Visting the third best dinosaur museum in the world! -Bhutanese Family Visiting Fukui-

I visited FPDM (Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum) and Seidaiji Temple to see Echizen Daibutsu (the great Buddha of Echizen) with Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his family.

 

 

Mr. Ugyen Dorji is studying as a teacher trainee from Bhutan at University of Fukui since around October of 2017. And at the end of March of 2018, his family arrived in Japan as well.

 

First, we went to FPDM (Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum). There are not many museums that specializes in dinosaurs in the world and this museum is one of them. And this is the third best dinosaur museum in the world. 80% of the dinosaur fossils found in Japan are from Fukui Prefecture.

 

There are 44 complete dinosaur skeletons exhibited in the museum and it would you feel as if you are enjoying a dinosaur dictionary in real life. Explanations in Japanese and English are available for the exhibitions, so it can be a good educative experience for you as well.

 

 

When you enter the museum, you go down to the basement by taking a 35 meters long escalator.

There are only a few escalators in Bhutan, so Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his family were very excited to take that long escalator.

 

 

After reaching the basement, we went through “Dino Street”. There were fossils exhibited beautifully on both side of the wall.

 

 

Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his son were amazed by “Dinosaur World” which is a huge oval-shaped space without pillars (84 meters long, 55 meters wide and 35.7 meters height).

 

 

In “Dinosaur World”, there are 44 complete dinosaur skeletons. You can also enjoy “Biology of Dinosaurs”, “Dino Theater” with 200-inch screen, “Forests during the dinosaur age” with moving dinosaurs, and “Dinosaurs of Japan and Asia”. They all look extremely powerful. How the museums was built with a great sound system, somehow you can hear the echo of your voice and dinosaur howling. You would feel as if you are in the Jurassic period.

 

 

Mr.Ugyen’s son was getting a bit scared but more than that, he was having fun.

 

 

There are also rocks, minerals and gemstones exhibited. You can see how they conduct researches strata.

 

 

Everyone seemed to have fun. Even after we went out of the museum, Mr. Ugyen Dorji’s son was still excited. He is usually quiet and shy but he was laughing and running alot.

 

How about visiting FDPM ((Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum) when you have a chance?

 

Next, we headed to Seidaiji Temple to see Echizen Daibutsu (the Great Buddha of Echizen) which is 10 minutes away from the museum by a car. Stay tuned for more blogs about Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his family’s experiences in Japan.

 

T.F

 

 

Official Website of Bhutan Museum Fukui

Official Website of Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

Recommendation of a trip to a remote island | Miyako Island #2

Miyako Island is connected with surrounding Ikema Island, Irabu Island, Shimoji Island and Kurima Island by bridges. Irabu-ohashi Bridge was opened three years ago. 
It boasts its total length of 3,540 meters and it is the longest bridge in Japan as a toll-free one. This time, I crossed the Irabu-ohashi Bridge and Kurima-ohashi Bridge.

Tori-ike Pond

Tori-ike Pond are actually two ponds located in Shimoji Island next to Irabu Island. The two ponds are connected underground, and furthermore connected to the sea. In fact, I have heard that a diver sometimes emerges from the water.
I can see its deepness as the water color is dark. Looking at the pond, I feel a little fear, and it’s a really mysterious pond. By the way, the red antennas in the distance of the photo shows there is an airport there. It is Shimoji Island Airport which is used exclusively for touch-and-go training of civilian pilots. Recently, it seems the training has rarely done but on that day, I could see a plane circling many times. I realized that pilot’s training was hard work. As it turned out afterwards, it was a Vanilla Air’s plane.  Indeed, the Shimoji Island Airport plans to have flights of low-cost carriers. Come to think of it, I saw some hotels under construction. Many cruise ships already made a stop at Miyako Island, but frankly I don’t want the island to be crowded with tourists.

　　　　　　 

　　　　　　 Hibiscuses in a farm shop “Utopia Farm Miyakojima”

       　　　　Hibiscus has more than 250 species.

       　　　　Many kinds of hibiscuses were in bloom beautifully in the farm. 

　　　　　

　　　　　　 　　　Bougainvaillea in the farm was spectacular!

       　　　　　　　When you visit Miyako Island, please stop by the farm.

       　　　　　　　And fruit desserts at the parlor in the farm are delicious.

　

　　　　　　　　　Live show at an izakaya

       　　　　　　  The yellow kimono made in Miyako Island is brilliant. 

　　
　　　　　

Finally, please enjoy spectacular view of Miyako Island by drone. (H.S)　

Landscapes of the alleys

When walking in the downtown I sometimes get attracted by the ordinary landscapes of the alleys.

There are various interesting things such as the unexpectedly exposed walls where the next house was demolished or the arrangement of outdoor units of the air conditioners mounted randomly on the back of the building.

As for this picture where you can see the hotel's emergency staircase,
I like the accent color of the central staircase that fits perfectly with a part of the wall seen on the left, and also the unity of the total color in the scenery.
T.S

Recommendation of a trip to a remote island | Miyako Island #1

Last weekend, I went to the Miyako Island for the first time in a year. It was my fourth visit to the island. So, it was something of a homecoming, I fit into the atmosphere of the island and became familiar with the town.

Of course, I like other islands of Okinawa, but I think that the Miyako Island Sea is the most beautiful. And, if you stay in a hotel in the city center, many izakayas with live Okinawan music are accessible by foot, which is very convenient.

If you want to get away from your busy daily life and relax in an island somewhere, how about going to Miyako Island? （H.S)

Yonaha Maehama beach is well known as the most beautiful beach in the orient. All Japan Triathlon Miyakojima is going to be held on April 22nd and it starts from the beach. In the hotel lobby I stayed, big cartons that look like with bikes inside of the participants had started to arrive.

　　　　　　 When I come to Okinawan islands, Orion beer first anyway!

                                Peanut tofu, which I like very much.

                       
                                      Water basin with hibiscus
                                      Only southern islands could this.



Miyako Island’s folk song live by Miwa Yonashiro at an izakaya in Miyako Island. (taken on April 13th)

 

First Hanami in Japan! -Bhutanese Family-

I went to Hanami with Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his family. Hanami is a Japanese flower viewing tradition. In Japan, during the cherry blossom season, we enjoy and appreciating the blooming of cherry blossoms. We celebrate it by having picnic parties under the cherry blossom trees.

Mr. Ugyen Dorji is from Bhutan and he’s studying as a teacher trainee at University of Fukui since around October of 2017.

His family arrived in Japan at the end of March. It had been 6 months since the last time they saw each other. They seemed very happy to see each other. He said that he was worried that his son would not remember him at all. But his son smiled at Mr. Ugyen Dorji as soon as his son saw him. Mr. Ugyen Dorji was very happy about it.

It was interesting for them to see the moving dinosaurs in front of Fukui Station.

They said that it was their first time seeing cherry blossoms in real life and they were amazed by them. It was such a beautiful day so we all felt nice walking under the cherry blossoms.

It was also their first time to have Hanami (a Japanese flower viewing tradition), they seemed to enjoy it. They brought some homemade Bhutanese food. I tried it and it was spicy and I liked it very much. It was such a great and interesting experience for me to have Hanami eating Bhutanese food, hearing Dzongkha (Bhutanese) and communicating people from outside of Japan.


T.F

Sontaku

Osaka souvenir "Sontaku manju"

It seems there is no English word that can directly paraphrase the word "Sontaku (see that Kanji above)" which became completely famous in Japan recently.

When I translate it into English, it will become an idiom or a sentence, such
as "care about other's feelings" or "see things from other people's points of view".

Will this become English as "Sontaku" in the near future?

T.S

Recommendation of cafe and meal in Fukui City “manimani”

The other day, I went to “manimani” and I will introduce it this time. I had heard that their meal is so good and I sometimes pass in front of the shop by car but it was the first time I entered it. And I really liked the “manimani”. So it is likely to become my favorite cafe where I often want to go to.

They offer set menus with side dishes of plenty of locally grown vegetables. That day I didn’t eat dessert because I was full but I hear their homemade desserts are very popular. After all, I am happy that they offer healthy meal and I could get plenty of vegetables. Although the cafe was pretty busy, the owner and staff served us well, in a natural calm manner with warmth and it made a favorable impression.

[Side dishes of the month]
Greens and chopped dried radish with enokidake mushroom
Spanish omelet with squash, shimeji mushroom and bacon
Deep fried freeze-dried bean curd with starchy enokidake mushroom sauce Octopus, seaweed and onions with vinegar dressing
Twice cooked pork with cabbage and bamboo shoot
Floury potatoes with sakura shrimp -shore flavor-
Sauteed carrots (their regular menu, which is tasty that could change your image of sauteed carrots. Even those who don’t like carrots can eat this.)

They also sell lunch boxes and take-out dishes. (H.S)

                                        The entrance of manimani

                                                      Inside

                                       Beef filet steak set meal (1800 yen)

                                            Roast beef plate (1580 yen)

                                                 The appearance

New Sake Festival 2018 -Excellent sake from 24 Fukui Local Sake Breweries-

On March 21st, 2018, a new sake festival was held at Phoenix Plaza in Fukui City.

24 sake breweries from Fukui Prefecture and 6 restaurants and stores participated in the event. The number of the visitors had been increased. There were about 1,600 visitors came to the event last year, and about 2,000 visitors came this year. The venue was full of people enjoying the sake.

10 minutes before the event was begun, the door was opened, and visitors rushed into the venue and they lined up in front of their favorite sake booths.

Right before the event was started, the people in front of the sake booths seemed very excited for the event to be started. Staff members of each sake brewery were standing quietly and being ready to serve their sake. Somehow, by looking at the staff members with traditional uniforms and beautiful sake bottles lined up in front of them, I felt both solemnity and excitement.

As soon as the event was started, the sake was poured into the visitors’ cups one after another.

Some visitors had brought their own cups like the man in the photograph above. He put the belt around the cup with perfect balance, so the sake would not be spilled from the cup. I was amazed by how he has so much passion toward sake.

After the visitors had a few cups of sake, they started being more relaxed and chatty. The atmosphere of the event had been raised more and more.

Even it was very busy from beginning to end, the staff members of each sake breweries were serving sake politely and elegantly. Each sake brewery had brought a few of their recommendation, the visitors enjoyed sake tasting and asking staff some questions.

There were some snacks which go well with sake, so the visitors could also enjoy them as well. Some of them felt very nice after having some cups of sake, and then they started chatting with people around them, even with strangers.

I would like to visit next time as a visitor and try different kinds of sake.

If you have a chance, how about visiting the new sake festival in Fukui City?


T.F

Watching the ritual "Onomai-dance" of Uwase-jinja Shrine and Mimi-jinja Shrine

On April 8th (2018), I watched the "Onomai-dance" (Dance of the King) performed at Uwase-jinja Shrine in Wakasa Town, Fukui Prefecture.
"Onomai-dance" (Dance of the King) is the traditional ritual dance which is held at the 16 shrines in Wakasa region, and most of the shrines hold that in April or May.

It is the same as the Onomai-dance I saw at Mimi-jinja shrine in Mihama Town two years ago, that a male dancer wearing a red costume, a red mask with high nose and a bird-shaped hat repeats a simple choreography constantly in accordance with flutes and drums.

However, there are some differences such as dancer's gestures, costumes or bird-shaped hats.
If I watch the dances of other shrines there may be a lot of differences, but I am interested in that the same events have been inherited for hundreds of years throughout Wakasa region, regardless of the difference in details.
T.S

Onomai-dance at Uwase-jinja Shrine

Onomai-dance at Mimi-jinja Shrine

The striking movement of protruding a pike forward from a low posture is the same but the other behaviors are different.

Bird-shaped hat at Uwase-jinja Shrine

Bird-shaped hat at Mimi-jinja Shrine

The bird shape of the hat of Uwase-jinja Shrine is stylized, and in contrast, that of Mimi-jinja Shrine is concrete and ornate.

Restored Fukui Castle Yamazatoguchi Gate

The restoration of the Yamazatoguchi Gate in Fukui Castle Ruins was completed the other day and opened to the public. A traditional method of construction and wood from Fukui are used for the gates and the stone walls. It is worth seeing. In the past, Shungaku Matsudaira, who was the lord of Fukui Domain, used to pass through the Yamazatoguchi Gate to go to the keep of the Fukui Castle. In the NHK period drama “Sego-don” currently on air, an actor, Kanji Tsuda from Fukui City plays Shungaku, so I have a sense of closeness with Shungaku again.

Ascending a little steep stone steps, it is the castle tower ruins and a cherry blossom viewing spot. Looking inside the turret, go through another wood gate and go over the Oroka-bashi bridge. Then, right before is Fukui City Central Park. Going straight the park and you will find a place to rest which has a public bathroom. This is the season of cherry blossoms, so it’s nice to stroll the historical route with viewing cherry blossoms. (H.S)

   
         Inside the white plaster wall was turret（arm storage） at that time.
         Now you can enter it and materials related are on display there.

         
          The stone wall facing the moat viewed from the inside the wood gate.

             “Fukunoi” (well) has been restored in the castle tower ruins.
              It is said that it is the origin of Fukui, the place name here.

              The turret opened in the evening as well with illumination of cherry                                      blossoms. (Usually, it is open until 6 p.m.)

                     The Oroka-bashi bridge viewed from the castle tower ruins.