April 18th and 19th 2015 saw the annual Yatai Matsuri, a local weekend of music, food and fun in downtown Otawara, Tochigi prefecture. The Yatai festival is an annual spring festival in the calendar. Yatai are traditionally smallish, mobile food stalls in Japan typically selling ramen or other food. The name literally means “shop stand.” The Yatai at… Read More Yatai Festival 2015
I had a few spare hours one morning in Tokyo in early April, which was just as the Cherry Blossom was peaking there. I caught the subway over towards the Imperial Palace and the Chidorigafuchi moat, which is one of a dozen different moats around the palace, that are known for their spectacular Cherry Blossoms. The… Read More Sakura viewing at Chidorigafuchi and Yasukuni shrine
April in Tochigi is like most of Japan, Cherry Blossom time and Nogi Shrine is one of the lovely viewing spots in this area. Despite the on and off rain, I went to Nogi shrine to see the Sakura. Nogi shrine is in the Nishinasuno area and is one of Tochigi prefectures historical sites. At the… Read More Nogi shrine & Lake
