Seeing Hinamatsuri Dolls for the first time

Have you ever heard of Hinamatsuri?
If I had to describe it in English, it would be Japanese "Girls' Day". There is this tradition that on Hinamatsuri day, the rich would decorate their home with Hinamatsuri Dolls. This act is called Hina-Kazari (Kazari means to decorate).

Today we went to a Kanzou Yashiki, a place specialized for the herb plant "Kanzou" (I have tried to look for the English word, but still not sure if it's right or not, so... sorry).
To commemorate the Hinamatsuri, Kanzou Yashiki opened an exhibit where the said Hinamatsuri Dolls are decorated. You can't only see many dolls, but like, a WHOLE LOT!

These dolls apparently have survived since Edo Period

While these ones are newer

They only hold the exhibit for early springs apparently, so if you ever visit Japan in spring, try to check out Kanzou Yashiki, which is in Koushuu City! 

It's right in front of Enzan Station, I promise you, you won't be tire of walking hehe

Kanzou Yashiki (Enzan, Koshu City)

Hello.
Today we went to Kanzou Yashiki, located in the Enzan, Koshu City. The place is easy to reach. You just have to go by train in Chuo Main Line, and disembark in Enzan Station. The Kanzou Yashiki is right in front of the station!

Kanzou Yashiki in the past was the Takano Family's House, the farmer of Kanzou （甘草）, i don't know what the meaning of Kanzou in english. But the only thing i know, Kanzou is looks like any common grass, but it has sweet flavor (maybe) and good for health.

In the house building, there are so many Hina ningyo doll which being exhibited from February 11th~April 18th every year. The dolls' numbers are around 600 dolls. And each different hina ningyo dolls, have different wish too. Some decorations are wishing that the girl that lived in that house are always have a good health, or some decoration are wishing for never troubled in food, etc.

So, try to come here when you are spending your spring day in Japan!

Thanks for reading!

Pepi.

Furouen-- The garden that stays eternally!

Last week, after going to Hotel Kasugai, we went to a garden called Furouen 不老園. 
This garden boasts for having about 20 varieties of plum trees! As right now is just right in the season, we got to see those plum flowers in blossom!

From the famous pink...

...to the elegant white...

...and last but not least, the rare yellow!

You could see all of them in Furouen in Kofu City!

For more information, visit >>> Furouen Website

Furouen

Hello
Last week we were going to Furouen, 不老園 means 'The garden which never getting old'. So many collection of Japanese flowers which collected from the entire Japan, and the number of collections are 20 varieties of flowers and over 3000 flower trees.

The flowers in Furouen, the scent from the flowers were good.

You can feel the Japanese spring atmosphere just to be here. Right after the entrance gate, you'll find a stall that offering free Shijimi soup, and it's delicious! Don't forget that one. And on the top of the park or Tenboudai (展望台), you can see the Kofu basin widely. This kind of view is a rare chance. But i'm sorry, i forgot to took the pictures from there because i was to excited only just saw the Kofu basin panorama.

So pretty. I personally like this flower!

Thanks for reading.

Please tell me how was your experience in Furouen!

Pepi.

Customer's needs is number one- Hotel Kasugai!

Today we got the chance to visit Hotel Kasugai, located in Fuefuki City. Different from the Japanese-styled Kagetsu which were mentioned before, this hotel is western-styled hotel..

....is what we thought!! When the hotel sub-manager, Akimoto-san, led us through a tour of the rooms, we got to see a lot of different styles of rooms; Japanese-styled, western-styled, even room that has the combination of the two! They even showed us Paris-styled room, and even children-friendly room that got a cute, pink huge board sticking on the wall of the room, purposely made for the children to write on.

The children-friendly room

You can even borrow yukata for your children 

They also have a wine bar on the top floor of the hotel. It is said to have a beautiful night view. オシャレ! And to balance it out, Hotel Kasugai serves ofuro, indoor hot spring for the customers to u
se!

The 12th floor wine cellar

Massage room

On top of that, they even provide karaoke rooms, spa, and sauna; making your stay at the hotel more comfortable!

For more information about the rooms and all the amenities, you could check out their website here > Hotel Kasugai Website

Hotel Kasugai, in Fuefuki City.

Hello!

Today we went to see the Hotel Kasugai which located in Fuefuki City. From this hotel, you can see the Kofu Basin and the panoramic view of the city. This hotel have several types of room that you can book for your holiday in Yamanashi.

Hotel Kasugai is just like a hotel with every needs for your holiday. This hotel have a wine bar in the top of their building. With Italian touch in the interior, of course you can see the beautifulness of Yamanashi night view while you're enjoy your wine.

Wine bar

Wine bar interior

This hotel have several types of room that can be set with your preferences. Japanese-style or Western-style? or maybe combined? Hotel Kasugai have this kind of room for you to book. Or maybe you searching for the best room that 'kids-friendly'? Hotel Kasugai serves Kids-friendly Family room.

This corner is a wall that children can write in and erasable.

Low-bed, kids-friendly bed.

The interior in the western-style room.

And this hotel have 5 conference rooms, conference hall and party hall that may you reserve for you event. Beside of that, there are onsen and sauna. For further information, feel free to check the Hotel Kasugai official sites here. The sites is in Japanese. But maybe you can use translation tool to understand.

Japanese-style conference room.

Conference hall.

Party hall.

Thanks for reading.
Pepi.

Kagetsu, Japanese-style Lodging in Isawa Onsen, Fuefuki City.

Hello!

Last week, we went to Kagetsu ryokan which located in Onsen-doori, Isawa Onsen, Fuefuki City. When i saw the building from the outside, i thought that it doesn't possible that inside this building there is a beautiful japanese-style garden. Because it looks like a high leveled Hotel and well-interiored if you see it from outside.

Kagetsu's Japanese-style garden, facing to the entrance.

When i came inside, oh man, i think that my expectation got betrayed. The Kagetsu japanese-lodging had very wide and beautiful japanese-style garden! And there are so many Koi fish swimming in the pond. I was amazed and instantly expressed my villager's sense.

Kagetsu's Japanese-style garden.

We had permitted to enter each room of the Kagetsu. And you know what? The room has japanese-style bath tub, and there is a japanese-style backyard terrace! And there is a Onsen room even it located in separated room. In the Onsen room, there is Onsen, Rotenburo (Onsen without roof), and Sauna! And this place have a good hospitality. So, I think if you spend a night here, you'll feel the 'Japan that you were thought about'. Japan that you saw on TV, Japan that you saw in the Japan tourism commercial, etc.

Kagetsu's room.

Room's inside bath tub.

Rotenburo.

Thanks for reading.
Enjoy Japan!

Pepi.