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Noemi Noemi

3 novembre 2015

Halloween in Shibuya

If the Japanese calendar is dominated by meaningful celebrations, old graceful rituals and respected traditions, there are also a few moments in the year when heavily marketed events take the power. Typically: Valentine day, Christmas, and Halloween. These imported, made-in-the-West celebrations were adopted to fill gaps between "real" Japanese ones, and to give shops sales opportunities. And so it feels a bit cheap, unreal, misunderstood. As Valentine is already a very commercial celebration in the West, it doesn't matter so much, but Christmas for instance is kind of depressing in Japan. Japanese Christmas is too Disney, too KFC, too Sexy-Miss-Santa costumes to be good.

But Halloween... I don't know, Japanese Halloween is working well enough. Or maybe because as a European, I was not used to celebrate Halloween when I was a child, so my opinion doesn't count. No trick-or-treating kids on the streets, no one ringing the bell at night to ask you for candies... Maybe Japanese Halloween is missing the point. BUT, for adults, let's admit it's a nice partying opportunity. In the country of cosplay, people do'nt hesitate to go wildly costumes... Here is a sample of 2015's not-so-little monsters. Check it out!

Tokyo Halloween is for grown-up only...

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Shibuya horror show - It's more fun with friends

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Kawaii costumes - It's Japan after all

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Tokyo Westerners - Bend it like the Japanese

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24 septembre 2015

Shuzenji little paradise

I am not done with Izu's magical places. Shuzenji is a gem for traditional atmospheres' lovers. As the town is a famous hot spring spot, people are walking the streets wearing yukata and old-style fans. Bamboos and red bridges, buddhist temples achieve to make you feel like time-travelling.

Breathtaking beauty

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By the way, what do you eat in Izu after seing all these beautiful stuff ? Seafood, fish and Kawazu made wasabi ice-cream !

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Go and visit the Izu Peninsula, it is a really gorgeous places.

23 septembre 2015

Silver Week in Izu

The Izu peninsula is one of the Tokyoites' favorite weekend destination. Atami, the entry spot of the area, is located only 40 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen. Then, you need to leave the world of fast and comfortable public transportation to enter the one of rare buses and slow-speed trains. But if you are patient enough to comply with long correspondances between two buses, wonderful landscapes are waiting for you in Izu, the perfect match of marine and mountain landscapes. Follow the sound of the drum played by "Izu no odoriko", the Izu Dancer, heroin of the famous novel by Kawabata!

Jogasaki Kaigan

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The Jogasaki coast is one of the most beautiful sea view in Japan. Accidented cliffs, pine trees, blue and white waves... Can you dream of a more "Japanese" landscape ? I fell like I am watching an old sumi-e painting...

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Omuro yama

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Mount Omuro is an extincted volcano, round like rice bowl covered with green grass. You can walk around its crater and admire Izu Peninsula from North to South, to North again.

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Kawazu Nanadaru

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The Seven Falls of Kawazu is one of the most enchanting places I have visited in Japan. Imagine a pure, transparent river falling in seven dreamy cascads, surrounded by giant rocks and trees... It is so gorgeous you actually hear some music in the air.

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Meet the real Odoriko! The Izu Dancer is for me a very Japanese story, which means that at the end, nothing happens. The protagonist, a student from Tokyo, falls in love for a young dancer in izu, follows her like a stalker, befriends a young man of her group just to get a chance to keep her in sight, finally realizes that she is much younger than expected, and gives up his romantic plans. Love 0, contemplation 1. Not really my cup of tea in terms of plot, but Kawabata's unique style is powerful enough to make you like any kind of stories. Even upsetting ones.

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Suspended bridge

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The small towns of Izu are quiet, resort-type villages with nice little villas and traditional gardens. It is worth to go and see to rest your eyes and heart during the silver week.

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More pictures from the Izu Peninsula, coming soon !

 

 

 

19 septembre 2015

In the red

If you are brave enough to get off your bed at 5:30 a Saturday morning, leave your place at 6:15, take three trains until Koma station (one hour from Ikebukuro) and arrive at the gate of Kinchakuda park before it opens at 8:30, so you will be rewarded. So you will have the privilege to navigate a breath-taking red spider-lilies sea in the morning glow. So you will enjoy this pure ruby-red bliss with almost no visitors around. Priceless.

Red Paradise

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Manjushage flowers are used to blossom for a short time in September, around 6 or 7 days only, so the experience is as precious as cherry blossom viewing in March-April.

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10 août 2015

Asagaya Omatsuri

August in Tokyo : wet, steaming hot, buzzing with insects, exhausting. Let's try to forget all this by hitting a matsuri : a Japanese local festival boasting bright colors, yukata, and - oh surprise - tons of food. There are firework matsuri, omikoshi matsuri, street dancing matsuri ; Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri is just a pleasantly noisy festival with lanterns and giant paper dolls.

Time to play who's-wearing-the-best-yukata-tonight

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8 août 2015

Hanabi 2015

It's not a surprise : in August, one should admire the Japanese fireworks. This year, I was invited to watch the "fire flowers" from Edogawabashi park, in Eastern Tokyo. After the Atami fireworks on the sea, and, the Nagano fireworks in the mountains, let's contemplate the beauty of hanabi above the trees !

I'm your fire, your desire

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1 juillet 2015

Praha, Full Metal Alchemist

There is something magic about Praha. The old stones are still scented with the essence of ancient astroly, alchemy and sorcery. Praha, the mysterious city where mad kings were looking for immortality. Zodiac signs, cosmic symboles, mystic revelations at every street corner. A maze of narrow and colourful streets, haunted by dark statues and decorated with Art Nouveau design.

Praha, the Mysterious

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27 juin 2015

Ici Londres

One week in London. It is funny because I had already visited the city three times, without making any clear memory of it. Propbably because it was before I got used to carry my camera everywhere, and it seems that taking pictures is the only way for me to keep vivid memories. Things do not count until I see it through the lense of my camera ; like dreams, they vanish in the air unless I capture them through the diaphragm. Now I am sure that I will never forget London.

London the Unforgettable

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21 juin 2015

PARIS IN SUMMER

It was actually sunny in Paris this month. Yes, sunny. Like, blue sky, shiny stones and cravings for ice-cream. It is crazy to see how stunning Paris can be when the weather is good and you are in holidays.

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16 mai 2015

Art of Green - Nezu Museum Garden

There is nothing like Japanese gardens to make you worship the beauty of nature. "You know, it is a beautiful Japanese dream" said Vincent van Gogh to his brother, talking about his project of painting purple irises. At Nezu Museum, irises are blooming, and it is indeed a beautiful Japanese dream.

Study in Green

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