Travelog for: Betty Bear

My friend Jiaojiao will leave for hanachan's place Takamatsu in Japan today.
I said "Have a nice trip, Jiaojiao!  Good luck and safe journey. I hope that the day when we can meet again comes someday.".
We have group a lot of love and big hugs.
Tears came to my small eyes...

Hi, mom.
We were taught how to fold an origami cranes with yellow frog.
Uh...fold in half diagonally, Mountain fold, fold in half, turn the paper over, open and squash.
It worked. Little bit difficult, but I was able to make red paper cranes.

New guest has arrived today. I can hear little sheep voice.
We rescued TV from an envelope. Then we did a heart massage.
She is Rachel, cute sheep came from China.
She showed me a beautiful postcard in Finland to us.
My host said " She came at just the right time. Cherry blossoms will bloom soon." We sincerely welcomed.

Hello!
New guest has arrived from China today.
His name is Hansi Hü.
I heard it's horse zodiac year of this year(2014) in Japan.
We might find something horse-related.
We sincerely welcome him.

Hi, mom.
We decided to go to McDonald's because I've heard that there is a drink of SAKURA(cherry blossoms) related for a limited time at McDonald's from Rachel's mom.
Well, McDonald's was 5-minute walk from my host's home.
It was a delicious cold drink, sweet smell and good cherries taste.
Drink of this pink is like a cocktail that does not contain alcohol at all.
We were able to see cherry blossoms began to bloom on the my way home.
Cherry blossoms will be in full bloom soon.

My host just came back from work, we explored the cherry blossoms around the house.
Many Japanese people loves cherry blossom so much.
It is said that it is because cherry blossom symbolizes the ephemeral nature of life due to the way it blooms spectacularly but only for a short while. or feeling spring comes and meaning everything start.
Well, we will start a week of searching the "SAKURA"(cherry blossoms) for us.
I found small flowers. It is very cute!
Then We were looking at this scenery that cherry blossoms were falling.
Of all the windy yesterday, the cherry blossoms have fallen off.
However, I heard The cherry blossoms are at their best few days.
I think I want to more enjoy cherry blossoms.

We went to visit to hear "Tadodai-buncyosya(Tadodai branch office) " is to be opened only one week during the cherry blossoms season. But it will be closed in one hour, today. It was built in 1913.
There were many people taking pictures and watching the cherry blossoms.
You can see Japanese-style room and conference room in Tadodai-buncyosya.
Stone of Antarctica was also on display. Of course, I tried to touch to stone.
We can see the Tokyo Bay below our eyes, cherry blossoms bloomed in a nice garden.
Pond was being represented by white stones on part of the garden.
This is a typical representation of a Japanese garden.
The weather was not good, but we were able to enjoy.

I  went to a "Hashirimizu fountainhead".
The ground was covered in pink petals, and the remaining blossoms and leaves covered the sky giving the place a pink glow.
I am afraid the flowers will not last till next week.
Although the cherry blossoms were on a decline by the time of our visit, we were nevertheless able to catch some pleasant views. However, with the afternoon showers in the area, more petals will fall and that would bring the cherry blossoms season closer to its end.

P.S Mom, My red tag is come off, But Don't worry. My host will repair it as soon.

Hello! mom.
New guest has arrived from Germany today.
Her name is Josie. She is cute tiny dog.
We sincerely welcome.

Well, Spring vacation has ended, and the new school term started today.
In Japan, April is the month when school starts and companies begin a new business year.
Everyone seems little busy.
Bye for now.

Hi mom!
It's sunny day.
We came to Kannonzaki park.
First, we greeting an old cat who lives here.
He looks very comfortably by basking.
A short walk, And we found a very mysterious dark cave.
Kind of an old small shrine, any incorporeal supernatural being, Don't you think so?

There's a legend that a large snake lived on this dark cave.
Monk visited small village Kannonzaki in 741.
He heard that a large snake lived in this cave, and afflicts villagers and fishermen, the people of marine transportation.
Monk was killed the large snake. Then large snake was enshrined in this dark cave .
I think we should keep away from this cave.

For go to see the Kannonzaki lighthouse, we went up the stairs earnestly.
Kannonzaki lighthouse is oldest western style lighthouse in Japan.
November 1 is the lighthouse anniversary to commemorate the start of construction date of this lighthouse.
Collapsed in the earthquake of twice, the current lighthouse is the third generation.

We were able to see big tankers comings and goings in Tokyo Bay when we walking beach.
I found Cherry blossom tree in Kannonzaki park here. 
We playing at the beach a little. I have enjoying and relaxed.
See you!

We went to Tokyo sightseeing by train.
You can see arrival time of trains at the station(in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean language).

We came to the Meiji Shrine(Meiji Jingu).
Mom, I was really surprised!
Do you believe in the spirit photo?
There is a large white orb in my photo.
I heard orb appears in the sacred places such as shrines and temples. Is it just a dust on the lens of camera???
What do you think?

Through promenade in forest, I went to shrine buildings.
It was one of the visiting typical place for foreign tourists here.
Visitors to the shrine can take part in typical Shinto activities, writing out one's wish on an ema.
When we visited the Meiji shrine, we witnessed a Shinto wedding procession which  was led by two priests and two shrine maidens, followed by the couple under a red umbrella and the family and friends.
It was delightful seeing the colorful ceremony in wonderful surroundings.

When you enter the premises of Meiji shrine, you notice barrels of sake wrapped in straw stacked up near the entrance.
This is fascinating design.
To know more about these barrels, read the following text which was written on information board put up near these barrels.
And You can see the otorii, it is the gate of shrines.

Shibuya. It is one of Tokyo's most colorful and busy districts.
Wow, There are a lot of people.
You can see the famous crossing in front of Shibuya Station.
It is a crossing where vehicles from all four directions are stopped and allows pedestrians to cross in every direction.

We came to NHK Studio Park.
NHK(Nippon Hoso Kyokai, Japan Broadcasting Corporation) Studio Park is NHK Broadcasting thema park that is open to the public.
It gives visitors a chance to look behind the scenes of NHK broadcasting.
You can know the history of the TV show.
Stage equipment and costumes that were used in the TV show is on display.