Special Events @Gokoku Shrine

Do you have any plans for New Year's Eve or New Year's Day?

Right next to one of the most popular sights in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Castle, there is a shrine called Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine and they are having special events from Dec 31st to Jan 1st.

--EVENTS ---------------
◎Dec 31st  17:00～　大祓式・除夜祭　

　　　　New Year's Eve  Celemony
◎Jan 1st   0:00～　初神楽奉奏（巫女舞）　Kagura
                 10:00～ 歳旦祭　New Year's Day Celemony 

 .... and more!
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On New Year's Day many Japanese go to the shrine in order to make New Year's wishes for happiness.This is called Hatsumoude.Every year many people.... more than 600,000 people visit Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine（広島護国神社) in the first three days of the new year for that.

◆Access　 Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine（広島護国神社)
Take a Tram No.2 or 6 to Kamiyacho-Higashi stop from Hiroshima Sta.
Another 8min walk to the shrine
Have a good New Year's holiday!

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊ Be Careful ! ＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
The Peace Memorial Museum will be closed on Dec 30th and 31st.

However,the Peace Memorial park will be opened all day and you can see the Atomic Bomb Dome.

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CountDown fire festival at Saioto ski resort

How do you spend New year's day Eve?

 If you have no plan, I suggest you a countdown party in Saioto ski resort. You can see 3000 of fire works and lives of some bands after skiing.  They are going to keep the field open until 17o'klock on the New year's day. So you can even ski after the party!!
 
when: 12/31 22:00 ~
place: Utopia Saioto Ski Resort
web: http://www.saioto.co.jp/news/?p=1033

Happy New Year!!

Chinksai Festival in Miyajima

Konnichiwa from Hiroshima Hanahostel. It's Kana here.
I just can NOT believe that year 2018 will arrive in few weeks.
I feel like I'm losing my memory for last half year. I can't believe how time goes by so fast.

How was your year 2017? I hope all of you had great one so far.

If you have any opportunity to visit Japan for new year eve, here is my little tips.

We have great world heritage "MIYAJIMA" in Hiroshima. They hold great traditional festival on new year eve. It called "Chinksai"

 
They set up an altar lighting the fire at the shrine refinement and after the ceremony was completed by the master, trasfer the fire to the torch and transfer to the large bunch of the pine tree set up at the Mikasanohama beach.
and they will put a fire on a large torch from a big bow.
Meanwhile townspeople of Miyajima make torches of various sizes from large pine tree with 20 to 30 people to carry and about 50cm and gather at Mikasanohama beach in the evening.

After turn off the fire and take out the extinguished pieces of pine tree ,and take it home and give it to the godshelf and make it a one year fire avoidance amulet.

Why don't you join them and have some special Japanese traditional culture!!
Only for once a year on New year eve!

Date:2017 Dec 31 from 6pm
Place:Miyajima

Momiji Festival Special late-Night Garden

☆Momiji Festival Special late-Night Garden☆

 

Japanese cafe opening stores and kimono’s dressing experience are also done.

17 November, 2017 - 3 December, 2017

9:00 am - 9:00 pm

*Garden closing time is extended to 9:00pm

General 260 yen, high · college student 150 yen, elementary and junior high school students 100 yen

http://japan-attractions.jp/hands-on_activities/shukkeiein-momiji-festival/

[Official Site] 

 http://shukkeien.jp/

 

 

Shukkeien  2-11, Kaminoboricho, Naka-ku Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima 730-0014

Hiroshima Ramen Stadium

Do you like Ramen? Have you already tried lots of different kinds of Ramen?
The biggest Ramen event in Hiroshima is now here.
There are gonna be 2 parts and are gonna be 9 shops each at a time so total 18 different shops are going to be here! The shops are from the north to the south and are famous nationwide. I bet you will enjoy it if you are a ramen lover!

Not only ramen, they have other dishes, too.
All Ramen is ¥780. Buy tickets and get you ramen. For other dishes, you can buy it at each shop with cash.

Round 1: November 2 - November 6
Round 2: November 8 - November 12
Weekdays: 10:30am - 9:00pm
Weekend and Holiday: 10:00am - 9:00pm
*6th Mon and 12th Sun: Close at 7pm

Place: Former Hiroshima baseball stadium ( across from the bomb dome)

RAMEN SAVES THE WORLD!! maybe... sometimes... lol

Autumn Sumo Tour in Hiroshima

This coming Saturday,there will be an "Autumn Sumo Tour" taken place at the Sun Plaza Hall in Hiroshima!
Sumo is well-known as the national sport of Japan and the six Grand Sumo tournaments are held annually in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagoya.However,Hiroshima does not regularly host sumo tournaments so this is a great opportunity to see it.
It started early, around 8am and end it up with the grand finale at 3pm.
Since there are not many seats left,we recommend you to book it in advance.Don't miss your chance to see SUMO.It will be an unforgetable experience for you!

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Date:October 28
Time:8:15 am - 3:00 pm

Venue:Sun Plaza Hall

3-1-1 Shoko Center, Nishi-ku Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken Japan
(Take JR　Sanyo line about 12min to JR Shin-inokuchi Sta. and another 5min walk)

Tickets: from 5000yen

Website(JPN) :http://www.sumoaki-hiroshima.com/
Phone:082-292-5559
Email: sumoaki@ppad.co.jp
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NUMAJI TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM

When I ask guests from other countries what amazed them in Japan, most of them say "Japanese transports".

Here is a good event to know about Hiroshima's transports.

You can see Astramline, tram and sky rail so close.


Location: NUMAJI TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM

Hours: 9am～５pm　every Monday

Adult : 410yen
Youth : 250yen

This place is pretty for from the city center, so take the amazing transports!!

Japanese traditional garden SHUKKEIEN GARDEN

Hello this is Kana from Hiroshima Hana hostel.

The October has already begun and getting colder everyday. The Autumn has already arrived.
Speaking of Autumn in Japan is known as beautiful autumn leaves! Have you ever visited Japan in Autumn? If not please come and enjoy view of beautiful Autumn leaves.

Why don't you enjoy it at Japanese garden? The atmosphere will make it more impressing and beautiful.
Might be too early for Autumn leaves, but you can still enjoy the beautiful Japanese garden.
Here is the place for you!
If you are lucky you might be able to see it.

There is a awesome Japanese garden near Hiroshima station which means also near Hana hostel too! It called Shukkeien Garden.
They usually open from 9 am to 5pm. But only for the weekend and public holiday in Japan, they open from 7am!!! They offer free matcha service for the first 30 arrivals as well from 7:20am-5:40am.

Here is schedule for October.

From 7am

1st  (Sun)
7th (Sat)
8th (Sun)
9th (Mon Public holiday)
14th (Sat) 
15th (Sun)
21at (Sat)  
22nd (Sun)
28th (Sat)
29th (Sun)


DO NOT MISS IT!

Speaking of Japanese sake day...

Hi, everyone!

 Do you know October 1st is the day of Japanese sake in japan?
It's nice event it called Sake festival in Alice garden.

Its starts from 15:00pm
You can buy a cup there.
If you buy it for 1500 yen, you can enjoy a variety of Japanese sake!
( or Those who want to drink a little, there are tickets that can drink 3 cups at 500yen.)

It's really close to hear is J-Hoppers Hiroshima!
You can take the tram and it takes 10min from Dobashi sta. to Hondori sta.

It' good chance to try Japanese sake and meeting other people　：）
Let's drink and talk!

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Date: 1st October 2017
Place: Shintenchi Naka ward Hiroshima city (next to the Paluko)
at Alice garden
Site:http://www.hirosake.or.jp/event/2014/141001sakenohi.html


Thank you for reading  and see you next time!
 
  

Sake Tasting at Kemby’s

Hi there!!

There is a great event to try some Japanese sake at Kemby's on September 16th :)
 



 

The ¥1000 entrance fee includes a plate of food and sake is by the glass for ¥400-¥600.
 If you have a time in Hiroshima then, just go and tast sake.

• Multiligual staff
• English & Japanese Menu
• All major credit cards accepted
• Seating for around 60 on 1st Floor
• Second Floor room available for private parties of 8-20 people
• Reservations ok
• WiFi access available (ask for password)
• No parking available, but ¥100 Parking nearby

-

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Date: September 16th.

Time: 6:30pm-9:30pm

Cost: 1000yen

Place: KeMBY’S CAFE　2-9-13 ootemachi-nakaku-Hiroshima city,Hiroshima

  

Phone: (082)249 -6201

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TO BEER LOVERS - YES! OKTOBER FEST IS HERE

"Oktoberfest" is the world's largest beer festival held in autumn every year in Munich, Germany since 1810. About two weeks from the end of September to the beginning of October every year, the hall will be filled with a number of huge tent beer shops swallowing thousands of people. Lots of beer fans gathered from all over the world are drinking, singing, dancing with a liter mug in their hands.

A huge beer garden event is here again in Hiroshima that you can experience special atmosphere. During the exhibition, German folk music stage is also held every day, you can taste draft German beer and German food that you can rarely have here, and you can also learn about German culture.

Place: Former Hiroshima baseball stadium site (right across from A-bomb dome)
Date: September 8 - September 18 2017
Time: Weekday 3pm-9pm    Weekend/Holiday 11am-9pm
Entry free (Mug deposit 1000yen will be returned when you return the mug to the shop)

Let's enjoy the end of summer or the beginning of fall with this fun event!!

Early-bird special @Shukkeien

Many people usually get around some spots:Peace memorial park,Hiroshima castle,some art museums and Sukkeien Japanese garden easily in one day.
Most of sightseeing spots in Hiroshima city,they open at 9AM.
As you know,August is the special month in Hiroshima because of the memorial day,Aug 6th,1945,so the Peace memorial museum is more crowded this month than usual. However,the Shukkeien Japanese garden in Hiroshima is opening their gates as early as 7 a.m. on this coming Saturday and Sunday,Aug 26th and 27th to host the tea ceremony. 
If you get up early and visit the  garden in early morning,I guess you will have enough time to visit other famous spots even on busy weekends.Have a fruitful day!

 
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Special Early-morning opening at Shukkeien 
・Aug 26th,27th 
・Opening hour: 7AM - 6PM (Normally from 9a.m.)

[FREE]Tea ceremony experience 
★the first 30 arrival only★
@Seifu-kan or Meigetsu-tei in Shukkeien Japanese garden
・Admission fee 
Adults 260yen 
Children 100yen
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getalympic 2017

The 24th Getalympic is going to be hold in Fukuyama on the 17th September.

Getalympic is a unique competition in Fukuyanma where produces Geta(Japanese traditional sandals) most in Japan.

People play a few games with Geta.
One of them is "Geta tower". As you can see from the name, players make a tower with getas.
Player who makes the tallest one is the winner.








It is very important that we keep up the traditions like this competition.

Date  : 17th/Sep/2017    

Location   :  around JR Matunaga station


see you next time !!

✺ *:'.;*`,Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival✺ *:'.;*`,

Date: August 26, 2017 (Sat)  19:40 - 20:40
Location:  off shore from the O-torii Gate

Konnichiwa dfrom Hiroshima Hana Hostel. It's Kana here.
Summer is not over yet. It's getting hotter and hotter everyday in Japan.
Features of the summer in Japan is.....

HOT & HUMID

How is the summer like in your country?

One of common event during summer in Japan is FIREWORKS ! Many fireworks event are held all over the Japan.

A very famous fireworks festival in Hiroshima will be held in late August!　An at Miyajima!!! which is one of well known world heritage in Japan.

Here is a little details of the festival.

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Miyajima-on-the-sea-Fireworks Display presents seven spectacular scenes, complying with each year's theme.
The fireworks display is set up to match the image for each scene, which is centered on the fascinating pyrotechnics on the water.
Over 300,000 visitors enjoy the fireworks show every year. The scene with the O-torii Gate silhouetted by the illumination of the fireworks attracts thousands of photo enthusiasts.
Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival is one of the most famous fireworks display in Japan.
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You can enjoy both world heritage sightseeing at Miyajima and fireworks at once!

Do NOT miss it!!If you are interested in please check "Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival" on Google!!

river side festival in Hiroshima

It's going to be fierce heat day by day.
How's going your travel?

Where are you usual go to in Summer in your country?
In Japan, People go to a sea or a river to cool oneself.

Why don't you enjoy Japanese cool Summer(*^▽^*)？



















****** Rver Side Festival ********************

 DATE : 2017/7/30

TIME :  9:30AM～3:30PM　pre-event　29th 6:00PM～8:30PM

PLACE : Higashihiroshima-shi,Kochi Shimin Ground

ACCESS : 10 minutes walking from Kochi JR station

Fee : Free   ** Try to catch a sweet fish → 800yen

HP : http://www.city.higashihiroshima.lg.jp/kanko/kanko/3/1/7401.html

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HANABI on July 22nd

It's season of  Big fireworks extravaganza  in JAPAN!!!


 A fireworks  extravaganza is one of the most popular events during summer here.

Here is a one of Big fireworks extravaganza place you can go to see from J-hoppers Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Port “Dream” Fireworks Festival

The show begins at 20:00 on July 22nd, 2017 (1hour).
Held in the bay in front of the 10,000 Ton Cruise Ship Bert.

Access: Take a tram track #03 to Hiroshima Port from Dobashi stop (160 yen).






Have fun you are time with HANABI  (fireworks)

Miyajima SUNDANCE

SUNDANCE is an annual festival at the beach on Miyajima with world music and dancing.
There are people from all over the world enjoying world's music (Japan, the United States, South America, Asia, Africa, etc.), the world food and meeting new people.
There are nearly 1500 participants each year. It is getting established as a place of international exchange in Hiroshima.

The dancers who are performing on the main stage are working mainly in Hiroshima and those who sells food and drinks are also running shops in Hiroshima.

It is the 13th SUNDANCE this year.
And the third BUBBLE party is going to be on the main stage and it seems like getting more and more exciting!!

July 16 2017 @ Miyajima Tsutsumigaura National Park
                   　10：00　-　20：00

Tickets: Advence \2000
             GATE    \3000
             15 and younger free

Tickets available @ Southern Cross cafe & bar Hiroshima
                            @Cusco Cafe
                            @Barcos

Bands, DJs, dance shows, contests, volleyball tournament, international food stalls, bubble party, Mr. & Ms. Sundance contest, lots of drinks and hopefully plenty of sun!!

Onomichi Gion Matsuri

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Onomichi(Santai Mawashi) Gion Matsuri 

Jun 24th (Sat)

6PM-9PM

From 7PM : Santai Mawashi
＠the Tsuchido ferry landing platform
*10min walk from Onomichi Sta.

Also,there will be many stalls selling Japanese food.

----------------------------------------------------
A Gion Festival in Onomichi will be held this coming Saturday.
It is one of Onomichi's three major festival and it has continued since the Edo period. The Santai Mawashi is the main attraction of the festival.People scramble 3 Mikoshis,portable shrine floats, and compete to obtain a special flag with each other. Why don't you visit Onomichi and enjoy the traditional festival this weekend?

*･':ﾟ:*:'ﾟ` Mariho Aquarium *･':ﾟ:*:'ﾟ`

Hello this is Kana from Hiroshima Hana Hostel.
It is already in June and we are about to get into rainy season. We call it as "TSUYU".
After Tsuyu, Summer will begin!!! Can't wait to go to beach with nice cold beers!

Japan is an island country which is surrounded by the sea. So we have many different kinds of sea animal, and also they are very close to our life. I love sea animal, especially Turtle, dolphin and  penguin!!

Here is a great news for the people like me. 
There will be brand new Aquarium which will open on June 24th (Sat) !!

It is located right middle of BIG shopping mall which is quite interesting. So you can enjoy both at one time!
Also right next to shopping mall, there is a beautiful walk side with Harbor.
So actually you can enjoy walk along beautiful harbor, enjoy Lunch at shopping mall and enjoy aquarium with lovely sea animals!
 

 

It takes about 45minutes from Hiroshima Station by bus. 
(260 yen for each way. Line  3)

April～October 　10：00～20：00
November～March　10：00～17：00

★　Adult (Over 18years): 900 yen
★　Child(Over 6years): 500 yen
★　Baby(Over 3years): 300 yen
★  Senior(Over 65years): 800 yen

Summer is coming up! Good to cool you down with sea animals rather than air conditioner!
 

TOUKASAN ~ Yukata Festivel in Hiroshima ~

It's a beginning of Summer.
This year, It's hotter than last year. Tomorrow can be 29℃
in day time...(;´Д｀)　Where are we? It's Japan!! It's May!!

On this season, It's good to go out at night.
Because It can be cool in night time.

Here is an information for a festival in Hiroshima.
Let's try on Yukata and join them!!!
 





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DATE:  2017.6.2 4days　 12:00～23:00
PLACE: Chuou street in the city cantre
ACCESS: 5 minutes from Hachoubori  tram stop
 HP: http://www.toukasan.jp/

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Hiroshima Rose Festival 🌹

Hello everyone! It's Chippy from J Hoppers Hiroshima.

I can't believe how fast it is to turn to be spring from the autumn this year! It's been super hot these days and it even feels like we skipped the spring!

In Japan, after cherry blossoms fell, it's the season for ROSES!!

There will be a "Rose Festival" taken place at the Hiroshima Botanical Garden from next week!

The rose garden covers 1600 square meters and contains 570 different varieties of rose. With other parts of the gardens there are about 850 varieties on display in total including pure bred roses, modern roses, and some of them are created in Hiroshima and even named after Hiroshima.

They will also hold some workshops such as making wreaths of flowers and forming roses out of soft clay (clay craft) during the period. Some flower shops and food stalls will come to warm up the festival too!

It only takes about 40 minutes by bus departing from the Bus Center which is 15 minutes from J Hoppers.
If you feel like spending your time on relaxing surrounded by beautiful nature rather than being in a crowd in the city center, this place will be the best spot for you!

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　　　　　　　　　　　Rose Festival 🌹

☆Dates: May 13th ～ May 28th (closed on Fridays)

★Hours: 9:00am ～ 4:30pm

☆Place: The Hiroshima Botanical Garden

★Admission Fee: 510yen (Adults)

☆Access: Hiroshima Dentetsu Bus #55-1 (40 minutes)
              bound for Yakushigaoka Danchi via The Botanicall Garden

※Bus runs once an hour until evening. Check the time schedule in advance:
http://www.hiroden.co.jp/bus/route/w-54-55.html#tab2 (JP)

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Hiroshima Botanical Garden Website: http://www.hiroshima-bot.jp/index.htm