Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県 - Day 5: Kasama-shi 笠間市, Hitachi-shi 日立市

Day 5: 10.11.2017 (Fri)
* Day 5 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Breakfast: Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi 東横イン水戸駅南口

Mito JR 水戸駅 (0734 hrs) > Kasama JR 笠間駅 (0800 hrs)
🚆 by local train.

Visited Kasama Inari Shrine 笠間稲荷神社.
👣 Approx 10 mins walk from Kasama JR.
http://www.kasama.or.jp/

Inari Shrine 稲荷神社 (1011 hrs) > Geijutsu no mori koen 芸術の森公園 (1016 hrs)
🚍 by Ibaraki Kotsu Bus 茨城交通バス. [170 yen]
Bus schedule (departing from Kasama JR): http://bus.ibako.co.jp/timetable/result/?no=962&de=52&f_from_type=1&f_from_genre=&f_from=%E7%AC%A0%E9%96%93%E9%A7%85

Visited Kasama Kougei no oka 笠間工芸の丘.
http://www.kasama-crafthills.co.jp/

Lunch: Cafe Wasugazen カフェワスガゼン

👣 Walked back to Kasama JR Station.

Dessert: Gruyeres グリュイエール
http://www.kasamagashi.com/

Kasama JR 笠間駅 (1359 hrs) > Tomobe JR 友部駅 (1408 hrs)
🚆 by local train.

Hitachi JR Station.

Tomobe JR 友部駅 (1436 hrs) > Hitachi JR 日立駅 (1511 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Tokiwa ときわ 63.

Hitachi Eki Chuo Guchi 日立駅中央口 (1555 hrs) > Iwaizaki 祝崎 (1610 hrs)
🚍 by Hitachi Bus 日立バス 75 or 77. [290 yen]
- Weekday bus schedule: http://www.hitachi-dentetsu.co.jp/bus/bus_jikokuhyou_h/20171014/g171014h_75_77.html
- Weekend/Public holiday bus schedule: http://www.hitachi-dentetsu.co.jp/bus/bus_jikokuhyou_s/20171014/g171014s_75.html

🏨 Checked in: Unoshima Villa 日立・太田尻海岸 うのしまヴィラ　
http://unoshima-villa.com/

Dinner at Unoshima Villa: Kimeji Maguro Carpaccio accompanied with fresh greens and Hishio, a traditional Japanese fermented seasoning.

Dinner: Unoshima Villa 日立・太田尻海岸 うのしまヴィラ　

- End of Day 5 -

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県 - Day 4: Tsukuba-san 筑波山, Tsukuba-shi つくば市

Day 4: 09.11.2017 (Thu)
* Day 4 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Breakfast: Toyoko Inn Tsukuba Express Moriya Ekimae 東横インつくばエクスプレス守谷駅前

Purchased Tsukuba-san Kippu 筑波山きっぷ. [3,200 yen]
* covers round trip train ride between Moriya and Tsukuba Station, Tsukuba-san Shuttle bus (between Tsukuba Center and Tsukuba-san) and both Tsukuba-san cable car and ropeway.
http://www.mir.co.jp/service/otoku/tukubasan.html

Moriya 守谷駅 > Tsukuba つくば駅
🚆 by Tsukuba Express つくばエクスプレス.

Tsukuba Center Bus Stop 1 つくばセンター (0800 hrs) > Tsukuba-san Jinja 筑波山神社 (0836 hrs)
🚍 by Tsukuba-san Shuttle bus 筑波山シャトルバス.

Visited Tsukuba-san Jinja 筑波山神社.
http://www.tsukubasanjinja.jp/

Tsukuba-san Jinja 筑波山神社駅 > Tsukuba-san cho 筑波山頂駅
🚠 by Tsukuba-san Cable Car ケーブルカー.

Visited Nantai-san cho 男体山頂.

Visited Nyotai-san cho 女体山頂.
http://www.mt-tsukuba.com/

Nyotai-san cho 女体山頂駅 > Tsutsujikaoka つつじヶ丘駅
🚠 by Tsukuba-san Ropeway ロープウェイ.

Lunch: Tsutsujikaoka Rest House つつじヶ丘レストハウス
http://www.mt-tsukuba.com/?page_id=120

Tsutsujikaoka つつじヶ丘 (1200 hrs) > Tsukuba Center つくばセンター (1250 hrs)
🚍 by Tsukuba-san Shuttle bus 筑波山シャトルバス.

Visited Tsukuba Expo Center つくばエキスポセンター.
http://www.expocenter.or.jp/

Tsukuba つくば駅 > Moriya 守谷駅
by Tsukuba Express つくばエクスプレス.

Break: Coffee Factory, Moriya Station コーヒーファクトリー守谷駅店
http://coffeefactory-moriya.jp/

Moriya 守谷駅 > Toride 取手駅 [420 yen]
🚆 by Kanto Railway 関東鉄道, Joso line 常総線.

Toride JR 取手駅 (1752 hrs) > Sanuki JR 佐貫駅 (1759 hrs)
🚆 by local train.

Sanuki JR 佐貫駅 (1803 hrs) > Mito JR 水戸駅 (1847 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Tokiwa ときわ 71.

Dinner: Yoshinoya, Mito JR Station

🏨 Checked in: Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi 東横イン水戸駅南口
https://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/search/detail/00085

- End of Day 4 -

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県 - Day 3: Tsuchiura-shi 土浦市, Tsukuba-shi つくば市

Day 3: 08.11.2017 (Wed)

* Day 3 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Breakfast: Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi 東横イン水戸駅南口

Mito JR 水戸市 (0726 hrs) > Tsuchiura JR 土浦駅 (0757 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Hitachi ひたち 2.

Visited Kijo Koen 亀城公園.
👣 Approx 10 mins walk from Tsuchiura JR.
http://www.tsuchiura-kankou.jp/miru/miru.html#event_miru_008

Visited Tsuchiura Machikadokura - Daitoku 土浦まちかど蔵 - 大徳.
http://www.tsuchiura-kankou.jp/machikado_kura/

Visited Tsuchiura Machikadokura - Nomura 土浦まちかど蔵 - 野村.
http://www.tsuchiura-kankou.jp/machikado_kura/

Tsuchiura JR 土浦駅(1014 hrs) > Hitachino Ushiku JR うたち野うしく駅 (1021 hrs)
🚆 by local train.

Hitachino Ushiku Ekimae Bus Stop 1 うたち野うしく駅前 (1105 hrs) > Ninomiya Chuo 二ノ宮中央 (1127 hrs)
🚍 by JR Bus.

Lunch: Agato あがと
http://www.cafe-agato.com/

Visited Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center 筑波宇宙センター.
http://fanfun.jaxa.jp/visit/tsukuba/

Visited Geological Museum 地質標本館.
https://www.gsj.jp/Muse/

Visited Science Square Tsukuba サイエンス・スクエア つくば.
http://www.aist.go.jp/sst/en/

Dinner: West House ウエストハウス
http://westhouse.jp/

Ninomiya Chuo 二ノ宮中央 (1752 hrs) > Tsukuba Center つくばセンター (1807 hrs)
🚍 by JR Bus.

Tsukuba つくば駅 > Moriya 守谷駅
🚆 by Tsukuba Express つくばエクスプレス. [520 yen]

🏨 Checked in: Toyoko Inn Tsukuba Express Moriya Ekimae 東横インつくばエクスプレス守谷駅前
https://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/search/detail/00189

- End of Day 3 -

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県 - Day 2: Daigo-cho 大子町, Tsukimachi no taki 月待の滝, Fukuroda no taki 袋田の滝

Day 2: 07.11.2017 (Tue)
* Day 2 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Breakfast: Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi 東横イン水戸駅南口

Mito JR 水戸駅 (0728 hrs) > Shimonomiya JR 下野宮駅 (0911 hrs)
🚆 by local train, via Suigun line 水郡線.

Visited Tsukimachi no taki 月待の滝.
👣 Approx 30 minutes walk from Shimonomiya JR.
http://www.daigo-kanko.jp/?page_id=2861

Shimonomiya JR 下野宮駅 (1111 hrs) > Fukuroda JR 袋田駅 (1127 hrs)
🚆 by local train, via Suigun line 水郡線.

Visited Fukuroda no taki 袋田の滝. [300 yen]
👣 Approx 20 minutes walk from Fukuroda JR.
http://www.daigo-kanko.jp/?page_id=2813

Lunch: Futaba Soba 双葉そば

Fukuroda 袋田 (1410 hrs) > Fukuroda JR 袋田駅 (1420 hrs)
🚍 by Ibaraki Kotsu bus 茨城交通バス. [210 yen]
http://www.ibako.co.jp/regular/terminal/fukuroda-station.html

♨ Day onsen: Hotel Kajikaen ホテル河鹿園 [500 yen]
👣 Approx 3 minutes walk from Fukuroda JR.
http://kajikaen.com/

Fukuroda JR 袋田駅 (1551 hrs) > Mito JR 水戸駅 (1714 hrs)
🚆 by local train, via Suigun line 水郡線.

Dinner: Matsugorou Stamin Ramen 松五郎スタミナラーメン
🚍 Access: Take from bus Mito JR West Exit Platform 7 and alight at Kami Mito Iriguchi 上水戸入口.

- End of Day 2 -

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県 - Day 1: Mito-shi 水戸市

Introduction:
On my most recent stay in Japan, I managed to cover three main prefectures: Ibaraki, Shizuoka and Tottori, with short transitions made in Shimane and Okayama. It took me slightly more than two weeks to accomplish this and I would say the pace was considered moderate in comparison to my previous solo expedition in Tohoku region more than a year ago. Utilised 14 Days Japan Rail Pass to cover majority of my transportation expenditure. This is also the first time I planned my itinerary while travelling; something I have not done before. Has its pros and cons; my schedule was more flexible and it could accommodate changing weather conditions; however at the back of my mind, I knew there were more places I could have visited if I had been more well prepared. Regardless of the hits and misses, I am still amazed by how much this country has to offer despite multiple visits!

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Day 1: 06.11.2017 (Mon)
* Day 1 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Ueno JR 上野駅 (0830 hrs) > Mito JR 水戸駅 (0949 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Tokiwa 53 ときわ.

🏨 Checked in: Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi 東横イン水戸駅南口

https://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/search/detail/00085

🚲 Rented bicycle from South Exit Rental Bicycle Station. [500 yen]

Visited Lake Senba (Senba-ko) 千波湖.
http://www.city.mito.lg.jp/001373/senbako/

Visited Kairakuen 偕楽園 and Kobuntei 好文亭. [200 yen]
http://www.koen.pref.ibaraki.jp/park/kairakuen01.html

Lunch: Nakaya Soba な嘉屋そば, located on 1F of Keisei Department Store 京成百貨店
http://nakaya.cc/shop/sakesoba.html

Visited Koudoukan 弘道館. [200 yen]
http://www.koen.pref.ibaraki.jp/park/kodokan01.html

Dinner: Soup Stock Tokyo スープストック東京, at Mito JR Station.
http://www.soup-stock-tokyo.com/store/08/3008/

- End of Day 1 -

Tohoku 2016 東北の旅 - Former Yamagata Prefectural Office and Assembly Building Bunshokan 文翔館

Visited 24.05.2016 (Tue)

Former Prefectural Office.

Embarked on a morning tour of Yamagata city on my last day in Tohoku region. Set off to Yamagata City Local History Museum 山形市郷土館 and Yamagata Castle Site 山形城跡 situated within Kajo Park 霞城公園 first, however I was not able to enter both areas as I came half an hour earlier than its opening time (0900 hrs). Decided to give both places of attraction a miss since I had limited time. Walked to Bunshokan 文翔館, which formerly was home to Yamagata Prefectural Office and Assembly Building and now designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan (in 1984). Comprised of two separate buildings situated adjacent to one another, I was immediately attracted to this grand and impressive looking, western style architectural structure upon arrival. 

Former Assembly Building.

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Highlights

Background. Taking on an English neo Renaissance design, both buildings were completed in 1916 to replace the first prefectural building that was destroyed by a huge fire which broke out in 1911. The facade of the century old buildings is symmetrical around the vertical axis, a characteristic of Renaissance style. The three storey tall former prefectural office was constructed out of bricks and lined with stones on its exterior. It was retired in 1975 after the prefectural office moved to their current location in Matsunami. On the other hand, the former Assembly Building is housed in a two storey tall brick building and was previously used for public events, such as lectures and performances as well as government assemblies. Both buildings have taken on new roles to introduce the history and culture of Yamagata Prefecture to visitors through past records, monuments and even wax figurines.





Conservation. To preserve the cultural heritage property for future generation to admire, both buildings underwent restorative construction in 1986 and the entire project took 10 years to complete. Care were taken to minimise demolition and to use as much of the original materials and construction techniques as possible to restore the buildings to their original appearances.

Central staircase.

Prestigious. Started my tour in the former prefectural office. Entered the building and followed the red carpet laid central staircase, equipped with handrails made of beautiful wooden turned balusters, to the third floor. Came to the Grand Meeting Hall, which was once used for important gatherings such as instructive lectures and appointments of new officials, and was amazed by its luxurious decoration such as chandeliers, plastered ceiling with flower design plasters, lavish looking carpeting and patterned wallpapers.







Overwhelmed. Explored other rooms which were previously utilitsed as offices of governmental officials and during visits by honourable guests. It was fascinating to discover that each room has its own distinctive theme, with furniture, carpets, wallpapers and other decorative features that complement one another. I was definitely overwhelmed by the exquisite design which radiates almost flawless, elegance flair, and spend more time than I expected to scrutinise the high level of details displayed in every corner of the room.

The door between the Grand Meeting Hall and Honoured Guest's Room.

Honoured Guest's Room was used to host honourable guests such as the royal family and high ranking national officials.

Check out the beautiful curtain box in the Office of the Governer.

Striped design wallpaper employed in the Office of the Chief of Police.

Wax figurines depicting a scene in the Accounting Department.

Courtyard and clock tower. Hidden in the centre of the former prefectural office is actually an open air courtyard surrounded by red bricked walls - a completely different sight from the facade of the building. One other noteworthy mention about the former prefectural office building is its four faced clock tower, which is the second oldest functioning clock tower in Japan (the oldest being Sapporo's iconic clock tower).









Assembly hall. From the former prefectural office, I walked along the covered walkway to the former assembly building, where prefectural assemblies were once held here. Features such as the semi cylindrical shaped vaulted ceiling and pillars were re-established as part of restorative construction effort that took place in 1986. Today, the hall continues to serve the community faithfully and from time to time, the hall is being rented for official events, concerts or piano recitals.











Extended my stay here in a cafe (Cybele シベール), situated on the second floor of the former prefectural office building, where I enjoyed a cup of Bunshokan blend coffee and apple cake while being surrounded by a retro ambience. Bunshokan is truly, a precious architectural masterpiece worth preserving and enormous credits have to be given to the restorative construction team who have made this possible.





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Former Yamagata Prefectural Office and Assembly Building Bunshokan 文翔館
〒990-0047 山形市旅篭町3丁目4番51号
Operating hours: 0900 - 1630 hrs; closed on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month
Free admission
https://www.gakushubunka.jp/bunsyokan/

How to get there?

(1) By bus.
From the bus terminal at Yamagata Station East Exit, board Bekochan bus べこちゃんバス heading for downtown area and alight at Shiyakusho Minami Guchi 市役所南口. Takes another 5 mins walk from here to Bunshokan.
Bus schedule: https://www.city.yamagata-yamagata.lg.jp/kakuka/kikaku/kikaku/sogo/pd0510085137.html


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Commemorative stamps: