http://www.city-cost.comThu, 20 Aug 2026 05:04:19 +0900Always on the move.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/Kobakko/we95n-living_kobayashi_shi_miyazakiLiving in the countryside might have some downsides, but during these crazy times that are pandemicorona, it definitely has its perks.I've always been a fan of minimalism, but the pandemic certainly gave me an incentive to declutter my home. And not wanting to go to crowded places that are all great for shopping, that really helps with making a habit of not buying anything new.If you still live in a city... maybe you should consider moving into the heart of Kyushu. Or just anywhere in the countryside. I promise, it's lovely!!Lots of space, inside and out.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/we95n-living_kobayashi_shi_miyazakiMon, 07 Dec 2020 15:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/we95n-living_kobayashi_shi_miyazakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/wXQ9v-living_kobayashi_shi_miyazakiI have lived in my tiny little city (it calls itself a city, but it's actually really tiny) for quite some time now and there's hardly anywhere left that I haven't explored yet. Or so I thought...I love taking photos but without being able to stray far from my well-known surroundings (I know I'm allowed to, even encouraged to through GO TO Travel, but I prefer staying where I am because I choose safety over catastrophe), I sort of stopped taking any.But when I started mixing up my daily routine to keep myself entertained, I came across a lot of tiny treasures that I hadn't noticed before. And then I started taking photos again. And found more and more lovely places. And I fell in love with my city. For the second time.Find new favorite places by...straying from your regular paths of choice (duh, that's an obvious one, but do it on your daily errands even if it means you're not getting to your destination asap)switching up your means of transport (yeah, walking's best)daring yourself to enter stores that aren't your thing (until you step into them for the first time)asking other people for their favorite places near youchecking out instagram etc.giving places that you don't love a second chanceAny other ideas? Share them 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/Kobakko/wXQ9v-living_kobayashi_shi_miyazakiThu, 12 Nov 2020 17:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/wXQ9v-living_kobayashi_shi_miyazakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/zakAD-living_kobayashi_shi_miyazakiOn Kyushu, there are so many places that are just perfect for bird watching.Lake Miike is my favourite place when it comes to hanging out with birds.The lake was formed around 4200 years ago during a magma vapor eruption.With more than 90m of depth, it is the deepest crater lake in Japan!!! Apparently, it is not great for swimming as people get pulled under water by... I'm actually not sure. If anyone has any knowledge on this, please fill me in!Near thee lake is a camp site, in the midst of a protected wild bird forest.There are about 130 different birds to be seen, amongst them mandarin ducks, teals, blue-and-white flycatchers, narcissus flycatchers, fairy pittas and many more!Has anyone recommendations for birdwatching?Any other favourite outdoorsy pastimes?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/zakAD-living_kobayashi_shi_miyazakiWed, 30 Sep 2020 16:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/zakAD-living_kobayashi_shi_miyazakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/wja3o-medical_tokyoMental Health problems or tired all the time?Anyone with mental health problems should also consider the possibility that their problems are actually physical. If you like seaweed (nori, wakame, mokuzu, especially konbu), you're prone to take in much more iodine than you're body is used to.That can severely mess with your thyroid glands.Dashu83/freepikPeople who've migrated to Japan are more likely to develop hashimoto's disease. Even though it is unclear what triggers the disease, it is suspected that taking in an unusual amount of iodine may trigger it.Especially women are more likely to develop hashimoto.Hashimoto's disease?Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder that can cause hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. But it may even look like the opposite.With this disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid. The thyroid becomes damaged and can’t make enough thyroid hormones.Thyroid hormones control how your body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body—even the way your heart beats. Without enough thyroid hormones, many of your body’s functions slow down.Symptoms:You may experience any of these:tirednessweight gain (or loss)trouble tolerating coldjoint and muscle painconstipationdry, thinning hairdepressionmemory problemsa slowed heart rateheavy or irregular menstrual periods and problems becoming pregnant (obviously only if you are female)But with hashimoto, sometimes the symptoms may actually be just the opposite. Or switch between one and the other.Finding out!Sadly, it's not easy to check whether your thyroid is healthy. Especially if you only have your blood checked, the results may look like you're healthy, but your thyroid may actually not be working properly. In a blood test, don't rely on TSH only, but have (FT4) and (FT3) checked as well. Your doctor may not check those values automatically, so ask for them. If your Japanese isn't great, write down TSH, FT4 & FT3 on a paper. Any doctor should understand what you mean. After you get the results back, check your results against information on the internet. Many patients are falsely diagnosed "negative".Treating hashimoto:The disease cannot be cured, but it can be easily treated.Many patients who suffer from hashimoto may also develop gluten-intolerance, experience a worsening of their symptoms if they consume a lot of soy products or eat stuff that contains too much iodine. Like seaweed.Konbu, providing the base of lots and lots of Japanese dishes, is the iodine king.Eggs are considered relatively high in iodine in the west, but 100g contain a mere 16mcg. Whereas konbu features an unbelievable 240.000mcg!! Even after cooking, it still retains about 11.000mcg.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/wja3o-medical_tokyoTue, 14 Jul 2020 09:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/wja3o-medical_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/G7RPA-livingNatsugoshi no HaraiKirishima Mine Jinja in Kobayashi, is known among local Japanese as a "powerspot" where people come to get a charge of energy for their daily tasks.Every year on 30th June, there is a ritual that is called "Ōharaishiki". The ritual is supposed to cleanse away all your sins, pollution and general "uncleanness". The ceremonyBefore the ceremony starts, you get a paper doll on which you write your name. The ritual includes some chanting by the priest, taiko drumming, purifying with an Ōnusa and a speech.The priest's remark that surely none of the present were sinners helped take the pressure off the ancient tradition.During the ceremony you swipe off your uncleanness with this paper doll and pass it back to the priest. If there is a river at the shrine, people may let the water carry the paper doll and their sins away.No one is allowed to touch anyone else’s paper doll. So no passing on another person’s doll for whatever reason! The priest does not touch the dolls, either. He collects the dolls in a small basket.When the priest finishes the ceremony, everyone goes outside to the “Chinowa”. The Chinowa is a ring of cogongrass.After the ceremony, you walk through the grass ring in a figure eight three times. You start facing the shrine and walk through and to the right.While walking the circles, people recite a special chant to ward off evil for the coming half year.Chinowa Chant:Minazuki noNagoshi no matsuriSuru hito waChitose no yowaiNobu to iu nariThe meaning:June’sPass-the-summer-festivalPeople who take part in itTo their lives a thousand yearsShall be addedThe details are different depending on the shrine, but the big picture stays the same. The chant differs from region to region and even from one shrine to another. The tradition is very old, but still thriving today all across Japan. Here in Kobayashi, even despite the rain there were many people taking part in the ceremony. Some were there for the first time, some were obviously regulars.Anyone may take part in the ceremony and if you’re interested in Japanese culture, I recommend you take part once. The chanting and the surroundings create an atmosphere that no photo can convey perfectly.The same kind of ritual is performed around New Years, usually on 31. December. If you are interested, you could ask someone at a local shrine to make sure.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/G7RPA-livingFri, 03 Jul 2020 12:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/G7RPA-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/w5nBX-living_miyazakiKids can be noisy...Where ever I go, kids hardly ever stand out as noisy. How do the parents do that? I don't think I was the quiet type when I was small...Going somewhere with your kids can put a lot of pressure on you as a parent and the kids as well. I mean, who likes shushing their kids all the time? No one does! So instead of going to fancy restaurants and bookish libraries, I recommend going on hiking trips instead. I live an hour by car from the Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park. I pack a small bento style lunch and the kids into the car and off we into the wild. Even if the kids are too small to walk far, there is always so much to explore. There are so many things to find. Cute leaves, beautiful flowers, tiny insects... Even deer poop can be exciting.When the kids were too little to walk, I would let them play in the dirt. They were thrilled and excited just by squishing the dirt in their little hands. No need to shush or pull or anything the kids. Just happiness.You don't have to buy any expensive gear if you want to go hiking for the first time. Just make sure you wear suitable shoes for the terrain you are venturing into and check the weather report. If you love hiking with your kids, you can always buy the gear you need when you get confident that it won't go to waste. If you want to walk farther than your kids are able to, a child carrier is the one thing you might want to invest in. For kids, hiking is definitely more about the journey than the destination. Make sure you set your goals accordingly and best stay flexible on top of that. Plan on lots of breaks to let them explore as much as they want.Don't leave your kid out of your sight. That should be easy if your kid is still very small and not so fast. For bigger and faster kids, a whistle is a great investment. Make sure that your kid understands what to do when they are lost: stay put and blow the whistle...I live in Kobayashi, near the beautiful Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park. If you do not live near a national park, I can highly recommend making a weekend trip to one that is not too far from you. Especially off season, you can find great bargains for hotels or stay at a mountain lodge for a very reasonable price.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/w5nBX-living_miyazakiFri, 13 Mar 2020 10:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kobakko/w5nBX-living_miyazaki