It Snows on the Weekend

We had a heavy snowfall in Utsunomiya yesterday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued heavy snowfall warnings for Kanto area including Tochigi, Tokyo and other prefectures on Saturday.

It said that it was the first time that heavy snow warnings were issued for Tokyo in 13 years.

Almost all flights to and from Haneda Airport were canceled and trains were partially disrupted on Saturday.





Contrary to the bad weather yesterday, it's a warm sunny day today.

I took a walk to Utsunomiya Castle Park to take some pictures.

Snowfall Covers Utsunomiya Castle Park.

Daruma Doll Festival Is Held

Daruma doll festival was held in Banba Square yesterday. What's a Daruma doll?

Daruma is a traditional handmade Japanese wishing doll that keeps us focused on achieving our goals.

The eyes of Daruma are often blank when sold.

A person who bought a doll fills in one eye on setting the goal to signify one's commitment to achieving, then the other on fulfilling it.
In this way, every time the person sees the one-eyed Daruma, they recall the goal.

There are ten colors for the type of goal.


Black:chasing away evil and a successful year

Blue: personal achievement and success

Gold: wealth

Green:good health and vitality

Orange: success in school

Pink:blessing in love, marriage and giving birth

Purple:advancement in career

Red:safety and success in every way

White:new birth and best wishes

Yellow:security and protection

Cafe ’OSTERIA Bevi’

 As is usual with Japanese companies, employees are supposed to change their departments or working environment once in several years.

I was transferred to a current department at the beginning of this month.

I'm not busy right now but I guess that the situation of my work will change in a few weeks.

Today, I took a day off and had lunch at a cafe near home with my wife. It's sunny calm day, best fitting for a short walk in a winter day.

Oshino Village in Yamanashi Prefecture

Oshino village is famous for its eight spring water ponds called Oshino-Hakkai which is a popular tourist destination in the Fuji Five Lakes region.


These eight ponds are spring-fed by water running down from Mt. Fuji, and have long been revered as 'springs of the Gods.'

I've been to the Fuji Five Lakes region several times, but It's my first visit to the village.

Though it was cloudy, we could see skirts of Mt. Fuji, beautiful ponds and its water grass.

MOA Museum of Art in Atami

Only one night stay though, it's fun to visit MOA Museum of ART in Atami.

There were many wonderful collections including paintings, sculptures, calligraphies and weaving.

Some of them were designated as national treasures.

View from the museum: Hatsushima(left) island and Izu-ohshima(right) island 

Seaside Resort 'Atami' in Shizuoka Prefecture

We went to Atami spending one night and two days of our 2013 year-end holiday, stayed in a seaside view room at the hilltop hotel there.

The sunrise from the ocean was very beautiful.

Happy New Year, 2014!

I wish all visitors to my blog enjoy new year holidays and have a wonderful happy new year.

Cafe Penny Lane

On our driving way to the company's recreation facility in Nasu, we stopped over a cafe called Penny Lane.

There were lots of The Beatles' related goods and pictures displayed, needless to say its music was played.

Even short time, staying at the cafe gave us memories of our young days.

Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year

We Stay in My Company's Recreation Facility in Nasu

My wife and I went to my company's recreation facility in Nasu highland to stay and relax in a hot spring one week ago.

The facility is going to close in two weeks because, my company's intranet web site says, the building has been too old.

We were able to fully relax and enjoyed staying one night there.

I thought that if proper maintenance was applied to the building, it could withstand at least one more decade.

Italian Cafe Vineria

My wife and I went to an Italian cafe called Vineria the other day.
It couldn't be nicer sunny calm day.

Atmosphere and taste at the restaurant were perfect, but the bread was as tough as old boots for me.

I broke my front tooth when I bit the shell of the bread.

I took a day off and went to a dental clinic the next day, sigh.

I Go on a Business Trip to Kawasaki City.

A couple weeks ago, I went on a business trip to Kawasaki city.

Kawasaki city and my home prefecture Tochigi are divided by the capital Tokyo.

I got up early, jumped on a bullet train bound for Tokyo, then changed trains to a local one heading to Kawasaki city at Tokyo.

Since I go to my office by bike every day, I enjoyed viewing morning scenery from commuter train.

The river runs in between Tokyo and Kawasaki city.

I also saw Mt. Fuji from the train heading back to my home town Utsunomiya.

Rock'n'Roll Street Live

I happened to see a rock'n'roll street live show on my way back home after shopping last week.

Their performances, both music and dancing were quite good as well as their clothes and makeup.

It reminded me of a good old days.