Japan`s Golden Week

We`re coming up on Japan`s Golden Week. Golden Week gets it`s name from Golden Time, or what we call in the USA (Prime Time) like on radio or TV. Golden Time or Prime Time is the time when the most people listen to the radio or watch the TV, right? Well, Golden Week is when the most people travel and /or play in Japan. The week has three National Holidays, so depending on the day of the week that they fall on, a trip out of country is even possible. This without having to delve into your annual leave time. Nice, huh?
The three holidays are 1~ May 3 Constitution Memorial Day, 2~ May 4 Greenery Day, and 3~ May 5 Children`s Day, or Boy`s Day to distinguish it from Girl`s Day , which is on March 3. Just before Golden Week, on  April 29 is Showa Day, which is the Birthday of the deceased Showa Emperor Hirohito.Although Showa Day is not part of Golden Week, it is considered by some to be included.
Constitution Day and Greenery Day aren`t special, but Children`s Day has it`s celebration. Usually, starting  a few weeks before Children`s Day, families rig up the Koinobori in the yard. Koinobori is a set of windsocks made to look like carp, Koi. They"fly" these koi on poles in the yard. They are very large and "fly" beautifully in the wind. Much smaller ones are also made for people who live in apartments to "fly" on their verandas.
Why carp(Koi)? They are very hardy fish and they represent courage and perseverance,  characteristics parents want for their boys to have.
I`m sure many of you have seen these windsocks. In The USA I`ve seen them used a wall hangings. I also once saw one rigged up as a shower curtain, which was pretty awesome! I`ve included some pictures in the hope that you can get an idea of how they are used. They are really beautiful "flying" in the wind!

Doctor Fish

Have you heard of  Doctor Fish?
(According to Wikipedia: The Doctor fish or "Garra Rufa ", also known as the nibble fish, is from Turkey. It is used in Turkish spas as a treatment for skin diseases such as psorisis. The fish only consumes affected and dead skin leaving healthy skin to grow.)
The Hotel I stayed at in Okinawa had a setup in the shopping area, the setup being a small pool with benches surrounding the pool . You set on the bench and dangle your feet in the pool. The fish nibble on your feet ....yes , they nibble on your feet! The first minute of this was like nothing I`ve ever experienced! It doesn`t hurt! It tickles? Vibrates? I`m at a loss for words! If you make it through the first minute without loosing it... it`s actually a vibrating massage feeling that feels good! (I paid 500 yen for 10 minutes, about $5.) After 10 minutes my feet were very smooth and the dead skin was gone! PLUS...I felt quite refreshed! The tiredness I had felt in my feet was gone.
Hey, don`t take my  word for it! If you get the chance...try it!
I highly recommend it!

Doctor Fish!


Have a nice day!!

Okinawa R&R

Took a "Girl Trip" to Okinawa! The ultimate R&R! Don`t want to knock trips with my husband, but Girl Trips are really fun! Non stop giggling, and talking! True " Rest and Relaxation"!! My travel Buddy was Teru.... we travel well together....hehehe!!

I`ve been in Japan for over 40 years, and this was my first trip to Okinawa.

Okinawa is part of Japan, but it`s like going to another country. Even the Okinawans consider themselves Okinawans first and Japanese second!

We came with a tour group for two nights and three days. The good thing about tours is that everything is all set up for you so. No fuss!

The first day, upon arriving at Ishigaki Island, we stopped on the way to the Hotel to visit some beautiful caves!

The second day we left the Hotel early and took a trip to a nearby island, Iriomote Island, where we took a "Jungle Cruise" through the mongroves. Talk about breathtaking! Mother Nature surely outdid herself when she created the mongroves!

Then we took a short ride on a water buffalo cart to a smaller island that is a botanical garden. Lovely!

After returning to the Hotel, Teru and I took a walk to a nearby Super Market. What better way to get to know a place than to go to the market? Real "Girl Country"! If I were many years younger, I would probably say that the bars are the place to go to get to know the people, but I`m a Granny so cut me some slack, OK?

The third day was spent on Ishigaki Island. We took a ride on a glass bottom boat. WOW! I now understand why Okinawa is a scuba diver`s paridise! The beautiful tropical fish, the coral, the unpolluted ocean water, these are all God`s gift to the Okinawan people, and they are taking very good care of these gifts.

In between seeing all of these attractions there was alot of shopping. This is the only problem I have with tour groups. So much shopping time! I`m not that big of a shopper! Oh well, just use that as "Chill" time!

We had a great time ! Three days of "talkin` story" and still things to say! Girls! Let`s do it again soon, Teru! And for those of you who visist my blog.....I highly recommend Okinawa to add to your "Wanna GO""Wanna SEE" lists! My rating is Five Star PLUS!!

Cherry Willow

This is a Cherry Willow in full bloom and majesty! The flowers are a deeper pink than regular Cherry blossoms and have a longer tree life.

It`s on the grounds of the Shrine next door to our place. It looks like it`s been pruned and shaped, almost like a Bonsai tree. This is " au natural"! It is just soooo beautiful, I had to share it with whoever visits my blog!

Isn`t it breathtaking!?!

Cherry Blossom Experience

Spring in Japan is Cherry Blossom Time!

The country becomes completely tied up with Cherry Blossoms.
The News even broadcasts the Cherry Blossom Forecast!

There are other flowering trees in Japan, but none has the devotion and love that is given to the Cherry Blossom(Sakura). The Sakura is truly God`s gift to Japan. The lovely, fragile, short lived blossoms captured the hearts and souls of the Japanese people centuries ago and has remained number one. The Sakura has been the theme of poems, stories, art, and legends. Special Tours are planned by Tour Companies to take us to the more famous and beautiful locations. There is Sakura flovored gum, tea, dumplings, candy, ice cream, even cocktails.

A common greeting in the Spring is "Have you been to "Hanami"?( "Hanami" roughly translated is "Cherry Blossom Viewing") Hanami is basically a picnic under the cherry tree when it is in full bloom. There are Company`s Hanami, Organization`s Hanami, Club`s Hanami, group`s Hanami,
family`s Hanami , formal, informal, day and night when the cherry trees are lit up with floodlights. Daytime Hanami is more for families and other groups. Companies and Organizations go more for late afternoon and lasting into the night. These usually include drinking "sake" or beer, "karaoke" and general boisterousness. The formal Hanami will include the "tea ceremony" and "kaiseki",which is a traditional Japanese style meal.

Spring and Hanami!!
Don`t you just love it?!

You can even plan your trip to Japan around the Sakura and create your own "Cherry Blossom Experience"!!

Have a Nice Day!!