‘kanazawa’ カテゴリーのアーカイブ

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Yukitsuri, protection agaist heavy snow

2013年11月2日 土曜日

November 1st is the day when gardeners start to build Yukitsuri in Kenrokuen garden. Yukitsuri is a sign that winter is around corner, winter feature in Kanazawa. Yukitsuri is a protection for branches of trees against heavy snow. Gardeners begin Yukitsuri at a a big pine tree, called Karasaki-no-matsu at first. Four cedar poles are set up at the pine tree. The highest pole is 15 meter-high. A gardener climbs a pole to the top, and throw down straw ropes tied to the pole top. About 100 to 200 ropes are thrown, and tied to branches of the pine tree in cooperation with other gardeners. 12 gardeners work together in cooperation. An aesthetic sense is also important to set up straw ropes. It is impressive to make them look circular cones like unfolding umbrellas. Please enjoy the photos I took on November 1,2013.

 

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Cherry flowers in Kanazawa

2013年4月4日 木曜日

Cherry flowers are almost in full bloom in Kanazawa on Thursday, April 4th, 2013. It is one week earlier than uasual. Here is Ex-castle moat.

Cherry flowers beautifully decorate the castle gate.

The nail hides of the castle gate make an interesting contrast with cherry flowers.

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Sakuda gold leaf workshop

2013年1月20日 日曜日

Remains of gold leaf refuse are used as reuse for gold leaf, sprinkle in sake or tea or on food, adding in lotion.  Gold leaf production in Kanazawa accounts for 99 percent of Japan’s total gold leaf production.

Artisan inspects gold leaf, which is placed between sheets of specially processed Washi, Japanese paper. Washi is processed by soaking in the water mixed with astringent persimmon juice, straw ash and white part of egg for around 3 months.

One bundle has 1,800 sheets of Washi, and between Washi gold leaf sheet is placed like a sandwich.

The pounding machine imported from Germany is used to roll out the gold leaf sheet. 3 minutes beats and 10 minutes rest for cool down during  3 days repeat is carried out.

Big sounds accompanying the machine running is somewhat enjoyable for visitors.

カテゴリー: kanazawa, workshop | コメントは受け付けていません。

Omicho market crowded with year-end shoppers

2012年12月31日 月曜日

Red-skinned kamaboko and white kamaboko are typical ingredients of New Year’s dish. Red and white are considered to bring good luck.

Kamabo is translated as fish paste, minced fish, fish sausage, fish cake, fish loaf,  or fish minced and steamed.  But, I don’t think whatever English name can express the delicious taste of kamaboko.  So, kamaboko is  kamaboko.

Various kinds of kamaboko for New Year’s food are sold at kamaboko shop, Omicho market.

Omicho market has about 270 years history, originated as the Kaga local lord’s kitchen. Shoppers are crowed in the narrow alley, and snatch food for New Year’s dish .

Kuwai is translated as threeleaf arrowhead. Kuwai is considered as an auspicious food. It has a arrow-like bud. People belive that good luck will visit when you eat kuwai. So, it is one of the ingredient of New Year’s food.

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Hawthorn in Kenrokuen Garden

2012年10月23日 火曜日

Hawthorn in Kenrokuen Garden bears red fruits.The tree is called Sanzashi in Japanese. Haw means hedge and thorn means sting or spine. In the UK, the tree is used as hedge surrounding home. It is also called may tree.  In the language of flower, the tree signifies hope. The tourists from the UK say that the fruit is smaller than here in Japan.

Hawthorn is the state flower of Missouri, USA.

Hawthorn blooms start after cherry flowers. It is also called white thorn.

I took these photos on May 19,2013.

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Kanazawa Station, JR Train Station

2012年9月5日 水曜日

Omotenashi Dome, a big hall with a glassed-in roof top. It suggests unfolding a big umbrella. US Travel Magazine” Travel Leisure” picks up  Kanazawa Station as one of the World’s Most Beautiful Train Stations. The Station is introduced in No.7  out of 16 stations in the magazine.

Tsuzumimon Gate, a big wooden hand-drum shaped gate. Noh Play is very popular among the citizens in Kanazawa. Small hand-drums called Tsuzumi are used as one of the music instruments in a Noh Play.

Tudumi, a small hand drum for a Noh Play. You can get high pitch when you squeeze the code.

A cool fountain in front of the Tudumimon Gate attracts tourists. Welcome words both in English and Japanese, and time are displayed like a digital clock.

Bus Stop No.3 is where loop bus for Kanazawa sight-seeing leaves and arrives every 12 minutes.  One-way loop bus covers main tourist attractions.

A bronze kettle art work is displayed near Bus Stop No.3. Here is the bus stop for Kanazawa one-day loop bus. I want to start one-day no reservation tour by taking a loop bus. It is a temporary project to see the demand. No tour, when Takashi’s  schedule is booked. Contact!

A colorful midsize bus is in service  for one-day sight-seeing loop bus.

Hokutetsu Ekimae Center, where you can get a one-day loop bus ticket. A few steps from bus stop No.1 of the east gate of the station.

Forus building with a big screen depicting Kanazawa.

A coffee shop under the big screen.

Hotels around the station are as follows.

ANA Crown Plaza Kanazawa Hotel

Hotel Nikko Kanazawa, JAL Hotel

APA Hotel Kanazawa Ekimae

Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Kanazawa Miyako Hotel

Hotel Kanazawa

Hotel Via Inn Kanazawa

Post Office in the Station, where ATM is installed.

 

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Oyama-jinja Shrine

2012年4月30日 月曜日

A Miko is a maiden, who conducts ceremonies to worship gods at a shrine. A Miko wearing red and white costumes was sweeping the stone steps of Shinmon gate, which is designated as a national important cultural property. The stained glass windows installed on the third floor resemble Dutch design.

Oyama-jinja shrine was first built in 1599. Nowadays the shrine dedicates the soul of the founder of Kaga clan, Toshiie Maeda.

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Kaga Yuzen silk dyeing

2012年4月24日 火曜日

Kaga Yuzen is a silk dyeing of traditional designs, which has flourished as one of traditional arts and crafts unique to Kanazawa. The yuzen artisan explains his joint work with overseas visitors to color the design on silk.

One design is painted by each visitor. So, a visitor chooses one of the patterns.

The visitor starts coloring a butterfly pattern.

The designs are drawn with indigo plant ink, called Aobana. Aobana juice is extracted from Tsuyukusa which is translated as a spiderwort or a dayflower. You can enjoy the coloring of designs.

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Sweeping the streambed of Kenrokuen garden

2012年3月27日 火曜日

I encountered a rare scene at Kenrokuen garden when guiding tourists overseas. Gardeners were  sweeping a streambed on March 26, 2012. They used bamboo brooms. Administrative office of the garden says it’s for removing algae and dirt on pebbles. Stream water comes 11 km upstream of the Saigawa river through tunnel and open canal. That’s why Alga grows thich within two to three days. If you let alga grow freely, it will stick to a pebble and become very difficult to remove. So, sweeping work is carried out separate two days every week.

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Pottery Shaping Demonstration

2012年3月24日 土曜日

The fifth generation of Kutani Kosen-Gama pottery kiln workshop demonstrated how to shape porcelain to visitors overseas. He throwed a rice bowl and a Sake bottle on an electric powered potter’s wheel. He made them less than ten minutes. We admired his skillfull technique with hand clapping. This Kutani pottery kiln was founded in 1870.

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