Yodogawa Fireworks Festival 2011

Yodogawa Fireworks festival is coming in 4 days!!
..However, we enjoyed from our rooftop for the last 3 years, but a new building has been under construction in the same direction of the fireworks and is getting higher and higher, so I guess it would disturb us to watch the fireworks..
We had great party on the rooftop last year, but it seems better to not do it this year..

BUT!! Mr. Yano is willing to help out. He has lived in this area and watched these fireworks for more than 20 years every year without fail, he has planned a tour this year to watch the fireworks.

*The details *
1. Please come to the J-Hoppers reception at 6:30 pm on the 6th of August(Saturday)
2.We will walk to the river side(about 20 mins)
You can buy a sushi set(500 yen) if you want, and enjoy with fantastic fireworks!!
3.After the fireworks, you can also enjoy Japanese public bath(sento) on the way back to J-Hoppers. The fee:400 yen

Kobe FireWork

This coming saturday, AUg 6th, there is a Firework Festival in Kobe.
It starts from 19:30. There will be so many people there and must be super busy.

I'll tell you where you can see the firework wel;

1) Kobe Harbor land
2) Meriken park
3) Nakafutou(Port island)
4) Venus Bridge
5) Mt. Rokko


i think Venus bridge is the best place because you can see the night view as well and there might not be so busy. If you catch a cab from near Sannomiya hankyu station, it would be 1,200yen to get to there. You will have to call a cab to pick you up to go down to Sannomiya though.

Also, I guess there are not so many people around nakafutou station.


p.s. Yodogawa firework falls on the same day!

Osaka koku Passport

Osaka is very hot now!

Please come to Osaka and do shopping!
Actually, a wonderful discount system has been started since this April in Osaka!

This system's name is Osaka koku Passport.
If you buy something in a member's store, earning points and using them as a discount.

You do not need a difficult procedure.
A mobile phone with IC chip or IC traffic transport card will be a point card.

Some restaurants close to J-hoppers are also available.

This is a very good idea★
You try to do shopping in Osaka area, earing and using points.

Effective term is 1 year.
Everyone can join it!
Please come to Osaka :)

URL↓
http://www.osaka-pass.jp/index.html

International Exchange Party+Nagashi somen+α

We J-hoppers Osaka have International Party on every Friday these days, and we will have "Nagashi somen" also on this Friday - mean, tomorrow, the 15th!

What is "Nagashi somen"? ... it's "flowing somen".
What is "Somen"? ... it's one of Japanese noodle, but not ramen, not udon, not soba..
How do you eat it??
... Well, just come and see what we're doing!
Actually, it's my first time to try by myself, so I can't exactly explain yet... haha.


Also, many summer festivals are starting from this week, include "Tenjin Matsuri festival"which is one of biggest festival in Japan.
In Minami area(near Namba and Shinsaibashi) has variety,too.
See this website and check their schedule!

Ittoko Minami (in English)

http://www.ittoko-minami.net/en/calendar.html

Let's try real hotsprings in Osaka:)

~~~~Real hot springs in Osaka city List~~~~

①Naniwa no yu
06-6882-4126
FEE 750yen
OPEN 10:00~25:00 . 365days
ACCESS get off at Tenjinbashisuji 6cho-me station. (subway)
★Osaka unlimited pass is available.

②Kamigata Onsen Ikkyu
06-6467-1519
FEE weekdays 700yen, Holidays 800yen
OPEN 10:00~26:00. Closed on the third Tuesday.
ACCESS catch a pick-up bus at Nishikujyo station (JR Osaka roop-line)
★spring's quality is very good!

③Tennen Onsen Tanabe
06-6628-1126
Fee 410yen
OPEN 6:00~25:00 Closed on Wednesdays.
ACCESS get off at Tanabe staion. (Subway)
★reasonable price and good Onsen!

There are more hot springs in Osaka.
If you head to Kobe, "Kua-house hot spring" is recommendable.

Thank you.

Namba Yasaka shrine

It's just 5 mins walk form Namba station

If you enter through the east gate, you can see this big dog-ish.

This is not a dog. it's a traditional "animal"


If you go there by train

go out side through exit 32 at Subway Yotsuyabashi.

then head to South for Motomachi 2:intersection.

after you hit the intersection, cross the street. walk until you hit Motomachi North3.
You have to make sure you are on the Midousuji street.

Then if you walk to west, you can find this weird shrine.


People go downtown for fun like eat, drink and party but this sight thing might be fun as well.

Osaka has a weird shrine, but this is really epic..no?

Tenjin Festival Funatogho observation seats on the boat

Tenjin Matsuri festival is one of biggest festival in Japan, and tons of people will come from everywhere, even from overseas.
This is the great festival and our guests also went to enjoy this festival every year.
But it's so hard to get a space to see fire works, because of too many people and the fire works don't go off so high in the city center, so most of them are exhausted and come back..

So, if you are coming to Osaka because of this festival,why don't you think to buy a special seat??
You can get on the boat to avoid those people, and enjoy fireworks with nice Bento(lunch box) and funny commentary by Osakan comedian. You would be a part of someone's picture for sure.

Date: 25th of July (Monday)
6 pm -
The fare : 17,000 yen
http://www.osaka-info.jp/jp/tenjin/

天神祭（English, Chinese, Korean)


The special seat on the land is also recommendable.
http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/search/detail/event_8422.html