Glimpses of Japan

Japanese beer garden is very special to Japanese people because it is limited during summer. Going to a beer garden is one of the common things to do during summer! People visit beer garden after work to have nice beer and food outside in a summer breeze. TOKYO KOSORA is a summer limited rooftop beer garden that appears on the 9th floor (rooftop) of Shinjuku LUMINE shopping mall. Delicious all-you-can-eat modern Japanese cuisines TOKYO KOSORA’s concept is “Tokyo Modern”, they aim to provide modern Japanese cuisines arranged uniquely into different styles. They offer about 30 kinds on their menu! And it is all-you-can-eat for 2 hours! You can put anything you like on the plate from the buffet. The food is served in the buffet style  Vegetables and appetizer buffet  Fried chicken, potatoes, etc. Rice – Chirashi Sushi and Onigiri rice ball Cold soba noodles Did you think that their dishes are not filling? Well, the standard plan comes with a piece of roasted chicken le...

Oirase Gorge is a famous picturesque spot for every visitor to Aomori Prefecture. Oirase Gorge gets the largest number of visitors in autumn when the leaves get colored, but the beauty of winter is unbelievably magical. Frozen waterfalls and snowy forests will definitely one of the most magical experience ever. In winter, promenades are covered with snow, and it is difficult to walk around without a guide. I participated in a snow hike tour, so here is how the tour was like: What is Oirase Gorge? Oirase Gorge, Oirase Keiryu (奥入瀬渓流) in Japanese, is a famous picturesque spot in Aomori. It is one of the must-see spots in Aomori which gives you beautiful sceneries in every season. The gorge stretches from Lake Towada to Yakiyama and stretches for about 14 kilometers. Multiple waterfalls each has names and are extremely photogenic. Oirase Gorge in summer. In winter, Oirase Gorge allows us to encounter frozen waterfalls and snow covered forests. Change to snow clothes and start the tour...

The Northern part of Japan, especially Tohoku region, is very famous as the sake producer and lots of sake breweries developed from a long time ago. Aomori Prefecture is no exception. In a long established Hachinohe Shuzo Sake Brewery, which dates back to 1775, travelers are accepted to visit the brewery to participate in the brewery tour. I participated in the tour and here is the report! Beautiful redbrick warehouse and wooden main building When you arrive at Hachinohe Shuzo Sake Brewery, you will notice the beautiful looking buildings. They produce and stock sake at the redbrick warehouse so that the temperature stays cool even in summer. The wooden building is the main building where their offices are now. Both of them are built in Taisho era, which means more than 100 years ago, and designated as Prefectural Important Scenic Buildings. The redbrick warehouse is where they make and store sake The wooden building is now used as their office, etc. The tour reception is in the ...

Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture is a city famous for French cuisines and apples. Hirosaki was one of the most advanced cities in the Meiji Period after the opening of the country. The city welcomed lots of foreigners under the slogan of “educational city Hirosaki”, thus, lots of international cuisines developed; French cuisine was one of them. It is said that Hirosaki is no.1 in Japan, regarding the number of French restaurants per population. Also, Hirosaki is the biggest producer of apples in Aomori and also throughout Japan. CHEZ-MOI, a small restaurant just eight minutes walk from Hirosaki Station, provides a unique menu: “Apple French course”. All the dishes in the course uses apples somehow, and they were so creative. I had a chance to try their apple lunch course. Hirosaki is the city of apples, the post box near the station had an apple on it! CHEZ-MOI has a cozy looking exterior CHEZ-MOI is located at about eight minutes walk from Hirosaki Station. The direction was very ...

Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture is a city in Aomori with lots of attractions. Being one of the advanced cities in the Meiji period, Hirosaki City welcomed lots of foreigners after the opening of the country. Thus, the city has lots of western influence. Aomori Prefecture is famous as the producer of apples, and Hirosaki is the center and the largest producer of apples in all Japan. There are many cake shops and coffee shop offering apple pies, having different characteristics at each shop. In spring, thousands of cherry blossom including the oldest Somei Yoshino cherry blossom tree in Japan bloom and the city will be filled with pink colors. In summer, the floats of Neputa Matsuri give fun atmosphere to the city. I had one afternoon and a night in the city of Hirosaki. This article guides you to the best attractions and things to do in Hirosaki when you have a half day. 1. Hirosaki Castle and Hirosaki Castle Park Hirosaki Castle, the symbol of Hirosaki, was built in 1611. The first ge...