Mankai – Fully Opened Cherry Blossoms
Have been visiting cherry blossoms spots all week from Osaka to Kyoto to Nara and the blossoms have finally reached 100%! From this point on, blossoms will begin dropping their petals. Saw some cherry blossoms today in Hirakata shedding. Petals were dropping off and blowing in the wind creating the snow effect that many people long to see. The ground was a beautiful mix of brown and whitish pink. The next stage of cherry blossoms will add more color as the green leaves begin to spring...
Read MoreRadiation Air-flow Pattern Over Osaka and Kyoto
According to the Norwegian institute for air research, tomorrow is not a good day to go outdoors in the Kansai region or anywhere else in western Japan, unless you don’t mind taking a chance on getting irradiated. According to them, radiation coming from the Fukushima plant will be passing over the Kansai region starting tonight and throughout the rest of the day tomorrow. Click this site for the air pattern and map. Radiated Air-flow Map Related PostsWarm Weather Should Speed Up C
Read MoreFeeling the Quake in Kansai
For those of you worrying about family or friends living in the Kansai region, Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga, Hyogo (Kobe) and Nara, while many people felt the initial quake down this far south, the Kansai region was not really effected. People in this area should be alright. Wakayama, however, did experience a tsunami along the coastal areas. If your family lives along the coastal area of Wakayama, they may have been effected by the quake. Related PostsOpen Up Costco Kyoto! Crash Course in Driving in Sn
Read MoreJapanese Onsen: Hot Springs Everywhere in the Kansai Area
Do you like hot springs? If so, then if you visit Japan, you will feel like you are in Heaven…if you don’t mind taking your clothes off and bathing with a bunch of other naked people; usually same-sex, not the opposite. Japan is loaded with hot springs. The country lies along the Rim of Fire and has several active volcanoes. Below the earth’s surface, molten lava heats spring water and provides the country with a vast number of healthy mineral hot springs, or onsen in...
Read More
Momiji Viewing Areas in Kansai
In April, Japanese cherry blossoms bring in spring, while the Japanese momiji, known as the Japanese maple, announces autumn has come. If you are traveling in Japan, make sure you come in autumn at least once in your lifetime to see the Japanese maples in their vibrant yellows, oranges and reds. The best known areas to view maple trees are at shrines, temples and gardens. But Japanese maple trees are so abundant, you can just about see them anywhere you go. They are strewn along mountainsides...
Read More
Recent Comments