Although Japan is most known for downhill skiing (you can check out all my blogposts about skiing in Japan here) there are some places where it is possible to try out cross country skiing as well. Last weekend I had the opportunity to try out cross country skiing in Nikko thanks to an event organised in leadership of former ambassador of Japan to Norway, Mr. Kawai. The event took place at Koutoku (光徳) in Oku-Nikko (lit. "Inner Nikko").

One of the most unique dinner experiences you can get while in Tokyo would without a doubt be a cruise on the Tokyo Bay with one of the traditional Yakatabune (屋形船) houseboats. (I have previously written a short post about a previous trip on the Yakatabune here where I've gone more into details about the background of this cruise.
Every year the Norway-Japan Society holds a Yakatabune-event for its members and friends around September, and this time we had 43 registered participants for the cruise. With delicious food (sashimi, tempura) and good company we had a wonderful evening onboard the boat.
The cruise started out close to Shinagawa and took us all the way down to Odaiba. Luckily the weather was on our side, and we could go out on the deck on top of the boat to enjoy the view of our surroundings.

• All blogposts from Tokyo
• Tokyo Hotel Special: 2015 & 2016 Brand New Tokyo Hotels
• Lodging in Tokyo: 10 Unique Budget Hotels for an Unforgettable Stay
• Second Hand Fashion Shopping in Tokyo: Mode Off in Ueno
• Bon Odori Midsummer Festival in Ebisu (恵比寿駅前盆踊り)
• The Ultimate Secret Karaoke Place in Shibuya: Rainbow Karaoke
• Tokyo Cherry Blossom Spots: Nakameguro's Meguro-gawa River (目黒川)
• Tokyo Hot Spring Theme Parks: Back to Edo with Oedo Onsen Monogatari
• Sightseeing in Tokyo: Cruising the Tokyo Bay on a Yakatabune (屋形船) Houseboat
• Summer in Tokyo: River side picnick by Futako-Tamagawa (二子玉川)
• All blogposts about Norwegian stuff abroad
• Yokohama : Norwegian Skolebolle in World Porters
• Yokohama Kannai: The Norwegian Bar - Bar Norge (バーノルゲ)
• Norway Food Festival in Tokyo!
• Tokyo Cafes: Cafe Fuglen - Norwegian style Coffee & Vintage Furniture
• Norwegian 17. May Celebration in Tokyo 2014 - 東京でのノルウェー憲法記念日
• Norway Yumenet Presentation in Tokyo (Norsk Salong)
• Japan Hardanger Club (日本ハルダンゲルクラブ) Performance at the Norwegian Embassy
• Norway in Japan: Arne & Carlos Knitting Event
• Celebrating Norway's National Day at the Embassy in Tokyo!
• NHK on Norwegian Slow TV／NHK放送：ノルウェーのスローテレビ
• NHK E-Tele: "Gretel's Magical Oven" and Norwegian Waffles
• The Norway-Japan Society: Yakatabune Dinner Cruise on the Tokyo Bay (屋形船)
• All blogposts about seasonal Kanto events
• Spring
• Hiking in Tokyo: Sakura viewing (花見) at Mount Takao
• Tokyo Cherry Blossom Spots: Nakameguro's Meguro-gawa River (目黒川)
• Summer
• Bon Odori Midsummer Festival in Ebisu (恵比寿駅前盆踊り)
• Pikachu Outbreak in Yokohama - Pikachu Tairyou Hassei-Chu
• Summer in Tokyo: Ultra Japan at Tokyo Odaiba!
• Autumn
• Yokohama: Autumn Views at the Sankeien Garden
• Winter
• Chiba: Winter Illumination at the Country Farm Tokyo German Village
• Yokohama: Christmas Market at the Red Brick Warehouse

Royal Park Hotel The Shiodome

Bunka Hostel Tokyo

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Nihombashi

Kaisu Hostel

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Hi everyone! Today I just wanted to share this information from the Norway-Japan Society about their 2016 Study Grant. For more information about the society please check out their website

日本・ノルウェー協会は、2016学年度に1ヶ月-1年間にわたりノルウェーに留学する20歳以上の日本人、あるいは日本に留学する20歳以上のノルウェー人を対象に、奨学金を給付します。
 専攻科目・資格不問。帰国後、英文の報告書を提出することが求められます。

The Norway-Japan Society Study Grant 2016
The Norway-Japan Society offers up to two study grants of JPY200,000 for the year 2016.
Applicants are to be 20 years old of age and above. Applicants must also be either Japanese who will be studying in Norway or Norwegian staying in Japan to study, for the period of 1 month to 1 year in the study year 2016.

Application papers:
Applicants are requested to make application documents explaining his/her purpose of study, study duration, and what he/she plans to do after studying in Norway/Japan. Applicants should also explain his/her financial sources. These documents must be submitted by email.
Certificate of the last academic qualifications is required either by secure email directly from the issuing educational institution or original by post. Please note we will not accept certificate of academic qualifications by email from the applicant.
Please be reminded that all documents need to be written in English.

Email address:
information@norway-japan.org
Post address:
The Norway-Japan Society
c/o Royal Norwegian Embassy, Information section
5-12-2 Minami Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047

Application deadline:
March 31st, 2016

Application procedure:
Completed applications will be reviewed by The Norway-Japan Society. The result of the evaluation will be notified to applicants in May prior to the General Meeting. The successful applicant will receive the grant money after the start of his/her study is confirmed by The Norway-Japan Society.
The grantee is required to attend our General Meeting in May or alternatively to write a thank you note to be read up at the General Meeting. Upon completion of the studies the grantee is also required to submit a written report.

A couple of weeks ago NHK featured a show about Norwegian "Slow TV", a phenomena that recently has become very popular in Norway and also made some headlines in other countries.

• All blogposts from Tokyo
• All blogposts about Norwegian stuff abroad
• Yokohama : Norwegian Skolebolle in World Porters
• Norway Food Festival in Tokyo!
• Tokyo Cafes: Cafe Fuglen - Norwegian style Coffee & Vintage Furniture
• Norwegian 17. May Celebration in Tokyo 2014 - 東京でのノルウェー憲法記念日
• Norway Yumenet Presentation in Tokyo (Norsk Salong)
• Japan Hardanger Club (日本ハルダンゲルクラブ) Performance at the Norwegian Embassy
• Norway in Japan: Arne & Carlos Knitting Event
• Celebrating Norway's National Day at the Embassy in Tokyo!
• NHK on Norwegian Slow TV／NHK放送：ノルウェーのスローテレビ
• NHK E-Tele: "Gretel's Magical Oven" and Norwegian Waffles
• The Norway-Japan Society: Yakatabune Dinner Cruise on the Tokyo Bay (屋形船)

At the end of our program we also had a small concert with my colleague Will, who is aiming to be a professional musician. He is American, but we had him sing his own version of the Norwegian artists A-ha and M2M. I don't have any videos of his performance available yet, but please feel free to check out his talent on soundcloud.

• All blogposts from Tokyo
• All blogposts about Norwegian stuff abroad
• Yokohama : Norwegian Skolebolle in World Porters
• Norway Food Festival in Tokyo!
• Tokyo Cafes: Cafe Fuglen - Norwegian style Coffee & Vintage Furniture
• Norwegian 17. May Celebration in Tokyo 2014 - 東京でのノルウェー憲法記念日
• Norway Yumenet Presentation in Tokyo (Norsk Salong)
• Japan Hardanger Club (日本ハルダンゲルクラブ) Performance at the Norwegian Embassy
• Norway in Japan: Arne & Carlos Knitting Event
• Celebrating Norway's National Day at the Embassy in Tokyo!
• NHK on Norwegian Slow TV／NHK放送：ノルウェーのスローテレビ
• NHK E-Tele: "Gretel's Magical Oven" and Norwegian Waffles
• The Norway-Japan Society: Yakatabune Dinner Cruise on the Tokyo Bay (屋形船)