Temple camping in Japan at Wakayama’s Daitaiji【Photos】

https://ift.tt/3o6ZF0P Casey Baseel

A lot of temples in Japan offer dormitory rooms, but this one has an even cooler option.

When travelling in Japan, one of the most unique forms of accommodation is a shukubo, or temple dormitory. Though they don’t provide all the cushy amenities of a hotel, shukubo offer a memorable way to experience Japan’s traditional and local culture, and are generally open to guests of all faiths.

Daitaiji, a picturesque riverside temple in the town of Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture, has a shukubo, but as we recently discovered, it also has a campground!

Temple camping is something we’d never tried before, but eager to change that, our Japanese-language reporter Saya Togashi rolled up to Daitaiji on a late November afternoon. The campground is down a short embankment from the temple’s hondo, or main hall, and is bordered by a grove of bamboo and trees

The side closest to the forest is for tent campers, while the other side of the clearing is for people spending the night in RVs or motorhomes, like Saya was.

▼ The RV/camper side has electrical hookups.

On check-in you’re given bags into which to sort your garbage, and you can leave them with the temple staff when you check out. There’s also water and bathroom facilities, leftovers from the on-site nursery school that the temple used to run.

So far this is all pretty standard campground stuff, but at one end of the clearing you’ll spot this structure…

…and if you peek inside, you’ll see that it’s a zazen-do, or Zen meditation hall.

Zen meditation is just one of many activities available to campers, along with learning to make choshuku, the rice porridge traditionally eaten for breakfast by temple monks in Japan, a descriptive tour of the temple’s historical Buddhist statuary, and transcribing sutras. On the other hand, if you’re after pure relaxation, there’s also a riverside sauna tent.

For her first activity, Saya decided to try her hand, literally, at transcribing sutras (fees vary by activity; for this it’s 1,000 yen [US$8.70]).

Don’t worry if your penmanship isn’t the best, or even if you’ve never written anything in Japanese before. You’re given a translucent sheet of paper to write on, and you can trace the example, or at least use it as a guide, as you form each character. The session lasts about an hour, with the ostensible benefit being that having an activity to focus your physical and mental attention on will keep you from dwelling on past regrets or future worries.

By this time, it was getting close to sundown, and next Saya got to take part in one of the free activities offered to guests: ringing the temple bell!

The bell is located on a raised portion of the grounds, and as the sun dips toward the horizon, the temple’s abbot leads participants up to it to sound the end-of-the-day signal (at 5 p.m. in the winter and 6 p.m. in the summer).

As Saya swung the log and struck the bell, the sound reverberated out into the chilled evening air, echoing in a way that somehow both cleared her head and stirred a certain nostalgic, bittersweet sensation in her heart.

Then it was time for dinner. Campground guests are allowed to barbeque or cook on their campfires. Saya, though, had left her grill at home, so she instead dined on a vacuum-pouch hamburger steak and some freshy cooked rice from her one-person rice cooker. Daitaiji doesn’t sell cooking supplies, so you’ll want to bring any pre-made meals, ingredients, or snacks you want with you.

After gazing up at the beautiful stars of the countryside night sky for a while, Saya hit the sack and got up bright and early the next morning for her Zen meditation session.

Since Zen meditation requires sitting stilly with the same posture for extended periods of time, she was thankful for the thickly padded mats and cushions. These aren’t just for the comfort of Zen newbies, though, as the temple also serves as an evacuation shelter during natural disasters, and at such times the mats are used as bedding for those unable to return home that night.

As she meditated, Saya experienced something unusual, though she didn’t notice until after her session was done. We’re already into the part of the year where Japan’s weather is decidedly chilly in the morning, and when Saya had gotten up, one of her first thoughts was that she wished she’d packed some thermal underwear. As she meditated, though, that sense of cold completely evaporated, but not because the temperature was getting warmer. Once the session was over, she immediately noticed the cold again, given her a newfound appreciation for the effects of Zen.

▼ As mentioned above, the temple also has a shukubo dormitory, the common-use room of which is seen here.

With check-out at noon, Saya had time to relax and soak up the relaxing nature vibes for a bit longer before she needed to get packed up. Reflecting on her stay, she was surprised by just how relaxed, friendly, and cheerful the whole place felt, since she admits to having had a preconception that temple accommodations would come with a more austere atmosphere.

With a total of just nine slots (four for tent/car campers and five for RVs/motorhomes), Daitaiji’s campground definitely has a relaxed, local feel to it, and at 3,000 yen (US$26) a night, it’s extremely affordable too. The campground even has an English website, showing that they’re happy to welcome travelers of various religions and nationalities.

Location information
Daitaiji / 大泰寺
Address: Wakayama-ken, Higashimuro-gun, Nachikatsuura-cho, Shimowada 775
和歌山県東牟婁郡那智勝浦町下和田775
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Top 5 Super Nintendo World souvenirs for winter 2021 according to staff

https://ift.tt/31hiFk2 Master Blaster

Park-goers’ Nintendo tastes have become more refined.

Back when Super Nintendo World opened last March, we reported on the five most popular souvenirs at its 1-UP Factory gift shop.

But now that it’s been fully open for several months we thought we’d check back in and ask the staff what items most guests have been having their eyes on and wallets open for.

#5. Princess Peach / Boo Hats

Probably one of the most common sights around this section of USJ is people wearing the iconic Mario and Luigi plumber caps. So naturally, there is no shortage of these at the shop.

But their success has spawned some spin-off gear such as Princess Peach tiaras for those who like to flaunt their feminine side. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the metaphysical tracks, caps in the shape of Boos are the hot sellers recently.

They do look like they’d keep your head warm during the winter months.

#4. Question Block Cookie Tins

This is the only item that survived from the first list earlier this year, and it’s easy to see why. These cookie tins continue to be a big seller in part due to variety of cookies inside, most notably the vibrantly colored power-up item cookies.

But it’s undoubtedly the chance to own your very own question block that makes these a must-have Super Nintendo World souvenir.

#3. Block Cushions

Speaking of a chance to have your very own block, why not have a whole row of them for a comfy neck pillow? Not only that but they heard you like cushions, so they went and put even more cushions in your cushion so you can cushion while you cushion!

It’s perfect when you need a little extra life or invincibility, which brings us too…

#2. Star T-Shirt

Take on all the Goombas who stand in the way of your daily life by carrying an invincibility star with you everywhere you go. This is also one of those reversible sequin T-shirts and you can turn your star multi-colored with a swipe of the hand.

I would have bought one myself, but I already have “Catch me! Get Power” tattooed on my chest.

#1. Limited Edition Dolls Set

It’s probably no surprise that this collection of all the small plush characters is a highly sought after souvenir. All the favorites are there, from Shy Guy to Luigi, and displayed on a plush pedestal.

Oh wait, actually it is a huge surprise when you look at the price.

▼ 48,000 yen ($424)!!!

Now, you’re probably thinking, “Great! I’ll take five,” but hang on! The fine print below says there’s a limit of only three per customer. That’s certainly an effort to curb resellers from hoarding these attractive items. In fact, USJ recently struck a deal with Japan’s largest online flea market to block the sale of their souvenirs there.

When it comes to what merch is best, I can’t argue with the masses, but a cool item is really in the eyes of the beholder. Personally, there were more than a few other things that struck me as especially neat, so let’s do one more round my personal top 5 Super Nintendo World Souvenirs.

My #5. Chef Kinopio Figure

Back in the food ranking, you might recall my taking a fancy to a little mushroom person flipping burgers in the window. That’s Chef Kinopio and there’s a figure of it for sale!

▼ Just in case you missed it, let’s watch it again

Ah yeah… that’s better than Xanax. Anyway, in addition to his soothing soul, Chef Kinopio is also a USJ-exclusive character, making goods bearing his likeness just that much more collectable.

My #4. Dancing Piranha Plant

This is just a Super-Mario-fied version of those old novelty dancing flowers that wiggle around when you clap or play loud music. However, I was really impressed with the advances made in dancing flower technology. Look at this guy go!

Now just imagine what dancing flowers will be like in the year 2055….

My #3. Bowser Jackets

Mario clothing is undoubtedly the best-selling of the bunch, and with good reason, but I’m always drawn to the bad boys and this rack had it all. Probably the king of the hill in this area was the Bowser sukajan jacket.

If I were sporting one of these, then maybe those turtles at the park would finally stop pushing me around.

My #2. Metallic Nano Puzzle Castles

These seemed pretty neat. They’re kind of like a cross between a paper craft and a puzzle to put together a fairly detailed castle belonging to either Princess Peach or Bowser.

My only qualm is that they’re rather tiny for 2,500 yen ($22) each. Hopefully they can make a non-nano version too sometime down the road.

My #1. Mario Watch

Oh yeah, now you’re playing with power! Can you imagine walking into the club with Bowser on your back and this beauty around your wrist?

Its 10,000 yen ($88) price tag made me remark to P.K. that I wondered if it was real gold. He just laughed at me… and rightfully so in hindsight. Still, it is a nice watch as far as Mario watches go.

The fact that we have two different top 5 lists just goes to show that there’s probably something for everyone at the 1-UP Factory, now more than ever.

And no matter what you buy, you’ll be sure to come out a winner. That’s because you’ll get one of these cool receipts.

Be sure to join us next time we find out what Nintendo fashions are tearing up the scene. I have a good feeling that Chain Chomps will make a big splash in Spring/Summer 2022.

Photos: ©SoraNews24
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We got our first “rail seal stamp” and an extra splash of happiness at a train station in Fukuoka

https://ift.tt/31eflGv Krista Rogers

This stop is undoubtedly the first of many in our new countrywide, railway-hopping quest to stamp ’em all.

Goshuin, or seal stamps, can be purchased at various shrines and temples in Japan and stored in a small seal collection book (goshuincho) as a record of your visit. Usually featuring beautiful calligraphy and other artistic elements, the seals have become popular and inexpensive souvenirs over the past several years for anyone traveling to new places around the country.

It seems that other industries have taken inspiration from this practice as well because in summer 2020 a new railway-themed version of the seal collection book, called a tetsuincho, was released with cooperation from 40 local railway companies and stations offering individual seals. As rail enthusiasts who also love to “catch ’em all,” this premise sounded perfectly up our alley–so we set out to purchase our rail seal collection book and capture our first seal.

This first station we visited was Kanada Station in Fukuoka Prefecture, which is served by two rail lines that are both operated by the local Heisei Chikuho Railway (or Heichiku for short). Our timing wasn’t the greatest, however, since we arrived after 8 p.m. and the station attendant window was closed…but then we discovered something special in the waiting area.

It was a pair of rail seal-dispensing machines! We never would have guessed that our very first rail seal would come from a machine–but this method came with its own fun, too.

You could purchase a regular seal for 300 yen (US$2.65) or a collaboration seal for 500 yen. We decided to go all out and purchase the more colorful, expensive version on the right.

We inserted five 100-yen coins into the slot…

…and something landed at the bottom with a thud.

It was a little box containing our seal! However, we were still missing the critical rail seal collection book and didn’t have anywhere to affix our seal on to. Since a sign said that the station office was staffed on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., it looked like another visit the following day would be necessary.

That’s why we found ourselves back at Kanada Station the next day in a little more sunlight.

Without wasting any time, we bought the very official-looking rail seal book for 2,200 yen. It definitely felt good supporting local transportation with the purchase as well.

When the rail seal books were first sold last year, they immediately sold out. By November 2021, there were supposedly already more than a few adventurers who had already collected all 40 stamps. With a completed book, you can apply for a “railway master card,” which definitely evokes a Pokémon trainer-like sense of excitement in us.

Each of the individual seals has its own unique flavor. This first Heichiku seal that we received had a “400 series Nanohana (rapeseed flowers) train car” as its main motif along with Heichiku mascot Chikumaru.

In case you’re wondering why the more expensive seal option that we chose is called the collaboration version, it’s a limited-time offering by 15 of the participating rail companies. In particular, each collaboration version features a colorful depiction of a local train car is printed near the top of the seal.

If you collect all of the collaboration versions, the cars will appear to be linked at the top of your collection book’s consecutive pages. The individual railway mascots and the stations’ names are also prominently noted, adding a further local touch.

By the way, we also received a “rail card” at the time of our rail seal purchase. You can receive one of these at all of the participating train stations and they’re an added incentive to collect ’em all (yep, the Pokémon theme is definitely strong here).

On a final note, we couldn’t leave Kanada Station without seeing Heichiku’s famous “Super Happy” train. The design pf this train was completed by professional artist Kensuke Miyazaki along with the children of Fukuchi City, Fukuoka Prefecture (indeed, the “fuku” in both “Fukuchi” and “Fukuoka” means “lucky”). It’s said that anyone who sees this train will become happy.

With that last item of business crossed off and our happiness amplified, we’ll now turn our attention back to collecting the rail seals. Where will we end up next? Maybe we’ll combine getting our second rail seal with a trip to check out some of the newest Pokéfuta to check off two collection boxes at the same time.

Reference: Heisei Chikuho Railway
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New My Neighbor Totoro fashion bags and wallets save best surprise for what’s on the inside【Pics】

https://ift.tt/3DkFe53 Casey Baseel

Studio Ghibli anime’s forest spirit lends his presence to these Porter bags both inside and out.

We could spend all day talking about the beautiful artistry that fills the screen for basically the entire runtime of My Neighbor Totoro, but let’s focus on the aesthetics of the forest spirit himself. The simplicity of Totoro’s design makes him feel instantly familiar and approachable, but subtly distinctive touches, like the crescent marks on his eminently huggable torso, ensure you’ll never mistake him for any of the hundreds of other cute anime creatures out there.

▼ We’re willing to bet a large number of you have a sudden urge to squeeze your monitor or phone right now.

That sort of simple but appealing visual design is also a calling card of Yoshida & Co.’s Porter brand of bags, and the Tokyo-based fashion company has just announced a new line of My Neighbor Totoro backpacks, totes, pouches, and wallets.

The flagship piece is the My Neighbor Totoro x Porter Backpack, which features fuzzy Totoro touches on the front flap and side pocket, plus both hand and shoulder straps so you can carry it whichever way is more comfortable or a better fit for your outfit at the time.

▼ The way the material scrunches at the top even makes it look like Totoro’s ears.

That Totoro tummy flap can be unzipped, by the way…

…but please save your applause/squeals of cuteness-induced euphoria until we take a look inside the main section of the bag, where there’s a lush forest scene waiting for us. And just who do we encounter in this lush forest…

…but Totoro himself, in the middle of the coziest-looking nap ever animated, with newly made friend Mei snoozing on top of him.

And there’s still one more surprise left. Remember the Totoro flap on the front of the bag? It’s detachable and can be used as a separate zippered shoulder pouch.

In addition to the backpack, there’s also a tote bag, which has the removable Totoro tummy pouch on the inside.

If neither of those are exactly what you’re looking for, removable tummy pouches and the forest nap lining are featured on the 2-Way Tote Bag, 2-Way Tool Bag, Doctor’s Bag, and 2-Way Shoulder Bag.

The stand-alone pouch, meanwhile, is all tummy pouch…

…and last, if you’d like Totoro to keep an eye on your cash and credit cards specifically, there’s a wallet too.

Prices range from 16,500 yen (US$143) for the wallet up to 43,000 yen for the backpack. The collection goes on sale December 10 through the Porter online store here, as well as the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo and select Porter branches in Japan.

Source: Yoshida & Co. via Japaaan
Top image: Yoshida & Co.
Insert images: Yoshida & Co. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Low-quality paper cranes folded by young gyaru – Japan’s newest weird capsule toys

https://ift.tt/3Dcfojo Casey Baseel

It’s not how this origami looks that’s important, but why it looks that way.

We’re currently living in the golden age of Japanese capsule toys. There’s an unprecedented number of gacha machines and trinkets on sale in the country, largely thanks to designers shifting the focus of their efforts away from crafting children’s’ playthings and towards quirky collectibles that adults are happy to impulse-buy.

Take, for example, the latest offerings from Tokyo design company Bright Link’s Gachatto division: oritsuru, or folded paper origami cranes. Oritsuru are considered good luck charms, so 300 yen (US$2.60) doesn’t seem like such a bad price for a skillfully folded one, except…

…these ones aren’t skillfully folded. Honestly, out of the five possible designs, only the one on the left resembles a proper oritsuru, with the others looking more like a dinosaur, fish, or coil of poo, if they look like anything at all. So why does Bright Link think that people will be willing to pay for sub-par origami?

Because the cranes are folded by gyaru.

For those not familiar with the term, gyaru, from the English “gal,” is a Japanese slang term used to describe young women with flashy fashion sense and uninhibited personalities. According to the preview for Origami Cranes Folded by Gyaru (or “Gyaru ga Otta Oritsuru” in Japanese), each crane was folded by a different girl, with the designs from left to right being the handiwork of gyaru nicknamed Kanappe, Sa-tan, Rina-chosu, Okkina, and Mocchi.

As for the questionable quality of the folding, the joke seems to be that the extra-long fingernails favored by gyaru aren’t exactly the most conducive to making precise origami creases. There’s also likely an intended added appeal of the imperfect shapes giving them a more personal feel. Each paper crane capsule toy is hand-folded by Bright Link, following the designs created by Kanappe and her cohorts, and as an additional bonus the cranes come with a video of the respective gyaru folding the original, likely in the form of a QR code paper included in the capsule.

The Origami Cranes Folded by Gyaru are slated to go on sale in late March, but if you want to take steps to secure our right now, online retailer Stale is taking preorders here. Note that the preorders are only for boxes 40, though at 7,999 yen it’s about 33 percent cheaper than buying that many cranes individually out of gacha machines, making it a money-saving option for people who really, really like origami and gyaru.

Sources: Twitter/@kunio9209 via Otakomu, Asology, Stale
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Stale
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Japan completely closes borders to new foreign arrivals

https://ift.tt/3I3XVxl Casey Baseel

Relaxed coronavirus regulations unable to last even one month as sources say first omicron case has been discovered.

On November 8, Japan finally once again began allowing entry into the country for new international students, technical trainees, and business travelers. Sadly, instead of being the first in a series of steady steps towards the resumption of regular tourist travel between Japan and other nations, the relaxed restrictions have turned out to be an all-too-brief moment of respite before yet another coronavirus crisis.

On Monday, exactly three weeks from the start of the relaxed entry rules, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida that Japan is once again closing its borders to all new foreign arrivals. Kishida made the announcement in the morning, and the new restrictions went into effect at midnight, less than 24 hours later.

The reason for the tightening of protocols is concern about the potential spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. At the time of the announcement no omicron cases had been confirmed within Japan, but a 30-something man who entered the country on Sunday from Namibia tested positive for the coronavirus upon arrival at Narita Airport, the largest international air hub for the Tokyo area. On Tuesday, government sources confirmed that the man is carrying the omicron variant, according to reports from public broadcaster NHK, Kyodo News, and multiple other media outlets.

Japanese citizens and foreign residents returning to the country will also be facing stricter regulations, as they will be asked to isolate themselves at home or in quarantine facilities for 14 days upon entering Japan.

The new precautionary measures are currently scheduled to continue for one month.

Sources: Kyodo, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, NHK (1, 2, 3, 4)
Top image: Pakutaso
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Studio Ghibli releases My Neighbour Totoro gacha capsule toys

https://ift.tt/2ZCN4Jf Oona McGee

A collection where the capsules are just as cute as their contents.

If you’ve ever listened to the Japanese that’s spoken in Studio Ghibli’s 1988 anime film My Neighbour Totoro, you’ll have heard the phrase “Makkuro kurosuke dete oide!” which translates to “Come out, Soot Sprites!” in English.

It’s a phrase used by the children in the film when they move into their house in the countryside, and now you can use it too, when you turn the wheel on this new vending machine, which is set to appear nationwide at branches of Ghibli merchandise retail chain Donguri Kyowakoku.

According to the chain, this is an “unprecedented” capsule toy collection, where you’ll want to collect both the capsule and its contents, as they’re just as cute as each other.

There are four keychains to collect in the range, and two types of capsules, and to give you a look at what you can expect, the retail chain has shared a special video ahead of the new release.

▼ Check out the cute video below!

As you can see in the clip, the soot sprite capsules are soft to the touch and look absolutely adorable once they land in the tray of the machine. You can add some Ghibli charm to the way you pick your capsule up as well, by quickly cupping your hands around it, just as Mei does in the film.

▼ There are four different soot sprites to collect, as well as a white Totoro capsule.

▼ Inside the capsules you’ll find an elaborately crafted keychain, and there are four different types available.

The new Makkuro Kurosuke Dete Oide! capsule toys cost 500 yen (US$4.41) each, and will be available at all branches of Donguri Kyowakoku nationwide from 1 December. Unfortunately, these aren’t available to purchase online, but if you prefer online shopping, you can still bring the magic of Ghibli into your home with these scented gel lights and nostalgic money boxes!

Source: PR Times
Featured image: YouTube/ジブリがいっぱい どんぐり共和国公式チャンネル
Insert images: PR Times
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Lovisia Pokémon cosmetics are back with more Pokémon choices than ever before

https://ift.tt/3I2MNAP Krista Rogers

This time the packaging also ties in directly with the Pokémon’s type.

Last year, we were tickled pink by makeup brand Lovisia’s cute Kirby cosmetics. This month, we’ve got some cute character goods back with even more variety than ever before–just with some slightly different (and occasionally pink) characters.

On November 26, Lovisia Pokémon Gift Cosmetics partnered with global business platform Beenos to release its fourth series of Pokémon cosmetics focusing on hand cream. The past series in this collection have done exceedingly well, offering shoppers the chance to purchase cosmetics decorated with their Poképal of choice out of limited options. This new line of hand cream is no different in that respect, but it does offer shoppers an outstanding 30 unique designs to pick from thanks to popular request.

▼ This time you’ve got a bunch of Eevee-lutions and other cuties to choose from.

Furthermore, the tube colors this time around were inspired directly by the featured Pokémon’s type. As an electric-type, for example, Pikachu’s tube has a yellow background.

All of the hand creams combine four moisturizing agents–petroleum jelly, shea butter, ceramide, argan oil–to make your hands feel as luxurious as possible in this increasingly cold and dry weather. They’re said to have a “soap bubble” scent, which as far as we can tell means that your hands will end up smelling squeaky electric-rodent clean.

In addition, Lovisia is offering a special bonus for shoppers who purchase three or more of the hand creams (while supplies last): a special Pokémon multipurpose pouch. This shiny pouch features fan favorites Pikachu and Piplup in a very affectionate illustration.

The Lovisia Pokémon hand creams can be purchased for 880 yen (US$7.75) each at Lovisia’s online shop, a portion of Pokémon Center stores, and a portion of variety shops nationwide including Loft, Tsutaya, ITS’DEMO, and Animate. They’d certainly be the perfect size for little stocking stuffers.

If you’re in need of more cute and colorful cosmetic eye candy, check out these Magic Knight Rayearth and Cardcaptor Sakura sets that are almost too pretty to use.

Source, images: PR Times
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