Enoshima Aquarium

If you wanna see some really cool stuff in Japan that your tour guide wouldn’t include in your tour while you are in Japan - it’s the Enoshima Aquarium that you shouldn’t missed. I recommend it everytime - someone come to visit me when i was in Japan.  Enoshima Aquarium is located at the Enoshima island of course and it’s got some of the most wonderful and colorful marine creatures there.

Actually the aquarium is not on the island but just before the bridge into the island.  The entrance fee is like 2000 yen for an adult - so about $20 USD - pretty ex eh..?? but for kids - they are like only 600 yen.  They have some dolphin shows there but they are all in Japanese and it’s always crowded but if you have been to the one in Hong Kong - then you didn’t miss anything.

You can also get to touch some small sharks and some really huge turtles - and it’s really an amazing sight.  Love the huge tank !

The funny thing is - i always go to the aquarium whenever i go to the island - i never seems to get enough of the exhibits.

Summer Resort In Tokyo

Japan is a shopping paradise for just about anything and everything including Blancpain but when you lived in Japan for more than a month - you want to look for other things to do - like go out to the beach or a resort and the nearest one in Enoshima about an hour or two by train.

Swimming and surfing are what most people do - but there are shopping to be done there and of course there are beach houses that you an use as well.  There is a shrine that one can visit while you are at the resort and of course try the local speciality there - Shirasu Don in a small cafe.  I don’t know if it is still there - but i’m sure - you can find some there.

Love the view from the top of Enoshima Island

Temples In Japan

There are as much temples as there are high rises in Japan - from tokyo to Osaka and Hokkaido - there is some that everyone wants to go to.  Even when i went hiking - there is a temple along the hiking route in Japan. Most of the temples has historical value and been around since 1633.

Gotoku temple is in Shinjuku

Temple in Osaka

Temple in Kyoto

Harujuku Fancy

Check out this ninja looking fella in Harujuku and lots of summer festivities coming up.

Blooming In Japan

Yes! it’s blooming in Japan and if you are heading for vacation - it’s hot! hot! hot! but you definitely would love the flowers !  and eat lots of ice cream!

Lavender in Furano-Tomita Farm

My g/f who is currently in Hokkaido wrote on her facebook that she fell in love with the Lavender in Furano - Tomita Farm.  Ahhh! those were the days - and i remember Tomita Farm so fondly.  So i told her - don’t forget the Lavender ice cream and the gondolas and also those Hello Kitty in Purple and what about the Purple Snoopy i saw many years ago - are they still there..?

The season of Furano Lavender usually starts in the middle of June and ends around July because they cut them for the next season.  But from June to right till the end of August - one can see all sorts of bloom in Furano.

Dolphin Watching In Japan

Someone asked me the other day if one can go dolphin watching in Japan while we were out shopping for rustic furniture for the summer.   And that reminded me of a trip i had gone in Mikurajima Island - a very small island in Tokyo but on the south side of Tokyo if I remember correctly.   There are a few island surround the Mikurajima island and if you ask your concierge - I’m sure - he or she would be able to book you a tour for Dolphin watching.

You won’t be disappointed because I remember I’ve seen as many has 20 swimming around us.  Getting to the island is by ferry but if you like and is adventurous - you can use fishing boats to get to the island from its neighbouring islands.  I would write more about our dolphin trip if i had more pictures or if i can still find them - but the island has lots to offer but the only think i hated was the ferry right and having to sleep in the ferry.  If you have the money - or a choice then - i would have taken the day trip.

Japanese Eats Weird Stuff

Yes!  the Japanese can come up with some strange concoction for their food - seaweed in their buns - or squash or sweet potatoes - pickles! mannn! i’m asian but when the girlfriend sent this picture of the food she just had as a snack when she was on trip to an island around Hokkaido - i had to tell her - that I won’t be able to stomach that - thank you very much.   If you ever wonder why I never put on much weight when i was in japan - well it was definitely not the best weight loss product one can find in Japan but the more healthier choice of food and the weird ones of course that we won’t touch.   I know, i know ! i said i would eat anything once - but really!  seaweed???? blah!

Famous Theater In Ginza

The girlfriend wrote to me after a trip to Japan that the Kabukiza Theatre in Ginza Japan is no longer there - apparently it was torn down in April this year. I went on a search for some pictures that I had taken of the famous theater that I had visited several times when i lived in Japan and even bought some  personalized gifts for family and friends from the theater to bring home.

The Kabukiza was located in Higashi and it’s a traditional kind of theater for art shows for many, many years.  The girlfriend said that they had planned this move since 2008 and staged their last performance for about a year now entitled Kabukiza Sayonara Koen.   But one can watch their matinees at about 11am and also in the evenings at 4.30pm.  The performances usually last for about 5hrs - tickets are sold between 600 - 1200 yen and are usually sold out a day before the acts. If you have been for any performance at the Kabuki, you will know that it is an unique experience.  The reason for the demolition is a new place is needed to within earthquakes - structural safety.

Seasons In Japan

Japan does enjoy the 4 seasons - like we do here in the West but when it comes to the weather - I’ll have to say that mother nature is a lot kinder with Japan than they are with us here.  My girlfriend who wanted  prenatal vitamins asked me when was the best time for her to visit Japan - and I told her that I’m biased when it comes to Autumn in Japan while the spouse loves spring time in Japan.

Look at how awesome Japan looked during Autumn.

The changing colors of the trees

The houses, the scenery, the temples - everything looks really peaceful during autumn.