Mar Yan

Category: Japan Living

  • Japanese Elementary School Tour Part 1

    Japanese Elementary School Tour Part 1

    Japan is a highly educated country. It’s government invest a great amount of its resources on the education sector which is evident on the school resources and facilities. Educational institutions all over Japan are  fully equipped and is therefore a very good training ground for schoolchildren.
    In this article, I will take you inside a Japanese elementary school for you to see and take inspiration in creating an excellent learning environment. Let’s now start our school tour.

    Entrance (Genkan) 

     
    seturakai.seesa.net
    It is very common to have a floor step (a step or two) in the school entrance. It is always elevated from the ground. In the entrance, you will see the school logo and the school name. Take note that the entrance for students is separate from the entrance for teachers and other school workers.

    Shoebox (kutsubaku)

     
    suginami-school.ed.jp

    schoolnet.edu.city.yokosuka.kanagawa.jp
    In Japan, one needs two sets of shoes when going to school. Outdoor shoes and indoor shoes. Upon entering the school entrance, outdoor shoes are put in the shoebox and indoor shoes are used. These shoeboxes are labeled per grade, per class, and per students on each box. The same goes with the teachers. Don’t worry if you visit a school. There are always indoor slippers ready for visitors.

    Hallway (Roka)

    todagumi.com
    Right after the entrance and the shoeboxes is the hallway. The hallway leads to the different parts of the school. This is also where posters and announcements are being displayed.

    Principal’s Office (Kochoshitsu)

    asahi.com
    tokiwae.blog.fc2.com
    The Principal,’as the school’s highest official has a very nice working space, the Principal’s office. It usually has sofa to entertain special guests and a nice long table to conduct important meetings.

    Teachers’ Room (Shokuinshitsu)

    tatemono.art-saitama.jp
    education.city.nonoichi.ishikawa.jp
    The teachers before and after their classes stay, meet and work in the Teachers’ Room. Each teacher has her own table and chair. The tables are lined-up side by side and fronting each other. The tables are grouped according to grade level. The top three school officials (Principal, Vice-Principal and Head Teacher) are positioned in one side of the room with their tables also lined up.

    Registrar’s Office (Jimushitsu)

    tue.edu.city.iwakuni.yamaguchi.jp
    tochigi-film.jp
    The Registrar’s office is where the non-teaching personnel work. School visitors can inquire from here. Teachers also get their school supplies from this room. Everything a teacher needs in class: paper, clips, rubber bands, laminating film, etc.)

    Printing Room (Insatsushitsu)

    cms.gifu-gif.ed.jp
    As the school is a paper tiger, a printing room is indeed necessary. Here teachers can do their photocopying and other printing needs. This room is complete with paper cutters and all sizes and sorts of paper.

    Toilet (toire/benjo)

    komei.or.jp
    Toilets are found on each floor of the school. Boys are separate from girls, as well as the teachers toilet with separate females and males.
    Toilets are supplied with unlimited tissue and hand soap. It is kept very clean. Indoor slippers are not used inside the toilet. Toilet slippers are used instead.

    Library (toshokan)

    caritas.or.jp
    Usually on breaktime between the second and third period and after lunch students go to the library. Japanese elementary schools really promote reading among students. They even have a chart to show who has read the most number of books and they also have a regular list of reccomended books to read.

    Clinic (hokenshitsu)

    weblog.citi.hamamatsu-szo.edu.jp
    School clinics are so cool and relaxing. A very accommodating place for kids who get sick while in school. Plus, the school nurse is very kind. The school clinic gets crowded when it’s time to measure students height and weight or if they have dental or eye check up, and in winter when flu spreads.

    Pantry (kyuushokushitsu)

    kurodamich.exblog.jp
    Most schools have their own pantry where the school lunch is being prepared. This area gets very busy during lunchtime when students get their food and utensils and later when they return them after eating. Other schools don’t have pantry but there is a separate area called kyushoku center located where they prepare the lunch for the school’s within the community.
    Let’s have a break. Sit back and relax. Let’s continue our school tour in the next article. In the next part, let’s go outside the main building of the school and see what’s around. See you in a short time.
  • How to learn Japanese Fast

    How to learn Japanese Fast

    downloads.ws

    You are coming to Japan. Or maybe you are already here. Not as a temporary visitor but for a short-term stay. Maybe you are a student or a contract worker. You need to learn some Japanese. Hurry! Your mind said. You start grabbing a paper and pen ready to scribble some Japanese characters. You search the Internet for Japanese lessons. Perhaps for the first days you are so enthusiastic and excited to learn and use the language, but as soon as you realize that it’s not a straight, paved road to success, you start dwindling down like an old yellow leaf of a Ginko tree.

    What to do? Here are some advice I extracted from my years of experience learning the Japanese language.

    1. Enroll in a Japanese language school. 

    If you want to (really) learn, go to school. Of course you can study on your own and avoid spending money on tuition, but, if you use your hard-earned money to pay tuition, there will be no reason for you to back out and quit studying when times get rough. You will make sure that you will get back every penny you spend by studying hard. Moreover, the classroom atmosphere will help you follow strict rules like attendance and submission of assignments, which, when you just do a self-study, can be easily neglected and disregarded. Most importantly, it is always better and fun to learn when you interact with teachers and classmates.

    me in kyudai

    2. Self-study

    Wether you can afford a language school or not, self-study is not an option. It is a must! Most language schools offer classes only few times a week and this is not effective (that, if you want to learn the language fast). In order to learn a language, you have to do it everyday, at least for the first three months. It is always better to support your formal study with self-study. Even for just an hour a day.
    3. Watch Japanese TV, animes, and movies.

    asiatvforum.com

    Sometimes, it gets so boring learning Japanese from a book. It makes your head heavy and full (of kanji) and you start to dazzle. Have a break (in learning from a book, but not in learning Japanese). Watch Japanese anime or a movie you like (with subtitles will help). Drama, comedy, action, horror. Japanese movies are great. Even Japanese pranks will help. Don’t worry if you don’t understanding everything that you hear. Listening is important. It is the basic of learning a language. You will certainly catch some words used in the movie you watch. By the way, my favorite anime is Chibi Marukochan 🙂
    4. Find a language partner

    language-exchanges.org

    Language is not a language until you use it to communicate. So, while doing 1, 2 and 3 above, it is advisable to find a language partner who can help you practice what you are learning. When I was studying Japanese, I had my Japanese tutor who I met once or twice a week. She is a university volunteer and she likes to learn English, so it was a language exchange. If you have no Japanese friends or you are not in Japan, you can tap another friend who is also learning Japanese and you can set a ‘Japanese only’ time. And don’t forget that the world is in a web. Maybe you can find some in the chat room. Just always be careful about your privacy and be straightforward in the beginning that you just want to practice your Japanese.
    5. Talk to the natives

    The best of all the rest, talk to the natives. When you finally arrive in Japan, don’t be afraid to go out and use the language. Talk to the sales personnel, the station attendant, the waiters and waitresses. Even if you just speak a few words, Japanese will always admire you and say

    “Jouzu”, meaning, you’re good! Join a club where the members are Japanese and try to talk to them. Be friends with them and spend more time with them (than your fellow countrymen). Immerse yourself in the language with the native speakers.
    You can always disregard these advice if you don’t care about learning Japanese fast or simply you’re not interested to learn the language at all.

  • 3 Things to Look Forward on Rainy Days

    3 Things to Look Forward on Rainy Days

    Rainy days are here again. In most parts of Japan, rainy days start around the beginning of June and last up to about six weeks. The amount of rainfall varies from day to day. Some days will have few showers and some days will have a really heavy downpour. One rainy day, when I was going home from school, it rained so hard that it flooded on the streets. One student even had his umbrella broken. The playing field turned into a shallow lake. To my amazement, I took a video (even though I was in a difficult situation.) Here’s the video link if you want to see it. http://youtu.be/bzV5lZFF62g  


    Many of us don’t like rainy days. It’s dark. It’s wet. It’s gloomy. I really don’t like going outside when it rains. It’s a nice time to just sit and relax, read a book or watch tv and be a couch potato. But, just imagine doing this for the whole duration of tsuyo as what they call it in Japan. What a waste!

    Rainbows

    So, what to do? There is a saying that says, “There is a rainbow after the rain.” Literally, yes, it’s true. I have even seen a double rainbow here in Japan. Not only once but many times. And to think, I have never seen a double rainbow in my own country in my 30 plus years of existence on earth! Isn’t that nice? Yes! Rainy days are not that bad after all. (You may get to experience things you haven’t experienced before).

    Ajisai
    namebio.org


    And what more? Of course, there is the rainy season star of the garden – the ajisai or hydrangea. Hydrangeas bloom during rainy season. There are many varieties of hydrangeas and they grow everywhere. They bloom so beautifully they make the rainy days so colorful. Take a walk and you will see them on the roadside or in the neighbors’ garden. I so love hydrangeas and that makes me look forward to the rainy days.

    Firefly Festival

    mymodernmet.com

    huffingtonpost.com
    Fireflies. Amazing little creatures. Imagine yourself watching thousands of fireflies glittering in the dark night on an occasion they call
    Hotaru Matsuri. I’ve never been to a firefly festival but tomorrow (June 5,2015) I will. I used to live in a big city in Fukuoka Prefecture before and the access to places which hold Firefly Festivals were difficult. But now that I live in a countryside, with the Hotaru matsuri just a 20-minute bus ride away from me. I’m not gonna let this opportunity to escape. If you happen to live somewhere close to Miyawaka, come, let’s go to Hotaru Matsuri in Wakita, Miyawaka.

    224-1 Wakita, Miyawaka, Fukuoka Prefecture 822-0133

  • Why do so many Japanese commit suicide?

    Why do so many Japanese commit suicide?

    We have seen and heard it in the news. Not once, not twice, but many times. They do it in the privacy of their rooms. Or in a far-away mountain where no one can see. But, worse, within the public’s eyes like in trains, and the latest, in the zero-accident but now tarnished record shinkansen, where most likely innocent people could be affected. In the latest high profile suicide act committed inside the Shinkansen, one innocent passenger also died due to suffocation. Many Japanese has committed suicide. But, why? Why in such a beautiful country would some people chose to end their lives? I’ve tried to search for some answers to this query and let me share the answers with you.
    worldknowing.com

    1. Overrated 
    etsy.com

    Suicide happens everywhere. A sad fact that some people on their individual struggles on this lovely earth choose to not continue fighting and make a permanent rest. “Jisatsu” as called in Japan, suicide is a universal occurrence. Japan is not alone. And more importantly, Japan is not the leading country with high suicidal rate. In fact, Japan is only at the eighteenth out the twenty-five countries with the world’s highest suicidal rate. On the fifth spot is Lithuania, Sri Lanka fourth, South Korea third, North Korea second, and Guyana on the top (http://list25.com/25-countries-with-the-highest-suicide-rates-in-the-world/2/). Japan  is not even in the top ten list.

    In my own opinion, it might be because Japan’s crime rate is really low and the news companies has nothing else to talk about but the self-inflicted crime such as suicide. In other countries, there are more pressing issues in the society that talking about those who commit suicide takes a back seat. Media plays a big role about societal issues. The more the issue circulates in the media, the more it appears to be prominent than what it is in reality.

    2. Societal Attitudes
    Maybe you have read somewhere how good and harmonious the Japanese are. How well they follow rules as embedded in their “atarimae” culture. Atarimae in English means natural, reasonable. They do what is right because it’s “atarimae”. It is the natural thing to do. It is natural to throw garbage in the proper place. It is natural to fall in line and wait for your turn. It is natural to resign from your job when accused of something. And sometimes, it is natural to end your life when you are in trouble and the trouble you are in causes troubles to others. Like when a head of a company fails to do his job and put the company in a terrible situation. Or an old person suffering from a disease and needs to be taken care of by his family. They don’t want to trouble others so they chose to end their lives. Japanese also value honesty and integrity. That when they are put into a disgracing situation, a scandal that tarnishes their names and reputation, they find it very difficult to handle and impossible to repair. A situation that can only be escaped by disappearing. Of course, this does not happen to every Japanese. Only to a very few.

    3. Historical Values 
    io9.com

    In the old Japanese society, a ritual suicide by disembowelment called “seppuku” also called “harakiri” was formerly performed by Japanese samurai. Seppuku literally means “stomach cutting”. The samurai committing seppuku would use a small knife called a dagger and cut their stomach while another samurai acting as their second lopping off their head. This highly ritualized form of suicide, a part of samurai’s bushido (samurai’s way of life) was abolished as a capital punishment in 1873. But even after the abolishment, voluntary seppuku goes on in the military grounds. This behavior is said to be widely praised by propaganda. I bet this could be one of the reasons why some Japanese still commit suicide. It is in the culture. It is in the history.

    In the end, we cannot really tell the reasons why some Japanese commit suicide because I believe that the best person who can tell us is the person committing the act itself, which, unfortunately, is impossible to achieve unless you see them and talk to them in the other side of the world.

  • Sports Festival, the Japanese way

    Sports Festival, the Japanese way


    happystorm.x.fc2.com

    Many schools are having their annual Sports Festival or what they call “undokai” (運動会). The entire school and the community, especially the teacher-advisers and students are pushing themselves very hard to come up with a very organized and fun undokai. Strenuous rehearsals are done many times a week.

    Everyone is looking forward to the big day, which is usually a Saturday or a Sunday. With all their might, strength and agility, kids perform in various events.

    1.      Oodama okuri 大玉送り

           tsubaki-e.esnet.ed.jp
    This is a really fun and exciting Sports Festival event and is sure to make you shout and tingle. Literally, “oodama” means giant ball and “okuri” means to send. Students are divided into teams (two-four) and are given a giant ball (colored according to their team) which they have to push with their hands above their heads starting from the front line to the back and forth in the shortest possible time. You can view this video and see how fun it is.
    http://youtu.be/X3VbYoO0P9k

     

    2.      Tama ire 玉いれ

    allabout.com.jp

    ​

    [wpvideo Yl64nq5b]

    ​Another fun event that uses ball, tama ire (ball-toss game) requires speed and accuracy. To explain, “tama” means ball and “ire” means to enter, it is a game which balls (usually made of cloth) are thrown into a basket on a high pole within a specified time. The team that has more balls in the basket wins. Watch the video here

     

    3.      Mukade 百足     

           ar75ts.exblog.jp
    “Mukade” means centipede. It’s not a game using that creepy centipede bug, so don’t be scared. It is centipede race. It is a running contest where students in the same team form a line or two and tie their legs together and run. Coordination and timing is very important in this game. Just imagine running fast with one of your legs tied to another leg.

     

    4.       Taifu no me 台風の目

          cms.edu.city.hiroshima.jp
    The mechanics of this game is first, a group of students from a team carry a pole and then run as fast as they could and must rotate on a barrier twice like the eye (me) of a typhoon (taifu). I think that this is the only time that the word “typhoon” means fun.

     

    5.       Kumitaiso　組体操 

           hiromiphoto.com
    I consider this as the ultimate event in the Sports Festival. Kumitaisou is a coordinated group gymnastics. It is breathtakingly awesome. It requires strength, concentration, coordination, teamwork and balance. Kumi組み means group, tai 体  means body, and sou操means maneuver. Watch the video and see for yourself.
    http://youtu.be/PEMdfqZFiR0

  • Halo-halo in Japan

    Halo-halo in Japan

    When I did my self-introduction in class, I introduced Halo-halo as one of the Filipino’s favorite desserts. Some students said it is being sold in Mini Stop. So, one afternoon, on my way home,  I dropped by the convenience store Mini Stop and tried the Japanese style Halo-halo.

    I was a little bit disappointed because I was expecting to have the kind of Halo halo that I know.

    Instead, what I got is the one below.


    There are four choices of Halo halo in Moni Stop. From left to right: Halo halo hakutou (white peach), Halo halo ramune (lemon soda), Halo halo kuromitsukinako (soybean in blackhoney?), and Halo halo reitou mikan (frozen oranges). I got the the first one on the left. It cost me ¥270 yen. It’s far from what I know Halo halo is but it’s good as what it is.


    Philippine Halo halo

    Halo halo is a famous dessert in the Philippines. It is made of finely crushed ice, top with fruits (usually jackfruit, banana, avocado,) sweet corn, red and green gelatin, ube, nata de coco, sago, sweet buko (coconut flesh), sweet beans, cornflakes, sugar, milk and finally ube ice cream on top. Halo means mix in English.    You have to mix it before you eat it to enjoy this awesome dessert at its best.


    One serving of Halo halo is about ₱40.00 equivalent to about ¥100.00. “Yasui!!!”, means cheap. As what my students said.

  • Annual Events in Japan

    Annual Events in Japan

    Whether you want to maximize your travel experience or you just want to stock some knowledge in the pocket of your head, it is good to know the annual events of a country we want to visit. Annual events in Japan is called Nenchuu Gyooji 年中行事. Below is a list of holidays and events celebrated all over Japan.1. New Year’s Eve (Oomisuka) and The New Year (Oshoogatsu)

    b-post.com

    This is Japan’s most celebrated event of the year. It is not only a one-day celebration, but it is celebrated for a couple of days. Days before Oomisuka (on the eve of December 31st), Japanese do the “oosouji” (general cleaning) and decorate their houses with kadomatsu (bamboo display), shimenawa (rice straw ornament) and kagami mochi (mirror rice cake) to prepare for the coming New Year. On New Year’s Eve, they eat a special dish called osechi ryouri which symbolizes good fortune for the new year, and toshi-koshi soba (buckwheat noodles) for saying goodbye to the old year. On the first day of the year (gantan), most people watch the first sunrise locally known hatsuhinode and visit shrines and temples known as hatsumoude. And the kids most excited about is receiving their otoshidama, a money-gift from parents and relatives.2. Bean-Throwing Ceremony (Setsubun)

    goldenjipangu.com

    Setsubun, literally means “seasonal division”, is a celebration for the last day of winter in the traditional Japanese calendar (usually February 3 or 4). During the celebration, Japanese throw beans to drive away the demons (usually played by the father wearing a demon’s mask) and draw in happiness. While throwing the beans they shout “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (Demons out, happiness in.) And at the end, you have to eat as many beans as your age.

    3. Valentine’s Day


    qualiajournal.blogspot.com
    On February 14th, while many women in most countries are feeling elated with all the love and admirations, chocolates, flowers and balloons they receive from their boyfriends and admirers, Japan does the opposite. It is customary for women to give chocolates to the man they admire. However, nowadays, giving chocolates to friends (tomochoco) is becoming common.
    4. Girls’ Festival (Hinamatsuri)
    aboutmauinui.com

    On the third day of March, families with girls celebrate their daughters’ good health, growth and prosperity. Hinamatsuri, also called Doll’s Festival in English, is a one-day celebration when you can see a display of dolls on a seven-tiered platform (sometimes five) covered with red cloth. Different sizes of dolls and other miniatures are displayed on each platform. It is also common to see just one platform (the top platform) with two dolls – the emperor and the empress.

    5. White Day


    mapsofworld.com

    White Day is, as far as I know, an event celebrated only in Japan. On March 14th, a month after Valentine’s Day, men are expected to give back to women in twice or thrice the amount of whatever they received on Valentine’s Day. For some men, it is “mendoukusai” (troublesome) so they don’t do it which disappoints women, but, many are still living the culture and makes the heart of women sing in a nice melody.

    6. Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi)

    chengtsui.com

    Although it is called Children’s day, the focus is more on boys. Celebrated every fifth of May, families with boys put up carp streamers known in Japanese as “koinobori” to wish for their son’s health and vitality. Carp symbolizes courage and strength because of its ability to swim against the strong current. Typically, carp streamers are arranged in order from the biggest and colored black to represent the father of the family, red as second to represent the mother, and the smaller carps represent the boys.

    7. The Star Festival (Tanabata)

    scccjapan.com

    Tanabata is celebrated on July 7th (August 7th in some places) based on the legend of the star Altair and the star Vega. Japanese write their wishes on a strip of colored paper and hang it on a bamboo.8. Obon Festival (Obon)


    thejapans.org

    Celebrated on July 13-15 or August 13-15 in Japan, Obon is a Buddhist custom where it is believed that the spirits of ancestors are said to return home. To welcome the spirits, families lit lanterns called “mukaebi” on the eve of 13th and “okoribi” on the eve of 16th to send the spirits back to their graves. The highlight is the Obon dance, a traditional dance which vary according to regions. People in yukata (summer kimono) gather (usually in the community center or parks) and dance in a circle following the simple rhythm of taiko (Japanese drums.) Anybody can join and so I did.

    9. Moonviewing (Otsukimi)


    inhamatsu.com

    In the middle of September, Japanese enjoy viewing the full moon while eating rice cake. This event is also known as Jugoya. Around this time in Autumn, the moon is big and bright and according to Japanese legends a rabbit pounding rice cake can be seen in the moon. It is also the time to celebrate the good harvest.

    10. Festival for 7,5,3-year-old children (shichigosan)


    sakurahostel.com.jp
    This is a celebration for children aged seven, five and three. Girls celebrate at the age of three and seven, while boys celebrate at the age of three and five. Parents take their children in kimono to shrines and offer prayers for the children’s health and good fortune.
  • How to distinguish Japanese from Korean and Chinese

    How to distinguish Japanese from Korean and Chinese

    Can you tell if a person comes from a specific country? Before coming to Japan, I had no idea how to distinguish Japanese, Korean and Chinese from one another. I had quite a few experience (when I was in the university as an international student) of trying to speak Japanese to a fellow student who I thought is Japanese, but after all, turned out to be Korean or Chinese (who is new to Japan and cannot speak Japanese). To avoid future embarrassment of assuming someone is not, let me discuss their similarities and differences. This is according to my observations and the opinions of my friends with who I discussed the subject.

    twitter.com

    Similarities

    1. Skin.

    preview.ph

    Japanese, Korean and Chinese, generally, have the same skin characteristics. It is popular that their skin is more resistant to aging and that they have fair, light porcelain-like skin. It is due to extreme sensitivity to environmental factors and chemical effects of some products, which can disrupt the pH balance. For this reason, advertising about skin beauty care in Asian countries is very economical as Japanese, Korean and Chinese (especially girls) have to be more careful with products and treatments they use on their skin. It is even impressive to see the number of skin care products build on the myth that Asian skin would look amazing and healthy for a long time. so, it is hard to tell who is who if you only look at their skin. 


    2. Body built


    theatlantic.com

    There are of course differences in body built among Japanese, Korean and Chinese people.  As human as we are, we can be fat, thin, big or small. It all depends on our individual diet and consumption, not to mention our genes. Although we have a general impression as to how, for example, an American body tend to be (tall and big). Asians, specifically Japanese, Korean and Chinese, are typically of slim body built and kind of short in terms of height. But be careful not to label all of them slim and short, because, as I have said, everyone is different. Some can still be tall, big and fat.


    Differences

     1. Facial Features.

    onehallyu.com

    They may look the same, but if you are a keen observer, there are a few distinguishing characteristics. The Japanese face is generally longer and wider, while the Korean face often has a more prominent jaw and high cheekbones. The Chinese face is typically round in shape. When it comes to the “windows of the soul”, the Japanese eyes are often described as angled upwards, contrary to the Chinese eyes which are usually angled downwards. Koreans often have smaller eyes.


    2. Dressing style

    Japanese street fashion

     

    thetokyogirl.com

    My Japanese friend told me it is easy to tell whether a person is Japanese or Korean. Just look at how they dress. Japanese people value harmony and uniformity, hence, when they dress up, it is something aimed to blend with the majority. Plain, simple and subtle colors are the key to typical Japanese attire. Nothing that stands out. I observed that wearing suit is very common in Japan. May it be a final (research) presentation in school, a job internship, a job interview, graduation; Japanese usually wear suits, in black and white (inner). Very seldom you can see a coloured inner. 

    kore.am

    Contrary to Japanese, most Koreans wear bright and more colourful attire. I remember my Korean friend said in her culture presentation in school, that, unlike in Japan, they can wear nice colourful dresses when they do their internship and especially during job interview. Chinese, on the other hand, due to its high cultural diversity is difficult to distinguish. 

     

    Even up to now, after living for quite some time in Japan, it is still challenging for me to tell which is what, and who is who. Even people of the same race can look different. It is hard to generalize. We can never actually generalize. As the saying goes “Everyone is unique”.

  • Discover Fukuoka, The Queen City of Kyushu

    Discover Fukuoka, The Queen City of Kyushu

    You heard about Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima for sure, but what about Fukuoka? Where is it located in Japan? Is it as nice as the other big cities I mentioned?

    Fukuoka City in Fukuoka Prefecture is located in Kyushu, one of the four main islands in Japan. The other three main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu and Shikoku. Most of the big and famous cities are located in Honshu, where the capital Tokyo is. So, what’s in Fukuoka?

    People

    Generally speaking, Japanese people are well-known to be kind. They are very disciplined and considerate of others. It is embedded in their culture. On the not so positive side, they tend be shy and rather shun away from foreigners. It is not that case in Fukuoka. Most of the people in Fukuoka are open to foreigners. They are very outgoing and are well-known as the friendliest people all over Japan. They like to engage in conversation with foreigners. Be always prepared to say “Konnichiwa” and answer questions such as “Where are you from?” and “Why did you come to Japan?” anytime.

    Landmarks

    When in Fukuoka, go to Fukuoka Tower and see the amazing view of the city; go to the nearby Ohori park and take a walk around the big pond; go to Tenjin and shop until you drop; go to Hakata and enjoy the blend of culture and tradition and industrialization. Take note, you can go to anywhere in Japan from Hakata station – the gateway of the city.  Enjoy outdoor recreation in Nokonoshima Island and Uminonakamichi. 

    Fukuoka Tower

    2 Chome-2-3-26 Momochihama, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture 814-0001

    Ohori Park

    〒810-0051, 福岡県福岡市中央区大濠公園

    Tenjin

    Hakata Station

    Food

    When in Japan, try eating the very popular noodle soup called Ramen. And when it’s Ramen, it should be Hakata Ramen in Fukuoka. There are so many different flavours of Ramen according to regional taste. But, I bet, the best Ramen is Hakata Ramen. 

    Conclusion

    A gem in the southwest Japan, Fukuoka, is indeed a great vacation destination or more than that, a good place to reside. It might not be as big and famous as other big cities throughout Japan, but it has its own glamour and charm. There are so many fun things you can do and great things you can find in Fukuoka. Go! Get there! Discover and experience it yourself.

  • Rose Festival in Huis Ten Bosch

    Rose Festival in Huis Ten Bosch

    Rose and festival – two completely different words but are both related to love, happiness and celebration. Just imagine these two words being used together. It is indisputably pleasurable experience.

    The Location

    Huis Ten Bosch is a Dutch-inspired theme park in Nagasaki. It is a huge park where the buildings and surroundings would make you feel you are in Europe, but in fact you are in the island of Kyushu, Japan. Here is the location: 1-1 Huis Ten Bosch Machi, Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture 859-3292

    You can do so many fun things in this park, but here I will talk primarily about the theme park’s Rose Festival occurring in spring(around May to June).

       

     

    All About Roses

    One of the grandest flower celebrations in Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki is the Rose Festival. By the name itself, rose fanatics will certainly go crazy about it. The park boasts of its one thousand varieties of rose which blooms in full during this event. There you will see that roses are not just red. There are so many different shades of colors. There are shades of red, pink, purple, yellow, orange. A blast of colors everywhere. Also you will see roses in different sizes and forms. Big, small, tiny. There are even single-petalled roses.The kinds or roses that you may have never seen before. It’s absolutely amazing!

    My Experience 

    I can still remember even now how unexplainable the feeling was when I first experienced it four years ago. It was like heaven on earth. I was surrounded with roses. Everywhere I turned, there were roses. I smelled the air, smiled and said ‘cheese’ to my camera. And almost everyone who was there was doing the same. The sweet smell of the air was so amazingly pleasant. It was like I was in a fragrance commercial tipping my head back smelling the air.  It was ecstasy! That spot where roses of all colors and all sizes bloom is more than a ‘bed’ of roses. It was a ‘world’ of roses. 

    Conclusion

    If you like the pictures, how much more in  person? With its pretty colors, soft petals and pleasant fragrant, roses are just wonderful. A true nature’s gift. No wonder why so many girls are named Rose. It doesn’t only mean a flower. It means beauty. It means magnificence.