Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 11, part 3

21.35, Landmark Tower
Curse that day when I decided to have a brief look at Yokohama during one day. I must have been blind to the fact this city is so large and has so much to visit. Coming to the observation deck half an hour before it closes while it has such a lovely cafe where we could sit and sip coffee... I guess this is the case of 'okaaaay next time I'll spare more time!'

 

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 11, part 2

15.40, Yokohama doll museum

It seems that the legend of three monkeys who see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil, is not actually unique to Japan. Some say, it has come through China via Silkroad from Africa.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 11, part 1

13.14, Diplomat's house

I think I'll take this one. And my friend U-chan will take the Bluff 18. And since they face each other, we'll visit each other and have tea and cakes.

 

13.55, Berrick Hall

Or maybe I could stay here. In the evening guests would gather near the entrance and I would come o greet them from the second floor, and my long skirt would fall down on the steps as I descend.

 

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 10, part 2

17.00, Chihiro art museum
Even though we came 15 minutes before closure, I don't regret visiting. Even though we came to see light watercolour sketches of children playing and summer flowers - yes, we saw them too - the biggest discovery were the grey-coloured impressions of war.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 10, part 1

14.45, Edo Tokyo open air architectural museum
Just in case you were wondering - and I was - they had it all a hundred years ago. A watercloset with shower, toilet, cooling fans to help you in the summer sultry air, to say nothing of big nice rooms with wooden carvings and tatami or walls painted in quiet colours. Yes, I wouldn't change the modern comfort for those times forever, but if people asked me where and when I would try to travel in time, I think I'd choose a family of entrepreneurs of Meiji or Showa era, or a house of one of the first diplomats in the country.
I think this space, Edo Tokyo open air architectural museum, is the biggest gain I had through buying Grutto pass. A park of such a scale that it is beyond belief that the ticket would only be 400 yen if we didn't have Grutto.

A Japanese visitor asked me whether I could read the sign above. I couldn't see the sign itself so he thougt I couldn't read it and explained to me that one part of this public bath is for men and the other for women. As if I doubted...

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 9, part 5

22.35, Konica Minolta planetarium Tenku
'Live in the dark' - what could be easier than arranging a live performance in a planetarium, but it's the first time I visit a performance like this. For one hour concert it may be expensive, for such an unusual world of sounds and figures and shapes - I think I visited another world, even if just for one hour.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 9, part 4

17.55, Amuse museum Though I came to see woodblock prints here, to my surprise the exhibition of 'boro' - old patchwork pieces of clothing and interior items - impressed me much more. Personal stories told by Akira Kurosawa - carefully translated into English by the way - made viewing the exhibits even more interesting. We really should learn how to use small spaces form Japan. I think I spent 30 minutes in another world.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 9, part 3

15.12, Blue point
In modern voguish places like Meguro and Shirokanedai, restaurants are fashionable too. I've never been to such restaurants and I wasn't sure if they didn't exist only in movies, but it seems you can find them in reality - light wooden furniture, high ceilings, books on shelves high above your head - not for reading, just for display, a terrace and big windows that make the place look spacious, and friendly staff, all of them - surprisingly - not Japanese.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 9, part 2

13.45, Matsuoka museum of art
In a small building you won't notice, just like in Sato Sakura museum, are many treasures on display. Travelling through time from ancient Egypt, China and India items to 19-20 centuries impressionist vivid pictures.
Isn't it very, very tender and beautiful - Le bateau d'oranges, Marseille. I've encountered Paul Signac today.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 9, part 1

12.25, Institute for Nature Study park
The first park in Japan I'm disappointed with. The first time ever that I visit a park in Japan and find not a single place to make a photo...

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 8, part 3

21.24, Chatei Hatou
I seldom use Internet articles or blog posts for information when it comes to cafes and restaurants, but this time it was the right choice to follow the advice. I don't even mind people smoking inside.
For some reason I started to wonder if they have Russian tea or coffee cups here, and if not - how they would react if I sent them one.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 8, part 2

15.16, Yamatane museum
I've already stopped taking photos of every dish I eat, but I cannot help taking photo of desserts of Tsubaki cafe.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 8, part 1

13.20, Sato Sakura museum
I finally saw this with my own eyes - Yoshiro Shimizu's 'Prelude'. All other paintings are great and astonishing with only few exceptions, but this is overwhelming. I said to my friend I now have to visit this place... But at the same time I'm not sure if I wouldn't be less impressed by the real thing than by this artwork.
I would say this is my today's sudden encounter, but for the fact I've seen this picture on the museum website already. However, even if we don't meet for the first time, I feel so overwhelmed by it.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 7, part 2

20.10, Night Aquarium

It does seem strange to me that telling scary stories can make you feel cooler in summer, or that watching goldfish can, but surely watching goldfish in colourful containers in a dark room with mist flowing from above, with a cocktail in your hand will make you feel refreshed.

20.55, Coredo Muromachi

Among classical buildings, in a futuristic city - paper lanterns, as if in olden days... I wanted to say my today's encounter is with goldfish, but now only in the aquarium - on the evening street.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 7, part 1

18.52, Bunmeido cafe
The plane was delayed due to thunderstorm, and the train was delayed due to rain, which made it impossible to make it for the Tokyo sea life park, open until 5. And, made it possible to sit here and relax with nice food and original coffee. 

I think I know now why Japanese cafes look so nice - high ceilings, furniture, floor and walls of similar colours, minimalistic design like here - with only bamboo shoots to decorate the terrace, or small sunflowers on the windowsills.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 6, part 2

19.50, Gintama exhibition
The conclusion I made for myself after visiting this venue is - the mangaka seems to be the person who has the most fun from this work...
My today's encounter is with these three...

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 6, part 1

14.45, Takarazuka Great Theatre hall
They really do like creating special cocktails for events and performances here. Doesn't matter if the cocktail itself is nothing special. But I have a performance-themed plastic cup for myself now...

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 5, part 2

16.50, somewhere on the Kishin line
After a sudden summer rain, sun shines in the gap between clouds, then rain falls again, and mist is gathering in the mountains. The nature is so wild here that these stations don't even have automated gates and you have to show your ticket to the driver in the front car.

18.50, sunflower fields
I thought the place would be even bigger, but this amount of sunflowers is astonishing too. I do think I could spend more time here if it weren't so hot in the afternoon. Coming here at the end of the day is just right.
A large field of my new friends - Sayo's sunflowers. My today's encounter.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 5, part 1

13.30, Himeji castle
It's not a good idea, not a good idea at all to visit castles in July. 31 degrees in the air around you, and you have to go up and up to the fortress on the hill...
And still, I cannot stop wondering how beautiful these ancient treasures are when you look at them close.

15.20, Kokoen garden
The plate near the entrance says 'Lord's Garden'. Oh yes, if I were a lord I would want a garden like this to think of the future of my estate. Or better to say, it's nice to be a lord, even if you have to think about the future of your estate, when you have a garden like this.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 4, part 3

21.37, Cafe 1923
We didn't make it for Glion museum, since it is open until 8 in the evening, not 10 like the guidebook says. But we are here in this retro-style cafe enjoying cocktails and snacks to our hearts content.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 4, part 2

19.32, on board of Santa Maria
This is probably the coolest place in today's 31 degree hot weather.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 4, part 1

16.00, near Kobe Meriken park
It's sunny and hot, but we saw Nippon maru, Kaiou maru and Pallada enter the port and moor right in front of us.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 3, part 5

22.30, Kitahama Rumba
I am even glad it's hot. This probably enhances my feelings of a cold cocktail, fresh vegetables and grilled shrimps.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 3, part 4

20.50, Hep Five ferris wheel
Even though the text on the stand says waiting time is 30 minutes, we only lined up for 15 or 20. Just like I said that observation deck of Umeda Sky is good in daylight as well as in the night, the ferris wheel offers a good view in the evening as well as in daylight.

Our hot trip to Japan 2017. Day 3, part 3

18.00, Umeda Sky Building observation deck
Daylight and sunset are beautiful here too. No less than evening scenery.

 There are pictures in the hall, judging by the old name plates they have been here for a long time.

 You only get to look at the Sky Building down from earth, so here is how it looks from above.

19.57, Koji Kinutani Tenku art museum
I'm going to promote this place. We were the only visitors here even though it's not expensive and it's included in the Osaka amazing pass pamphlet. This artist is great! A 3d short movie which allows you to dive into his world, and a number of interesting works... Even strange... Plus, free entrance for foreigners on some days.
This is my today's unexpected encounter.

 Some Tanabata traces still left here