With the spring season just starting and the Sakura flowers about to bloom it is time again for the Japanese tradition of Hanami (cherry blossom viewing).

 It is a great time where friends, old and new, get together in parks under Sakura trees, relax while appreciating the beauty of the Sakura blossoms and celebrating the beginning of Spring by drinking, talking, singing, playing games and having a wonderful time.
 

We welcome all our guests and friends to come and join our Hanami party and celebrate this wonderful tradition with us.
  

Please bring your own drinks and food to share with the group.

When:  Sunday 4^th of April

Place: Araiyakushi Park (Please see map and directions below)

Time: 13:00 – 17:00, you can come anytime between these times.

Meet at the office @ 13:00 or make your own way there after 13:00.

If you have any questions please ask us before Sunday 4th or

call: Alex at 080-4370-8015

Directions to Araiyakushi Park:

 
AraiYakushi Park is about 15 minute walk from Nakano station.

From Nakano Station, North Exit, walk along Nakano Road (中野通り) away from the station. 

 As you walk along this road you will eventually see pink paper lanterns along the road and following them will lead you to Araiyakushi Park on the right of this road.

The park is quite small but there might be lots of people around, so our staff will be wearing bright orange Yadoya vests so you can find our location easier.
 
If you get lost please call Alex on 080-4370-8015.

In Japan it is a popular custom to visit a shrine in the fist few days of the new year to pray for a good year. This first visit to a shrine is reffered to as Hatsumoude. 

So to welcome the New year we orgainised a trip to Mitake, a small town about 1.5 hours by train west of Nakano on the 2nd of January.

Mitake is a small town in the Tokyo vicinity which is surrounded by mountains, of which Mt. Mitake is one of the tallest(929m). From the summit you are able to see a nice view of Tokyo city, if the weather is nice.


A view of Tokyo city form the Summit of Mt Mitake.



Mt. Mitake is also home to the Musashi-Mitake Shrine, a shrine which has been the center of mountain worship for around 2000 years. 


Musashi-Mitake Shrine

First we went to the shrine on the summit of the mountain for hatsumoude, prayed for a good year and bought some charms. There were a lot of different types of charms on sale for almost any kind of situation. There were even some for pets!!

From there, we went  to one of the local shops on the mountain for some lunch.

The curry udon was amazing!

The shop is owned by a little sweet old lady, Kazue san and she is famous for her delicious Oshiruko, a sweet red bean porridge with mochi.


The Oshiruko was so sweet and delicious.


After we thank Kazue san for her delicious Oshiruku, we took a picture together.

From there we decided to go and soak our tired bodies in a bath nearby.

 
The Entrance to the rest and bath house.

A long time ago this house was used by shinto priests in training who came from many parts of Japan to practice in the Musashi-Mitake Shrine.
But nowdays the house is open for any guests needing a couple of days rest and relax in their public bath.
These bath were quite interesiting as they put many herbs with medicinal properties in the bath water, making for a nice and relaxing bath.

After relaxing ourselves in the bath for a few hours, we came down the mountain and went to visit our friend Mr. Yoshimura who lives close to the station in a wonderful traditional Japanese house, said to be around 150years old.
Once there, he taught us how to make soba and we all took turns to help make the noodles. It was hard work but we leart a lot.





Once the soba was made we had dinner!
Yoshimura san also had a few of the neighbours and their children over his house, but there was plenty of food for everyone.



We also prepared suiton nabe, a type of hotpot with flour dumplings.
Once the broth was hot enough the children helped us put in the dumplings in the hot pot.


The children even prepared 'special' dumplings with a lot of pepper or other things and made their poor unknowing mother eat them! It was quite funny.

Once the children left we continued the festivities and Yoshimura san brought his home made Umeshu(plum liquor) and umeboshi(sour pickled plums)


A home made Umeboshi.

Being away from the heat of a big city,  the morning was really cold, however the sun was out and bright, so it was much warmer outside than inside.

Enjoying the wamth of the sunlight from the entrace of Yoshimura san's
house.

Yoshimura san is a very talented person from making soba to making umeshu and umeboshi and of course being a proffessional photographer.
Recently he started to repair broken ceramics using a traditional method which uses powdered gold so making them more valuable than before. And he gave us a short demonstration of how he works

 
Yoshimura san repairing a tea pot.


And a vase using powdered gold.


Later on, we helped Yoshimura san pick Yuzu from his backyard plantation. Yuzu is a type of Japanese citrus

A Yuzu tree.


And the yuzu fruit.

We took them down with a long bamboo stick tool.







The Fruits of our labor!

We made Yuzu tea and later Mari made some delicious yuzu jam.
 

It was a wonderful trip and we felt so relaxed once we returned to Nakano. It actually felt we had been away for more than one day.

If you have a chance, please visit Mitake. It is a peaceful country town which is still in Tokyo surrounded by beautiful mountains and rivers.

　
Place: YADO Cafe
How to get to YADO Cafe? ↓
http://cafe.tokyo-information.jp/?cid=40485

Our guesthouse is one of the cheapest accommodation in Tokyo.
We would like to help our guests to have nice stay in Tokyo.

Please check our website and we are looking forward to seeing you!

YADOYA Guesthouse　↓
http://www.cheap-accommodation-tokyo.com

やどやゲストハウスは、東京の中野地域で低価格でお部屋を提供するゲストハウスです。スタッフ一同、お客様が楽しい滞在ができますように願いながら仕事をしております。

ゲストハウスに興味のある方は、以下のホームページをご覧ください。

やどやゲストハウスは、中野地域で低価格でお部屋を提供するゲストハウスです。スタッフ一同、お客様が楽しい滞在ができますように願いながら仕事をしております。

ゲストハウスに興味のある方は、以下のホームページをご覧ください。

We have been really busy last month renewing our Maruman branch to make
it better and more confortable for our guests, and finally it has open and is welcoming guests!

Our Maruman branch is a 5bed female dormitory,  located in the 4th floor of the building, 1 minute from YADOYA office and 3minutes from Nakano station.

The dorm  has 2 bunk beds and 1 single bed, and includes:

 * a bathroom with toilet and shower(hot water inc.);
 * a small kitchen with microwave oven, toaster oven and
     rice cooker;
 * a refrigerator;
 * small security lockers for each of our guests;
 * wireless internet connection;
 * a television;
 * airconditioner/heater
 * and a balcony with a washing machine.

It is the perfect place for girls looking for a small but cozy place in a convenient location. 

Please click on the link below for pictures of the Maruman branch.

http://yadoya-guesthouse.cheap-accommodation-tokyo.com/?eid=1270083

If you wish to know about availabilities or have any questions regarding Our Guesthouse or Maruman branch please click on the following lin and fill in the inquiry form,

http://www.cheap-accommodation-tokyo.com/e/form.html


YADOYA Guesthouse　↓
http://www.cheap-accommodation-tokyo.com