Asakusa Diary - The Staff Blog

Here is his statement below.

Hi, everyone. I'm Masa from Shizuoka. I actually stayed in Sydney AUS for 8years then came back to Japan last year.
I like traveling, international culture, fashion, picture & trance music.
I started work in Nov at Sakura hotel hatagaya & now, move to Sakura hostel Asakusa for training.
I hope to enjoy working as my fellow staffs & our guests.

We hope he will get used to the jobs at Sakura Hostel Asakusa.
Come to see him !!

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

Hello to everybody!

How are you today? Hope everything is going well^^

Today I would like to talk about one of the most famous winter festival in Sapporo.

This festival is also know as Sapporo Yuki Matsuri, and will take place next 6th of February. The statues are located in the Odori park, Satoland and the Susukino's main street.

It's said that this popular event was born in 1950, when 6 high school students built 6 snow statues in the Odori park. Then, in 1955, the Japanese military army will join the event building big statues and becoming in a really famous festival.

Don't you think these pictures are amazing? ^^

Visiting Sapporo, you could also enjoy it eating its famous miso ramen;) Isn't it a great plan for a winter vacation?

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

Hello together,

today I want to write about all these little, nice, cute, sweet souvenirs and presents, we got from our lovely guests! ^^

There are so much since our Hostel has opened, so that you see these cute things everywhere around in the lobby, at the front desk or the back office.

I cannot imagine, what big part of this great atmosphere here would be lost, if these things wouldn't be here!

So let me show you, what we have around here (and I'm totally sorry, if I have forgotten something!). I do my best to get them all photographed! Maybe you see something, you have made us as a present a long time ago! ^^

Let's start!

This little magnet stone is very important for our front desk work! We can pin everything with it, so that it wouldn't get lost. ^^ It must be here for a long time! It should be from Australia! ^^

This plate on our wall near the entrance is here since more than 5 years! It's from Mexico and says "mi casa es su casa" - "my home is your home". Perfect for our Hostel! ^^

These presents are very new! ^^ We get them from very nice guests from Algeria. They look beautiful! I ask me all the time, how this pictures of sand in the bottle would be made. Seems like magic! ^^

As we have many nice guests from Australia, we have already an own "soccerteam" of Koalas (ok, a half one ^^). ^^ But everyone loves them because they look so cute with their big black nose, so we're always happy, to welcome a new Koala staff member! :)

Holland power! ^^ They are so cute and both placed on our front desk! ^^

This sweet little snow globe is on our front desk, too! ^^ You can read, where it's from, hihi. I love it!

The next things are placed on our front desk, too. So every guest can see them (of course, we are proud of all these nice presents from you! ^^).

A tree from Brazil. ^^ Beautiful!

A cute Muuuuuuh from Switzerland!

I'm too big to live in this cute house! ^^

Hello, my name is Vanessa. ^^ Where are you from?

This mask is so cool. I wonder, where It's from. But it's here a long long time on our front desk! ^^

We have a little staff member woman here, too. But no one knows her name (because she never wears a name plate! ^^).

Here's our wonderwoman! She makes our pc monitors always clean and looks everyday so beautiful! ^^

But as we have much place on our walls for your nice presents, let me show you, what's hanging around here! ^^

This cute magnets help us much with our work, so nothing can go lost and stays there, where it should! ^^ Thank you!

Hehe, with this we may write down our notices for your next reservation! ^^ Always welcome! ^^

And there are all our lovely key chains! ^^ We keep them all and they are hanging on our keys or on the wall on a nail, so no one of this cute little presents will get lost! :)

Here we can always look, how the temperature is at the moment on the front desk! ^^

Hey what's this! ^^ They are sitting high up in the sky on one of our front desk walls, watching us from above, hihi. ^^

And this we get today! It's from Germany. ^^ Hehe, thank you so much! ^^ Maybe it's from one of the huge German Christmas markets! ^^

So, you see, we love our presents you made us! ^^

We keep them all (expect the things we could eat :D) and care for them, so that they have a nice home here at our hostel! ^^

Thank you so much! ^^

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

A few months ago I visited the famous Todaiji temple in Nara, one of the most important temples Japan.　Nara is a place that I really recommend to visit if you have a chance^^

There is where I bought my Omamori!!

Omamori comes from the verb Mamoru which means to protect, defend and guard.

So this is the name given to a kind of amulet made of fabric that is sold in the Japanese temples. It's belief that these amulets avoid accidents, illnesses, and also can help you with love or passing the exams. Japanese people carry these omamori in many places, like pockets, bags, in the car or even on your mobile. I carry mine in my wallet, and always take it with me.

Outside it's a kind of bag called omamori-bukuro and is usually brightly colored and the name of the temple where you buy it is also written on it. Inside, they have a small paper with the name of the god that will protects you and a prayer written by a monk. If the bag of your omamori is opened and its interior is exposed to the outside, the protection would finish and you would have to buy a new one to be protected. Even an omamori would be effective for all your life, it is common to buy a new one in New Year. In these cases, you have to burn the old omamori.

There are diferent kinds of omamori, we have the general omamori for a general protection, or specific omamori, which have a specific god that gives you a specific protection.

For example, you can buy one for pregnant women,that is called mamori Anzano, that will help you to have your baby without troubles.

To have with luck in love, the enmusubi omamori will help you to find love, to keep the couple or have a successful marriage.

Another option for those who are studying should buy the Gakugyojoju omamori.

Did you decided which one you would buy? Or are you planning to buy more than one??

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

Have you ever drunk Nihonshu? Someone may not know what I'm talking about, but the thing is different if I talk about Sake:))

The sake (酒) is a Japanese word meaning "alcoholic beverage", but in Western countries we refer to the type of Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice, and known in Japan as nihonshu (日本 酒 "Japanese spirit "). So if you come to Japan, you should order nihonshu instead of sake if you want to drink the rice alcoholic drink.

There are 4 basic types of sake called honjozo-shu (本醸造), junmai-shu (純米酒), ginjo-shu (吟醸酒) y daiginjo-shu (大吟醸酒).

In Japan sake is served chilled, at room temperature, or heated, depending on the preference of the drinker, the quality of the sake, and the season. Typically, hot sake is a winter drink, and high-grade sake is not drunk hot, because the flavors and aromas will be lost.

Have you ever drink in a masu cup? This is a box usually made of hinoki or sugi, which was originally used for measuring rice. In some Japanese restaurants, as a show of generosity, the server may put a glass inside the masu or put the masu on a saucer and pour until sake overflows and fills both containers.

Another curious thing that you can find around some temples is this sake barrels, that are considered as a gift. When I saw them at the first time, I imagine they could be so many things, but never that they store sake^^

Do you like Sake? If so, Do you have any preference? I am curious^^

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

It's Winter ! We need something to make ourselves warm.
In such a cold season, we can see cars like this at many places.

Do you know what they are doing ? just driving a car ? no, they are selling a thing.
It's Yakiimo ! a typical Japanese hot snack in winter.
What is Yakiimo ? It's sweet potatoes baked in burn stones.
The car has a big oven with stones.
The seller put sweet potatoes in it, and bake.
And they sell the potatoes with shouting " Ishiyakiimo-------" it is sold by 400 to 500 yen.
Freshly baked ones are really delicious !! hot, sweet, melting and creamy !

I especially recommend Annou imo (Annou sweet potato).

This potato has another name; Mitu imo (Syrup potato).
This potato has much more syrup in it than any other kinds.
When we bake it, the syrup comes out from inside.

Its sweetness has been attracting many people especially female.
You can't stop eating once you try it ヾ(≧∇≦)ゞ
Do you want to eat Yakiimo ? OK, let's hang out and find that car ! ﾚ(ﾟ∀ﾟ;)ﾍ=З=З=З
Enjoy your Yakiimo !

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

Have you ever tried the Sukiaki?

Sukiaki is a kind of nabe. Nabe (means pot in Japanese) is how the stew dishes are called in Japan. Nowadays, It's so cold that this delicious dishes become even more tasty^^
El Sukiaki es un tipo de Nabe. Nabe (que significa pota en Japones) se le llama a cualquier variedad de plato guisado Japones. Estos platos son muy típicos ahora que llega el invierno.

If you see the receipt you can see it's not difficult at all:

- 250 gr. Of beef cut as finely as possible.
- 1 leek cut in cubes.
- 1 carrot, chopped.
- 1 / 2 Chinese cabbage.
- Variety of mushrooms. The most popular and also my recommendation are the Shiitake and enokidade.
- Fresh Tofu.
- Soy sauce.
- Olive oil.

These are the ingredients:

The first step would be preparing a pot with a little bit of olive oil, and then fry the meat. While the meat is being frying, introduce the soya sauce and gradually add all the vegetables into the pot.

Normally, this dish is eaten pouring everything into row egg. When I saw it the first time, I was afraid I wouldn't like it since it's was the first I ate row egg, but the taste was so amazing that nowadays it's one of my favorite dishes.

Have you ever eaten or cooking? How was the experience?
I encouradge to all of you to try this dish, I'm sure you will like it;)

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

Hello, guys, do you like chicken ?
How many times do you eat chicken in a week ?
I guess one of your favourite chicken dishes is chicken nugget.

I love chicken nuggets,too and do understand its fresh deep-fried taste !
Crispy outside and juicy meat, and it's eaten by being dipped in a special sauce.
I'm getting hungry during at this moment ((^┰^))ゞ

And how much do you spend for it per time ? Probably 200, 300, or 400 yen.
You think it's a little expensive, right ?
We have a amazing and great news for such guys.
McDonald in Japan has started a campaign in which it's just 100 yen for chicken nuggets from today !!!!!
This is amazing ! usually the price is 260yen (5 pieces) in Tokyo.
This really big and affordable campaign will last only for a week !!Σ(￣ロ￣lll)

I will go there and eat more than usual.
And the staff give you two types of sauce, barbecue and mustard.

Do you know Dragon Quest, which is a very famous TV game as Final Fantasy ?
There are vast of fans of it all over the world.
The first Dragon Quest game was released in 1986 in Japan as a Roll Playing Game.
It was 25 years ago !


Then, In honor of its 25th birthday, an exhibition is being held now.

The name is The Doragon Quest Chronicle of a quarter century

It's held at Mori Art Center Gallery (52F in Roppongi Hills Mori Tower building) from 8th of October.
It costs 1,800yen per adult for admission.
But there are many things to see.

Please check this site⇒http://www.dq25ten.jp/

When you get tired, why don't you take a rest at Luida's Bar ??
They serve original menus shaped in some kinds of monsters in the game.
For example

1: Golden slime Omelet
2: Mad hand curry and rice
3: Slime Tsururi Kifli tasted with green tea

The original are below

They look so similar !! Amazing !

I'm sure you can enjoy this exhibition if you like Dragon Quest series.

Dragon Quest is the one of peculiar cultures in Japan.

Why don't you drop there if you are interested in ?
It is held until

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

What shape do you come up when you are asked "sandwiches".?
Most people will answer "It's rectangular,triangle,round or rolled bread and some ingredients are put between them."
Yes, that's usual.

But I found some artistic and strange ones on a web site Insane sandwiches
You can see creative ones there.

For example.....

1: Neck tie

2:Mobile phone

3: Rubik cube

4: Guitar

5: Hand with blood

If you want to see more, please go Insane sandwiches
I think the normal shape sandwiches are enough for me.
Human makes everything art with various things.
Art made of food can please us, but I hope the rest of food (like edge of bread)
are also eaten by someone.
If not, it's waste of foods.

Making art works is OK, but it's also important how treat the rest of food after they make.
We mustn't forget it.

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

You probably have heard Ramen museum in Shin-Yokohama.
But have you ever heard Cup noodle museum ??
Here it is

This museum has opened at Nakaku in Yokohama on September 17th.
The business time is from 10:00 ? 18:00,but Tuesday is closed.
Administration fee is below

Adult (more than University students) : 500yen
High school students or less are for free

What can we do there??

You can see more than 3,000 kinds of cup noodles' packages which have been sold.

Do you know Chikin Ramen ? It is the first created instant ramen noodle in Japan.
You can experience cooking it from the noodle itself here.
Reservation is needed 3 months before (From 2 people)
The fee is 500yen per person.

Do you want to make your original cup noodles?
You can do it here !
Choice 1 soup from 4 kinds(Soy sauce, sea food, curry or chili tomato taste)
Choose 4 toppings from 12 kinds( shrimp,meat, egg, green onion, cheese, corn etc...)
You don't need reservation for this program.
It costs 300yen per cup and takes 20 minutes to be completed.

I introduced just 3 things, but there are some more attractions.
When you come to Sakura Hostel or Sakura House, we will tell you how to get there.

Enjoy your trip in Japan !!

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

Address: 2-24-2 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
tel +81-3-3847-8111
fax +81-3-3847-8112

e-mail: info@sakura-hostel.co.jp
URL: http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SakuraHotelTokyo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/asakusa_hostel

Now Autumn has come in earnest recently.
We have various seasonal foods in Japan in Autumn.
I will introduce some, and dishes with them.

1: Chestnuts

You don't need an explanation what chestnut is.How do you cook them?cake,pie,or cream?
Japanese cook them for Kurigohan(rice mixed with chestnuts)
They enjoy natural sweet and texture of chestnuts.

2: Pacific saury
This fish is written 秋刀魚in kanji. If we translate these kanji,秋means Autumn, 刀does sword, and 魚does fish.
So as these indicate, this fish is well caught and delicious in Autumn with just enough fat !!
How Japanese eat it ?? we eat sashimi, sushi,and broiled with salt !
When you eat as sashimi, it's fat melts on your tongue and feel the taste spreading all over your mouth.
When you eat as broiled with salt, we recommend eating with grated radish and soy sauce !
Some times people squeeze lemon or citrus sudachi on it and have refreshing taste.

Sashimi

Broiled with salt

You can enjoy them at restaurants.
Of course,they are just a part of seasonal foods in Autumn in Japan.
We have many other delicious foods.
Let's enjoy Japanese Autumn foods together shall we ?

As we let you know, we had Tokyo photo contest from June through July.
The participants sent us many many pictures taken in Tokyo in past.

And the result is informed on our Facebook page.
But, we will let you know again who won the No,1.
It was Mr.Asa Ellison !!
He stays at our hostel and is our repeater.
He likes taking photos and sometimes sends us some beautiful pictures.

Look !!

It's very beautiful isn't it ?!
We got his comment below.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hello

I've been traveling to Japan for many years but I've only become a regular photographer a few years ago.
I always enjoy staying at the Asakusa Sakura Hostel. The staff there is so kind and helpful.

Since Japan has 4 distinct seasons, I've been wanting to get pictures of Japan during each season. In December of 2010, I traveled to Japan to take pictures of the Fall colors. It was my first trip to Japan to see the beautiful colors at the Shrines and Temples. On Dec 2, 2010, I met a friend at the Harajuku station and we walked through the Meiji Shrine area and gardens. It was a nice sunny day and the air was cool. As we walked through the park, I fell in love with all the red, orange, and yellow colors of the trees. It was a side of Japan that I had never seen. I'm so amazed how I can go to a place I've been to many times, yet it is different every time.

When I saw a post on Facebook about the photo contest, I thought for a while about what kind of picture to submit. I looked at a few of the early submissions. Many of them showed the big buildings of Shinjuku or the electric colors of Akihabara. I realized that had some pictures which were very different from the other pictures so I decided to submit the picture taken in the garden at Meiji. It captures the traditional side of Japan of the old days. It is a side of Japan not often seen in the big city of Tokyo. Meiji is a special island of old Japan in the middle of the city.
I really loved it and wanted to share it with everyone.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Talking of Autumn, most tree of leaves will turn to yellow,orange, and red in October to November.
Colored leaves are lighted up at many places in Tokyo, and let us enjoy seeing them.
This is famous Japanese garden Rikugien.
http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/index031.html

It's Autumn in Japan ! why don't you coming to Tokyo, and enjoy the seasonal foods and views? (ﾟ▽ﾟ)

There are a lot of superstitions in Japan.

For example...

"When you see a funeral car, hide your thummbs."
"If you cut your nails at night, you will not be with your parents when they die."
"Hide your bellybutton if you hear thunder, or the god of thunder will steal your bellybutton."

And so on.
　
　
　
There are reasons for each superstitions.
　
　
　
"When you see a funeral car, hide your thummbs."
　
　

　
　
There is a dead body in the funeral car.
To point at it is bad manners.



　
　
"If you cut your nails at night, you will not be with your parents when they die."
　
　

　
　
Long ago, there wasn't enough light.
People use candles.
if they cut their nails in the dark, they might have cut themselves and can't work.





"Hide your bellybutton if you hear thunder, or the god of thunder will steal your bellybutton."





If it thunders, it will rain hard also.
And the temperature will drop rapidly.
So, you have to wear warm clothes as to not catch a cold.

I understand these.
However, I have one superstition that I can't understand.


"You can eat food off the floor if it's less than three seconds"





We call it "the three second rule".
Nobody does it now.

I think that it means "Don't cast away foods".
However, I can't understand why it became popular.



If you find a child doing it in Japan, please don't think "Japanese are crazy!"

Now that you know I-phone is used by soooo many people all over the world.
It is one of common sense to have a smart phone for business or private.
But most I-phones are the same colors; black or white.
People express their originality by putting many kinds of covers on them.
But even you put the cases on them, the inside is still the same; black or white.
My co-worker let me know that there is an I-phone customize shop in Akihabara.
According to him, we can choose favourite front, middle, back frames and buttons, then ask the staff to customize.
I went there in practice and had the back frame customized.

First, choose the parts and color you want to change.
There were many colors. look ! this website
Secondly, ask the staff if the color is available. if it's OK, fill out the document.
Then finally, give your I-phone to the staff and wait for finish.

It takes about 2 hours for exchanging the back plates.
And it takes about 3 hours for exchanging the front plates.
According to the staff, you can do it by yourself on condition you have a special screwdriver.

But I don't recommend it, because it seemed difficult !!
After 2 hours, I got my new I-phone. I chose white and skeleton frame.
The batteries and others are seen.

                        Before                                                   After 

How do you like it ? The blue part is a cover.
It costed about 7,000yen.
I can't say it's reasonable, but if you have any chance, why don't you make your original customized I-phone?

Have you already seen the two idols in Ueno zoo?
People go there to see them everyday and thanks to them, the number of visitors has increasing.
They are giant pandas ! Their names are "比力( bi li ) ", and "仙女( xian nu ) ".

And on August 16th was birthday for Bi li. Happy birthday ! He got an ice cake with bamboo leaves topped with an apple.
He ate it intently !
He became 6 years old as same as xian nu.
We hope their long life and to be the idols of Ueno zoo.
Why don't you see them and be thawed?

Have you ever heard Awa odori (Awa Dance)? It originally derived from Tokushima prefecture in Japan.
Awa is the old name of Tokushima prefecture.
The original Awa odori has 400 year history. And more than 1300,000 people visit there to see it.
There are 2 types of dance in Awa odori, Men dance and Women dance.

For the men's dance: right foot and right arm forward, touch the ground with toes, then step with right foot crossing over left leg. This is then repeated with the left leg and arm. Whilst doing this, the hands draw triangles in the air with a flick of the wrists, starting at different points. Men dance in a low crouch with knees pointing outwards and arms held above the shoulders. The women's dance uses the same basic steps, although the posture is quite different. The restrictive kimono allows only the smallest of steps forward but a crisp kick behind, and the hand gestures are more restrained and graceful, reaching up towards the sky. Women usually dance in tight formation, poised on the ends of their geta sandals.

They are beautiful aren't they ?
This dance have spread to many districts in Japan, and one of them will be held as follows below

Place: Tokyo Koenji
Date : August 27th and 28th
Time : 15:00~18:00
check the web site here
About 150 dance groups will join the festival.

The dances are performed following this song

踊る阿呆に Odoru ahou ni →The dancers are fools
見る阿呆 　 Miru ahou →The watchers are fools
同じ阿呆なら Onaji ahou nara→ Both are fools alike so
踊らな損、損 Odorana son, son →Why not dance?

I'm sure you can enjoy this traditional Japanese dance　v('▽^*)

What do you like to do when you have enough money and time ? Travel to somewhere? Buy something expensive, or hang out for eating ?
I surely like to do that above, but especially like to make sweets.
Usually we buy them at department stores and sweets shops.
But they are sometimes stiff and dry, or too sweet for me.
The advantages for hand made are that we can adjust the sweetness and arrange the recipe.
I don't like too sweet, so I put less sugar than that in original recipe.
My favourite cake is chocolate cake with whipped cream and simple cakes.
I usually bake this cake for my tea time and share with my families, friends and co-workers.
Here some sweets I made.

          Caramel and honey Financier             Chocolate cake with whipped cream 

The other I make are rare cheese cake, baked cheese cake, cream puff, pound cake, fruit tart, apple and pumpkin pies,sweet potato, and so on.If got seasonal ingredients, I use for the sweets.

Some friends praise them that as if a professional made, and it makes me glad and happy.

Making sweets by hand is not difficult as you expect. Why don't you enjoy your tea times with your hand made cakes or sweets?

                   Pumpkin and sweet potato cream tart with chestnuts for Halloween

It has been for 5 months since the terrible disaster happened.
About 17,000 people were killed, and about 4,800 people are still missing even now.
People all over the nations have refrained from holding some events for the victims.
Many people who have missing families notify their death to the government, they don't satisfy themselves of it even after notifying. That's very pitiful.
Then last night, we had fireworks at some cities in Tohoku district for their requiem and recovery.
The name of the event was Light up NIPPON.
10 cities joined the event, and 20,000 fireworks were shot off to the sky at the same time.

Many volunteers have been to the areas and helped recovery, and thanks to them, some areas are getting usual life.
But many problems are still left.
People who saw the fireworks hoped and prayed for return of peaceful life.
The moment of the fireworks was just in a matter of seconds, but it remains in their hearts forever.
Our condolences are with all of the victims.

At 19:20 in the evening , we will have a big fireworks in Katsushika tonight (26th of July)
Web site
The main theme is the 【Yell from Katsushika to recovery of Japan】
It will last for 40 minutes from the start to finish.
7000 fireworks will be shoot off and about 370,000 people go there every year.

It is divided into 6 stages with each theme below.

First: Praying for all the sufferer and the victims of the earthquake
Second: GANBARO NIPPON !
Third: For the recovery, get back the beautiful hometown
Fourth: Children and their smiles
Fifth: Hope for the future
Final :Shine the light of hope in the night sky

Place: 7-17-13 Edo riverbed Shibamata Katsushika-ku
Access from Asakusa:
?Take Asakusa line to Keiseitakasago→?Take Keisei kanamachi line to Shibamata→?Walk 10 minutes

We are sure you can enjoy the fireworks.
If you have time to go, why don't you go to see them with yukata?
It will be awesome and splendid, and become your unforgettable memory.
Enjoy yourself !! (*^-ﾟ)ﾉ

There are many outside events in Summer in Japan.
Camping, hiking, climbing mountain, swimming in the sea and playing on the beach with barbecue.
Drinking beer with edamame (green soybeans) at beer gardens.
And one of the most exciting, beautiful and artistic events, is firework.

We have many fireworks events in Japan through July to August.
The three most famous fireworks in Japan are in Oomagari (Akita prefecture), Tsuchiura (Ibaraki prefecture), and Nagaoka( Niigata prefecture).
Especially the one held in Akita is the greatest among them.
Here is the movie.

Also we have a lots of fireworks events as below at many places

【At Hokkaido】

Hakodate (on August 1st )
Tokachi riverside (on August 13th)

【At Tohoku district】

Aomori (on August 7th, Aomori prefecture)
Sendai (on August 5th, Miyagi prefecture)
Fukushima (on August 7th, Fukushima prefecture)

【Kanto district】

Sumida river side( on August 27th, Tokyo,near Sakura Hostel Asakusa )
The photo

Katushika (on July 26th,Tokyo)
Miura beach (on August 3rd, Kanagawa prefecture)
Hakone( on August 2nd, Kanagawa prefecture)
Tateyama (on August 8th,Chiba prefecture)
Utunomiya (on August 13th, Tochigi prefecture)
Tone river side( on August 13th, Ibaraki prefecture, my local)

I can't write all of them.
You can check this web site

Some of fireworks are decided to be off because of the earthquake on 11th of March.
Some people think they should refrain from holding events for people killed in the disaster.
But others think we should do to promote recovery and cheer Japan up.
I agree with the latter, and you ?

Why don't you come to Japan and enjoy the world famous Japanese culture in this Summer !

What do you come up when you are asked " what is the world famous Japanese movoie?"
Ring ? Juon ? or Poket monsters ?
I personally think it is Ghibli films.
Many famous Ghibli films have been aired and translated into English; like My neighbour Totoro, Princes Mononoke,and Spirited away.
The movies of Hayao MIyazaki are watched and popular all over the world.

Then finally, the latest Ghibli movie will be aired from this Saturday(16th) in Japan.
The title is Kokuriko-Zaka kara ( From Poppies bloom hill)
Here is the story below.

In 1963 in Yokohama.
A 16 year-old girl Umi raises up a signal flag toward the sea,which means praying for safe sailing every morning.
A 17 year-old boy Shun sees it from a tag boat on the sea every day.
With Tokyo Olympic near at hand next year, people break old things and believe that only new materials are great.
In that period, a small dispute has happened at a high school in Yokohama.
The dispute was about whether they destroy a building or preserve it.
The building is a cultural club room, old,but memorial and historical.
Umi and Shun met there.
Shun calls on students to protect it, and Umi suggests cleaning to let them know how great the building is.
Umi and Shun are gradually attracted to each other ,but a trial breaks out.

Umi : when you become to hate me, tell it to me honestly !
Shun we might be siblings.
Umi: what should we do ?

Then they know how their parents met, loved,and survived during the war and after the war.
After knowing the fact, what do they find in their futures ?

Here is the preview.

Would you like to watch this film? I do !!

Do you like curry, or curry and rice ? Its appetizing smell and spicy and hot taste make our appetite bigger !
I personally like Thai especially red curry.

Any way, what do you drink when you eat curry ?
Studies of a consulting company surveyed it.
One was about their attitudes( which drink do you think the best for curry ?) and
, the other was conducted after eating in practice(which drink did you think the best for curry?)
Here are the results

Attitudes( 300 people answered)

        No, 1: Water                 No,2: Woo long tea              No,3: Barley tea 

After eating curry in practice (84 people conducted)

             No,1 : Woo long tea                                       No, 2: Water 

Is it the same as you expected ? Lassi and spiced tea were also ranked in, but at very lower status.

What are your favourite drinks ?

Are you feeling like eating curry now ? I am ! 

OK ! I will eat Thai curry and drink woo long tea tonight ! ?d(≧▽≦*)

Hello, this is Tomoyuki.
I had not been at Asakusa hostel for 2 weeks. 

How much can you pay for seeing beautiful scenery ?
I personally can pay at most 1,000yen for it.
And you ?

The Tokyo Sky Tree will be open on 22nd of May in the next year.
As you know,it has two observatories.
The entrance fee was released today.

The first observatory at 350m high: 2,000 yen (per adult)
The second one at 450m high: 1,000yen (per adult)

Do you think it is affordable ?

But I'm sure you'll be able to enjoy the magnificent and splendid views there !

As you know, Tokyo Sky Tree reached 634m already.
People constructed the tower using some cranes on top.
But have you ever wondered how they dismantle the cranes ? The dismantlement has started from 23rd of May.
This is how to do that.

1: adjust the height of all of the 4 cranes.
2: dismantle the cranes which are next to each other.
3: build a new smaller crane next to the last crane and dismantle it.
4: build a new smaller crane again next to the crane.
5:repeat the work above
6:Finally, dismantle the small crane by hand

It will be finished in Autumn of this year.
This is interesting isn't it !?

What is your favorite food in Japan?? Sushi? Tempura? Sashimi? of course they are delicious, but our staff recommend Ramen noodles.
One study (questionnaire) in 2010 showed that Ramen is the second favorite food for foreign tourists.
By the way, the best was Sushi.
Ramen was created in Taisho period (about 100 years ago) in Japan based on Chinese style noodles.
But it was developed in original ways in Japan, so Japanese ramen is quite different from Chinese one.

At first, ramen was eaten by Tokugawa Mitsukuni (Mito koumon) in Japan.
And it is said that monks and his feudatory who had visited his retirement were served ramen.
In 1914 the oldest ramen restaurant was open at Kayabacho in Tokyo. The name is Taishoken.
Then after 1914, ramen restaurants were opened bit by bit in each area in Japan.
People had improved and finally in 1926, they made the base of present ramen noodle; soy sauce taste, topped with sliced grilled pork, green onion and menma(tasted bamboo shoot).

Now we have soooo many kinds of ramen.
Ramen is roughly divided into 4 kinds by the soup; Shoyu(soy sauce) Sio(salt), Miso(soy bean taste) and Tonkotsu(pork bone broth)

Shoyu ramen

Sio ramen

Miso ramen

Tonkotsu ramen

Ramen is being developed even now.
The ramen restaurant owners create new ramens that represent their shops.They change the soup, how to make noodles, ingredient on top, times they boil the noodles and so on.
We have to thanks them, thanks to their efforts, we can enjoy many types of ramen today.

Ramen also can be enjoyed in your own ways; put butter on noodle, dip in hot(cold) soup, top many ingredients like soft boiled egg, a lot of vegetables and so on.

Try and compare the tastes of ramen restaurants you go. The tastes are quite different !!!
Enjoy your ramen life and find your favorite ways for tasting and reataurants !!!

P.S.

this is my(Tomoyuki's) favorite ramen restaurant Funamizaka(located in Ginza)
They serve you Hokkaido Hakodate Sio ramen (mostly)
I love large amount of Sio ramen of this restaurant !!

Hello, this is Tomoyuki.
I will introduce to you about one of my family today.
He is not a human, but a very very cute animal; ferret.
Do you know what a ferret is ? It's kind of a weasel. Please read this site.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret
They are like cats which don't grow up at all.
Ferrets play with many things such as balls, toys and stuffed animals actively in common, and so does mine.

He came to my house on September 18th(my birthday) as the birthday present about 4 years ago.
We named him Ku after his cry.
He jumps and invites us to play when he wants.It is called ferret dance.
We throw a slipper, then he dashes and puts it in his mouth.
And he likes to enter our individual rooms,so he always waits for the door open

We heard that ferret is very clever to learn performance, thus I trained him a trivial skill.
As a result, he learnt a skill that he waggles his tail when we show him his favorite food.

After playing to his heart's content, he goes back to his cage and falls asleep.
His sleeping face is soooooo cute!!

Some times he cries when he is sleeping, It make us heartwarming and laugh
As you cherish your dogs and cats, we love our tiny family member,
All of our family want him to be alive for a long time.
If you don't have any pets, I recommend you having a ferret.

This is the last day of Golden week today, and at the same time, Kodomo no hi-The Children's day-
The Children's day is also called the Boy's Festival.
We celebrate boy's good luck and safe growing up with placing armors and Koinobori (carp-shaped streamer)

Also we have so many events for this day at many places in Japan.
For example, Shiohigari (shelfish gathering) , Riding horse experience, Fuji festival(wisteria festival) and so on.
Parents take their children to these events and pray for their sound growth and development with seeing their smiles.

Parents wish for their children grow healthily

What do you think today is ??
Just a normal Monday ? or, mid of Golden Week ? Exactly it is.
But even Japanese don't know and forget that this is Hachiju Hachiya counted from the beginning of Spring today.
We call the beginning of Spring " Rissyun"in Japan.
At Hachiju Hachiya, this is the highest season for picking green tea leaves.
We enjoy picking them, their fresh flavor and taste.
These leaves are delivered as Shincha(the first tea of the season) to many districts in Japan.  

Chatumi(picking green tea leaves) is especially famous in Shizuoka prefecture, Kyoto,and Yamaguchi prefecture.

You can experience this event when you come to Japan.

Why don't you experience Chatumi , fresh green tea flavor and taste with Japanese cake ??

On 18 th of March, Tokyo Sky tree got to 634m finally.

To celebrate this great achievement, many goods will be sold in order from 28th of April.

The goods are for instance, Disney clear file, Disney 3D post cards, Disney chocolates and so on !!

Look at these cute designs!  Don't you think they will be the new souvenirs of Tokyo??

You can buy these goods at Tokyo Miyage Center

Of course ! Our staff will go and get them!!

As you know, the strongest earthquake ever in Japan hit east part of Japan on 11th of March.
And the damage extended not only in Tohoku district, but also to Kanto district and its many sightseeing spots.
Tokyo Disney land(TDL), one of the major spots in Japan was also damaged by the earthquake and was plunged into out of operation.

But the staff checked the machines, electronic generator, and finally decided to reopen the amusement park !!!
It will be reopened on 15th of April.
Everybody has been looking forward to this and so have we !!

For further information, check the web site below

http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/en/index.html

Come and enjoy at TDL !!

Hi, I'm Tomoyuki. I personally like eating out side and wandering for delicious food.
When I find appetizing food, I buy it without hesitation.
In these days, I went to Nakamise street in Asakusa and was browsing with eating.
I enjoyed Agemanju( deep-fried bun stuffed with bean paste), Miatarashi-dango(dumplings with sweet soy sauce）,
Imo-youkan(sweet potato jelly), Senbei (rice crackers), Kibidango (dumplings), Kuri-youkan (chest nut jelly), Soft-cream,
and green tea.
Do you think I ate too much? No, this is just beginning! I went to Udon restaurant to have lunch!

Also I went to many places to eat its specialties. Have you ever tried them?

These are Ikura-don (bowl of rice topped with salmon roe), Genghis Khan and fruit sandwiches.

These are Sio-ramen noodle and Uni-don (bowl of rice topped with sea urchin and crab)

Do you like eating? Let's enjoy our gourmet life !!

But・・・, be careful for the balance of your money in your wallet.

We had farewell party for Ryoko last night.
She worked in Sakura hostel for a half year, and took charge of our staff blog.
I think you enjoyed her blog a lot.
Now, she decided to start her new life in the U.S.
She will work in Disney Land in Florida for a year!!
We believe she do a good job over there as well as in Sakura hostel.

Here are some photos we took last night.

with her best friend Enocchi

Sakura Girls!!

We gave her message card.
Was she so happy that she couldn't help crying!?

We will miss you, Ryoko!!
Come to see us when you come back to Japan!!