Sanrio Characters
Take a look at some of the well-known favourites to brand new faces and some unique characters of the famous Sanrio Characters. Will Hello Kitty be your most favorite charater of all? Or will she be knocked off her perch by a smiling high speed train, a group of android beetles, or a dog that resembles a custard dessert? Take a look and choose your favourite for 2013! Let us know too!
Ibusuki sand bath
No visit to Kagoshima would be complete if one missed out on a side trip to Ibusuki which consists of Saraku, the one and only natural sand bath in the world. You will be directed to queue at the indoor sand bath, then when it’s your turn to lie down while the workers there piled sand on top of you, leaving only your head exposed. Imagine rows of heads sticking out of the sand–it’s a pretty amusing sight! It does get better when your body adjusts to the temperature. It is said to stimulate the health and increase blood circulation.
Kofuku Train Station
Kofuku train station in Hokkaido is famous in Japan for its visitors who continue, for 26 years now, to post business cards, railway tickets or wishes for love and happiness on the walls and ceiling of the building. However, due to its age, the wooden building is starting to fall apart and needs renovation. The station has been closed and the construction has started on September 2, with the building being expected to open again at the beginning of November. Business cards, photos, railway tickets and expired commuter passes are pinned up on the waiting room walls and ceiling. Visitors write as well their wishes, such as, “I wish for a cute baby when it is born,” and, “I wish for the good health of my family.”
2020 Olympics
Congratulation!! Tokyo wins bid to host 2020 Olympics. The Japanese capital will be the first Asian city to host the Olympics twice, having also hosted the 1964 Games. As a country, Japan will be hosting its fourth Olympics. Sapporo and Nagano hosted the 1972 and 1998 Winter Games. With its high-quality infrastructure and transportation networks, and a government reserve fund of ¥400 billion, Tokyo drove home the message in the run-up to Saturday’s host city selection that it is the “safest, reliable” city to deliver the Games. The 2020 Tokyo Games will take place from July 24 to Aug. 9.
Aoyama Flower Market Tea House
Escape from the hustle and bustle of the main street by stepping into this flowery oasis. Inside, the space is beautifully green, with a unique, naturally blooming interior. Enjoy the fragrance of flowers and the calming effect of nature with a cup of their fresh herb teas.