Traditional Japanese Lighting @ Meguro Gojoen 2016

I visited Meguro Gajoen in Tokyo to see ”和のあかり x 百段階段 2016," in English, Japanese Lighting x 100 step stairway exhibition 2016, this year again because it was really nice in the last year!

今年も行ってきました、目黒雅叙園の「和のあかり x 百段階段 2016」
昨年とっても素敵だったんです。

Meguro Gajoen was first built in 1928 as first-class Japanese style restaurant and became the first banquet and wedding ceremony hall in Japan, and now is a hotel with beautiful Japanese banquet and wedding ceremony halls. 

目黒雅叙園は1928年に創業された高級料亭で日本で最初の結婚式、披露宴会場となったことで知られています。今ももちろん日本的な式場として結婚式を挙げるカップルに人気の場所ですね。

Meguro Gojoen has famous stairway of 100 steps and banquet rooms which were designated as one of cultural assets of Tokyo. In this summer, you can see lighting exhibition there. 

雅叙園には有名な100段階段とそれにつながった宴会場があり東京の文化財として指定されています。和のあかり展はここで行われます。

These are used as lighting floats at Nebuta festival of Aomori prefecture, you can see them again in this year.

昨年から引き続き人気のねぶた。

"Summer Festival," "Art," "Craft persons," "Traditional performing arts," are the theme in this year.
「祭り」「アート」「職人」「伝統芸能」がテーマとなっています。

Japanese monsters in superstitions. With only one eye, without feet... scary! Why are Japanese monsters so creepy?? I think Japan has scariest monsters in the world. Please let me know if you know any other creepy monsters in your country.

日本の妖怪たち…目が一つとか足が無いとか日本のお化けってなんでこんなに怖いんでしょう。多分この不気味さ、世界一でしょ？これより怖い妖怪が他の国にいたら教えてください。




I love this room the best! Lighting from real leaves.

やっぱり私は一番これが好きです！本物の木の葉から作られたあかりです。

Matching with cut paper arts and shadow pictures, wonderful.

切り絵と影絵のマッチングも素敵でした。

Meguro Gajoen
1-8-1, Shimomeguro, Meguro, Tokyo

The exhibition is from Jul 1st to Aug 28th
Sunday~Thursday - 10:00 - 18:00 (Last entrance 17:30)
Fridan and Saturday - 10:00 - 19:00 (Last entrance 18:30)
Admission JPY1,200 for adult, and free for children under 12 years old (elementary school children)
http://www.megurogajoen.co.jp/event/wanoakari/

By the way... you can see some lighting arts at the entrance and on the hallway of 1st floor for free.

ちなみに1階の玄関とその奥でも少し展示が見られますよ（無料！）

Have a nice summer!

素敵な夏をお過ごしください！

Experience Japan!

Kamakura Guest House

Kamakura is one of the most popular sightseeing locations in Japan, however, there are not so many accommodations around.  I would like to introduce one guesthouse if you wish to stay in Kamakura at a reasonable price.

Kamakura Guesthouse is located about 15 minutes away by bus from Kamakura station.  The house is originally Japanese style old house and you can enjoy old fashioned atmosphere.

 

 

In the public space, you can enjoy Kotastu (electric Japanese heater with a futon over it) and Irori (a hearth installed in the floor.) Irori is actually rare in modern Japanese houses and it was good opportunity for me to enjoy the warmth and cook over it.

 



 

 

 

Even though you have to bring fish by yourself since this is a guesthouse and no meal is served, the staff will help you to cook with Irori. They put charcoal so that your fish can be deliciously cooked. Irori is available in winter time, from Oct to Mar.

 

 

 

 

The guesthouse of course has a kitchen, tools and seasonings so that you can cook your meal any time.

 

The guesthouse has 2 dormitories for men and women, and one private room. Men's dormitory is on the first floor and women's dormitory is on the second floor. The room is Japanese style with Tamami (straw) mat and futon bedding.

 

 

I stayed there with my husband, so we chose a private room.　The room has 4 beds and a desk and chairs. I liked its Japanese structure. The shower room is shared by all guests by turns. 

 

 

Kamakura Guesthouse

273-3, Tokiwa, Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan

Tel: 0467-67-6078　FAX: 0467-67-6078

http://www.kamakura-guesthouse.com/english.html

 

Dormitory

3,000 JPY per night

Private Room

15,000 JPY per room per night (for 1~4 people)

Check in  14：00～20：00

Check out 10：00

 

There are a supermarket and a drag store near the house.

You can rent a bicycle with 500 JPY per day!

 

 

 

 

Experience Japan!