A piece of Japan&Korea

The movie, "King's man" is now released. (http://www.kingsman.co.kr/) You can see some of
the scenes were taken in an Old palace. Here in photo is that. The name is Kyungbokkung.
It was used as palace in 14th century. In fact there was a sad history because of the era of
Japanese control, 20th century. Now we forget it and just.....see and enjoy the splended
palace......

Byodoin temple is famous for the design of 10 yen coin. Boydoin has 1000year's history.
And there is also many images of Budda. This temple is also resistered in World Heritage.
Byodoin is located Uji city in Kyoto. But maybe...many foreign tourists don't go because
here is away from center of Kyoto. If you stay in Japan for long,for example studying in Japan etc,
going Uji is also good for relaxing. Calm and nice place...

There are many traditional tea shop in Korea,too. This photo is Omija tea. It tastes sweet and
a little bit sour. This shop is located in Shinchon, Seoul which is one of the busy street in Korea.
Omija is a kind of berry (http://100.naver.com/100.php?id=755042). Korean traditional teas are famous
for good for health. This tea is maybe full of Vitamin.

Japanese garden is beautiful. Even for me, Japanese. Japanese garden makes people's mind calm and relax.
You can enjoy the scenery with eyes, ears and noses. The garden in the photo is called Rakusuien in
Fukuoka city. A big marchant had this house as his villa. Later people made the garden better and opened
for people come for sightseeing. In this garden there is a tea room, so you can enjoy Japanese green
tea. So you can see this garden with tongue,too. The photo is a waterfall in this garden.

In Korea, it becomes -15 degree in winter.... Of course there is much snow even in capital, Seoul.
It is contrastive my hometown has little snow. But in the house in Korea, it is hot because of the
floor heater called 'Ondor'. So in the house you can live with T-shorts.
When in winter, I want to eat the food which can make my body warm. So I go to eat soup of
Poaks or cows. 2 days ago, I lost my computer in the library of univ. My heart is.....,as it is, winter.

Canal city...is most popular modern place in Fukuoka, Kyusyu area. Kyusyu is located in the west of main island of Japan. There are many shopping place or restaurant, coffee shops in canal city. You can stay and look around
,so it takes half of a day. I went there on Chiristmas day. There were many people, esp. young couples.
But why canal? There is a small canal in the center of this shopping mall. Water....it makes human's mind calm
and full of peace. And Kyusyu is the area famous for delicious noodle, Tonkotsu Ramen. There is a Ramen street in fifth floor of canal city. There are 5 or 6? famous Ramen shops. I ate in a shop named "Ikkosha"
(http://www.canalcity.co.jp/shopsearch/detail/ss_d_1000265.html). I want to eat again, there!

Official site:http://www.canalcity.co.jp/home.html

This area is called Chong-no, one of the downtown in Seoul. There are many delicious restaurant, many
coffee shop, bars, offices, shops and so on. I don't know why this kind of PIANO was born...but it is
so fun to see this street. We make life's music in our mind.....sometimes it's cheerful one and sometimes it's sorrowful one....

Osaka Castle was made in 1585 by Hideyoshi Toyotomi who unified Japan in turbulent age 15~16 century.
He was a son of a farmer. In the era, it was so hard to be Samurai who was a son of farmer. Because farmer's
son would be farmer in the era.....There was big Samurai named Nobunaga Oda. He was Hideyoshi's boss.
One day when Nobunaga tried to go out, but no shoes. Where is my shoes!!!! he shouted. Then Hideyoshi
opened his wear and shown his shoes. 'In this cold day I warmed your shoes, boss.' Then Nobunaga was
impressed and allowed Hideyoshi to be his follower. Nobunaga was great Samurai because his father had just small area. But Nobunaga won and won to big enemies, then he was going to unify Japan.......
When in 49 years old, Nobunaga was killed by his follower who had jealous and anger to him.
In the era, 'People's life is 50 years', they said. It is said Nobunaga felt vexed ....if there were one more
year.....
Well, in 1614,1615 there was big wars and the castle was burnt. After that they rebuilt the castle,
but fires burnt it some times. Now you can see Osaka Castle rebuilt in 1931. And now there is a museum
in the castle. I've seen that there are some Shoguns' signs of the era on the stone walls of Osaka castle.
Turbulent age was so interesting, so many books were published and computer or Video games were made,also.

Suwon Hwasung was made in 1796, in the era of King Jung-jo, 22th emperor of Chosun dynasty.
Hwasung is 5.7km long and 130ha wide.The east of Castle is a plain and the west is a mountain.
Now Hwasung is appinted World Heritage. Hwasung is a big castle which has 48 belongings including
4 big gates. Now we can walk around or inside Hwasung or take a bus. It takes a few hours even
if we ride on a bus on the way to see Hwasung. I feel....the castle is quite different with Japanese
one. When I see photos, Korean castle is like Chinese one. Suwon is in Kyunggi-do area where
is south of Seoul. It takes 4,50 minutes by train. Many foreign tourists visit here. I think you'd better
go there in spring or fall. Korean winter is so cold like -10~15degree. Korean summer is so hot
like +27~30 degree.

As you know in this website(Official site http://www.kohfukuji.com/complex.html) Koufukuji tenple has
very long history. Nara which was capital of Japan in 8th century is an old city located middle in Japan.
Calm, beautiful historical city. Koufukuji Temple is near Nara station(Kintetsu or JR line).
Photo is The Five Storied Pagoda (National Treasures). Well, I took all of the photos on this blog and photoblog.
The most difficult thing for wooden tresures is fire. This pagoda was also fired for 5 times in the history.
Now you can see the one rebuilt in about A.D.1426. Kyoto and Nara is old city in middle area of Japan.
You can see and feel the Japanese history directly in these cities. As for Nara, when you arrive at the
station and walk, first you will see this beautiful pagoda.