Plum Perfection
Originally posted on inaka biking:
Plum blossoms at Yuki Shrine (結城神社) in Tsu, Mie Prefecture.
Originally posted on inaka biking:
Plum blossoms at Yuki Shrine (結城神社) in Tsu, Mie Prefecture.
A museum seems an unlikely place for culinary finesse, but that is where one master has decided to ply his trade in Tsu. Musee Bon Vivant is a triumph of French cuisine with a decidedly local touch that for me places this restaurant right among the very best in Mie. Every dish of the ‘Beau’ …
These are pictures from the Hinjitsu-Kan, which was historically a ryokan inn in Futami. The building was built in 1887 and hosted many important visitors on their way to visit the Ise Grand Shine. Among them was Emperor Taisho, who reigned from July 30, 1912, until his death in 1926. The architecture and atmosphere have a classic Japanese feeling and …
Mie residents woke up to a rare heavy dusting of snow on Valentine’s Day this year. Being on the Pacific side of Japan, Mie rarely sees heavy snowfalls that last even one day. But this dusting was heavy enough to cause traffic chaos, cancel trains and saw kids get part of the day off school. Photo credits: …
A little slice of the uber chic Tokyo-esque lifestyle has come to Mie. Down on Route 23 somewhat lost among the rice fields between Tsu and Matsusaka you’ll find a little green box. Welcome to Tsuchi no naka no Salad, an anything but run-of-the-mill restaurant. Billed as a veggie bistro (fear not carnivores, there’s meat …
Though most Japanese rice farmers (even small-scale producers with paddies of just a few square meters) have long since adapted to machinery, some young farmers are trying to revive traditions of hand planting and harvesting. Through a mutual interest in environmental volunteering, I was lucky to meet of one these aspiring young farmers. Nakagawa-san has …
Check out our photo gallery of nature’s fiery show.
Originally posted on The JWs do Japan:
I’ve been praying for Autumn since the beginning of Summer, and it looks like it’s finally here. This year, as with every year, the beginnings of Autumn brought my birthday. This in turn brought me a shiny new camera. I had to earn my gift, though, as my husband…
The Shiken Sengu, a set of ceremonies, being followed to the book for the past 1,300 years, makes the Jingu, eternally old and always new at the same time.
Mt. Gozaisho, a 1200 ft, high peak, the highest on the Suzuka ranges, is located some 50 km from Tsu, and is an ideal day’s hiking trip. It is said, Gozaisho has a different face every season. With the famous autumn foliage presented in the fall; the white snow caps in the winter; the cherry …
As a Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program participant (a JET), I am writing this for people interested in studying foreign languages, taking the JLPT, moving to a foreign country, and for people who might want a different perspective on the process of learning a language. I know how it feels to try to learn a …
Originally posted on The Foreign Element:
At first I struggled with loneliness and depression, but slowly, inexorably, I began to carve out a life for myself and find my niche in my adopted home. Looking back, I feel very fortunate for the opportunity I was given, and for all the amazing people I met. It…
Originally posted on inaka biking:
Spring comes in a flurry of flowers to the Japanese countryside in the tiny town of Kubota in Mie Prefecture. ?
Originally posted on Vipin Shankar's Blog:
Come winter, the gardens of Nabana-no-Sato at Kuwana are adorned with a million tiny coloured lights, twinkling all the way, atune to the background score. One of the largest winter illumination displays of the world, with over 8 million LEDs all lit up, this place attracts a huge…
Every year there is a group of vintage car owners and enthusiasts who tour Mie Prefecture, and it just so happens that one of their stops, albeit a brief one just thirty minutes long, is literally in front of my apartment. My family is full of vintage car admirers, and while I may not know … Continue reading
Residents of Tsu and Mie rejoice for our favourite Chinese restaurant has returned, reopening in Tsushinmachi earlier this month. For months now we’ve been waiting impatiently for the much loved Hyouka Gyouza to again dish up its delectable fare and now that it’s back, it more than lives up to its former reputation. Back are … Continue reading
I figured it was time I told the rest of you about the quaint and very European bakery in my neighbourhood. Hiro’s has been around for about three years but since I rarely go past it, my visits have been far too infrequent. And that’s regrettable. Compared to other Japanese bakeries, Hiro’s definitely has a … Continue reading
Originally posted on inaka biking:
Photos from the dance competition at this year’s town festival in Tsu, my adoptive home town here in Japan.