Goose Bumps Happenings while Wondering Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Japan

A lot's of the beautiful place in this world but there are few of those places that people choose to travel a million miles to visit, and one on that list is JAPAN. today I just want to share my unforgettable experience while exploring Matsumoto castle in Nagano Japan. Matsumoto Castle a.k.a the "Crow Castle" can be found in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture. it is my first castle invading since I decide to visit each castle prefecture of Japan to learned their history.

 (credit for accesj.com)

The Matsumoto Castle has a wonderful observation deck on the each floor. at the backyard Nearby the Matsumoto castle, there's a small water pond with many Ducks and Swan swimming below the red bridge.

 (credit for flowvella.com)

at the main front of the Matsumoto castle, a big space of grass yard who makes the castle looks more Beautiful.

 (credit for changeiswhatweare.com)

the overcast skies cleared up the moment I stepped into Matsumoto castle. As if God wanted to help me out take the best angle of Matsumoto Castle at that time. When I finally got to the inside, I was surprised. It was much bigger and keep it awesome than I thought it would be. The Beautiful castle keep, eh? It is also relatively new.

They had an entire floor dedicated to the ancient Japanese tools and Samurai with armors, guns, spears, and countless swords that were all authentic. There was also a large wooden model of the entire Matsumoto castle. such a wonderful historical experience wondering the site until happenings break my moments.
 while taking some shot of the best-armored samurai inside, I accidentally captured the cleared image of a little girl beside the armored samurai. I was so shocked and goose bump seeing my first paranormal shot in my whole life.

 "Ghost in my Shot"

Other Details:

Hours
8:30 to 17:00 (until 18:00 around Obon and Golden Week)
Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time. 

Closed
December 29 to January 3 

Fees
610 yen

Access:
The castle is a 15 minute walk or a 5 minute bus ride on the "Town Sneaker" Northern Course bus loop line from JR Matsumoto Station.

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Honoring my Favorite Japanese Ancestor "Nezumi Kozō Grave" at the Ekō-in Ryōgoku Tokyo

First Let me Introduced you about 'Nezumi Kozo' of Japan, from googling it on the web about him, Nezumi Kozo' are the name of Japan's famous thief from the 19th century. he stole money from rich people who earned in dirty ways and offered to poor people the long time ago. he regarded as the hero at that time.

 (credit from Pingmag)

last Obon in Japan which means "honor the spirits of one's ancestors"  (a.k.a お盆),  I give him a first visit of His gravestone in Eko-in temple around Tokyo,

 (credit from mapio.net)

and shave a piece of stone from his grave because it was thought and believed by many to to bring good fortune if you shaved off a piece of his stone grave. But now it is banned Since it gets smaller for a lot of people doing it on.

he also known as the Robin Hoods of Japan? because he risks his lives to help the common people.

he might not have the popularity in the World like we all know about Robin Hood in the cartoon and movie we used to enjoy, but he make up for it with awesome ninja skills and bags of rats.

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Throwback: My Owakudani 大涌谷 Memories

 (me, waiting the Sky Gondola to Owakudani site)

 (Sky Gondola Station)

(I took a short video while riding on the Gondola)

with a lots of destination surround Japan, Owakudani adventure is one of my favorite moments.
back on my 2012 life, We visit to see the famous Owakudani Valley (a.k.a, The Hell Valley); in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. an ancient crater with sulfurous hot springs in which eggs are cooked. You can see steam rising from holes in the ground, do not know why they call it ‘Big Hell’.

 (大涌谷 Owakudani)

(some moments inside the Sky Gondola station and Owakudani Ashi Lake Pier)

Many people lined up for the black eggs (Kuro-Tamago) so we are too and we bought a packet too at a cost of 500 yen for 6 eggs and eat it. The eggs smell slightly sulphuric and they believe that eating these eggs increase longevity. Eating one egg is said to add seven years to your life.

I bought 2 pack more and brought at home and give to some friends,

We supposed to ride and wondered more on the place by cruising Ashi lake but we couldn't make it to the right time of an hour by hour voyage so (so, disappointed) so we decided to explore only the entire pier.

ACCESS: 
Walk to Odawara Station
Take the Hakone Tozan Railway from Odawara Station to Gora (45 min) (interval of 10 ~ 15 min)
Take Cable Car to Sounzan (9 min) (interval of 20 min) Board Ropeway to Togendai (was under repair and took substitute bus instead) Take Pleasure Boat across Lake Ashi. Alight at Hakone-machi.

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My Philippine Vacation: There is no Place Like home

Aside from tired and stress reason, I wanted to take a vacation from this cold freezing world here In the Japan where I base, it only lasts for about 2 weeks since the last vacation I've had back in 2014. today I just want to share my previous vacation on that time through an image of me with my family in the Philippines.

(from left is my sister,nephew,me,nephew, my father,elder sister and sitting below is my mother)

It doesn’t matter what I have brought or nothing something for them, as long as we seeing each other, it is home.

 (me eating Jollibee with my nephew and sisters)

In a way, spending time with my family is kind of like taking a breath in a middle of a long swim. Since I am so far away from home now that I am in living and working for a decade here in Japan, I might need a vacation sometimes.

 (ケイトのお母さんとお姉さん)

This way, when I go back into the village, I can do things as what I did on my childhood before.

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My First Bell of the New Year 2016

because I'm here in Japan, like other Japanese I do visit temples every new year.  in temples every new year, its streets lined with souvenir shops, gift shops, and shops selling souvenirs and lots of food who I've hungered for to eat. At this point I decide to wander up to the temple of kawasaki daishi, the place where I residing for a decade here in Japan.

(川崎大師の入り口) 

 (川崎大師の入り口入った後)

 (step to the main entrance)

 (何お願いしてるだと思う？)

New Years in Japan are associated with temples. and customs such as eating toshikoshi soba, kagami mochi, hatsu hinode-初日の出(first sunrise), hatsumode-初もで  (first bell of the year) and ozoni.

(me, buying wishing daruma)

(me, buying my favorite ズワイガニ　for 500 yen)

(川崎大師の出口)

 (ジャガバター)

 (鯛焼き)

 (ズワイガニ)

outside area of 川崎大師 you could enjoy of lots of street foods selling after the entrance. and one of my favorite, as I've said above, is the ズワイガニ or crab tempura, potato butter or ジャガバター, 鯛焼き.

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All About Fishing (1)

Aside from spending time on the internet and done blogging I decide to share one of my favorite things to do out of all this was fishing, Although it is mostly run by men and uncommon routine for a woman like me to get engaged so much to this manly things but, still hard to refuse any invitation from fellow fishing addict friend to go on this every time. fishing is really an interesting hobby who I really much recommended to all of you. I  am mostly in love to do the "Wall Fishing".

Wall Fishing means fishing beside the wall of any bay side parts or somewhere any wall along the bridge (example:) just point your rod with bait close the wall and let it drop slowly until it reaches the deepest parts of the sea ground. what's more interesting about doing fishing is the view of a place, you can enjoy the view around you and taking the photo while waiting for the fish to bite your lure or bait. but taking the selfie while doing fishing is really stupid things so take care before you doing that.

-Below are some shot from my fishing escapade surround Japan-

(fishing at 大黒海づり公園)

(fishing at 山梨県宍戸梅)

(fishing at 大黒横浜)

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