afterwards. If there is interest there is usually a meeting in a restaurant where the parents also participate. If there is no interest, this should be communicated very politely after the meeting. After the first meeting with the parents all subsequent meetings take place only between the two partners in order to get to know each other better. After about a half to a year the plans for a wedding often begin.Kekkon Katsudou (結婚 活動) or Konkatsu (婚 活)The so-called Konkatsu can also be freely translated as "The search for a spouse". The Gokon is mainly about finding a partner, but not necessarily a longer relationship. In the case of Konkatsu, this is different. It is only for looking for a partner to marry. In general, the Konkatsu is organized by a person who know singles and people who like to marry. There will be a meeting in a relaxed atmosphere in a restaurant / Izakaya, where everyone can get to know each other. The advantage of the meeting is that everyone knows exactly what the intentions of the others are.I would call the Konkatsu an older, more mature version of the gokon. In the end, all have one thing in common. The goal is to find the partner of life. Either it works or it does not work.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9rnz-living_food_money_education_howto_tokyoTue, 22 Aug 2017 09:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/M9rnz-living_food_money_education_howto_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Go3lG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyo_koto-kuEvery 3 years the Fukagawa Summer Festival takes place directly in my neighborhood. It belongs to one of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo. The other two are the Kanda and Sanno Festival. The festival took place for the first time in 1642 around the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine. The festival is held every year, but there is only every 3 years the big variation over 5 days.The festival takes place every year in the middle of August around the Obon period, which is very convenient, as many Japanese at this time have days off. I had time off too, that's why I used the chance to visit the festival every day.Of course you ask yourself, "Why every day?" Quite simply there is every day a different program and if you live only 5 minutes away from the venue, why not use that chance.The weather on these days was very bad and it rained often. However, whenever we wanted to go to the festival, it stopped raining! On Friday we went to the great taiko event at the shrine. The program featured 10 taiko groups that had been drumming for 5 hours. I really love taiko, so it was perfect for me. Around the station of Monzen Nakacho and the shrine Tomioka Hachimangu small food stalls or small booths were everywhere. On Saturday, there were some traditional Japanese performances like noh-theatre, shamisen and koto performances. Also the children are pulling mikoshi (small shrine, a god is living inside) through the streets. It was so sweet to see when 15 small children carried a mini mikoshi through the area, which could easily be carried by an adult alone. The main event was on Sunday. For that, the large main road Eitai was blocked and you could walk on the big street.Already at 7:30 on Sunday morning loud cannon shots sounded from outside. Whoever had not been up until then was awake after that noise. The cannon shots symbolized the beginning of the great mikoshi parade, which crossed through our city district as well as to Odaiba and Nihonbashi.The big finale always takes place directly in front of my house, which is great, as I can watch the whole bustle relaxed from the balcony without standing between all the visitors.However we wanted to get a little bit closer so we went down to the street and waited for the parade. We were in the front row when the big mikoshi were sprayed with water. It was unbelievable how many people joined the parade. One group was very huge, destined to the 100 people who had run and jumped wildly in front of us. It was like a fire wall that came to us. It was incredibly hot because of all the people who have carried the shrine. You can really feel the energy that is running through this event. Every team that carries a shrine is so enthusiastic that it is really great.As Saturday and Sunday, of course, the most visitors, it was very crowded everywhere. On Friday as well as Monday (Tuesday is mostly for the locals) it is less crowded and you can enjoy it more to walk around. On Monday we went back to the shrine to see a noh theatre performance. Unfortunately, it was very difficult to understand even if you could understand Japanese . It was a little bit boring, too, because nothing happened really.However, I wanted to see the traditional dance "odori" which was afterwards. Several groups from all over Japan have performed a traditional dance wearing yukata. I loved to see many different kind of yukata.Of course, there was also some craftsmanship to see. A few ladies exhibited their ikebana artworks:On Tuesday, the last day of the festival, there was a full program again, which was shown mainly inside of the big shrine, because of the heavy rain.We were interested in the final performance, which was an Indonesian music and dance group. Unfortunately, it was very difficult to see something. The performance was inside the shrine and seats were limited, so most of the people tried to catch a glimpse from outside.Nevertheless, it was once again a nice festival. I am already looking forward to 2020, when the next big Fukagawa summer festival will be held right after the Olympics!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Go3lG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyo_koto-kuTue, 22 Aug 2017 07:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Go3lG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyo_koto-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Go3bG-living_food_money_transportation_education_hokkaido_sapporo-shiThe best season to visit Hokkaido is in summer from July to September. Usually it is very nice weather with temperatures around 20 – 28 degrees. Compared to the rest of Japan, Hokkaido is very cool in summer making it a perfect place to go if you are searching for a break from the city.There are many things to see in Hokkaido. One of my favorite places is the Historic Village of Hokkaido in Sapporo. The village is an open air museum a little bit outside if the center of Sapporo. It belongs to the Nopporo Forrest Park. You can go to the village by train from Sapporo Station with the JR Hakodate to Shinrinkoen (around 13 minutes) and then take the bus directly to the Historic Village (around 5 minutes). Alternatively you can also walk from the station in 20 minutes. The entrance fee costs 830 yen or 1200 yen if you buy a combination ticket that also includes the historic museum.The Historic Village has around 60 typical old Japanese houses mostly from the Meiji and Taisho period. There are different sections like the farm village, fishing village and a small town. If you walk around you can easily see the differences between the sections very well. It is really a great experience to explore all the different houses. Most of them also have their old interior and you are allowed to enter all areas of the houses. Sometimes there are also some volunteers who will tell you the story of the house or they will invite you do to some handcrafts. Don´t be surprised by the dolls that really look like real people. They show how the life was in those old houses. I've visited the village in August and it was amazingly empty. The area is quite big and most of the time I was the only customer there. That was perfect for me to take many photos.One of my favorite buildings is the old school, which is now a small museum. You will find many old school books, school clothes and the old interior from old times. There were even some old books for teaching English to the students. Also, you should not miss to make a stop at the doctor and dentist. Their houses are full with all old doctor/dentist supplies. Watch out! It can be very scary, especially the glasses filled with organs.There is also an old tram from the Meiji period. You can go inside and check it out. A perfect chance for train lovers who want to see an old tram. You can even find some western style buildings from the Second World War period, which are a great contrast to all the old traditional Japanese style buildings. Just 10 minutes away from the village is the Historical Museum of Hokkaido, which has many documents about the history and the development of Hokkaido. The museum covers chronologically the history of the prefecture from 20,000 years ago and into the future. The Historical Museum of Hokkaido is the perfect addition to the Open Air Museum. I really enjoyed visiting the Historic Village. It took me around 2 hours to check out all the houses, because the area is really amazingly big.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Go3bG-living_food_money_transportation_education_hokkaido_sapporo-shiThu, 10 Aug 2017 05:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Go3bG-living_food_money_transportation_education_hokkaido_sapporo-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MEKWG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_education_tokyoSummer is the hottest and sunniest season in Japan. It is also the season of many nice festivals around the whole country. Summer festivals are always a lot of fun, especially if you are wearing a yukata. Here are some of my summer festival recommendations, which you shouldn't miss:• Bon OdoriObon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the ancestors. Depending on the area Obon is celebrated in the middle of July or August. The Kanto region (Tokyo, Kanagawa..) is celebrating Obon around the 15 th August. There are many traditions for that day. One is to put a small fire in front of the house entrance to show the ancestors the way. However, the most popular tradition is the Bon Odori Dance. There are big Bon Odori festivals like the Hibiya festival in Tokyo but also many small ones in every neighborhood. Each region has its own dance style and different music. At a typical Bon Odori people are lining up in a circle around a high wooden scaffold. Musicians and singers are performing on that scaffold. When the music starts people will dance around the scaffold. Many people are wearing yukata, which gives that event a great traditional feeling. Even if you don´t know the dances you are always welcome to join and do what the others do.• Lantern festivalThe lantern festival is a very romantic, small event celebrated at the end of July or in August. A famous one is held in the Chiyoda ward in Tokyo close to the Imperial Palace. For that event it is possible to rent a small rowboat at the nearby boathouse. Unfortunately this is very popular and only a few boats are allowed on the canal, that's why you have to make a reservation very early. If you have the chance to get a boat, you will also get a floating lantern, where you can write a wish on it. When the event starts everybody will put the small lantern on the water. It is a very beautiful scene to see so many floating lanterns on the canal. Also there is often some live music in the background. If you want to go on a romantic date, this event is the perfect chance. • TanabataTanabata is celebrated on the 7th of July or 7th of August depending on the region. Tanabata is the beautiful story of the two stars Wega and Altair which are meeting in the sky. According to a Chinese tradition these stars represent a pair of lovers, separated all year round by the Milky Way. Only on Tanabata are they able to meet each other.On the evening before the 7th of July/August, bamboo trees are put up, on which notes are hung with desires in the hope that these will be fulfilled. One of the biggest Tanabata festivals is celebrated in Hiratsuka south of Kanagawa.•The three great Shinto festivals of TokyoThe Sanno, Kanda and Fukagawa festivals are the three biggest festivals in Tokyo. The festival season starts with the Kanda festival which is the weekend close to the 15th of May. But watch out! It is held only on odd numbered years. The festival takes places around the Kanda Shrine and the main attraction is the parade with 200 mikoshi incl. musicians and dancers.The Sanno Festival is held in June in every even numbered year only. The festival is held for one week in the Chiyoda area with many activities and also a parade.The Fukagawa Festival is held every three years in mid August at the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine around Monzen Nakacho Station. The festival has a great parade on the Sunday where many mikoshi will be carried around. The parade is very popular for the spattering with water on the mikoshi.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MEKWG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_education_tokyoWed, 09 Aug 2017 19:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MEKWG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mv3Vz-living_shopping_money_educationStuding a language is a big challenge for everyone, especially if you are not a language genius it can be very tough. Also Japanese is a totally different language comparing to western languages like English, German or Spanish. If you can speak Chinese it might not be so difficult, because Japanese and Chinese has many things in common like the writing system. I already tried out many ways to study Japanese. Here is my list of 5 ways to study a language and also my experience:• Language schoolLanguages schools offer different classes to study Japanese. In my home country those classes were hold mostly 1-2 times a week in small groups. It takes very long time to get a good knowledge of the language. Language schools in Japan are a little bit different. Often you can choose between different kind of courses. For example the 1-2 years intensive course where you really study every day very intensive Japanese (listing, writing, speaking). It is very similar to a normal school. The chance that you are fluent in Japanese after that time is very high, but all depends on your effort.If you can speak already Japanese you can also join a university preparation class or a JLPT preparation class.If you want to focus more on your conversations skills, you can visit a conversation class. Usually those classes are for a few hours every afternoon and really focus only on speaking.I joined a normal Japanese course in my home country and a conversation course in Japan for a half year. For me a language course at a school was very good for learning the basics of the language especially for the right pronunciation.• Language exchangeA language exchange is a good opportunity to work on your language skills. Usually you will meet with a person who want to learn your language at a café or park. Each of you have the chance to learn from each other then. A popular website to find a language exchange partner is hellosensei.com.That style is recommended if you can already speak a little bit the language otherwise it might be very difficult to communicate.• Private teacherA private language teacher is very good if you can´t study well in a class or at home. Many language schools offer private lessons but you can also find teacher at the internet. Studing with a private teacher is very intensive and a very fast way to learn the language. The bad side is that they are often very expensive, that´s why I would recommend a teacher only if you already have a good basic level of Japanese. I used a private teacher mostly to work on my conversations skills, to sound more natural.• Self studingIf you don´t have much time and don´t want to spend so much money on language schools it is a good way to study at home. There are many good language books like:- Basic Kanji Book (Bonjinsha Co. LTD)- Genki- Nihongo challenge- Unicom 日本語能力試験対策- 日本語能力試験対策- にほんご90日Also I would recommend to watch many Japanese dramas, Anime or TV shows to work on your listing skills.For reading practice you can start with kid books (only Hiragana) or special story books like Japanese grated readers.• Daily lifeThe best way to work on your language skills will be in your daily life. Try it out have some small talk at the supermarket, post office or in a park. No worries nobody expect that you are fluent. Just give it a try!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mv3Vz-living_shopping_money_educationFri, 04 Aug 2017 19:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/Mv3Vz-living_shopping_money_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoQbM-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_miyagi_sendai-shiAfter stoppting at Sendai just for one night, I´ve wanted to use the chance to see a little bit of the city. Sendai is the biggest city in Tohoku and the best place to see that is from the observation deck of the AER Building.The AER building is a small shopping center just next to Sendai Station. You have to go to the 31 floor of the building to the observation deck. But watch out there is no way to go there at the shopping center. You have to use the elevator at the office area in the same building to go up. From the 31 Floor you will have a great round view over the city. Also many couples using that spot for a date.After visiting the observation deck I would recommend to walk around the big shopping streets around that area!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoQbM-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_miyagi_sendai-shiSat, 22 Jul 2017 13:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoQbM-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_miyagi_sendai-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoYjM-living_food_shopping_transportation_fashion_tokyo_yamanashiBesides the beautiful beaches Japan has to offer, there are also other nice places inside the country to enjoy the water. Here are some of my recommendations. • Lake Yamanaka, Kawaguchi, SaikoIf you are visiting Mt. Fuji, you should also make a stop of one of the surrounding lakes like Yamanaka, Kawaguchi or Saiko. These are very beautiful lakes where you can walk around and enjoy the nature or do a boat ride. The lakes are also very popular for water sports and fishing. Especially at lakes Yamanaka and Kawaguchi professional or amateur fishing tournaments are often held at the weekend.• Izu WaterfallsIf you prefer more to enjoy hiking in the mountains, you can see many waterfalls in the mountains of Izu. There are seven small and big waterfalls in the mountain area of Kawazu. Especially if you are standing in front of the bigger waterfalls, you can enjoy a nice cool breeze. • Yume no Shima PortIf you are in Tokyo and want to visit a nice port, you can go to Shin-Kiba station at the eastside of Tokyo. That place is popular for the big concert hall, but on the other side of the station is a beautiful small park with a small port of luxurious yachts. It is really nice to walk around the yachts and sailing boats. Also there is a very cute beach restaurant in front of the port where you can sit inside or outside on nice beach chairs or in a hammock. It is also possible to rent a BBQ spot in front of the port. Unfortunately it is very popular to do BBQs there, so you should reserve a spot early. • Kasai Rinkai ParkAlso at the east side of Tokyo is the huge Kasai Rinkai Park. The park fronts Tokyo Bay and has a big beach area where you can have a BBQ or just a nice picnic. You can also see Tokyo Disneyland from the bay side. A third of the park is designed as a Sea Bird Sanctuary. If you are a bird lover it is a good chance to take some nice photos.• Party Boat Sumida RiverIf you like to drink and eat and also like to enjoy the view over Tokyo from the water, you can book one of the nice party boats on the Sumida River (for example in Asakusa or Ryogoku) and cruise along the river. They have special party plans for big groups which include drinks/food and often also a karaoke machine. To rent a boat is kind of pricy but if you are in a big group it will be a very nice experience. • Tomioka MatsuriYou might wonder what a festival has to do with water, but the Tomioka Matsuri is very special. It is held every three years in the Monzen Nakacho area. In the morning of Saturday and Sunday of the festival many people will carry small transportable shrines (Mikoshi) around the area. You can see those at mostly all summer festivals, but the one in Monzen Nakacho is kind of special because there are huge buckets full of water on the side of the streets. If a group with a small transportable shrine is coming, people will throw tons of water on them. It is like a big shower. Especially during the hot summer heat it is very refreshing. If you are watching the Mikoshi parade you should watch out not to get too wet!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoYjM-living_food_shopping_transportation_fashion_tokyo_yamanashiWed, 12 Jul 2017 14:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoYjM-living_food_shopping_transportation_fashion_tokyo_yamanashihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z331z-living_food_shopping_money_fashion_tokyoVery soon the rainy season will be over and the hot humid summer knocking on the door. Summer can be a very hard time in Japan especially for a foreigner who is not used to humid weather.Here are my 10 tips for dealing with the heat and humidity of Japanese summer. • Small towelYou may have seen those small towels already everywhere in the stores. Those are so important during the summer season. When your face is sweating because of the humidity you can use those towels to dry your face. No worries as everybody is doing that, so there is no need to feel weird. Also you can buy plenty of different designs of those towels. Almost every anime character or popular kids character like Hello Kitty or Rilakuma has a big variety of those towels. My favorite are the towels of Ghibli with Totoro or Kiki. • Sun umbrellaSun umbrellas are mostly used by woman in Japan. They have a special UV protection, which is perfect for not getting brown or getting sunburn. Also it is such a big different, when using the sun umbrella, the direct sun does not go straight to your face. You will feel way cooler on your head than not using it. Especially in places where there is really no shadow it will save you from a heat shock. • HatSame like the sun umbrella goes for using a hat. This is the perfect alternative for men. A light small summer hat will keep your head cool. • Airy clothes/cool bizDuring the summer you should wear airy clothes which are loose and it's best if they are 100 % cotton. If you are wearing tight clothes they will stick to your body and you will feel very sweaty. Also you can buy special cooling clothes (for example at uniqlo) which will cool down your body during the hot season.• Cooling productsAt the drugstore or convenience store you can buy many different cooling products like cooling spray. You spray it on your arms and it will give you a refreshing feeling or cooling pads for your forehead for cooling you down. There is really a big variety of different cooling products in the store. Please check them out!• Drink enough!The most important thing during summer is to drink plenty. At least 2-3 L per day is recommended. Especially you will lose so much water from sweating. You really should drink a lot. Nice refreshing drinks are all kinds of no sugar drinks like green tea or black tea. The best of course is mineral water. • Bottle coverI recommended to drink enough during the day. But it will often happen, that you are buying a cold bottle of water and you put it in your bag and sooner or later your bag will be wet. The bottle is kind of sweating because of the heat from outside and the cold from inside. For that problem you can use a bottle cover which will keep your bottle cold and your bag dry. You can buy those at every 100 Yen shop or in stores like Loft and Tokyu Hands.• Light healthy foodDuring the hot summer it is best to eat light healthy food like salad, soup, fish or sandwiches. For heavy oily food the stomach needs more energy to burn the food that let you even sweat more.• Shopping storesIf you are going to the supermarket or big department stores, you will often see many people just sitting in the lounges resting or chatting to each other. Mostly they are going there to enjoy the air conditioner for free. Many people also use that method to save some energy costs at home. • Beach dayOne of my favorite solutions to deal with the heat is just going to the beach. You can go swim in the ocean or lay in a UV protection tent and eat some watermelon or ice cream.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z331z-living_food_shopping_money_fashion_tokyoFri, 07 Jul 2017 19:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z331z-living_food_shopping_money_fashion_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z45xG-living_food_transportation_nagano_saku-shiSlowly it gets hot in Tokyo, so we took the opportunity and went to the cool Nagano Prefecture for a weekend. By car it took 2 1/2 hours from Tokyo to Karuizawa / Saku. For the first time without traffic jam.Our first goal was high up in the mountains, the Suetoshi horse farm. We were lucky that the rain stopped when we arrived and the sun came out while we had 20 degree.The Suetoshi horse farm has over 100 horses and ponies as well as many other small animals. The highlight, however, are the so-called miniature horses, which are just 80 cm tall. The horses were very kind but as soon as you had something to eat, they started to fight for the food. I am usually afraid of big horses, but these small miniature horses were so sweet.There were also many small and large dogs laying around or playing with the visitors. Right next to the horses was a small minizoo with goats, geese, cape barracks, pigs, guinea pigs and rabbits. I really love rabbits, that´s why I played and feed them for a while. The farm offers various options for riding. Once the normal guided ride around the farm for starters. However, you can also take lessons or even take a trip with the horses through the mountains. I would have loved to go on a tour to the nature, but unfortunately I´m just a beginner, so it is kind of difficult. If you are a big horse fan you should use that chance!After that I visited the small Sheltland Ponies. There was a 2 weeks old little folen, which was so sweet and already much bigger than the miniature horses.The horse farm is really a great adventure if you love horses very much!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z45xG-living_food_transportation_nagano_saku-shiThu, 29 Jun 2017 20:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z45xG-living_food_transportation_nagano_saku-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoNjz-living_shopping_money_transportation_education_tokyo_koto-kuWhat to do on a rainy Sunday if you dont want to sit all the time at home? Just go out and visit one of the many museums or exhibitions around Tokyo. We decided to visit the Disney exhibition "The Art of Disney - The Magic of Animation Exhibition" at the science museum in Odaiba. The exhibition runs from 8 April to 24 September. I hoped that already many visiters saw the exhibition since it has already been running for a few months, but unfortunately because of the rain, many people had the same idea like me. The exhibition starts with 6 large screens on which projections of Disney figures can be seen. These are line drawings that are moving. For me it is the best part of the exhibition because it was very impressive. In the next rooms all the old works of Disney were presented and some informations about the history of the studio. Afterwards you could go on a little time trip through the film world. A large part of the Disney animation films were presented with pictures and drawings. Especially Disneys newest film Moana had an own big area.Unfortunately not all Disney films were at the exhibition. For example, there was nothing about Aladin or Merinda. The entrance fee of 1800 yen is kind of high but if you really love Disney you should visit that exhibition. They also have a small shop with many disney goods especially from the very old movies.Those goods you can buy only during the time of the exhibition.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoNjz-living_shopping_money_transportation_education_tokyo_koto-kuTue, 20 Jun 2017 14:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GoNjz-living_shopping_money_transportation_education_tokyo_koto-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7xPw-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyo_kyotoThere are so many nice shopping streets and markets in Japan that it is hard to decide where to go. Depending on what you are looking for, you will have many choices especially in big cities like Tokyo. Here are my 5 favorite shopping places in Japan: 1. Nishiki Market in KyotoDuring my first trip to Kyoto in 2010 I visited the Nishiki Market for the first time and I really loved it. Walking around the narrow streets of the market, which has around 100 small stores and restaurants is really fun. The shops and restaurants are selling mostly food and kitchenware. You can find many Kyoto specialties like sweets and pickles at the market. My favorite store is a very tiny store where you can buy raw fish dipped in a delicious sauce on a small wood stick. Every time when I visit Kyoto it is a must go place for me. Especially, the staff at that store are very nice to foreigners.2. Higashiyama District Also in Kyoto is the very old Higashiyama district on the slopes of the mountains in east Kyoto. The most beautiful part is around the popular Kiyomizudera. There are many old wooden houses and you can find many traditional handcraft and sweet stores. It gives you a good feeling of walking around the old capital of Japan. During spring time many lanterns will be lit up in the evening along the street. It is such beautiful scenery to walk around in in the evening, especially if you are wearing a yukata or kimono.3. Yanaka GinzaIn the northern part of Tokyo you can still feel the atmosphere of old Edo. North of Nippori station is the small Yanaka district. You can find small restaurants, grocery, clothes and toy stores and many others in that district. The streets are like an small, independent city. You can find everything you need for your daily life, but never forget everything comes with a charming, old style. If you look up to the roofs of the buildings you will find many beautiful plates decorated with scenes from old times. Sometimes you will also see some small residents walking around the roofs. The street is very popular for its cats! There are also some stores which just sell cat products.4. Nippori Fabric TownAlso close to Nippori station but on the south side is Nippori Fabric Town. The 'fabric town' has many different stores for fabrics, leather, accessories and even dresses. It is really a paradise for people who love sewing and handcraft stuff.5. Tokyo Station Character StreetTokyo station is a small shopping paradise, especially if you forgot to buy something, you will find it for sure in one of the stores there. My favorite area is the Character Street on the B1 floor. There are many stores for all the famous Japanese characters like Hello Kitty, Sailor Moon, Totoro or Pokemon. TV Channels also have small stores there, where you can buy merchandise from their TV shows and dramas.If you are a fan of those character products you should really take a look.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7xPw-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyo_kyotoFri, 09 Jun 2017 14:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G7xPw-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyo_kyotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MnYVw-living_food_tokyoLiving in Japan can be a big challenge for a foreigner. There is a different culture, language and many other challenges like finding a job or an apartment. I´ve been living now a for few years in Japan and know the above challenges very well. But there are still a few things which make me crazy, that are hard to adjust to. One of the big topics is the food culture. Japanese people love their food. They talk about food, restaurants or food omiyage the whole day and really enjoy that topic. If they go sightseeing there is nothing more important than finding the best dish to eat. For me this culture is very weird. It was never important for me what I´m eating during the day as long my stomach will be filled. Especially when traveling around I´m trying to see as many sightseeing spots as I can and searching for a specific restaurant is just tiring.Nowadays when I´m going on a journey, me and my husband found a good solution to deal with that topic. I´m checking out the sightseeing spots and he is looking for food specialties around that spot. In this way both of us are satisfied.Another problem about food in Japan is when we are going out to eat some ramen, soba or udon. When sitting in a restaurant and suddenly 10 people around me start slurping. That sound makes me really crazy and I often leave the restaurant because I can not stand it. The next topic is about food sharing. In Japan it is typical that you share all the food on the table with everybody. In that case everybody can try many kinds of food. The negative side of this culture is that you can enjoy always only small pieces from each dish. If you are very picky about food or vegetarian/vegan, your choices of what you can eat are very limited. For this reason I prefer just to order a plate only for myself, then I don´t have to worry about getting food which I don´t like. Also, you have to pay for all the food if you share the dishes together (sharing the price also) which is very depressing when you don´t eat most of the food.Another big problem when meeting with Japanese friends is that they have big problems deciding on something. It doesn´t matter if they have to decide what to do or where to go. It is kind of impossible because they don´t want to disappoint somebody or give a bad impression. Those situations can be very stressful when nobody makes a decision.My last point is a typical summer topic. Barbeques are very popular around Japan. Especially during summer when you can smell grilled meat and seafood everywhere. But those BBQs are mostly held during lunchtime, which is the hottest time during the day in summer. The result is that you will be grilled together with your meat in the sun. In my country we always grill in the evening, when it´s getting cooler outside. Even when it´s getting dark, just light up some lanterns and you will have a romantic and relaxing atmosphere.There are just a few things I still struggle with in Japan, but I try my best to adjust to them.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MnYVw-living_food_tokyoWed, 07 Jun 2017 10:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MnYVw-living_food_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrXqz-living_food_transportation_chiba_shizuoka_shimada-shiJapan is a huge island completely surrounded by water. Especially during the summertime everybody likes to go to the beach and enjoy the ocean. Living in the center of Tokyo makes it difficult to go to a nice beach. The beaches in Tokyo are mostly very dirty and not that beautiful. That´s why I recommend going to the neighboring prefectures. Here are my top 5 places for swimming around Tokyo:1. TateyamaSouth of Chiba is the small city of Tateyama with many beautiful, nice sand beaches. The easiest way to go there is by car but it is also possible to use the train but it takes around 2 hours from Tokyo station. If you like water sports you should use the chance to rent a surfboard and do a ride on the waves. The area is very popular as a surfing paradise. 2. KatsuuraAlso south of Chiba in the Katsuura area close to Seaworld in Kamogawa are beautiful sand beaches and great surfing spots. Especially the Moriya and Uhara beaches are very popular for surfing. You can go there by train from Chiba city by the Sotobo Line. From Tokyo station it takes around 2 hours by local train. If you like it more calm and just want to enjoy the beach, I would recommend the small creek very close to Kazusa-Okitsu Station. It is also a nice place if you want to explore the area around the cliffs. Around the big beaches are many small surfing houses where you can stay for a night and enjoy a barbeque in the evening.3. Kisami Ohara Beach in IzuA little bit further away from Tokyo is the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture. The Izu has many beautiful beaches and is easy to access from Tokyo by train. If you are renting a car you can go to some less crowded beaches which you can only visit by car. I recommend the Kisami Ohara Beach, south Izu, in Shimoda. The beach is a very beautiful sand beach surrounded by mountains.4. Tokyo SummerlandIf you prefer to stay in Tokyo you can enjoy some outdoor pools like Tokyo Summerland in Hachioji. It is a huge outdoor waterpark where you can enjoy different water activities like many sliders or floating down a river in a tire. They have indoor and outdoor pools for every age. Tokyo Summerland is very popular among the young generations, that´s why it can be very crowded during summer break and on the weekends. Also note that tattoos are forbidden there.5. Local water playgroundsMy last recommendation is for the younger generation. You can find many small water playgrounds in most of the areas in Tokyo. Those small playgrounds are mostly for little kids who like to play in the water. The water is usually very shallow and there are often small sliders or other toys for playing in those pools. Unfortunately those pools are mostly open only in August and at special times during the days. You should check out the times of your playground before going there.The Japanese summer is always very hot and long. So please stay cool and get refreshed at one of the nice beaches. Please note that there are often operating seasons for the beaches (mostly end of July to the end of August). Only during that season will lifeguards be working at the beach in the case of any accidents. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrXqz-living_food_transportation_chiba_shizuoka_shimada-shiTue, 06 Jun 2017 09:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrXqz-living_food_transportation_chiba_shizuoka_shimada-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G0qjw-living_food_transportation_tokyo_koto-kuToday I´ve visited the wisteria festival at the Kameido Tenjin Shrine at the eastside of Tokyo. The shrine is very popular for it´s wisteria and also for the plum festival. I really love that little shrine area with small japanese bridges and the big pond.But today was totally crazy. Of course it is golden week and many people are in Tokyo, but my feeling was that they all visited that shrine. It was really big heavy traffic and if took me very long to walk around the whole shrinearea.,It was worthit to spend the time there. The flowers are very beautiful and the smell is amazing. Soon the blooming will end. So please hurry if you wanna see then. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G0qjw-living_food_transportation_tokyo_koto-kuTue, 02 May 2017 19:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/G0qjw-living_food_transportation_tokyo_koto-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1p4M-living_money_transportation_education_shizuoka_fujieda-shiIt is the beginning of spring and you can find everywhere plum blossom and cherry blossom. But there is another very beautiful flower you can find around whole Japan. The very beautiful magnolia in white or pink. During my trip to Shizuoka I used the good weather to visit a magnolia festival. Southwest of Fujieda (Shizuoka) you can find the Jurinji shrine, which is a very small cute shrine. But the main attraction is the small hill next to the shrine. You can find many beautiful magnolia in white in pink there. It is like an ocean of white flowers. I´ve never seen so many white magnolia before. So I was very happy and enjoyed it very much.There is a small way around the hill where you can enjoy the flowers and also you will have a beautiful view over the city. If you are close to Shizuoka, I recommend to take a small stop there!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1p4M-living_money_transportation_education_shizuoka_fujieda-shiTue, 28 Mar 2017 11:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z1p4M-living_money_transportation_education_shizuoka_fujieda-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MYxBw-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_chiba_sakura-shiEvery year at the beginning of march the tulip season starts in japan. In Sakura City (Chiba prefecture) you can find a huge field full of different tulips from around the world. In the middle of the field is a beautiful windmill from the Netherlands which has a small museum inside. If you going at the end of march to the fields, you might be lucky to see most of the tulips fully bloomed. But every tulip is different and has different blooming time. I love to walk around the fields and see the big variety of flowers. Also for around 500 Yen you can collect 10 tulips from the fields and bring them back to home. The good thing about tulips is that they come back every year again. For your entertainment you can listen to a school choir or dress up in a typical Netherlands dress with wood shoes. Also you can have lunch at the nearby restaurant and food stands.I visit that place every year because I like the nice atmosphere of the fields in the countryside and it gives me a little feeling of being back to Europe.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MYxBw-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_chiba_sakura-shiFri, 24 Feb 2017 14:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MYxBw-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_chiba_sakura-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MJYkw-living_food_shopping_tokyoJapanese loves their strawberry shortcake. I guess it is the number one cake ever in Japan. You can buy it really everywhere. Also my husband really loves that cake, so I promised to bake one for his birthday. For everybody who like to try out to bake the most popular cake in Japan, I will teach you how to make it!Ingredient list:- 6 eggs- 250 g flour- 250 g sugar- 15 g backing powder- 10 g vanilla sugar- 1 kg strawberries- 400 ml sweet creamFirst we will start with the biscuit base: Put the eggs, sugar and vanilla sugar in a bowl and stir it very well. After it put the flour and the backing powder and stir it till you have a good dough. Put the dough in a cake tin (26 cm).Put it in a preheated oven (180 °C for 40 minutes). After 40 minutes take it out and let it cool down. During the waiting time you can cut the strawberries and whipped up the sweet cream.After the base cooled down cut it horizontal. Put the top part on the side and put the whipped cream on the other half. Also put all full with half cut strawberries. After that put the top part on it and put whipped cream and strawberries on top. When you finished all, it is better to put the cake a little bit in the fridge before eating it.Please enjoy!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MJYkw-living_food_shopping_tokyoWed, 15 Feb 2017 11:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MJYkw-living_food_shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrdez-living_food_shopping_money_tokyoBefore I came to Japan I didn´t care much about food, just filling my stomach every day with some junk food was totally fine. Since I´m living in Japan, I realized how much the people here love their food and how much time they spend talking about food, recipes and which is the best restaurant. Especially on TV you will find millions of shows where people just try food and of course there are also many cooking shows. In my hometown, the food is usually very heavy and greasy, not really healthy. In Japan the food is often very light and healthy (of course there are exceptions). That is one of the reasons why the people here live way longer than in other countries of the world.As a big fish lover, Japan is really a paradise for me. You can get reasonable and good quality fish at every corner in the city. Also meat got very popular especially around the young generation. But let´s have a look at my favorite Japanese dishes:1. Sashimi/Sushi (刺身/寿司)Always when my husband ask me about what I want to eat, my answer is always Sushi or Sashimi. I really love raw fish! Especially I´m a big fan of salmon sushi and all kind of shells. The very good fish quality even if you are going to a cheap chain restaurant is really great. I really like to try new Sushi or Sashimi variation. There are so many different kinds of fish and shells that I guess I will never make it to try all kinds. 2. Tempura (天麩羅)If you don´t like meat or seafood, tempura might be a good alternative for you. Tempura is made from crust of flour and egg fried in oil. You can use all kind of vegetable and of course fish/meat if you like. The typical tempura set at restaurant is a mix of vegetables (mushroom, pumpkin, aubergine…) and fish like shrimps. I like to order the only vegetable tempura set, which comes often with many different kinds of mushrooms. Often restaurants serve tempura together with soba noodles or on top of a big bowl of rice. The typical source for dipping in the tempura is Tensuyu (a mix of rice wine and soy sauce), also comes with ginger and radish. Some places just offer a small plate of salt for dipping. 3. YubaMy favorite Japanese food is yuba. Yuba is made from tofu skin and can be eaten in many different ways, like in a soup, natural way, fried and so on. The texture and tastes is a little bit like fresh mozzarella cheese, but also like cheese the taste depends on the good quality of the yuba. Nikko is well known for their good yuba restaurants, but you can also find it in other areas of Japan. I ate the most creamy and delicious yuba in a small store in Kimitsu (Chiba). So whenever you find a restaurant who offers yuba as a dish, just give it a try!4. Mochi soup/Ozoni (雑煮)Every year on 1 st January Japanese family usually eat osechi and mochi soup for the first breakfast of the year. I´m a big fan of the mocha soup, which comes with a big piece of mochi in a very simple clear broth and some vegetable. But you should watch out to just make small bites. Every year many people die from eating that soup. Especially older people can have problems to chew the very sticky mochi.5. Tonkatsu (豚カツ)Tonkatsu is the typical japanese pork cutlet, which is usually cut in small strips and served with white cabbage. The taste is very similar to “Wiener Schnitzel”, but there are also some variations with different kind of meat (like more greasy part, or softer meat).6. Tamagodon (卵丼)Tamagodon is one of my favorite dishes for cooking it at home. It is very easy to make. Just put some slices of pork and onion in a frying pan with a spoon of dashi and fry it a little bit. At the end put some scramble eggs and green onions and mix it with the meat. Served with a big bowl of rice, you will have a big good simple dish for the day.7. Oden (おでん)Oden is a typical dish for the winter season in Japan. Oden is a light soup made from soy sauce/dashi and several ingredients such as boiled eggs, daikon and processed fishcakes. You can buy it at every convenience store or just at the supermarket.8. Chicken Teriyaki (鶏の照り焼き)Chicken Teriyaki usually served on a bowl of rice with small chicken pieces with teriyaki sauce. It is also a typical easy food for cooking it at home. 9. Kakifry (かき揚げ)Every autumn it is oyster season in Japan. You can eat oyster raw, boiled or fried. Kakifry (fried oyster) is very typical oyster dish in Japan. I´m not a big fan of raw oyster, but fried one is very delicious and I can eat mountains of it. 10. Yaki DangoThe end of my list will be a typical dessert. You can find Dangos in many different kinds and tastes (Goma dango, Anko dango, Hanami dango..) . But I prefer the grilled one covered with a syrup made from soy sauce, sugar and starch. The best way of trying out most of the dishes from my list is to eat a Teishoku set at a restaurants. A typical meal set includes rice, miso soup, a main dish, a side dish, and pickled vegetables. They variety depends on the restaurant and price. I like to try many different kinds of food, that´s why I prefer to eat those Teishoku sets. How about you? Do you like Teishoku?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrdez-living_food_shopping_money_tokyoFri, 10 Feb 2017 11:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrdez-living_food_shopping_money_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8pdz-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_education_saitama_saitama-shi_minami-kuYesterday I´ve visited the Tobu Zoo which is close to the Station „Tobudobutsukoen“ in Saitama. There is also a small waterpark (but only open in summer), a small amusement park and a big place for professional horse riding.I really love that zoo. The size is perfect even for small kids and the areas for each animal are very big and clean. For me it is the best zoo around Tokyo because of the big space for the animals. Also it is never crowded even at the weekend. But the highlight for me, are always to visit the big white tigers, who were born there in 2015. I´ve never seen white tigers before especially not so close. It is really a great experience.There are also some special events like pony ridding, small animal petting (Rabbit, birds, guinea pig). As a big rabbit lover like me, I always use the chance to pet small rabbits there. Also they have some shows with elephants, hippo and sea lion.If you love firefly or just want to have a romantic date you can join the firefly show (only for a few people). The show is inside a small dark building, where you can see millions of fireflies flying around. It is really amazing to see so many fireflies. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8pdz-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_education_saitama_saitama-shi_minami-kuTue, 07 Feb 2017 14:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/z8pdz-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_education_saitama_saitama-shi_minami-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAXQw-living_food_transportation_tokyo_koto-kuIt´s getting warmer and warmer in Tokyo. The winter is over soon and the spring is just knocking on the door. That means it is time for the plumtrees to bloom. Every year from the beginning of February the plumtrees in Tokyo start to bloom. The Kameido Tenjinsha Shrine northeast of Tokyo celebrates every year the plum festival. You can find a big variety of plumtrees in many different colors. If the trees are fully bloom you can smell their sweetness everywhere.Also the shrine has a small park with a pond and red japanese style bridges. It is very nice to walk around and enjoy the flowers there. I recommend to go there doing the week. Especially during the plum festival it can get very crowded. At the weekend they will also sell typical festivalfood around the park.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAXQw-living_food_transportation_tokyo_koto-kuMon, 30 Jan 2017 10:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAXQw-living_food_transportation_tokyo_koto-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zKg1z-living_transportation_tochigi_nikko-shiIt´s winterseason in Japan! I love winter. I love snow. Living in Tokyo where snow is very rare, gives me a tough time during the cold month. That´s why I like to go to the north to enjoy snow in the mountains. For people who just want to walk in the snow or build a snowman without going to a ski-slope I can absolute recommend to go to Nikko. I´ve been there yesterday for snow hiking. My hiking started at Akanuma where the Senjogahara marshland starts. My goal was the Yudaki waterfall around 7 km away. Usually it takes 2 h but with all the snow it took me 3 h to walk that way.I´ve just walked with my normal hiking shoes but I totally recommend to use snowshoes. You can rent them at Akanuma or Senjogahara. The walk in the snow was really great and I enjoyed it very much. The snow was amazing high (around 80 cm), so it is kind of dangerous but on the normal walkway the snow is not that high so that you can walk easily. You can also book a guided tour with snow shoes through the marshland.After 3 h I arrived at the Yudaki waterfall, which is 70 meters tall. It was amazing big, the biggest one I´ve seen in my life. I was really impressed. On the way back we just used the Bus close to the waterfall to go back to Nikko Station. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zKg1z-living_transportation_tochigi_nikko-shiSun, 22 Jan 2017 13:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/zKg1z-living_transportation_tochigi_nikko-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GBRDG-living_transportation_fukui_wakasa-choFukui is one of the most unknown prefectures in Japan. Even it is not far away from Kyoto or Gifu prefecture, many people never heard of that area. During my journey to the biggest lake in Japan, Lake Biwa, I decided to make a small stop in Wakasaka (Fukui), to visit a small waterfall there.From Tsuruga, one of the biggest city in Fukui, I just took the Obama line to go to the station “Kaminaka” in Wakasaka. It took around one hour in a very cute small local train through the mountains of that area. The station itself is really countryside, no shops or even a kombini, just local houses. I walked around 15 minuts from the station to a small park with a teahouse and a few shrines. At the end of the park was a small forest, where you could find a small waterfall.The waterfall was very beautiful and had a mysterious atmosphere. Especially I was totally alone there and I could only hear the sound of the water and the birds around me. I felt a little bit like I´m in the anime of “Nausicaä”. Just right next to the waterfall was a small house for resting. It was lunchtime, that´s why I used the chance to make a small picnic alone in the forest. I was very surprised to find this amazing place in that area, especially I´ve never heard of it before. The way to go there is very long, but if you have a little bit leftover time it is a very nice spot to visit.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GBRDG-living_transportation_fukui_wakasa-choWed, 11 Jan 2017 15:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GBRDG-living_transportation_fukui_wakasa-chohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrO0M-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_tokyoI´ve been living in Japan already a few years, but the Christmas season always brings back the memories of my hometown and I wish to be there. But mostly I can not go back every year so I´m trying my best to enjoy christmas in Japan. The Christmas atmosphere is totally different here. The following points are very different than what I used to know:- The weather is always too warm! At least in Tokyo it can be sometimes amazing hot during the Christmas holidays (up to 20 degree). And of course there is no snow when it is so hot outside. - People tend to go out for a date on Christmas eve. Usually Christmas is a holiday for the whole family in other countries. In Japan oshogatsu (new year's celebration) is the big family come together day. For many people Christmas is a romantic day, that´s why especially couples like to spend that day together. - Christmas Illumination/light up:First time I saw those Illumination events in Tokyo, I was very surprised. I didn´t understand what it has to do with Christmas. In my home country (Germany) we don´t have those light ups. People usually hang some Christmas decoration like lightning stars or candle at their windows at home. - Christmas Food:The typical Christmas food in Japan is chicken and Christmas cake. This tradition comes from a very old TV spot of Kentucky fried chicken. I guess nowhere else you will find this kind of food combination. In Germany there are many different kinds of dishes we are eating. Usually for the Christmas eve it is very popular to eat raclette or potato salad and sausages (it depends on the region). For the Christmas lunch on 25. and 26. December we have the big Christmas roast like duck, rabbit, goose or turkey. And of course all the time you can enjoy typical Christmas sweet like “Lebkuchen” or almond biscuit.- Christmas markets open very late:Most of the Christmas markets in Japan open 2 weeks before Christmas and end right after Christmas. So always make sure to check out when they are open. Usually the Christmas season starts at the beginning of December, except in Japan.If I´m staying in Japan during the Christmas season, I´m trying my best to do as many traditional Christmas things as I can. Usually at the beginning of December, I´m starting to decorate the whole apartment with Christmas ornaments. For the right scent I´m used to put some cinnamon and orange on a small plate and put them in every room. Around mid of December, I´m baking together with friends some Christmas cookies and the kids love to make a small “Lebkuchenhaus” which looks like the small house of the bad witch of the Grimm fairytale “Hansel and Gretel”. After Christmas you can eat the whole house because it is mostly made from sugar, “Lebkuchen” and other sweets.As soon Christmas is coming, I´m taking out the big two meter Christmas tree. Unfortunately it is very difficult to find a big real Christmas tree, so I´m used to put a fake one. To decorate the tree with many ornaments and electronic candles are a typical tradition in my family and usually a lot of fun. The morning of Christmas eve in Japan is always a very busy time for me. I´m standing the whole time in the kitchen to cook for my Japanese family. We just celebrate one day in japan because usually nobody has off, when it is during the week. The typical Christmas lunch is a mix of all typical German food. Mostly every year I´m cooking a very huge duck which I ordered online, german style potato salad, red cabbage and octopus salad (that´s the Japanese part). As dessert we filling our stomach with Lebkuchen. After eating all those food we need to move our bodies. That´s why we visit the nearby Christmas market. In our case the Hibiya Christmas market is the closest. Also it has a very big candle pyramid original from Germany. Especially in the evening it looks very great! We just walk around and check out all the handcraft-/foodstores and drink a cup of “Glühwein” (hot wine).As soon it´s getting evening we are heading back to home and open all the Christmas presents which are laying under the Christmas tree. Most people just give presents to little kids, but I like the idea to also give a small present to the whole family members and friends. Then we are turning off all the lights, except from the Christmas tree, and watch all together a typical Christmas movie like the “Christmas carol”. My favorite one if from the muppets!The day will end in a typical Japanese way with eating delicious sushi at a nearby restaurant. Even I can´t celebrate in my hometown, I like now the way I´m celebrating in Japan too.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrO0M-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_tokyoThu, 22 Dec 2016 17:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/wrO0M-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MqOkG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_gifu_takayama-shiI was looking for a nice place in the mountain, which is not too far away from Tokyo. My solution was the little town Takayama in Gifu. It takes 5 hours by bus (Nohi Bus Service from Tokyo-Shinjuku). The view from the bus was great. I saw a beautiful winter landscape in a great mountainside with many lakes and dam. I arrived in Takayama during lunchtime and walked straight to the old town of the city, to see many old nice streets full of handcraft shops, restaurants and small sake stores. I walked around and tried many sweets and drinks like amazake, which were very delicious. There was also the chance to try diffrent kinds of sake for just 200 Yen. The day ended with walking through a long street with many temples, along a small mountain.But I was very surprised. The city is very good for tourists. Every sign is written in Japanese/English and sometimes also in Chinese, Korean or French. At the tourist information you will find pamphlets in diffrent languages (English, Spanish, French, German..). Also mostly of the people in the tourist area can speak at least English and Chinese. Also you can do very easy daytrips by bus to Shirakawago and Toyama.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MqOkG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_gifu_takayama-shiThu, 08 Dec 2016 21:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MqOkG-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_gifu_takayama-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GOAxM-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyoI´ve been living in japan for a few years and there are still many new things which I learn and experience every day. Living in a different culture often means many differences to your own country but also many new experiences. 1. RulesFirst off it is very recommended to follow the rules in Japan. Walking on the correct side of the escalator, standing in the line of subway or just about the right greetings with co-workers. Especially in big cities where many people are living together it is important to follow the rules, otherwise everything will end in a big mess. If you don´t know what is right, just check what the others are doing and do the same.2. ConnectionsWhen you are just arriving in Japan and you don´t know anybody it is very important to meet new people and make connections at your workplace and also for your private life. Especially in Japan, good connections can open you many doors. Also it is very important for the mental health, otherwise you will have depression very soon. 3. Be always kindBe always kind to the people around you. Don´t show that you are in a bad mood or have an other opinion. In Japan it is very rude to show very direct your opinion. Try to show always your positive side and don´t be negative. The people around you will appreciate that.4. TravelingTo travel around Japan is very easy and safe. I used to travel often alone around the country and never felt unsafe. Especially people in the countryside are very kind and helpful and the very good transportation system ((by Bus, Car, Train, Airplane, Ferry)) makes it very easy to travel around. Even if you can not understand Japanese you will always find somebody who can help you and sometimes they even guide you to your destination.5. You will always be the foreignerEven living a long time in Japan, people will always see you as a foreigner. It happens very often, that people talk to you in English even when you speak Japanese to them. This can be very frustrating but never give up! Also in the countryside it is rare to see foreigners, that´s why people are very curious and stare at you or will ask you many questions. 6. Public holidaysJapan has many amazing holidays and festivals. I really love those days. There is really a day for everything! Like the day of sport or the day of mountain. But usually nobody celebrates these days, moreover people rest at home or enjoy a day off. The opposite are festivals, for example tanabata (star festival) or hinamatsuri (girls/dolls festival), which are big events with many traditions. Try out as many events as you can, it is a lot of fun!7. Zentral heating & Air ConditionerThere is no central heating in Japan except in the northern parts. So, please take care to always stay warm with many clothes, blankets and other heating supplies like heating carpet, kotatsu (table over an electric heater) or heattech clothes. Japan can be very cold in winter and the air is very dry. On the other side in summer it is very hot but all buildings and transportation have air conditioner but they are often too cold, so it is better to always carry a sweater with you. 8. ChildraisingThe first time I came to Japan, I was very confused to see little kids staying up late outside and it seems to be so normal. Especially kids who already attend school have to study a lot in Japan and often go to afterschools or cram schools which will end sometimes very late in the evening. Usually school and work starts late (around 9 h) in Japan, comparing to my country, that means that everything also ends late. 9. Amazing Delivery ServiceSince living in Japan I really love the post service here. You will always get your packages on time. They even come late in the evening, if you ask them. It is very great that you can let packages deliver for a specific time without paying an extra fee. Even if you need to send something inside Japan, they will come to your house and pick up the package without any extra cost. For sending overseas you can use one of the 24 h post offices which you can find in many areas.10. LanguageNumber ten should be also number one. The most important thing is to learn the language. It is very hard to live in another country without speaking the language. Without Japanese it is very difficult to find a good job, rent an apartment or just open a bank account. You will need Japanese all the time in your daily life. English is not that popular and most of the people cannot understand or speak it. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GOAxM-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyoThu, 24 Nov 2016 10:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/GOAxM-living_food_shopping_money_transportation_fashion_education_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MElYw-living_chiba_kamogawa-shiLast November I made a trip to the south of Chiba to visit the Seaworld in Kamogawa. We chose to go there by car and used the aqualine which connects Tokyo and Chiba. From the center of Tokyo it takes around 1 ½ h. There is also a reasonable bus from Tokyo to the Seaworld. On the way to Kamogawa we made a small stop in the mountains to enjoy a gorgeous mountain view. We arrived at the seaworld just right after the opening at 9:30 h. We had 20 degree at the end of November! The weather was perfect and the seaworld was very empty. After we paid the entrance fee of 2800 Yen for an adult, we walked around to take a look at all the small aquariums. I really liked the ones with many jellyfish. They were shining so much in the light.But the main reason for most of the visitors is to visit the shows. They have a dolphin, sea lion and an orca show. I´ve never seen a real orca in my life before, that´s why I was very excited to see them. The show was very great, especially with the nice oceanview in the background. Also we were lucky to see a small babyorca who is living at the seaworld. For me it was a very great experience. The price is a little bit high but I absolutely recommend to go there, even in wintertime. After the shows we ate late lunch in one of their restaurant and took a walk at the beach. For sure we will come back in the future.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MElYw-living_chiba_kamogawa-shiMon, 21 Nov 2016 14:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MElYw-living_chiba_kamogawa-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAOvG-living_tokyo_edogawa-kuJust 15 minute away from the station Nishikasai you can find the very beautiful Edogawa Heisei garden incl. a small zoo. The garden is a typical Japanese style garden with a small teehouse, a big pond and a lot of green. I love it to sit there and relax. Especially during the week you will be mostly alone. But the big highlight is the Shizen Zoo, which is a small zoo for free! The size of the zoo is perfect especially for kids who get boring easily. But even it is small they have a big variety of animals and also there is enough space for all of them.When I visited the zoo I was very lucky to take a look at the newborn baby monkey and kangaroo. Of course they were hiding often or the mum protected them, but because all is very close, it is easy to watch them. My favorite is the red panda couple. They are living in a small jungle and are very active and so cute!Every hour kids can touch small animals like rabbits, birds or a sheep at the children´s zoo. But I didn´t feel well with the situation because the kids were very rough and of course the animals don´t like to be touched by so many hands. I can totally recommend the park and zoo for parents and their kids who don’t want to spend the whole day in a crowded zoo. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAOvG-living_tokyo_edogawa-kuFri, 18 Nov 2016 17:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BlueButterfly/MAOvG-living_tokyo_edogawa-ku