2008 has almost come to a close, hasn't it? I'm planning on buying most of the ingredients for our New Year's meals in the Asaichi Ameyoko market in front of Sendai Station. The market opens early at 7:00 a.m., and has plenty of stores selling fresh fish and other seafood. Plus, there are plenty of stalls selling fruit, vegetables, side dishes, and more. This is Sendai's kitchen! Don't forget the New Year's decorations, on sale too!

This image provided by the Miyagi Prefecture Industry Department, Tourism Division.

If you're talking about Sendai's culinary specialties, you can't help but think of gyutan or beef tongue. In addition to this, there is of course the delicious sushi made using the fresh catch from Sendai's Shiogama Port. Great restaurants serving these specialties can now be found all together at Sendai's latest crowd-pullers: Gyutan Dori (Beef Tongue Street) and Sushi Dori (Sushi Street), located on the 3rd floor of Sendai Station, just next to the bullet train platform ticket gates. Come and give these Sendai specialties a try!

Click here for our Sendai City Guide

Dear Customer,

Thank you very much for using JAPANiCAN.

Kindly be informed that the JAPANiCAN Customer Support desk will be closed during the New Year period as follows:

Closed from 5:30 p.m. on Monday, 29 December 2008 until 10:00 a.m. on Monday, 5 January 2009 (Japan Standard Time).

(Our online search and reservation system will continue running as usual.)

For any urgent matters regarding reservation cancellation between Tuesday, 30 December 2008 and Sunday, 4 January 2009 please use the following contacts:

1) For Cancellation of Accommodation
Please contact the hotel or inn directly to cancel, and then notify us by e-mail at support@japanican.com.

2) For Cancellation of Sunrise Tours
Please contact Sunrise Tours directly on +81-3-5796-5454 to cancel, and then notify us by e-mail at support@japanican.com.

Please note that replies to all mail enquiries received during the above-mentioned period will be sent on or after 5 January 2009.

Thank you very much for your above understanding and cooperation.

JAPANiCAN Customer Support

I know you've been waiting for this! Hello Kitty and all of her friends, only a three-minute walk away? It's possible at one of the latest hotels to be offered at JAPANiCAN, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama. Only a short walk from the hotel is Sanrio Puroland, where you can meet Kitty-chan and the whole gang of Sanrio characters. Sanrio Puroland and the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama are located in Tama Center, a 28-minute train ride away from Shinjuku via the Keio Line. Slightly removed from the center of Tokyo, Tama Center is a great choice for those looking for a slightly quieter place to stay.

Tama Center is the heart of Tama New Town, a large-scale building project that developed from the housing crunch in Tokyo's most crowded areas. Although it's called "New Town," people started moving to Tama over 30 years ago. Besides its large number of local residents, Tama Center also attracts a large number of guests with its shopping and attractions like Sanrio's Puroland.

Just like the geisha of Kyoto's Gion district, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Hello Kitty or her friends walking from place to place in Tama on weekends and holidays. You'll have to be fast with your camera if you want to capture the moment, however, as the popular Kitty-chan is always immediately mobbed by adoring children. The rest of the time, Hello Kitty, Pochacco, and Keroppi, and all the other Sanrio characters are waiting inside Puroland, about a five-minute walk from Tama Center Station.

Hello Kitty recently celebrated her 35th anniversary, although the festivities are unfortunately over.

Lying atop a hill straight out from Tama Center Station is Tama Central Park, a lushly green park full of families most weekends. On weekdays the park is a great as a quiet place to relax, and is often chosen as a TV location due to its vast green backdrops.

A short distance from the train station is the Kotta River, whose banks are lined with a magnificent stretch of cherry blossom trees, continuing on for three kilometers to nearby Nagayama Station, a true sight to behold during the sakura season.

A short distance away from Tama Central Park is Takarano Park, another beautiful spot for viewing cherry blossoms in spring.

The Tama Monorail stretches out to the north from Tama Center

On clear days Mt. Oku-tama and Mt. Fuji are sometimes visible from the monorail's windows, making the monorail ride a quick side-trip perfect for a clear winter day.

Christmas lights in front of the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama

With easy access to Mt. Takao and Yokohama, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama would make a great base for families looking to see Tokyo and beyond.

Access to Tama Center
From Shinjuku, take the Keio Line Limited Express and switch trains at Chofu Station to the Keio Sagamihara Line to Keio Tama Center Station. (About 28 minutes)
Or, from Shinjuku take the Odakyu Line Express and switch trains at Shin Yurigaoka Station to the Odakyu Tama Line to Odakyu Tama Center Station. (About 36 minutes)

Click here to reserve a night at the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama!

This year's Sendai Pageant of Starlight has already begun! Beginning on 12 December, the zelkova trees lined up along Jozenji-dori and other nearby streets have been covered with almost 600,000 lights, creating a gorgeous display every night from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The illumination will continue until 31 December, so don't miss it!

This picture was taken on the first night of the Pageant of Starlight. Jozenji-dori was overflowing with holiday spirit!

This year the city has set up a special temporary ice skating rink, the Sendai Winter Park, located in the main square of Kotodai Park. The picture below is of some workers performing maintenance on the rink. The rink will be open for free (skate rental JPY 500) until 25 December! Sendai is actually known as the birthplace of figure skating in Japan after producing some famous skaters like Shizuka Arakawa, gold medalist at the Turin Olympics!

Click here for our Sendai City Guide

Japanese have enjoyed the warming therapeutic effects of onsen, or natural hot springs, since ancient times. But, the people of Japan aren't the only ones to notice the benefits of an occasional soak.

At Nagano's Wild Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen Koen) near the snow-covered peaks of the Japanese Alps, a number of Japanese Macaques have visited the park's onsen each winter for over 40 years. The calming effects of a nice hot bath and the occasional food handout by park staff have given the monkeys a calm, semi-domesticated demeanor, although they are still wild animals and as such should be approached with caution.

Getting off the bus at Kanbayashi Onsen, the huge map and signs make it easy to get to the park and explore! There are also a number of walking trails among the impressive natural scenery. Although it might not be immediately recognizable when watching a group of monkeys relax amidst lightly falling snow, the park's name actually means "hell valley." Venture away from the snow monkey onsen, and the steamy air around the natural geysers and bubbling springs might give a hint as to the reason behind the park's naming.

Getting there:
From JR Nagano Shinkansen Nagano Station: 45 minutes by Nagano Dentetsu Line bound for Yudanaka Station
From Yudanaka Station: 15 minutes by bus to Kanbayashi Onsen, then a 30 minute walk to Jigokudani Yaen Koen

Japanese Snow Monkeys 1-Day Tour (Roundtrip)

Click here to see Yudanaka Onsen and Kanbayashi Onsen accommodations
Take note from our furry friends and visit ryokan (Japanese inns) in the area for a relaxing stay of your own!

Although the Sendai Pageant of Starlight is just around the corner, since the end of November the shopping arcades and streets all around the city have been adorned with beautiful illuminations. The whole city has become imbued with romantic, Christmassy atmosphere, and makes the perfect backdrop for a quiet walk, arm in arm with your partner.

The photo above shows the cute Santa and reindeer illuminations at Sendai Station's AER building, and the photo below shows the illuminations along Sendai's Vlandome shopping street.

Click here for our Sendai City Guide

The first Grand Sumo Tournament of 2009 will take place from 11 to 25 January in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

In the last tournament, Yokozuna (Grand Champion) Hakuho won his third consecutive championship, bringing his total to nine. He's been on fire, and will definitely be looking to extend his winning streak to four!

On the other hand, Hakuho's fellow Yokozuna, Asashoryu, deserves attention for a different reason. Due to an elbow injury he has not participated in any of the last three tournaments. In the strict world of sumo, wrestlers who have achieved the highest rank of Yokozuna must always strive for victory. For a Yokozuna who continues to lose or retreat from the ring, retirement is the only option. This tournament will be pivotal if Asashoryu is to mount a comeback.

Elsewhere, with the first tournament of the new year comes an appropriately fresh story. The featherweight (by sumo standards) Ama has turned out impressive performance after performance, consistently winning against much bigger opponents. His speedy and powerful style of sumo has been wildly successful, even making it to the final round and coming within inches of taking the Emperor's Cup from Yokozuna Hakuho in the last tournament. In recognition of his performance Ama has been promoted to Ozeki, sumo's second highest rank, and has been given a new name, Harumafuji.

Finally is the imposing Baruto, a third-ranked wrestler from Estonia with a promising outlook in future tournaments. At 198 centimeters (6 feet 7 inches) and 177 kilograms (390 pounds) Baruto's favorite technique is to use his sheer strength to lift opponents off their feet. But, will he be able to gain a foothold on the path to becoming an Ozeki?

With its gallery of colorful personalities the professional sumo world never fails to entertain. Make sure you experience it firsthand with our Sunrise Tours!

About one hour away from Kyoto by limited express train, Nagahama City in Shiga Prefecture opens up onto the Hokkokukaido, a historical route linking Kyoto with Fukui, Kanazawa Toyama and Niigata on the northern Sea of Japan. With crossroads leading east to Edo (Tokyo's predecessor) nearby, and water routes over Lake Biwa leading to Kyoto, Nagahama has seen its share of travelers and cargo over the years.

A section of the old Hokkokukaido runs through the heart of town.

For over 100 years, one bank has quietly stood along this historical route through Nagahama City. Affectionately known as Kurokabe Ginko (Blackwall Bank) to local residents, the bank features Western-style thick earthen walls with a covering of kuroshikkui lacquer. Around 10 years ago the deteriorating bank was actually slated to be demolished, but after a large public outcry, and with the backing of Nagahama's city hall, it was preserved and established as a center of community activation. Now, the bank has been given new life as a glassware museum, featuring an exhibition of over 30,000 glassware items for sale. With Blackwall Bank at the center, buildings in Nagahama City have been restored one by one, with the city flourishing as a historical sightseeing destination.

The Bei River winds through the city

The streets leading to 400-year-old Odori Temple, shown here, are lined with old shops still patronized by locals today.

Stretch your legs a bit on a short journey from Kyoto, and visit Nagahama City, on the banks of Lake Biwa!

Access to Nagahama
From Kyoto Station, ride the Tokaido Line/Kyoto Line Special Rapid train for about 1 hour, getting off at Nagahama Station on the Hokuriku Line (no transfer necessary).
From Tokyo Station, ride the Tokaido Shinkansen for about 2 hours 20 minutes, transfer at Maibara Station to the Hokuriku Line, and get off at Nagahama Station.
　　

Click here for a list of Nagahama area hotels!

Click here for hotels in the greater Shiga Prefecture area

I'd like to talk about the Naruto German House in Tokushima Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku.

In 1914, during Japan's offensive in German-occupied Quingdao Province in China, many German soldiers were captured and sent to Japan as prisoners of war. From 1917 to 1920 about 1,000 of these German soldiers were held in Naruto City (at that time called Bando Village).

The camp's administration, led by Toyohisa Matsue, tried to allow their charges as much freedom in daily life as possible. This was most likely due to the experiences Matsue had as a native of the Aizu region, which had been embroiled in a costly rebellion during the Meiji Restoration of 1868.

Outside the grounds of the camp as well, German culture began to spread to the townsfolk as plays and concerts were held. Over 100 musical performances, including Japan's first performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, were held in Naruto City.

The German captives didn't stop there, as they taught farming techniques, animal husbandry, architecture, sports, and more to the Japanese locals. With this mixture of cultural events and conveying mechanical know-how, the Germans became involved in the everyday actions of the people of Bando Village and the surrounding areas. Looking back now, 90 years in the future, to see that kind of cultural exchange on a local level is quite astonishing.
You can see the framework for the barracks from the German camp in many of the small food stores and souvenir shops standing in front of the German House

In 1920 with the close of World War I, the German captives returned to their home country. After regaining their freedom, many of them continued to speak with fondness of their time in Japan and of Matsue, the camp leader. The German House was built in 1972 to commemorate the friendship between Germany and Japan, and reconstructed in 1993. The city of Naruto gained Lueneburg in Germany's Lower Saxony as a Sister City starting in 1974, and in the over 30 years since then the two cities have held various exchanges.

Click here to see all Tokushima area accommodations