Nippombashi Street Festa 2010

DENDENTOWN in Nippombashi.
This area is one of the most famous electronics quarters in Japan.

Nowadays it is also well-known as a town of Otaku (:nerd) culture.
Its street is lined with miscellaneous shops selling video games and
merchandise featuring cartoon characters.

"Nippombashi Street Festa 2010"
This is a big annual event which transmits attractive information of DENDENTOWN.

Various popular characters of animations and pretty maids parade in the street.
Enjoy cosplay festival, club-like event of animation songs and more!
You would watch unique robot's performance as well.

You cannot miss this event where participants and spectators lift their spirits together!

DATE : MARCH 21TH (SUN) 2010

PLACE : DENDENTOWN, NIPPOMBASHI

WEBSITE : http://nippombashi.jp/festa/2010/

Sumo Practice Tour

Ｇrand Sumo Tournament will start in Osaka on the 14th of March.
It would be so exciting and good experience to watch it, but we will organize "Sumo Practice Tour"
from tomorrow, the 8th of March!
There is one of place where some sumo wrestlerｓ practice till the 14th near J-Hoppers Osaka, so you can go there and watch their training.

Here is the details;

Date : every morning 8th(Mon.) - 11th(Thu.) and the 13th(Sat.)
Departure time : 9:30 am
*Maximum 5 persons / day
*Fee : 300 yen
*Approximate time ：1.5 hours
*Photo with Sumo wrestler is available
*Tour guide : Fumi (our night worker)


Would you like to join??
Please sign up at the reception RIGHT NOW !!!


Grand Sumo Tournament information:
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/index.html

Backyard Open!

We started to open the backyard of J-Hoppers Osaka for our guest!
It's been used by only staff,but we changed a half of the backyard to open space with some benches.
Though not many guests have used yet and no decorating because it's been still cold since we opened, but we expect that it would be a good place for our guests to relax in the sun, without climbing upstairs to the rooftop!
Also, we will have BBQ party there.. can't wait!!

*Opening hour*
(Because there is the elementary school right behind of us and we should care of them.)
Mon-Fri. 19:00-24:00
Sat.,Sun.and holiday 7:30-24:00

Open Mic Night @ Bamboo Club

You can join to play any styles of music! Preferably your original music!

This is a joint event of Elixir Cafe & Bar and Kansai Music Conference. Open Mic Night is a chance for musicians to come out and play a song, jam together or just socialize.

Enjoy all kinds of music such as folk, rock, blues, jazz and Karaoke! All the singers, songwriters, solo musicians and percussionists are welcome!

Date: 2010 March 12th, Friday

Time: 19:00 - 22:00

Door: 500JPY (1 drink incl.)

Place: Bamboo Club

Address : 12-17 Kurosakicyo Kitaku Osaka

Tel: 06-6371-6403

URL: http://www.kansaimusicconference.com/

Plum blossom in Osaka

The plums started to blossom in Kansai ! If you are looking for some places to enjoy their sweet fragrance, you will of course think about Osaka Castle's park. But here comes some others recommendations in Osaka area :
* The Hiraoka Plum Garden, containing 400 trees. You can go there by Kintetsu train, in around 45mn from Osaka (440 yen, from Tsuruhashi St. to Hiraoka St.)
* The Domyoji Tenmangu Shrine, containing 800 trees. You can go there by Kintetsu train, in around 20mn from Osaka (340 yen, from Osakaabenobashi St. to Domyoji St.)
* A little bit farther, the Minabe Bairin Ume Festival, the largest plum grove in Japan : 80.000 trees. You can go there by JR train, in 2 hours from Osaka (4510 yen, from Nishikujo St. to Minabe St.)

SETSUBUN in OSAKA

Here I introduce an event called Setsubun, the bean-throwing holiday which comes on the 3rd of February.



On February 3rd, some costumed men, wearing oni (demon or ogre) masks, go around scaring everyone by sneaking up on them from behind and shouting “aaarrgghh” loudly into their ears.

Another amusing part of this holiday is, anime heroines, sexy nurses, Geisha, Maiko and Kabuki costumes can be seen after dark on the brightly lit streets of Kitashinchi in Umeda. This is a very special tradition which is unknown outside the Kansai area. Something like Halloween, wearing variety of costumes during this time is meant to ward off evil spirits.



DATE : February 3rd

PLACE : Around Dojima Yakushido (Dojima/Kitashinchi Area)
*20 minutes walk from J-Hoppers Osaka Central

PARADE STARTS AT 14:00

DOYADOYA festival

What is "DOYADOYA" ??

"DOYADOYA" is one of the three major Japanese unusual festivals carried on in Shitennoji Temple
in Osaka. Ritual held on the wish summation (last) day of Shushoe (Buddhist ritual to pray for good luck in the year) starting from Jan 1.
A solemn ritual in the temple hall, while young men clad only in loincloth and headband bravely struggle for banknotes in front of the hall.

Here are photos which one of our guest took last year.

It's definitely rare chance to look such tons of semi-naked Japanese guys and feel their soul in so cold winter..

It's held on the 14th of January, Thursday, in Shitennoji Temple.
Start from 14:30.

http://www.shitennoji.or.jp/oshirase/koutu/koutu2.htm