Setsubun today!! 3rd February is a day to celebrate the coming of spring even though it’s still cold (according to the old lunar calendar).
We throw soybeans represents getting rid of bad luck and welcoming good luck.
I made 豆 (soybean in Japanese kanji) with soybeans😂👍

This sushi roll is called Eho-maki 😋 We eat this Eho-maki on Setsubun.
When we eat this, look in the year’s good luck direction, and eat quietly🙊

If you’re interested in Japanese calligraphy (Shodo), Cooking (Udon, Tamagoyaki), Origami or Tsumami-zaiku then please contact me!!
You’ll learn the Traditional Japanese Calligraphy;) I have a license to teach Calligraphy and over 20 years of experiences.
info@wakalture.com
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Other Wakalture Activities

I went to the Calligraphy museum located in Uguisudani for the first time today!!
There is no camera permitted so I have this photo only but it was amazing!!
Though the way from Uguisdani station to the museum was a bit awkward as there are lots of Love Hotels,,, *sorry but please just google about it… can’t explain. 

I’m not the person who loves history but seeing famous Calligrapher’s writing which was written in 300-500 BC.
王羲之（Wang Xizhi）, 顔真卿（Yan Zhenqing), 欧陽詢（Ouyang Xun）, 虞世南（Yu Shinan）, 褚遂良（Chu Suiliang） are very famous Calligrapher like,,, I know them lol
I learnt memorised for exams about history of Calligraphy when I was in high school. But I’d never seen their actual Calligraphy so I was like,,, if I knew here and was able to come and see at that time!!;(
Also we had a person who knows about Calligraphy history super well. He explained and answered all our questions.
Definitely worth it!! I would love to learn more and maybe one day, I would guide Wakalture’s guests?!?!

Osechi is a traditional Japanese food for New year.
They come in special boxes called Jubako. Each dishes in Jubako have special meaning for welcoming New year.

Most of shops closed around New year long time ago like before having fridge. So that people had to make something that they could keep long time while all shops closed. So it used more sugar, salt or vinegar.
People used to cook but it’s a lot of work. So now most of family buy it;) My mum and grandma still cook some of them though:)
The top one is at my home.

And these below are my husband’s place Osechi!!

Happy new year!!:D

Today, I will introduce this Japanese traditional ornament called Shimenawa Kazari (or Shimekazari).
Shimenawa is usually used at Shinto shrines to mark sacred spaces and to chase away the evil spirits. The Shimenawa Kazari used on New Year has a similar meaning. Usually display on the front door.
People used to start to dispaly from 13th December. Since Christmas got popular in Japan, we usually display after 25th.
The number 9 doesn’t mean good (sound of 9 is suffering in Japanese) so people shouldn’t display on 29th. Also 31st. It’s called “Ichiyakazari”, ichiya means one night and kazari means display. To display it just the day before new years, this doesn’t mean good as a lack of respect.
Then take this off on 7th January most of people in Kanto area (East side of Japan) and 15th in Kansai area (West side of Japan).

I just found this Shimenawa Kazari at Daiso (100yen shop) then take some off, changed a bit and glued Tsumami- zaiku:)
I put Tsumami-zaiku of pine, bamboo and plum trees with a crane. They all are symbols of good luck!!

I will write about Osechi, a traditional food in New year next;)

Thank you for reading,
I wish you all have a wonderful year!!

I visited Fukushima prefecture in September for eating my favorite fruit, PEACH♡♡♡

Look at this parfait!! Only 600 yen😲 If it was in Tokyo, probably costs twice or even more😂
The cafe is located just beside the orchard!!
I saw on Instagram that there was a long line (someone said she waited over 2 hours)  for this parfait especially on weekends. Crazy!!lol So I arrived there before they opened 😛
There was a board which I left name on then went to eat breakfast and shopping and came back when they opened!!
When I went back,,, there were lots of people waiting 😲
No wonder,,, delicious and super cheap!! I wish this cafe is next to my building!!haha

This is Goshiki-numa✨
“Goshiki” means five colour and “numa” is pond.
Unfortunately the weather wasn’t good so I saw only this colour but still beautiful, isn’t it?😊

This is Onsen (hot springs) at where I stayed:)
The ryokan has a big garden and there are 5 Onsen♨ The onsen is very smelly because of sulfur😂 See the last photo you can see white dots in my hands. That’s sulfur👀 That means their onsen is very thick as they don’t add  water, 100% pure onsen!!

    
Ashi-yu (footbath) is very nice to be warm and don’t need to take of clothes😌♨
There is a shrine called Tamagoyu Onsen Shrine (same name as this ryokan) after lots of steps🏃💦 The third photo was taken in a half way to the shrine. You can see the Torii gate on the top😂 Still more stairs to the shrine after the Torii💦 

Dinner at the ryokan😲✨ It was delicious but tough to eat them all😂

I also visited Ouchijuku😊 I think it’s similar to Shirakawago. Ouchi-juku is much smaller but I was there on Monday not weekend so there were less tourists. So I felt more comfortable, relaxed and authentic😌✨
*When I was in Shirakawago on the first day of light up, there were soooooo many people and they seemed like they weren’t organised well for lots of visitors:(
The shrine is located at the top of Ouchijuku!! See the top of roof😲 Reminded me totoro:D

It’s not easy to get and travel Fukushima without a car.
But if you have a chance, go there, have fresh and delicious fruits, Onsen!! Aaaaand Oouchijuku:)