Weather News - Typhoon No19 as of 2014/10/13

Typhoon No19 will reach Osaka tonight. It's quite strong and moving slowly so there are storm and tidal wave warnings all over Japan. Most airlines have already stopped and JR West will stop all trains from 4 p.m. today. Shops may close earlier due to the typhoon. Please stay in a safe place.

For more information please check the following site.
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/typh/

Weather warnings/Advisories
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/warn/index.html


For information about weather in Osaka
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/week/331.html

Weather News - Typhoon No8 as of 2014/7/7

 Typhoon No8 is reaching to Okinawa tonight. It's quite big and strong so there are storm and tidal weave warnings all over Japan. It will be affecting Osaka on Wednesday. The shops may close earlier and trains may stop for a while due to the typhoon.

For more information please check the following site.
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/typh/

Weather warnings/Advisories
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/warn/index.html


For information about weather in Osaka
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/week/331.html

Fireworks in 2014 (Hanabi Taikai 2014)

Is the rainy season finished in Osaka? It's very hot and humid in Osaka every day.

In Japanese summer, there are a lot of fireworks events. If you are in Japan, you should check the schedule and location. It's very exciting.

Major fireworks events in Kansai:

Osaka
Tenji matsuri
2014/7/25（Fri）19:30～20:50
http://www.tenjinsan.com/tjm.html

PL fireworks
2014/8/1（Fri）19:55-20:50

Naniwa Yodogawa Hanabi Taikai
2014/8/9 (Sat) 19:50～20:40
http://www.yodohanabi.com/

Kyoto
Uji River Hanabi Taikai
2014/8/11（Mon） 19:45～20:45
http://www.ujihanabi.jp/

Kobe
Minato Kobe Hanabi Taikai
2014/8/2（Sat）19:30～20:30
http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/life/access/harbor/kankou/hanabi.html

Shiga
Biwa Lake Hanabi Taikai
2014/8/8(Fri) 19:30～20:30
http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/hanabi/outline.html


http://hanabi.walkerplus.com/list/ar0700/
http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2139980310909578701

Summer Sale 2014 has started!

It's very hot and humid in Osaka now and hotter in some places because the summer sales are just starting. For most department stores and shopping arcades it is from around June 27th to July 13th and some places will continue the sales until the end of July.

If you fit Japanese sizes, you'll find nice clothes at a good price!

http://www.hansinkan.com/event/summer-bargen.html

Heisei Osaka Amanogawa Densetsu (event on 2014/7/7)

There will be a beautiful night event in Osaka soon.

The 7th of July is a special day called Tanabata (the star festival).

This festival originally came from China. Two stars, Vega is a girl and Altair is a boy, they loved each other and seeing often and forgot to work so the king was angry and placed them on either side of the milky way and allow them to see each other only once a year on July 7th.

People celebrate their reunion and decorate bamboo with paper ornaments. It's believed that a wish written on the decoration paper will come true.

50000 LED lights will be released between Tenmabashi station to Kitahama station on the Okawa river.


18:00 Opening
19:20-21:00 Release of the lights

Ticket for LED light ball and wishing card (advanced ticket 1000 yen)


http://www.osaka-amanogawa.com/

Map:
http://www.osaka-amanogawa.com/sanka.html

Beer garden in Osaka 2014

It's getting very hot and humid in Osaka so it's time to drink beer outside. Going to beer gardens is quite popular in Summer time Japan. Most places are offering all you can eat and drink at a  fixed price for about 2 hours. If you go, you had better reserve tables. Please check it out!

http://osaka.beer-garden.info/


Umeda area:
*Umehan Beer Garden Marche (06-6313-9353)
Period: 2014/4/25-10/8     5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
(Sun 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.)
3900yen per person

http://www.hankyu-dept.co.jp/honten/restaurantguide/restaurant40.html/
http://www.hankyu-dept.co.jp/fl/english/honten/

*Shinsenkaku Beer Garden (06-6341-4071)
Period: 2014/5/1-9/15     5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
3600yen (BBQ & Chinese) or 3400yen (Chinese) per person 

http://www.shinsenkaku.co.jp/

*Crowne Plaza ANA Osaka (06-6347-1247)
Period: 2014/5/19-9/19     5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
5000yen per person 
Close: Sat, Sun, Holiday and 8/11, 8/12
Friday has a special schedule so please check before you go.

http://www.anacrowneplaza-osaka.jp/event/beergarden2014.html
http://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/osaka,-osaka/osaja/hoteldetail



*Hankyu Top Beer Garden (06-6375-1780)
Period: 2014/5/1-9/23     5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

(Sat, Sun, Holiday 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
4000yen per person

http://www.hankyu-hotel.com/hotel/osakashh/restaurant/25kXee9SE4/

http://www.hankyu-hotel.com/cgi-bin2/cms2/index_en.cgi?hid=19osakashh

*Suntory roof top beer garden (06－6345－3948)

Period: 2014/5/15-9/22     5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

There are several price for set menu.

http://www.suntory.co.jp/news/2014/12057.html


Yodoyabashi and Honmachi area:
*R Riverside Grill & Beer Garden (06-6202-0112)
 Period: 2014/5/15-9/22     M-F 4:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
 Sat, Sun, Holiday 2:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
 You can choose set menu or a la carte (Korean style food)

http://www.nakanoshima-beergarden.com/

*Shibakawa building beer garden (06-6202-2202)
Period: 2014/5/21-10/10     6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
3500yen per person

http://shibakawa-bld.net/story/2014/05/post_122.html
http://shibakawa-bld.net/access/access.html

*ST Regis Beer Garden (06-6258-3333)
Period: 2014/4/26-10/31     5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat, Sun, Holiday 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
There are several prices. (from 4800yen)

http://www.stregisosaka.co.jp/dining/bar/beergarden/

Tenmabashi area:
* The Oriental Village BEER GARDEN (06-4794-9227)
Period: 2014/5/15- mid Sep     4:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
There are several prices.

http://www.citymall.jp/floorguide/rf/rf-1/
http://www.citymall.jp/access/

Namba area:
*River Cafe Beer Garden (06-6635-0234)
Period: 2014/5/21- mid Oct   
3600yen per person

http://www.opefac.com/river_cafe/

*Namba Parks Chelsea Beer Garden (06-6632-6767)
Period: 2014/5/1- end of Sep   
3980yen per person

http://www.opefac.com/chelsea/information.html


Moriguchi area:
*Hotel Agora Roof top Beer garden (06-6994-1118)
Period: 2014/6/4-6/30    6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Period: 2014/7/1-9/23     5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Close: Sun, Holiday
3900yen per person .

Nakanoshima matsuri (even on 2014/5/3-5/5)

Unfortunately it is raining in Osaka today but it will be fine this weekend.

Nakanoshima is a very pleasant place to visit in Osaka. Every year, there is a festival during Golden Week.
There will be cafes, a play ground for children, a flea market etc.


http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/events/festivals_events/nakanoshima_festival.html


For other information about Osaka, please check out this link!

http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/

Movie in Japan "Thermae RomaeⅡ" (2014/4/16～ )

This is a very funny movie called "Thermae RomaeⅡ".

The main character Lucius (a Roman architect) accidentally time trips from Ancient Rome to modern-time Japan where he learns about the Japanese public bath system.  He then travels back to his time and creates a nice bathhouse in Rome for the Roman emperor. Lucius calls the Japanese "Hiratai kao zoku (Flat-faced tribe)".


http://thermae-romae.jp/

Aoi Matsuri

Aoi Matsuri is one of big festivals in Kyoto. It starts on May 1st and builds up to the main event of the festival on May 15th.


These are:

2014/5/3 13:00-15:30 Yabusame shinji at Shimogamo shrine
Traditional Japanese archery on a running horse.  The archer shoots at wooden targets.

2014/5/15 10:30 (leaves Kyoto Imperial Palace) - 15:30 (arrives at Kamigamo shrine)
The large parade which is the main attraction of Aoi matsuri. Over 500 people dressed in the aristocratic style of the Heian Preiod (794-1185) walk from the Imperial Palace to Kamigamo Shrine.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/festival/aoimatsuri.html

Oktober Fest in Japan 2014

The very popular German beer festival starts again!


http://www.okt-fest.jp/

Kobe German Beer Festival
2014/4/25-5/6 Weekday 16:00〜22:00　Sat,Sun, Holiday11:00〜22:00 （L.O.21:30）
http://www.okt-fest.jp/okt-kobe2014-1.html
Osaka Oktober Fest in Tennoji
2014/5/16-6/1 12:00-21:00



http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/events/festivals_events/osaka_oktoberfest_2014.html

Cherry blossom viewing - Hanami

It's cherry blossom season in Japan. Cherry blossoms are very special flowers for Japanese people. In this season, people have a party under cherry blossom trees. 


Recommended places to see cherry blossoms.


Osaka castle light up
http://nishimuramarina.wix.com/illuminageasia

The Mint in Osaka
http://www.mint.go.jp/category/eng

Heian Jingu Shrine's garden "Shin'en" in Kyoto
http://www.heianjingu.or.jp/english/0201.html

Ninna-ji in Kyoto
http://ninnaji.jp/multilingual_info.html
http://ninnaji.jp/cherry_tree.html


Cherry blossom front line 2014
http://sakura.weathermap.jp/

Japanese apricot flower - Ume

Ume flower is often translated into English as Japanese plum. It is one of the symbols of Spring. The air is still cold but spring is coming soon.

Osaka-jo koen (Osaka Castle Park) has a big Ume garden and it is the season for viewing.

Strawberry picking

It is strawberry season in Kansai. If you visit a strawberry farm, you can pick and eat as many strawberries as you want! The admission fee is around 1500 yen.

http://sp.walkerplus.com/ichigo/list/ar0700/

Abeno Harukasu - New shopping spot opened in Osaka

Recently, there are many construction works going on in Osaka.

Abeno Harukas is one of many. The grand open day was March 7th, 2014.

It is tallest building in Japan. There are Department store, restaurants, art museum, hotel and offices in. It will be a very good night view from the observatory floor.

http://www.abenoharukas-300.jp/en/

Events in Japan 2014

I found this site. This will be useful to check for events in Japan prior to visiting.

It is winter in Japan so it's a bit cold to walk around here but spring will come soon!

(Today is the weather is very nice and surprisingly warm for this time of the year in Osaka.)

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/festivals/

Winter sale in Japan from Jan 2nd

If you are in Japan in Jan, it is good to go shopping because there are 30 to 50% off in everywhere.

I wonder if you have heard "Fukubukuro (Lucky bag) "which is secret bags with random items at a reasonable price. It is one of New Year's customs in Japan. If you are lucky, you'll get very good items with a good price.

Tokyo
http://www.timeout.jp/ja/tokyo/feature/8470

Kansai
http://www.walkerplus.com/event_list/201401/ar0700/3.html

events in Kyoto in January

It is colder in winter in Kyoto compare to Osaka, but it is worth to visit there. There are many special events to celebrate New Year and if it is cold enough to have snow, you may be able to take a great picture with snow and Golden temple (Kinkaku-ji).

http://www.kyoto.travel/plan_your_visit/cultural_events/january/

Sumiyoshitaisha in Osaka (event on 2014/1/4)

There are many events in Japan in January to celebrate new year.


On the 4th of January, there is a festival at Sumiyoshitaisha called "Toukashinnji", to pray for a bountiful harvest. A lot of Mochi (Japanese rice-cake) is thrown to the audience by the shrine's priests. These red and white mochi are believed to bring good luck. The competition is very hard so it is almost impossible.


About 3 minutes walk from Nakai rail way "Sumisyoshitaisha" station.
http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/access/train.html

Shinkansen was delayed as of 2014/1/3

There was a fire near JR Urakucho station in Tokyo, so JR Yamanote-san and Shinkansen were partially running but it looks like to hard to recover completely soon. If you are planing traveling Japan with Shikansen you may need to consider changing your schedule.