Category: Travel

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BOOK of the MONTH

８月のおすすめの本はオレゴン・シェイクスピア・フェスティバルのプログラムです。このプログラムの中には今年のシーソン物語とキャストのプロフィールとアシュランドでのお出かけマップがあります。🎭

August’s featured “book” is the playbill from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2019 season.🎭

先月は私のパパとママと一緒に「不思議の国のアリス」と「マクベス」を見に行きました。

When I visited my hometown, my mother and father treated me to two plays, Alice in Wonderland and Macbeth, in the famous outdoor Elizabethan Theatre!!  Both productions were outstanding, and the creative, psychedelic sets and costumes in the playful imagining of Alice in Wonderland contrasted wonderfully with the dark, sinister plotting and psychological paranoia in Macbeth.

Please enjoy looking at August’s book while having your hair colored or permed!
もし良かったらパーマやカラーの待ち時間に是非読んでみて下さい。

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Summertime☀️天神さん夏祭り!!

暑くなりましたね！

7月24日と25日は天神さん夏祭りでした。私達は25日遊びに行きました。今回はお神輿は見れませんでしたが神社の中踊りを見ました！！

Whew! It’s really gotten hot and humid in Matsue. Last week was the Tenjin Matsuri (every year throughout Japan on the 24th and 25th of July). We went on the evening of the 25th, so we didn’t see the mikoshi, which happened on the 24th. We did however see traditional dancing within the Shinto shrine!

夏祭りはとても楽しいですね！アメリカも夏祭りがあります！７月４日はアメリカ合衆国のお誕生です。アメリカは州ごとにパレード、お祭りの屋台、そして花火でその日を祝います。私はアシュランドで久しぶりにパレードを見に行きました。とても元気をもらいました💜

The Summer festivals in Japan are a great distraction from the hot weather😁. Being at the Tenjin Matsuri reminded me of the 4th of July celebrations I got to partake in when I visited my hometown: Ashland, Oregon! It was my first 4th of July experience in a very long time, and it was just as fun as I remembered from when I was a child💜. Below are some pictures from the 4th of July parade, which people from allover come to see!

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由志園・Yuushien

Jennifer です😊

ゴールデンウィークに由志園へ遊びに行って来ました。たくさんの牡丹が咲いていてとてもきれいでした！

During Golden Week, we visited the beautiful garden on Daikonshima, Yuushien.  The garden is famous for its peonies and has 250 different Japanese varieties.  Many were still in full bloom while we were there.

晴れていて小道もゆっくり散歩しました。美しい朱色の橋を渡り、小さな滝を眺めました。

It was a warm, sunny day, with a brilliant blue sky.  We strolled along the garden paths, over the beautiful vermiliion bridge, and admired the little waterfall.

私の好きなキレイな藤の花もありました💜

Also stunning were the trellises with their veils of blooming wisteria.💜

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道後温泉本館・Dogo Onsen

松山市の観光スポット道後温泉本館も見学しました「左下の写真」。道後町には坊っちゃんカラクリ時計「右下の写真」があります。

During our stay in Matsuyama City, we enjoyed walking around the neighborhood where Dogo Onsen is located (top left).  Nearby is the “Botchan Clock” (top right), a tribute to famous Japanese novelist, Natsume Sōseki, whose titular character Botchan visited the onsen and increased its popularity.

道後温泉本館はジブリ映画「千と千尋の神隠し」のインスピレーションと言われているから私は見学できてとても嬉しいです！

Dogo Onsen is also said to be one of the oldest onsen in Japan and among the real buildings used as inspiration for the Studio Ghibli film, Spirited Away.

この日は天気がとても良かったです。道後温泉本館近くにある伊佐爾波神社も素敵で青い空と朱色との対比がとても美しいです！

We also walked up to see Isaniwa Shrine, which is one of only a few shrines built in the rare hachiman-zukuri architectural style.  Its beautiful vermilion colors looked stunning against the background of the clear blue sky! 

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備中松山城と松山城・Bitchū Matsuyama&Matsuyama

私は知らなかったですけど日本に松山城は二つあります！！今回私の両親がアメリカから遊びに来たので両方を見に行きました！！

Did you know there are two castles in Japan with the name Matsuyama, and they are both on the list of Japan’s Twelve Original Castles (see #7 and #12–bonus Mastue is #8♡).  I learned this while my parents were visiting and we had the chance to see both castles!

はじめに倉敷市で会いました。松江市に帰る途中で間にある備中松山城を見に行きました「上の写真」。標高430メートル最も高い所にある！！本物の天守閣でとても素敵でした🏯

At the beginning of their stay, we met in Kurashiki City, and planned to come to Matsue City by train.  On the way, we stopped to see Bitchū Matsuyama Castle (pictured above).  Located 430 meters above sea level, it has the distinction of being Japan’s highest mountain castle with an original castle tower!

もう一つのお城松山城にはリフトで向かいました！！松山城からの眺めは360度見渡すことができとても素敵な街です。松山城は昔に建設されている天守もあります「下の写真」。お城の高い石垣とたくさんの門は姫路城と少し似ていると思いました。

Toward the end of their stay, we visited the island of Shikoku, where Matsuyama Castle (pictured below) is located in Ehime Prefecture.  We enjoyed riding the chairlift up to the castle grounds, which offer panoramic views of Matsuyama City.  Matsuyama Castle is also known for having original towers and is considered one of the most prestigious castles in Japan.  The castle’s high stone walls and long defensive corridors leading up to the keep reminded me of Himeji-Jo!

I really recommend seeing both castles!!　
🏯どちらもおすすめです！！🏯