Snowman is called yuki daruma in Japanese. Usually Japanese yuki daruma is consist of two snow balls; head & body, whereas American snowman is consist of three balls; head, upper body & lower body. This photo is from Yuki Daruma Matsuri (Snowman Festival) in Ishikawa, Japan.
Every year a snow & ice festival is held in Sapporo, Hokkaido in February. The festival started in 1950 and this year is the 69th. About 400 statues are displayed every year. Click here for their official site.
The English translation of “fuku musume” would be “fortune girls”. The Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Osaka receives over 3000 applications per year and picks 45 girls who look like they bring us good luck. Five of these are international students. Those chosen will all take part in the shrine’s New Year celebration.
According to OSAKA INFO “Everyone in the merchant city of Osaka knows the Imamiya-Ebisu Jinja Shrine. This shrine, which was founded in 600 by the order of Prince Shotoku, is visited annually by a million people, who pray to Ebessan, a god of business, for commercial prosperity. During the Toka Ebisu Festival, people buy sacred bamboo branches decorated with lucky items in hopes for the success of their businesses. Many visit the shrine during the three days of Jan. 9 through 11, especially on the day of Toka Ebisu (held on the 10th).”
Miss US International 2017 is Shanel James from Maryland. She is going to Japan for the Miss International Beauty Pageant. I have been teaching her Japanese language & culture to get her ready. I will travel to Japan with her family as a guide and companion.
Do you want me to assist your trip to Japan as well? Yes, I love to! Please contact me!
It’s rainy season in Japan. This is a picture of Kimono Forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto. It’s beautiful in the rain. Many traditional Japanese scenes look lovely in the rain.
Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo is hosting an exhibition for hinamatsuri until 3/27/17. You can see over 6500 hanging ornaments of dolls and other hinamatsuri decorations.
There is a park in Nagano Prefecture, Japan where you can watch Japanese monkeys taking a bath. This is one specific type of monkey called a Snow Monkey. The park is specially designed to keep these monkeys as wild as possible and to strictly control tourists. For example visitors are not allowed to feed the monkeys so that monkeys won’t harass or try to follow tourists. But for those who want closer contact, there is an inn nearby where monkeys may join you while you take a bath in onsen outside.
If you want to see autumn leaves near Mt. Fuji, late October through mid November is the best time for it. The Fuji Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival (11/1/16 – 11/23/16) is held in the area.
The Maple Corridor is the main attraction of the Fuji Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival (富士河口湖紅葉まつり: 11/1/16 – 11/23/16) in Yamanashi, Japan near Mt. Fuji. As of 2016, this annual festival is free of charge. You might want to stay until the dark to see the night illumination of the Maple Corridor as well.
