by Yuji Ozawa (Japanese site)
You are the th guest of my site. (since99/02/10)
The location of Odawara city is west of Kanagawa prefecture. Odawara castle is a landmark of this city. This castle was made in 1633. But current castle building are rebuilt after World War two.
Now around the castle is a park for citizens. Chrysanthemum flower festival is held in November. Below photo is a miniature castle and chrysanthemums.
Chrysanthemum has many kinds and colors. Yellow and white is a typical color of chrysanthemum. But I'm very fond of blue chrysanthemum flower.
These flowers are works of the bonsai (Japanese flower art). The prize is given to an excellent work.
A lot of people enjoyed the chrysanthemum flower, and took a photo.
The front side of the castle is enclosed in the moat. Some carp fishes are seen in the moat.
Odawara castle is ten minutes walk from Odawara station.
Akiyoshi-Do is a limestone cave at Yamaguchi prefecture. Below photo is the entrance of this cave.
Akiyoshi-Do is very big limestone cave. We can walk inside of this cave about 1.5km. But real length of this cave is more than 8km.
We can see many stalactites. Upper photo is tipical stalactites which named 'Daikoku-bashira". 'Daikoku-bashira". means prop.
Upper photo is "Ougon-chu" which means Golden pillar. The height of "Ougon-chu" is 15 meters.
This photo is "Senmai-zara" which means one thousand plates. It is the fantastic world.
Sun Flower & Zinnia (Banyu at Hiratsuka)
Banyu Fureai kouen (Banyu park at Hiratsuka ciyy) is famous for its big flower garden. Spring is Papaver rhoeas and autumn is Cosmos. And this summer I found Sun flower and Zinnia.
As for Sun Flower, I remember the big Sun Flower garden in the movie 'Sunflower'.
Zinnia, we call it 'Hyakunichi-so' in Japanese. Hyakunichi means 100 days in Japanese. This flower is looks strong and almost 100 days it blooms continuously.
Red Pink, and Yellow, we can enjoy colorful flowers of Zinnia.
In October this flower garden is covered with Cosmos flower completely. Hiratsuka city is one hour from Tokyo by train, and east side of Sagami river.
Yokohama port is one of the biggest comercial port of Japan. This port is opend at 1859, just 150 years has passed since then. So memorial events are opened now. Below photo is Earth balloon. It is a big globosity screen.
Port side area are newly redevelopmented. Zou-no-hana (Elephant nose) park is one of them. Below 2 photos was taken from Zou-no-hana park.
The tower of right side is Yokohama Custom House, and ths tower of left side is Kanagawa prefectural goverment building.
Yakata-Fune (old fashioned house boat) is on the river. Maybe dirinking party is held on this boat. Japanese people enjoy their hot summer with beautiful nightscape. (Yokohama Yakata-Fune)
August 1st, Firework festival will be held at Minato Mirai Area. Many people will come to this festival.
Banyu is in Hiratsuka city, and west side of Sagami river. This area is nature park which name is Banyu Fureai Park. In this park, there's a big flower garden. Papaver rhoeas (Hinageshi) flower blooms in spring, and cosmos blooms in autumn.
We can see Mt. Ohyama in Tanzawa area from here. This mountain is very famous for its religious status, holy mountain. At the top of the mountain is Afuri shrine. Every year many people climb this mountain.
The flower in below photo is Hydrangea (Ajisai). Hydrangea is one of main flower of Japanese June. This flower colors many temples in June.
I like this faint blue color. June is rainy season of Japan. Then this faint blue color is brightend by rain.
Hiratsuka city is very famous for Tanabata festival in July. Then next month many people will visit here and enjoy this festival.
I am a Japanese Engineer born in Tokyo. Now I'm living in Yokohama which is near city from Tokyo. I love mountains, classical music, personal computer, novels, movies, trip and so on. Let's enjoy my web site. Thank you.
My site opened in 1997, and I wrote only in Japanese since then. Now I have many foreign friends, co-worker. Then I decided to start English page today (02/24/2008).
[ Special thanks to Amanda (USA), Gustavo (Venezuela) ]