Hotel Korin Joetsu

... design!

I was told that each room of the hotel is uniquely designed. Each room reflects a theme. Unfortunately, their website doesn't show any of their rooms. Only hotel guests have a privilege to see them.

There is a library on the second floor of the building, where you can take a look at books on art and architecture.

I really wish to come back for lunch and spa!

... my son would love to eat elephant shaped kamaboko, although I don't think he would finish it all.

"It is said that KAMABOKO, a Japanese kneaded fish product, has peculiar origins. It has been a part of the national diet since the Jingu period (4th century) when the empress first tasted it during her travels. It was prepared by her serving men who kneaded the fish, placed it on the tip of a spear ...

... I have never paid attention to astronomy before. The attendant there was very hospitable and he explained many things about astronomy. By listening to him, little by little I got interested in astronomy especially in stars.

The cozy planetarium facility is good for families with small kids. If no other visitors there, you can have a private time with your family! They don't have a chair for you to sit in, so ...

... as a side dish of curry & rice.

There was a museum of old checking station in Inotani. It's too bad that Inotani checking station no more remains. It could be a great sightseeing spot if we are actually able to see the station.

The hightlight of the day was viewing Tokoniji Falls. Although I've never heard about the place, I thought it ...

... of Toyama. The store used to be a manifacturer of Hangontan which is a traditional medicine of Toyama. It is said to be one of the first medicine to be produced and sold in Toyama.


When I entered the store, I could sense a bitter-tasting smell of medicine right away. The store looked pretty new, probably renovated ...

... artcrafts displayed inside the house. Every archiectural piece that used to build this house is extremely lavish, the curator explains. For example, they used immense monolith that were brought from Shodo Island for stepping of their entrance.

The Street of Iwase (Omachi-Niikawamachi Avenue)

There still remain antique buildings on the street of Iwase. There are unique craftsman & artists living in this ancient feeling town. Grasswork artists, musicians, local sake-makers, a soba cook, ceramic artists and many others. I was told that we can even look inside pf sake breweries in winter time. Too bad that they don't usually make sake during the summer ...

This weekend we went to an open air flea market in Toyama. I bought a Kimono. It was quite the experience with 4 old ladies all poking and prodding at me. They had a lot of fun dressing up the foreigner. They thought it was great and gave me an awesome deal. Now I have a kimono and have no idea how to put it on.... Darcy enjoyed the hussle and bussle of people slurping up soup, selecting the best local veggies, and milling around the various stands of pottery.

We just left Kagaya Hotel and wow! The treatment of the personnel there is awesome! The women in kimonos were always our room attendants who greeted us, brought us our meals and helped us at our rooms. They were absolutely wonderful! The weather today is much better! It's not snowing and the sun is out! This morning I woke up to the sound of the phone ringing. I wasn't ready to get up, but we were awoken 30 minutes before breakfast, so we had to quickly get ...

I'm lying in bed in the Kagaya hotel in Ishigawa. Wow is this place awesome! When we arrived, a bunch of women in kimonos rushed out to greet us as we got off the bus. When we went inside, the hotel lobby was very open and elegant. The immediate foyer was black marble, and you stepped up to the main floor lobby which is modeled after the traditional style housing of Japanese culture. We were invited to wait in one of their lounge areas while our luggage was unloaded from the bus ...