This past weekend I went to Nikko with my internship program, AYUSA Japan. It was a breath of fresh air from the busy city life. We went on a boat ride which was my favorite part of the whole trip. They were very considerate to prepare plastic covers for everyone so we wouldn't get wet.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, we were supposed to walk around the national park to do a stamp tour for 3 hours, but we decided to be lazy people and just wait in the station. While waiting, we soaked our feet in hot water. It was really HOT!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stayed at a nice onsen hotel with very BIG rooms! We also had a delicious dinner. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second day we went to see the Kegon waterfall. It was B-E-A-utiful! To get down to the viewing platform, we had to take an elevator that goes by meters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After seeing the waterfall, we visited the Toshogu. The shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Ieyasu and two other of Japan's most influential historical personalities, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Minamoto Yoritomo. Unfortunately, I only took pictures mentally since it was a sacred place. Then we head back home. We were all hungry and exhausted!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week, me and Kiguchi-kun, a member of sales team went to check the condition of several Sakura Houses in
Ikebukuro and Itabashi area.

After eating lunch in Ukimafunado on JR Saikyo line, we went to Sakura House Shimura Sanchome and Motohasunuma.

Sakura House Motohasunuma, is a large complex building with apartments and guest house units standing just 3 minutes away from Motohasunuma station on subway Mita line.

On the way back to our office, instead of going to the subway station, we decided to walk to Akabane station on JR Saikyo line. It was roughly 20 minutes on foot, but see what we have found between the house and Akabane station !!

It's "Akabane Shizen-kansatsu Koen" (Akabane Nature Observation Park), a large park with baseball field and campground, and a preserved Japanese-style house with a rice field !! Can you imagine it's in the middle of Tokyo ?

It's only 10 minutes from Sakura House Motohasunuma. You can enter the old house for free, jog around the park, play sports, or just sit and relax in the small forest with a creek in the middle.

We feel sorry for not knowing this park for long. If we did know, we could have informed our fellow residents in Motohasunuma...

Location of the park and more pictures:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/14939371

Sakura House Motohasunuma:
http://www.sakura-house.com/english/premise/motohasunuma.php  


 

Sakura House residents are invited to the "Awa Odori" festival 2010
in Nakameguro on August 7th.

It is going to be a great experience to feel Japanese traditional culture!
We will prepare a costume for you and teach you how to dance.
*You must take dance lessons before the festival!

At the Awa Odori (Awa Dance Festival),  dance and walk while they follow
an accompaniment using such instruments as shamisen, drum, brass, and flute.

     
>>Pictures of Awaodori 2009
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36733168@N04/sets/72157621804245257/

[Event] Awa Odori (Dance Festival)
[Date] Saturday, August 7th, 2010 (4:00pm~)
[Place] Around Nakameguro sta.

[NOTE]
*Participation fee is FREE.
*Limited to 15 people.
*You must take dance lessons before the festival!
*The dance lesson schedule: 6:00pm~8:00pm
 July 15th(Thu),20th(Tue),29th(Thu),August 3rd(Tue),5th(Thu)
*You don't have to take part at all the dance lessons. It's negotiable.

Please contact us now if you are interested in it!
contact@sakura-house.com

 

Thank you all of those who surprised us with yummy gifts! 

As you can see on Gaku's expression, we were very pleased:)

Top left:  from Singappore! (jerky and chiffon)

Top right: Salt water taffy from the U.S (apparantely, you can only get these in Florida, California and Georgia!)

Bottom Left: gorgeous chocolates from Belgium, yum.

 

 

 

 

 

Look, isn't he funny looking this orange bird? May be you will meet him the next time you come to the office in Shinjuku. :-)

And another "cute" (real) animal is the oracle octopus Paul from Germany. Have you heard of him?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul became famous for predicting the results of the German soccer matches in the World Cup. Unfortunatlly he also predicted the vitory of Spain over Germany... but still don't eat him!