Event in Kansai - Augusut

One of the big Japanese holiday celebrations, called "Obon (Ura-bon-e)", is coming soon. During this period many people gather in their home towns so it may hard to book flights or shinkansen tickets during this period.

Obon is an annual Buddhist event to commemorate one's ancestors. People believed that during the obon period (typically starting around the 13th to 15th August but it's depend on the region.) their ancestors' spirits revisit their relatives. Chochin (lanterns) are hung or fires are lit (mukaebi) in front of houses to guide the ansestors' spirits home and at the end of Obon, floating lanterns are put into rivers or an okuribi fire is lit to see off the souls of the ancestors. So you'll see many events using fire in Japan in this time of the year.


Nara - Toukae (Aug 5 - 14, from 7:00pm to 9:45 pm)
http://www.toukae.jp/

Nara - Daimonji okuribi (Aug 15, from 6:50 pm)
http://narashikanko.or.jp/event/index.php?m=d&id=97


Kyoto - Gozan okuribi　(Aug 16, from 8:00 pm)
http://kyoto-design.jp/special/obon
http://www.gozan-okuribi.com/

Osaka - Shitennoji
Kagarino maigaku, entrance fee 1,000 yen (Aug 4, starts from 7:00 pm)
http://www.osaka-info.jp/jp/search/detail/event_38.html

Mando kuyo (Aug 9 - 16 from evenig to 9:00 pm) 
http://www.osaka-info.jp/jp/search/detail/event_42.html

Water activities in Kansai

 

It's very hot and humid in Osaka now. It's over 30 degrees every day so you may want to get in the water.

<Beaches in Kansai>

Shirahama, Wakayama
http://www.nanki-shirahama.com/index.php

Kata, Wakayama
http://www.kada.jp/hamamise/

Isonoura, Wakayama
http://www.city.wakayama.wakayama.jp/menu_4/kankou/kaisuiyoku/isonoura.html

Suma, Kobe
http://www.suma-kankokyokai.gr.jp/modules/tinyd1/

Maiko, Kobe
http://kobe.travel.coocan.jp/kobe/maiko_beach.htm

Shin Maiko, Kobe
http://kobe.travel.coocan.jp/tatsuno/shinmaiko_beach.htm

Omimaiko, Shiga
http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/search/spot.php?id=1731

Amanohasidate, Kyoto
http://www.amanohashidate.jp/umi/

Kumihama, Kyoto
http://syotenkyo.net/

Nishikinohama, Osaka
http://osaka19.com/asobiba/kaisuiyoku/nishikihama.html

Keinomatsubara, Awaji island
http://www.awaji-web.com/index.php?ocean_keinomatubara

<Pools in Kansai>
Nagashima Spaland, Mie
http://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/spaland/index.html/

Hirakata Park, Osaka

http://www.hirakatapark.co.jp/theboon/

Spaworld, Osala
http://www.spaworld.co.jp/spapoo/

<Rivers in Kansai>

Kyoto:
Big Smile Rafting
http://www.gekiryu.com/?gclid=CPqj6o240bgCFYFLpgod7mQA3A

Boken Club Tom Sawyer
http://www.ishida-sp.com/tomsoya/

Shizenha Kikaku
http://www.shizenha.com/

Tanken Club
http://www.tanken-club.com/

Shiga:
Alpine River Guide
http://www.alpine-river.com/

Friendship Adventures
http://www.friendship-adventures.com/

BSC Water Sports Center
http://www.bsc-int.co.jp/

Outdoor Sports O-pal
http://www.o-pal.com/

Nara:
Ever Green
http://www.evaguri.com/

Event in Osaka Museum of History

Osaka Museum of History is holding a special exhibition of "Evangelion and Japanese Swords" at the moment.
http://www.mus-his.city.osaka.jp/eng/index.html

Duration: July 3rd to Sept 16th, 2013
Closed: Tuesdays
Times: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm (8 p.m. on Fridays)

(last entrance is 30 minutes before closing time.)

Location: 6th floor, Special Exhibition Room
Admission fee: Adults 800 yen and students 600 yen for the special exhibition only.

Access:
http://www.mus-his.city.osaka.jp/eng/visit/access.html

Cheep daily goods store in Osaka

In the beginning of your new life in Japan, you may need to buy many items, such as cutlery, plates, cups etc. There are several shops which sell good quality items for only 105 yen each.


Daiso
http://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/

CanDo
http://www.cando-web.co.jp/

Seria
http://www.seria-group.com/

Lawson Store 100
http://www.99plus.co.jp/


<Shop with reasonable price>

Tiger
http://www.tiger-stores.jp/

Asoko
http://www.asoko-jpn.com/

International Schools in Kansai

There are several international schools available in the Kansai area due to increasing numbers of expat families, international marriages and  Japanese parents who want to send children to international school to gain English ability while they are still young.
They tend to be expensive and the school starting date is different to Japanese schools (Japanese schools start in April.). The curriculum will be smiler to schools overseas and children can enjoy an international atmosphere with children from various cultures.

http://allabout.co.jp/gm/gc/189375/

http://www.gcn-osaka.jp/child/cc04-04.html

http://www.ins-navi.com/region/kinki.html

Coco Ichibanya - Japanese Curry house

Curry is very popular in Japan but Japanese curry is not same as curry India. The taste is milder and sauce is much thicker. The most popular curry in Coco Ichiban is "Chicken cutlet curry with cheese topping". If you see Coco Ichiban, you should try it.


http://www.ichibanya.co.jp/index.html

551 Horai - Gourmet in Osaka

You will often see these shops and their TV commercial in Osaka. Their Butaman (Pork dumpling) is very popular in Osaka.


http://www.551horai.co.jp/

Japanese Lesson

Unfortunately there are not many people who can speak English in Osaka so it will ease your life in Japan if you can understand some Japanese.

There are several Japanese schools and volunteer groups in Osaka.

Please check the information on the following site if you are interested in learning Japanese.
Japanese language schools:
http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/enjoy/en/facilities/11.html

Volunteer groups of Japanese language classes:
http://u-biq.org/nihongo_osaka.html

Yuruchara - Local mascot

There are contests for the top "Yuruchara" in Japan and the following is one of those contests.

 http://gotochi2013.jp/vote/


What is "Yuruchara"?

Yuruchara are mascots created by regional governments to  to promote events, products, tourism and so on. Most characters are based on the local specialty goods, food or sightseeing spots. They are becoming a boom in Japan now.

http://gotochi2013.jp/areavote/

Famous Yuruchara include Kumamon in Kumamoto, Hikonyan in Shiga and Sento-kun in Nara.

Beer Gardens in Osaka

In summer, office workers often go to beer gardens after work in Japan. Usually they are located on the rooftop of the building to get a nice breeze on hot days. The first rooftop beer garden was started in Umeda, Osaka in 1953.

Most beer gardens served beer or drinks with a big jug at a fixed price and all you can eat and drink buffet style for 2 hours.

・Hankyu Department Store in Umeda
http://tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270101/27011320/

・Beer Garden Yaen in Shin-hankyu Building in Umeda
http://www.yaen.com/

・Hankyu Terminal Building in Umeda
http://www.hankyu-hotel.com/hotel/osakashh/restaurant/25kXee9SE4/

・Hanshin Department Store in Umeda
http://www.hanshin-dept.jp/hshonten/beer/

・Suntory Rooftop Beer Garden in Umeda
http://www.dynac50.jp/co/news/docs/20130520p01.pdf

・Shinsenkaku Osaka Ekimae First Building in Umeda
http://www.shinsenkaku.co.jp/image/130630beergarden2013.pdf

・Kintetsu Department Store in Uehonmachi
http://www.d-kintetsu.co.jp/store/uehonmachi/2013skyviking/index.html

・Takashimaya Department Store in Numba
http://www.takashimaya.co.jp/osaka/beergarden/

Weather News - Heat Disorder (ねっちゅうしょう Necchusho)

 It was over 35 ℃ in 27 places in Japan yesterday so many people suffered from heat disorder.

 It will be continuously very hot so it is good for you to drink water and take a rest in a cool room occasionally.


 For information about the weather and temperatures in Osaka this week please go here:

http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/week/331.html