Nozomi train to Hiroshima – A bomb dome The train trip took roughly about 1-1/2 hour to Hiroshima. At the station we found the information desk easily enough and were given a streetcar map and the number of the streetcar to take us to Hiroshima Peace Park. The first view of the Dome and skeletal […]
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Brewery- Kobe Japan
June 25, 2014 by
2 Comments
After Himeji Castle we had an hour or two to spare and our guide suggested a visit to the Hakutsuru Sake Museum and Brewery at Sumiyoshi. We hopped the train from Himeji to Sumiyoshi station, then a short walk to the brewery. The original Hakutsuru Sake Brewery opened in 1743. How a Sake brewery operates Greeting […]
Himeji Castle (White Heron Castle) – Feudal Architecture
June 16, 2014 by
Leave a Comment
Himeji Station Finding Himeji castle once you get off the train at Himeji stations is pretty simple.Take the North entrance/exit, you can see Himeji Castle when you step outside, it is hard to miss as you walk down the main street (Otemae Street). A shopping arcade is on the right with convenience stores, souvenir shops […]
Kiyomizu-dera (Kyoto) – Japanese Buddhism
May 25, 2014 by
Leave a Comment
Last on our list for the day is a visit to the Japanese Buddhist Temple of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. My memory when approaching the temple is of the lane ways bustling with crowds of people, lined with fascinating little souvenir shops,cafe’s and eateries; the delicate pink petals of cherry blossoms falling on one’s face like […]
Xintiandi – Shikumen Museum- ‘Stone Gate’ Housing – Shanghai
April 30, 2014 by
Leave a Comment
Xintiandi Shikumen ‘stone gate’ Housing Shikumen ‘stone gate’ housing is a special old type of residence in Shanghai that first appeared in the mid-1800’s. During the uprising of the “Taiping Heavenly Kingdom”(1851 to 1864), large numbers of people from Shanghai and neighboring Jiangsu and Zheijiang provinces sought safety in the city’s foreign concessions. The need […]
Dongtai Road – Antique Market – Old Town – Shanghai – China
April 16, 2014 by
2 Comments
Dongtai Road Fake Antique Market Next, a visit to the fake Antique Market in the old town on Dongtai Road, huge variety of goods and who could tell if they are fake or not. If you can’t afford the real thing, this is the place for an excellent substitute. Bargaining skills required here. Compare prices from a […]
Shanghai – Old Town – Chinese Quarter – Old Town – China
April 8, 2014 by
Leave a Comment
Old Town (Nanshi) Our tour group set of early to walk through the back streets of Shanghai Old Town, ‘Nanshi’ as it used to be called, the old walled city of Shanghai.The Old Town predates the colonial days in Shanghai. This area is now known as the Southern Town by most Chinese today, bounded by Renmin Lu […]
Shanghai Museum – What is a Bronze Ding ? – China
April 1, 2014 by
Leave a Comment
Shanghai Museum – Bronze Ding Our tour group spent a couple of hours at the Shanghai Museum and explored the three floors. The Shanghai Museum building is very striking, built in the shape of an ancient Chinese bronze ding. What is a bronze ding? A bronze ding,is an ancient Chinese Cauldron traditionally made in two shapes, either […]
Master Plan – Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center – Shanghai-China
March 23, 2014 by
Leave a Comment
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center is certainly worth a visit. The Lobby display “Shanghai’s Morning”, is a display of landmark buildings from various times representing the historical and cultural progress in the urban development of Shanghai over the last 100 years. The beautiful wall mural also reflects this progress. Prominent […]
Ancient Town – “Fang Sheng” Bridge – Zhujiajiao – Shanghai
March 18, 2014 by
Leave a Comment
Ancient Water Town Zhujiajiao, ancient water town is about an hours bus ride from Shanghai. Zhujiajiao first appeared as a village market during the Three Kingdom Period. It has 1700 years of history ranging from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) when Zhujiajiao was already a busy market place, due to its river ways and […]