November 2015 - Vikingess Voyages

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Sightseeing in Chiba: Hiking Mt. Nokogiri (鋸山)

9:26:00 PM

Chiba Prefecture is one of the three prefectures surrounding Tokyo, along with Kanagawa (Yokohama) and Saitama. Although Chiba is most known for Narita airport and Disneyland (yes, it is in fact not situated in Tokyo despite the name) the prefecture also has a lot of other things to entertain its visitors such as beautiful beaches, great mountains for hiking and hot spring ryokan. 
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Monday, November 23, 2015

Try it yourself: An Oiran (花魁) Cosplay Experience in Japan

6:16:00 AM
Most people have heard about the Japanese escort ladies called geisha, known in the West through for instance the world famous book & movie “Memoirs of a Geisha”.
Throughout history there have however been other types of Japanese escort ladies, and the forerunner to the Japanese geisha is known as oiran 'woman of pleasure'. 
Oiran was a popular profession during the Edo period (1600~1868). Back in the early days of the Edo period the Oiran were considered high class courtesans, and unlike yūjo (遊女) prostitutes they were first and foremost entertainers with refined skills in a number of traditional arts such as sadō (Japanese tea ceremony), shamisen (three-stringed Japanese bajo), ikebana (flower arranging), and calligraphy. Elegant as they were, some Oiran women even went on to become famous outside of their daily workplace, and have inspired various Japanese fashion trends throughout the years.

 The word oiran comes from an abbriviation of the sentence "Oira no tokoro no nēsan" (おいらの所の姉さん), which can be translated into "my elder sister". The kanji characters used to express this word are "flower" (花) and to "charge ahead of others" (魁). 

Although Oiran is a tradition of the past that ended with the rise of the geisha and later almost disappeared along with strict laws enforced to stop prostitution there are still people who are working to keep the tradition alive. But a big difference from the past is that today women dress up oiran style in order to preserve a cultural heritage or to entertain rather than having it as a profession or lifestyle, and it does not include sexual services anymore. I've written more about the difference between Oiran and Geisha here.

Even though it no longer is a common profession nor holds the popularity it used to have in the past one can still find extremely popular events and festivals dedicated to oiran, such as for instance the Bunsui Sakura Matsuri Oiran Dōchū that is held every year in Tsubame, Niigata. 
The vivid and colorful style also keeps attracting people who are interested in Japanese fashion and traditional arts in general. As a result of this popularity there are also a growing number of companies out there offering people who are interested the chance to try on the oiran outfit themselves.

La Petit Fleur in Oukurayama
As you've probably noticed from the pictures above I recently had the honor of getting dressed up in a oiran style kimono. This opportunity came through a company called Workshop Japan, who's goal is to help introduce Japanese culture to foreign visitors. In addition to offering oiran cosplay they also hold various other workshops that foreigners can attend, such as Kazari-maki-zushi(Art Sushi Roll) cooking class and Japanese calligraphy.

The Oiran cosplay experience was a cooperation between Workshop Japan, a flower shop & cafe at Oukurayama in Yokohama called La Petit Fleur café and last but not least the makeup artist Candy Blue. La Petit Café was used as the location for the photo shoot, and Candy Blue (artist name) was in charge of the kimono and makeup. She styled me according to the season, and since it was autumn I got to try out a kimono with red autumn leaves in my hair. Here are some more photos from the experience (these ones are all taken with my phone so the quality is not as good as the ones that Workshop Japan took):


Getting to try out Oiran cosplay was a totally new experience for me. I previously had the chance to do some wedding modeling while in Japan, both with kimono and more modern style Japanese dresses, but this time the vibe was quite different, especially as one usually would associate wearing a kimono with being kawaii rather than sensual.



As Candy Blue is mainly focusing on body jewelry you can notice the detailed decoration on my shoulder. These are stickers, all hand-made by Candy Blue herself. The devil is in the detail, and the team did their utmost to make sure that everything was perfect for the shooting.



After the shooting was done the crew printed out a couple of the pictures they had taken and gave them to me in a cute album with sakura-design that they gave me on the spot. The whole experience was very professional, and besides all the nice photos I got another great memory from Japan.

One of the pictures from the shooting being used on a Workshop Japan pamphlet. (Credit: Candy Blue) 
Workshop Japan is taking reservations from any travelers and expats who want to get dressed up oiran style. If you're in the area and interested in this opportunity, please check out the following links:
Workshop Japan
La Petit Fleur Cafe
Candy Blue Body Jewelry - Oiran


Finally, please note that this is oiran cosplay and not necessarily an exact depiction of how oiran were dressed. If you're interested in the real thing please check out this post where I've written about my experience as the first foreigner participating as an oiran in the Tsubame Sakura festival.


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Saturday, November 14, 2015

Sightseeing in Nikko: A Visit to the World Heritage listed Toshogu Shrine (東照宮)

3:06:00 PM
Japan has numerous hidden gems outside the so-called “golden route” stretching from the ancient capital of Kyoto to the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. The city of Nikko is one of the many gems situated outside of the the typical tourist route that has become well-known throughout the whole world. Just a couple of hours by train north of Tokyo you can find Nikko and its famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the magnificent Tōshōgū Shrine (東照宮). In addition to its sheer beauty the shrine attracts tourists from all over the world as the place where one can visit the final resting spot of the Tokugawa Shogunate's founder, Tokugawa Ieyasu. If you're planning on a trip to Nikko then the Tōshōgū Shrine is without a doubt a must to visit.
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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Nikko: A visit to the Emperor's Summer House - The Tamozawa Imperial Villa

10:03:00 PM
The Tamozawa Imperial Villa  (Tamozawa Goyōtei 田母沢御用邸) is a must to stop by for visitors to Nikko who are interested in Japanese history. The story of the Imperial Villa goes back to 1632, when Empress Meisho ordered the construction of a building connected to the palace for her relatives situated in what today is Tokyo's Akasaka area. Parts of this building was deconstructed and moved to Nikko in 1899, where it was expanded to become the new Imperial Villa for Emperor Taisho. It was used as the summer residence of the imperial family for many years, until it became the hideaway of the Showa Emperor during World War 2. Since then the building was unused for many years and suffered severely from neglect, but was opened to the public in 2000 after it had undergone extensive renovation.

With its 106 rooms, it is also one of the largest remaining wooden buildings in Japan, and you can enjoy the architectural mix of Japanese and Western style. Although there isn't much furniture left in the building it is still amazing to see the elegantly decorated sliding doors, the gorgeous carpets, and the delicate paper walls.
Western carpet in Japanese room


A map of the summer house
The hidden garden in the center of the property


















In addition to the summer house itself, you can also enjoy the garden surrounding the house, known as the Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park. We went for a small walk around the premise and were entertained by the view of a young girl walking around dressed up in her kimono by the nearby pond.


The summer house seen from the garden
After we were done sightseeing we enjoyed a cup of coffee at the small cafe inside the Memorial Park.



Address: 〒321-1434 栃木県日光市本町８−２７

The Imperial Villa is located 10 minutes by bus from the JR Tobu Nikko station, and can also be reached by foot by walking ten minutes to the west of the Shin-kyō bridge along the main road.


Recommended Hotels in Nikko

 More Nikko Hotels
Nikko Station Hotel Classic
Nikko Station Hotel Classic		 Hotel Lungwood Niigata
Iwaiyado Jyuan Ryokan		 Kinugawa Onsen Hotel
Kinugawa Onsen Hotel		 Nikkorisou Backpackers
Nikkorisou Backpackers


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Thank you for reading! Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below
- Anette

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Thursday, November 5, 2015

「フジフジの地球ドリンク〜ラジオから始まる世界のワクワク〜」のノルウェー大特集

9:51:00 PM
先日レインボータウンFm木場スタジオの番組「フジフジの地球ドリンク～ラジオから始まる世界のワクワク～」でのノルウェー大特集にスタジオゲストとして参加させて頂きました。ノルウェー大特集の内容の纏めをレインボータウンFmの公式サイトからシェアします☆

美人のさゆりさんと一緒のスタジオ写真♡
【妖精に守られた自然の王国】

ノルウェーは北欧・スウェーデンのお隣。
毎年、ノーベル平和賞の授賞式も行われる国際都市です。
氷河によってつくり出された複雑な地形フィヨルドは、世界自然遺産にも登録。北極圏のオーロラなど、ダイナミックで、美しい自然に溢れています。
これから絶好シーズンを迎えるオーロラ鑑賞。一生に一度は観てみたいけど、極寒の中で、ひたすら待つのはちょっと、、、という方にも朗報！
ノルウェー北部にあるトロムソでは、沿岸を暖流が流れているため、1月の平均気温は、なんと札幌よりも暖かいとか。
人里離れた場所に長時間かけて移動しなくても、ホテルやインフラの整った環境から、「北欧のパリ」と呼ばれる夜景とともに、オーロラが楽しめます。
海からのアプローチも可能！
最近では、"オーロラクルーズ"も人気です。
日中は、"世界一美しい航路"と称される、ロフォーテン諸島や7つの山頂が連なるセブンシスターズなどの景色を堪能。
夜はその日の天候に合わせて、ベストポイントに移動。
快適な船内で待機し、オーロラが現れたら、アナウンスしてくれます。
高揚した気持ちで外に出れば、神秘的な光のカーテンに、身体が包まれるような不思議な感覚。
アメリカやアラスカでもオーロラの鑑賞ができますが、出現時間帯は深夜から明け方。
その点、ノルウェーでは21時から０時がピークのため、オーロラ観て、乾杯して、気持ちよく就寝が可能（笑）。
翌日も朝から元気に活動できるため、旅のプランも立てやすいですね。
ちなみに、大人気ディズニー映画「アナと雪の女王」の舞台は、ノルウェー。ユニークなキャラクターで登場した妖精"オラフ"も、ノルウェーでは伝統的な名前で、かつては王様にも名づけられていたそうです。


【反射板 リフレクターは、
世界で一番エコな交通安全グッズ】

 リフレクターは、通常「反射板」と呼ばれ、自転車後輪部分や道路のポール、標識等にも使われ、夜間の事故防止に役立っています。
北欧諸国ではリフレクター使用の歴史が50年以上あり、子供服の多くにリフレクターが縫い付けられていたり、大人もコートやバッグにつけています。
なんと人口の５人に1人が着用！
子供だけではなく家族みんなが身に付ける心がけ。
誰もが実践できる、命を守る取り組みです。
ラジオにご出演頂いたノルウェー出身のハンセン・アネッテさんは、安全性とファッション性を兼ね備えた新しいアプローチで、オリジナルデザインのリフレクターをプロデュースしています。
ヨーロッパの安全規格に準拠して製造された、北欧生まれの反射アクセサリー！
この冬、大注目です
(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))
情報提供・写真:ノルディックオーロラデザイン
★商品情報はコチラ
https://nordlys.stores.jp
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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Sightseeing in Nikko: The Kanmangafuchi Abyss (憾満ヶ淵) and Bake Jizo

11:21:00 PM
Entrance to the Kanmangafuchi river trail
The city of Nikko is surrounded by nature, and with its beautiful landscape it is a popular destination not only for people who want to visit the famous temples here but also among people who like to go hiking. If you however only have a short amount of time available in between temple visits and would want to spend a couple of hours in the nature there is a pleasant river walking trail you can take to go visit the hidden gem Kanmangafuchi Abyss (憾満ヶ淵). 
This gorge was created by an eruption of the nearby Mount Nantai around 7000 years ago, and along the walking trail you can find a row mystical of Jizo statues.
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Tuesday, November 3, 2015

[Hotel Review] Nikko Tokinoyuu Hotel (日光 季の遊)

6:24:00 PM
Entrance to Toki no Yuu
Nikko is a great destination for people who are visiting Japan and want to get close to nature and at the same time experience Japanese cultural heritage at its best. The small city is located around 1 hour and 40 minutes away from Tokyo by train, and here you can find some magnificent temples and enjoy the beautiful scenery that surrounds the historical city.
This is also a nice place to try a stay at a traditional Japanese ryokan hotel where you can sleep in a traditional Japanese room with tatami-mat and soak yourself in the Japanese hot spring bath called onsen.
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About Me

Adventures ofAnette


A modern day shield-maiden who loves to explore the unbeaten paths of the world. From her base in Tokyo, Anette takes on both rural and urban challenges, and goes by the motto "No challenge too big, no adventure too small"!
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