Innehållsförteckning för Issue 284 från Tokyo Journal

https://busuitei.co.jp/ Delicious and Healthy Herbal Cuisine in Hida Busuitei, founded in 1870, is a Japanese inn that prides itself on its cuisine. Located at the confluence of two rivers, the inn consists of three buildings, each with its distinct charm to accommodate one group of guests per day. Issui, a building with a pure Japanese-style guest room, was built in the early Showa period and survived two disasters. Many literati, such as the well-known novelist Shotaro Ikenami, have stayed here. Busuitei is also famous for its cuisine made with rare herbs grown in Hida’s rich natural environment and prepared in a way that retains their medicinal properties while still being delicious. The owner, an herbal concierge from Hida, gives hiking tours from June to October during which time he shares…

https://iori-stay.com/stays/iori-ojinmachi/ Traditional Hida Townhouse Iori Ojinmachi is a lodging facility that embraces the concept of "living" rather than just "staying," by offering exclusive accommodations for one group per day. By providing a truly immersive experience instead of simply hosting guests, the inn aims to make guests feel like their lives were enhanced by their journey. The inn rests in a tranquil neighborhood where locals also reside. The building was renovated from a 140-year-old traditional townhouse with a spacious atrium adorned with thick beams. It’s filled with traditional Hida Takayama craftsmanship such as Hida Shunkei lacquerware, Hida furniture, and Yamanaka washi paper lighting fixtures. For breakfast, guests receive bento boxes from local eateries featuring locally sourced ingredients to provide an element of the typical ryokan experience. Additionally, to ensure a restful…

https://www.hanaougi.co.jp/ Experience Luxurious Beauty This inn, utilizing rare and valuable lumber such as “Jindai Keyaki” and “Jindai Sugi” which have undergone unique transformations after being buried underground for centuries, along with Yoshino Cedar, allows guests to feel the comfort that nature provides throughout its facilities and rooms. Among them, the guest room "Nishiki" stands out. It features a spacious private garden with an open-air bath equipped with a wooden deck, and the main bedroom is furnished with original twin beds designed by Italian product designer Enzo Mari, catering to guests with a high sense of aesthetics. The water for the open-air bath comes from the inn’s own hot spring, drawn from 1,200 meters underground. The alkaline quality of the spring water gives it a viscous texture, leaving the skin feeling…

TJ: Where was SHOGUN filmed? HOSHI: Everything was shot in British Columbia in Canada. TJ: What was the set like? HOSHI: We shot all of it in Canada, so they built all the sets from scratch, the cities of Osaka and all the houses. If it were shot in Japan, we already have those kinds of houses and we have those kinds of sets, so we might alter the set just a little bit, but the entire city was built from scratch. So that was incredible in terms of the budget as well. TJ: What part of the experience was different to you as an actor? HOSHI: The schedules. They booked quite a long period of time for all the actors, for the shoot as well. They were able to…

What kind of educational institution is the Akademeia 21st Century? The Akademeia 21st Century manages and runs 17 professional training colleges and 1 Japanese language school, in the areas of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. The Tokyo area has the largest number of students, where 5 professional training colleges are running. In the Tokyo area, approximately 1,600 international students are studying every year. Our support systems and a supportive learning environment prepare students for future education and careers. International students can study without worry, aiming to acquire new skills for working in Japan and their home countries, and/or aiming to go to other colleges and universities. Characteristics of Education at the Akademeia 21st Century The Akademeia 21st Century is a well-established group of educational institutions, that was established in 1958.…

Enjoy Old Culture While Surrounded by a Rich Natural Environment Gifu Prefecture is rich in nature. There are mountains over 3,000 meters tall to see in the north and beautiful rivers in the south. You can also walk along streets that have remained the same since the old days. In Takayama, for example, many structures built between the 17th and 19th centuries still stand. The Nakasendo, one of the five routes between Edo (modern Tokyo) and Kyoto developed in the 17th century, has become popular of late. Local lords used these routes to visit Shogun to show their loyalty in the Edo era. People have started to build accommodations in the shukuba-machi, or post towns (towns that historically served as stopping points for mail carriers and travelers on postal routes),…

1 Sew the body bag お手玉となる体の袋を縫う 2 Fill beads in the bag 縫い終わったら中にビーズを詰める 3 Mark the folding line by a pencil 頭巾の折り目に鉛筆で印をつける 4 Complete by sewing the head and the body 頭と胴をつなぎ合わせて完成 ！ INFORMATION Open/10:00~16:00 *15:30 for the last admission Closed/Thursdays Address/1-436 Okamotomachi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture Note/”Making of Sarubobo” from JPY1,900 営業時間 ／10:00～16:00 ※ 最終受付 15:30 休館日 ／ 木曜 住所 ／ 岐阜県高山市上岡本町 1-436 備考 ／「お手玉さるぼぼ作り」、 1,900 円 ～ https://omoidetaiken.jp…

Practical Souvenirs for Special Memories In Magome-kan, a sightseeing spot in the town of Magome-juku, you can buy souvenirs such as bento boxes made of wood from the Kiso Valley, fans made of fresh-smelling hinoki wood and hinoki aroma chips. Kiso Nezuko Geta, or wooden clogs, are also popular as souvenirs because of their beautiful wood grain and coloring from the nezuko tree. Hand-knitted hinoki hats are a good call for walking the Nakasendo Trail because they are light, airy, and cool. Kago, a tearoom with a beautiful Japanese garden, serves delicious Japanese sweets, while Magome-ya serves soba noodles and dishes with seafood and vegetables. 特別な思い出と共に形に残る お土産を 馬籠館は馬籠宿の観光拠点 。 観光情報が得られるほか 、 さまざまな お土産を取りそろえている 。 木曽産の木で作った弁当箱 、 清々しい 香り漂うヒノキの扇子 、 消臭効果のあるヒノキチップといった品々 が並ぶ 。 特にお勧めなのは 、 「木曽ねずこ下駄」と「ヒノキ笠」だ 。 木曽ねずこ下駄は豊かな自然で育った銘木 “ネズコ” ならではの木目 や色の美しさと…

A Game Everyone Can Enjoy Karuta is a traditional Japanese card game played with efuda (illustrated cards) and yomifuda (phrase cards) that contain words or stories corresponding to the illustrations. The simplicity of the cards has made it a popular pastime for children and families for many generations. “It may be surprising now, but in the Edo period, karuta was considered a luxury item and even one of the dowry items. Its explosive popularity among commoners began when it started being used for gambling. Although it's prohibited by law today, many people wanted to play karuta for fun outside of gambling,” says Ms. Tomoko Okuno, the representative of Okuno Karuta-ten. In recent years, karuta has gained attention as a souvenir for foreign tourists because of the beauty of the designs…

Compete for a Championship Title in Kimono In cooperation with All Japan Karuta Association In contrast to casual karuta games played freely with any number of players at home, there is a world of competitive karuta where the classical Ogura Hyakunin Isshu cards are used for one-on-one matches. True to its name, competitive karuta follows strict rules, requiring players to memorize all the 100 waka poems written on the cards, as well as the positions of the cards for each match. Competitors must be quicker and more accurate in taking the cards than their opponent, even by 0.1 seconds, in order to get the upper hand. Both mental and physical strength are demanded through daily training, leading to competitive karuta clubs in many high schools and universities. The Meijin and…

The Takayama Festival is made up of two events: the April 14-15 Sanno Festival and the October 9-10 Hachiman Festival. The former is the annual festival of Hie Jinja, the Shinto shrine of the southern half of the old Takayama castle town; the latter is the annual festival of Sakurayama Hachimangu Jinja, the Shinto shrine of the northern half of town. Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a major scaling back, each festival would attract around 200,000 visitors over the course of two days. Following the easing of the pandemic restrictions in October 2023, the festival made a full-scale comeback. This spring the festival was held at the same scale as before the pandemic, drawing local and international tourists. Floats at the Takayama Matsuri The origin of the Takayama Festival is…

https://ssl.honjinhiranoya.com/ High Quality Hospitality at Honjinhiranoya Kachoan To celebrate Honjinhiranoya Kachoan’s 30th anniversary, the inn opened six new suites in December 2023. Each of them is themed around a single kanji character, as reflected in the interior design. This ryokan, or traditional Japanese inn, boasts terrific hospitality. In Relax Kura, a facility akin to a Japanese-style spa exclusively for women, guests can choose their favorite yukata, a casual kimono, from a variety of options and spend a special moment experiencing Japanese traditional culture. Relax Manten is an open-air bath for men that offers a view of the gorgeous natural scenery. くつろぎを極めた上質なもてなし 創業 30 周年を迎えた「本陣平野屋 花兆庵」では、2023 年 12 月に 6 室 のスイートルームをリニューアルオープンした。 各スイートルームは、 漢字 １ 文字で表現されたテーマに基づいてデザイン。それぞれ内装や調 度品を変えただけでなく、 細部までこだわり抜いた極上の空間に仕上げ られている。 目には見えなくとも体感できるもてなしを基本とし、 日本 ならではの温かく細やかな心配りとともに、 格調高い大人の時間を満喫 できる。また、 離れの古民家に、 日本風スパ施設とも言える、 大人の女 性だけが利用できる「りらっくす蔵」を用意 。たくさんの種類の浴衣か ら好みの１ 着を選び、…

https://www.kakurean.com/en/ Hidden Hot Springs Inn Kakurean Hidaji was renovated from a single-story Japanese traditional house. The design blends traditional and modern aesthetics, providing a sense of tranquility and harmony with nature. With only a dozen rooms scattered across the vast property, guests can enjoy their time without any disturbances. Each room has an open-air bath and a hinoki cypress indoor bath. There are also two outdoor baths in this riverside retreat. In the dining area, each table has a hearth. Seasonal cuisine are made with ingredients from the Hida mountains. The host selects the traditional countryside cuisine himself to make sure that guests can enjoy the particular ingredients and cooking style. 静寂の中に佇む 、 隠れ家的な温泉宿 古民家をリノベーションした「隠庵ひだ路」は、 自然と調和した平屋建 ての宿 。 新旧の美意識を生かした建築は、 訪れるゲストに静寂と興奮を 同時に与えてくれる。 広大な敷地の中に、 客室はわずか 12 室のみ。 誰 にも邪魔されることなく、ゆったりとした時間を過ごすことができる。 開放感あふれる露天風呂と総ヒノキ造りの内湯を全室に完備しているほ か、 川沿いの離れに…

https://www.wanosato.com/en/ Enjoy the rich nature and tradition of Hida Wanosato inn in Hida Takayama is a must-visit place for nature lovers. Situated on approximately 50,000 square meters of untouched nature, guests can enjoy the changing sceneries throughout the seasons. In the public space with a large hearth, you can hear crackling fire as river fish such as ayu and iwana are grilled, along with the sound of the nearby Miyagawa River and waterwheel. It’s a unique inn located at the foot of the Hida Mountains. The main building features three dining areas: Ichii no Ma with a fantastic view through large windows, Amanogawa with vibrant red decor, and Shikou no Ma containing a traditional Japanese sunken hearth adorned with Hida’s traditional lacquerware technique called Shunkei-nuri on the walls and floors.…

TJ: How did you get involved with this series? ROSARIO: Ed McDonnell was the producer on my first job as an assistant designer long ago, so we always stayed in touch and tried to find ways to work together, but it never worked out. When he was attached to SHOGUN, that was just right after the pandemic. He emailed me and he asked me if I was interested in interviewing for the job. TJ: What attracted you to the period in which the film takes place? ROSARIO: I thought it was fascinating because I felt like the Sengoku period was much more connected to nature; it was much rawer, much more textural, less sort of sophisticated than the Edo period. Most Japanese movies usually portray the Edo period. There…

Shohei Ohtani is a phenomenon: a two-way superstar whose feats on the baseball diamond defy belief. Yet, for all his on-field brilliance, there remains a curious distance between the player and the public – a chasm bridged by interpreters, a filter that muffles the authentic voice of one of the most compelling figures in sports. We’ve witnessed the rise of countless athletic legends. The charismatic Muhammad Ali and Pele, the intensely competitive Michael Jordan and Serena Williams, and the calm and collected Joe Montana and Jack Nicklaus all transcended their sports to become cultural icons. A key element in their ascent? They made direct connections with their fans. Their words and their personalities shaped their legacies as much as their accomplishments. Ohtani, with his otherworldly talent, has the potential to…

Asumo master, who had achieved the second highest rank, ozeki during his active career, made a comment while recalling his hardship of a long absence due to a knee injury. I still remember his words clearly. “I was conceited by my success at that time. I had to experience a setback. Thanks to that, I was able to learn so many things.” When I think back on his comment, two Japanese words come to mind. Both sound similar, yet have very different meanings. ‘Seiko (success)’ and ‘Seicho’ (growth)’ When we experience difficulty in life, we struggle to overcome the situation. When we think back on it later, we sometimes happen to notice: That adversity was needed for my growth as a person. It was a necessary providence. Because of that…

Government Buildings in the Edo Era Takayama Jinya was the Edo government’s administrative office for Hida and the Gifu Prefecture after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Twenty-five magistrates were deployed from Edo to this office. Among the 60 or more magistrates’ offices at the end of the Edo era, only Takayama Jinya remains. It has been declared a national historical site. Another building from the Edo period is a rice storehouse that was moved from Takayama Castle in 1695 and was used to keep agricultural taxes. Now it is a resource center where visitors can study the history of Takayama Jinya and Hida. It is one of the oldest and biggest existing agricultural tax warehouses. 江戸時代の役所の建築と 設備を見られる 高山陣屋は、 江戸幕府が飛騨を直接統治するために設置した役所で あり、25 人の代官・郡代が江戸から派遣され、ここで執務を行った。 建物は明治時代以降も飛騨の行政機関として使用され続け、1969 年 まで岐阜県の地方事務所として用いられた。 幕末には全国に 60 数 か所あったといわれる代官・郡代所の中で、 当時の主要建物が残さ れているのはこの高山陣屋のみであり、…

Slip Back in Time to the Edo Era in Magome-juku Magome-juku is a must-see place in the Nakatsugawa area. In this post town, a rest stop for travelers, you can enjoy nostalgic cafés and try out local snacks such as rice crackers, oyaki and Gohei-mochi. The old, cobbled streets invoke a feeling of being in the Edo era as you walk along them. Located between Nagano Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture, you can see the spectacular Mount Ena in the Kiso Mountains and the clear blue sky from a viewing point at the top of the town. You can also visit Tsumago-juku, a post town to the west on the Nakasendo route in Nagano Prefecture. No matter where you are in Magome-juku and where you travel to from there, the scenery…

Historic Castles in Gifu In the Warring States era (1467 to 1567) in Japan, local lords fought each other for political power. In Hida and Mino, two cities in modern Gifu Prefecture, many castles were built on top of the many mountains for better defense against enemies. This later became a characteristic of all the castles in the prefecture. Gifu Castle and Gujo Hachiman Castle were built on the tops of steep mountains and are now considered some of the best castles in the region. Almost 800 castles are reported to be left in the prefecture from the Warring States period. 岐阜に来たら名城へ行こう 戦国時代 （15 世紀後半〜 16 世紀後半頃 ） 、 日本全国で勢力を拡大し た大名たちが台頭し、それぞれが天下統一の野心を抱いて各地で戦 火を交えていた。 当時 、「飛騨国」、 「美濃国」に分かれていた岐阜県 も例外ではなく、 山が多い地形を活用した戦略性・戦術性の高い城 が多く建築された。これらは、 後世になって県内に残る城の特徴と して捉えられるようになる。 岐阜城 、 郡上八幡城も急峻な山の上に 建てられたもので、 現在ではいずれも観光客の足が途絶えない名城 となっている。このほかにも県内には約 800カ所の城郭が残ってい るとされ、 名高い城は枚挙にいとまがない。 野望渦巻く戦国時代に…

Chu-hi, sometimes spelled chu-hai, is short for shochu highball, a popular Japanese shochu and soda water cocktail with splashes of fruit juices or flavorings. The ratio of water to shochu ranges anywhere from three to one to five to one, yielding an alcohol by volume measuring 4.5% to 5.5%, and some even reaching as high as 9%. Because of their simplicity and ease of customization, chu-hi’s are the best-selling alcoholic drink at izakayas, or Japanese pubs, and are widely enjoyed at home gatherings as well. Chu-hi’s are said to have originated in a downtown Tokyo pub after World War II. As there was a shortage of other alcoholic drinks in those times, the readily available and inexpensive shochu was mixed with carbonated water into a shochu highball. As time passed,…

Gifu Prefecture has been gaining in popularity as a place to experience the essence of Japan. It has vast natural landscapes, 3,000-meter-tall mountains, and a rich history and culture that has been flourishing since the late 15th century. Gifu is the seventh largest of the country’s 47 prefectures. Takayama, a city in the southern Gifu region of Hida, hosts the Takayama Festivals twice a year, attracting people from across Japan and abroad. Getting to the city takes about two-and-a-half hours on the JR Tokaido Main Line from Nagoya Station in Nagoya, Aichi to Takayama Station. It’s best to book accommodations early during festival times in April and October. A good place to start your visit is in the Nakasendo area, where you can stroll through old villages, and then head…

https://www.associa.com/tky/ Open-air Baths with a Panoramic View of Takayama City After visiting Hida Takayama, the open-air baths overlooking the city is the perfect place to relax your mind and body. At Hotel Associa Takayama Resort, such baths are located on the fifth and seventh floors, offering different views and atmospheres for a relaxing time. The Ten no yu on the seventh floor creates an outstanding sense of liberation that can only be experienced on the top floor. There are various types of baths to enjoy such as rock baths, taru buro (pot baths), cypress baths, and utase yu (massage baths). For dinner, the teppanyaki restaurant called Mine, one of the four restaurants in the hotel, serves Hida beef cooked on an iron plate right in front of you, as well…

https://www.sumiya-villa.com/town/hagakure/ Relax on Sumiya Hagakure’s Stone Terrace Sumiya Hagakure is a lodge that blends Western antiques with modern Japanese aesthetics. A standout feature in the guest rooms is the stone terrace, where the walls are adorned with stacked stones. These moss-covered stones were originally placed about 500 years ago by the lord of Takayama Castle when he was building a temple. Facing the terrace are the living and dining area and an open-air bath for guests to relax during their stay. Guests who are interested in the neighborhood’s history and geography can take advantage of the concierge service. The staff members are knowledgeable about the town’s secrets and can recommend various restaurants and spots to explore. For breakfast, the menu includes rice balls made with locally grown rice, miso soup…

https://en.823kan.com Relax in a Scenic Ryokan in Hida Travelers who want a place to rest should stop at the Yatsusankan ryokan, an inn in a building with over 170 years of history. They serve cuisine made from seasonal ingredients unique to the town of Hida Furukawa. In late autumn, ayu fish caught from Hida streams make a delicious meal. From the large windows of the spacious Japanese-style rooms, guests can enjoy the sights of the Arakigawa River and Honkouji Temple. In Seika no Ma, a room using precious woods, the wooden architecture provides a soothing atmosphere to take a foot bath. The building boasts a roofed garden with an open-air bath for guests to rest among the lush nature. Yatsusankan is great for couples who want to leisurely enjoy Japan’s…

TJ: How did you get started in your career? NISHIKAWA: It’s a strange story. When I visited my university’s career bulletin board, I saw an ad for a job opening at Studio Ghibli. I wasn’t planning to apply, but my girlfriend at the time recommended that I do. So, I applied and passed the test. After joining the company, I had a very hard time since I didn’t know much about animation. I studied very hard to catch up. TJ: Were you surprised when you passed? NISHIKAWA: I was very surprised. When I got back home from university, I received an acceptance letter from Studio Ghibli. When I saw the result, I couldn’t help yelling out in happiness. I had failed to enter university for three years, and I knew…

Experience Living History in Hida no Sato Museum Hida no Sato (Hida Folk Village), an open-air museum of Japanese farmhouses, shows life in the old days of Hida through collections of folk handcrafts and replica houses. This reproduction of traditional culture, events, and folk beliefs preserves the ways that Japanese lived in the Edo period. You can watch how artists made traditional crafts in specialty craft houses. Seasonal events and demonstrations are held for adults to children, such as rice planting and harvesting in wheel-shaped rice paddies, and origami crafts like carp banners and decorations for moon viewing. Between April and November, the neighboring Hida Takayama Crafts Experience Center offers daily programs on traditional sewing and braiding for families to learn about Japanese traditions. 飛騨地方の懐かしい暮らしが 体感できる さまざまな民具コレクションや移築された民家があり 、 昔の飛騨地 方の暮らしを今に伝える集落博物館「飛騨民俗村…

Trace the Life of Literary Giant Toson Shimazaki Toson Shimazaki is known for his novel Before the Dawn, which is set in Kiso. The Toson Memorial Museum, designated as a Japanese heritage site, was built where his natal home stood in Magome. You can trace his life in Magome and days afterward by looking through the original novel. 文豪 、 島崎藤村の生涯をたどる 木曽を舞台にした代表作『夜明け前』で知られる小説家 、 島崎藤村 。 日本遺産にも登録されている「藤村記念館」は、 藤村が生まれ育っ た馬籠の地に建てられている。 館内には、 小説の原本や藤村にま つわる資料が展示されており、 馬籠で暮らしていた藤村の生活 、 その後の日々をたどることができる。 INFORMATION Open/9:00~17:00 (April to November) 9:00~16:00 (December to March) *Enter 15 minutes before the closing time Admission/Adults: 500JPY Junior high and Elementary school students: 100JPY Closed/Wednesdays between December and February Address/4256-1 Magome, Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture 開館時間 ／9:00～17:00（4 月 ～11 月 ）／9:00～16:00（12 月 ～3 月 ） ※ 入館は閉館 15 分前まで。 入館料 ／500 円 （ 大 人…

Sake Tasting Sake is Japanese alcoholic beverage made of fermented rice, koji (malted rice) and water. Many tourists visit sake breweries to enjoy the different local varieties around Japan. Hazama Sake Brewery, which has been around for more than 200 years, sticks to a traditional sake using only rice, malted rice, and water to enhance the beverage. Under the concept of “easy-to-drink sake even for beginners,” the brewery produces a fruity sake with a rich flavor, slight sweetness and low in alcoholic aroma. Visitors can tour the brewery and explore the equipment for free and also enjoy sake tasting. The brewery sells souvenir sets for JPY1,000, which includes a 300 ml bottle of sake and a small cup. Visit Hazama Brewery to experience how traditional sake is made. 日本酒が初めての人にこそ 飲んでほしい…

TJ: What kind of projects are you working on?  FREUND: Most of the nationwide activities we’ve been involved in are a series of exhibitions, like we typically do. These include a variety of private events and festivals. It’s a broad range—from YPO [Young Presidents’ Organization] and EO [Entrepreneurs’ Organization] events to charity functions, Japanese festivals, and even botanical gardens. Internationally, we've participated in a few major amateur world sumo events and engaged in various filming projects. TJ: Is sumo gaining popularity outside Japan? FREUND: Absolutely. It’s hard to compare the level of sumo worldwide or amateur sumo to what it is in Japan, of course. But anecdotally, 20 to 25 years ago, I would get a few emails a month from people interested in joining. Now, it’s usually at least…

1 Ogura Hyakunin Isshu: Utage/小倉百人一首 歌宴 A gem with a sense of culture and aesthetics Hyakunin Isshu cards have an artistic aspect to them. The luxurious version, featuring handmade cards stored in a lacquered wooden box, exudes the timeless beauty of Japanese aesthetics. It is priced at 25,300 yen. 伝統と美意識を感じる逸品 日本に古くから伝わる百人一首は、芸術品としての側面も持つ。手包み貼りで作られた札を、漆で仕上げた木箱に収めた高級品は、とこしえに変わらぬ日本の美意識を放つ。25,300 円 2 ZOO PARK ~Picture Matching of Animals~ズーパーク An intuitively enjoyable game Head, Body, and Tail is a simple game of combining three cards to complete the illustrations of different animals. It is popular among children for its straightforward gameplay and realistic illustrations reminiscent of a picture book. Priced at 1,078 yen. 直感的に遊べる絵合わせゲーム 「頭」「胴」「尾」の3 枚のカードを組み合わせて、動物の図柄を完成させる絵合わせ。ひと目で分かるシンプルな内容と、図鑑のようなリアルなイラストで子どもたちに人気。1,078 円 3 WHACK A WAKA Hyakunin English A Japanese poem card game WHACK A WAKA 百人イングリッシュa Japanese poem card game The world’s first English…