Golden Week
In Japan, we have Large Consecutive Holiday called Golden Week, which is a Japanese term applied to the period containing the following public holidays:
April 29 is Showa day, formally known as the Showa Emperor’s Birthday, then Greenery Day.
May 3 is Constitution Memorial Day
May 4 is Greenery Day
May 5 is Children’s Day
Many Japanese take paid vacation on the between holidays, or some companies completely close and give their employees off. So Golden Week is the longest vacation period of the year for many Japanese now a day.
Therefore, Golden Week is the most crowded week in Japan because many Japanese are traveling to famous destinations.
“Natto” – fermented soybeans
Most Japanese hotel are served “Natto” for breakfast. It would be surprised if you did not know it. Because, it looks like spoiled soybeans and you will be realized by its smell. Natto has been known overseas in recent years because it is good for health as well as Tofu. Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, usually eaten with soy sauce and karashi mustard. Natto is traditionally eaten with rice but is now introduced in a variety of recipes such as pasta, omelets.
Narcissus Festival
Today, I will introduce Daffodils Festival of Shinshu Kokusai Ongakumura (Shinshu International Music Village). Thousands of daffodils are planted in Shinshu Kokusai Ongakumura. Daffodils are blooming all around in spring. They don’t stand out very much, because there is a little bit far from the train station. But, I think it is worth to take a look these beautiful flowers in the festival.
The symbol of station – continued
You also find the water wheel besides of the Sanada Yukimura. I don’t know why the symbol of Ueda station is the water wheel. It is said to be the image of a clear flow of the Chikuma River.
There is a small patio in front of the water wheel. Some people eat a lunchbox there. By the way, the water wheel is used to generate electricity. The power is used for light up the Ueda station in the night. It is not enough to cover the whole station, but it helps for ECO.
Please check the water wheel and the statue when you came to Ueda station.
The symbol of station
Thanks to the Japanese bullet train Shinkansen, it only takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Tokyo to Ueda Castle.
Today, I will introduce the symbol of Ueda city when you exit from the Shinkansen station.
First you see the statue of Sanada Yukimura. His proper name was Sanada Nobushige. He was born in Ueda city in 1567 and the second son of Sanada Masayuki who constructed Ueda Castle. He is still famous as a central figure of the familiar Sanada Ten Braves. The Sanada Ten Braves (also known as the Ten Heroes of Sanada) are a legendary group of ninja that assisted the warlord Sanada Yukimura during the Warring States era of Japan (the late Sengoku period and its immediate aftermath, technically Azuchi–Momoyama and the early Edo period.