I Go to Kawagoe City

I went to Kawagoe city to enjoy seeing old Japanese buildings there last week.

Kawagoe Bell Tower is famous for the city's symbol.

According to Wiki, it is originally built on the orders of Sakai Tadakatsu between 1624 and 1644.

The present structure goes back to 1894, a year after the Great Fire of Kawagoe.
It is a three-story tower measuring 16 meters in height.

The tower has been telling time to the city's residents for 350 years and has been deemed as a symbol of the city.

Currently, the bell can be heard four times a day (6 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM and 6 PM)

Kawagoe Bell Tower

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome

The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is considered to be the largest of the churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Rome.

It is one of the city’s four major basilicas was built in the mid-fourth century.

It is an easy church to visit, as it's near the Termini station and metro stop, and a walk through on your own won't last more than half an hour.

Pope Pius IX

Pope Pius IX

I Go to Utsunomiya Castle Park

I took a walk to Utsunomiya castle park today. Since it was sow yesterday, the park had lots of family visitors who wanted to enjoy its covered snow.

The moat of the castle was covered with thick ice plate because of yesterday's freezing cold temperature.

On the other hand, plum trees near the park had full of beautiful flowers.

The Way I Take Pictures

Those pictures show the ways how I take pictures in Rome.
A taking pictures is always more fun than eating, sightseeing or relaxing while traveling in foreign countries.

I Go to Cafe TORA

I went to Cafe TORA the other day.
The restaurant moved two times before coming to the current building.

I guess the owners were changed every time, because the menu and the taste of the food were changed.

The cafe is just one minute walk away from our home.

Palatine Hill in Rome

The Palatine Hill is said to be one of the most ancient parts of the city Rome.

According to Wiki,
Rome has its origins on the Palatine.

Excavations show that people have lived in the area since the 10th century BC.

Excavations performed on the hill in 1907 and again in 1948 unearthed a collection of huts believed to have been used for funerary purposes between the 9th and 7th century BC approximating the time period when the city of Rome was founded.

Many affluent Romans of the Republican period (c.509 BC – 44 BC) had their residences there.

From the start of the Empire (27 BC) Augustus built his palace there and the hill gradually became the exclusive domain of emperors; the ruins of the palaces of at least Augustus, Tiberius and Domitian can still be seen.

Water garden of the Domus Augustana

Mausoleum of Hadrian / Castel Sant'Angelo #3

Angel by Raffaello da Montelupo (1504–1566)

According to the Wiki, Raffaello da Montelupo was a sculptor and architect of the Italian Renaissance, and an apprentice of Michelangelo.

There are many angel statues in and around the Castel Sant'Angelo.

I Go to Tobu Hotel

My wife, younger daughter and I went to tobu hotel to have morning buffet during the year-end and New Year holidays.
I went many hotels in my city just for the purpose of having breakfast there. Tobu hotel is the best among them, I think, in terms of taste, service and reasonable price.

May Your New Year Be Filled with Joy and Success!

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