A Letter from Blue Sky and Sea - Izu Shimoda Photo Diary

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun

On January 15th, I went to Hakone with my family to take a bath in Hakone Kowakien Spa Resort "Yunessun" in Kanagawa Pref.

After we parked our car at the 2nd parking lot we could get to the Spa building by shattle bus.

It was cloudy and cold there but very warm in the building. We changed the clothes in the dressing room and went into the Spa zone.

There are many kinds of Spa, the God's Aegean sea, Ancient Roman Bath, Turkish Hamam and etc inside the building, so we were able to be relaxing them with a variety of water massaging devices, and excited Dead sea Spa using salt imported from Dead sea in the middle sea. (But my children could not take this spa because they had pain on the skin.)

After luch we were going to outside, but we gave it up. Because it was really cold there. Actually we wanted to take Green tea Spa, Japanese Sake Spa, Wine Spa and etc, but we recommend to go to Hakone except cold season.

But we  could spend good time and experience there. My children could be excited. (The baby in diaper are allowed here. But please use the disposable and waterproof diaper.)

Next time we want to take another Spa "Mori no Yu"in this Yunessun Spa resort, the traditional Japanese style Onsen, sectioned into private areas for women and for men in beautiful natural settings outside.

P.S: I posted the photos that I took today into my webpage. Thank you.

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun

The present from USA, "Dream Catcher"

Last year, a couple from Oklahoma in the United states stayed at our Pension on December 1st.

And this time we were very surprised that we got the present with some cards and photo from them by mail.

This is a "Dream Catcher" which made by the Cherokee Nation Native Indians.
According to several native american tribes, Dream Catchers are believed to trap the evil which is floating around in the air, much like a spider's web snares everything in its path.

These our guest stayed at our Pension for only 1 ngiht, but they said in their letter,

"Thank you for being more than the perfect host, for also becoming our friends." or "Had to thank you for your wonderful hospitality."

We appreciated it very much and it is also our plesure.

Thank you very much, Doctor and Madam.

Dondoyaki in Shirahama

It was very warm today, so I wen to Shirahama beach with my son, Yuuki.

It was first time for him to walk by himself for the long time on the sand. He was very excited and had a good time, I guess.

By the way as you saw in this photo, there was a "Dondo Yaki" in the beach.

"Dondo Yaki" is the Japanese traditional bonfire performed at the beginning of New Year.

We, Japanese bring "Okazari" or " Shimenawa", the decorations  for the  New  Year  celebration, and burn it in the early morning.

The tradition says that the smoke of Dondo Yaki bring  good health and good luck.

I had seen it 3 years ago and took the phots. Please check it out. "Dondo Yaki" (Sorry, Japanese only)

I guess that we can not see this traditional event in the big city in Japan, but would you like to see it?

It will be held on Sunday, January 15th.  Good Luck with you!

From today .......

Thank you for visiting our weblogs.

Since July 2000 I had been posted a lot of photographs  in  our website, but I will try to introduce the photos of the beach, mountain, flower, my family and many kinds of things from today in this weblog..
Please visit our weblog again.
P.S
I took this photo 3 days ago. We could see the snow on Amagi mountains.
It has been very cold here in Shirahama in these days, but many surfers were in the sea.