The Best Illumination In Japan- Nobuko

A fun-filled day with Nobuko!

Arrival to Ashikaga City, this is the manhole cover for the city.

I am feeling very anxious as this illumination is supposed to be the best in Japan.  I'm feeling very lucky to be here, it's my first time to see the illumination.

The name for this year's illumination is called Flower Fantasy.

As we got closer to where generally wisteria hangs in the spring we saw hundreds of Christmas lights hanging.  The lights changed colors and lovely Christmas music was playing to the blinking lights.

A small video of illumination.

My friend Nobuko and I climbed inside the Cinderella carriage for a picture of memories from our visit together.

The floating poinsettias on the pond were being watered before the crowds arrived.  A lady was dipping them in the pond water to give them a drink.

I enjoyed watching this display of the 4 seasons of Japan and how each season is so special to them. Click the link to see the small video.

https://youtu.be/m72CI7rceWo

 Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree such pleasure do you bring me.

 Amazing tunnels of lights

 Season tunnels

 At this location, you could pay to have a photo taken in front of the flower castle.  Click the link to see the short video.

https://youtu.be/NqSksfzfG_s

 The gardens were full of real flowers and some fake glowing flowers.  The aroma of the fresh flowers was so pleasing.

  OH, my goodness, the reflection is so awesome.

 THE LOVE OF MY LIFE - MARLON CHARLES I LOVE YOU!! Thanks for the best trip EVER.

 Nobuko standing under the wisteria lights listening to the Christmas music and enjoying the atmosphere.

 Nobuko bought me a grape sucker that had a light on it, how awesome!!

More tunnels of lights this is a representation of white wisteria that comes in the spring. 

Did you know Ramen and Art Go Together? Making Glass Beads Nobuko

 A fun-filled day with Nobuko!!!

We were going to stop in Tochigi for lunch but the restaurant was closed due to time flood damage caused by the typhoon.  We ventured on and have arrived in Sano which is a small town before our final destination of Ashikaga.  It's now lunchtime and we are all hungry.  Nobuko has decided to take us to a famous ramen shop that makes their ramen noodles by hand (not a machine). When we arrived there was a long line.  We got there at 20 after 11:00am and the place opened at 11:00am. We decided to stay and got in line.  It gave us plenty of time to talk.

When we finally were seated we were lucky.  First, we didn't have to sit traditional Japanese style (on a pillow on the floor) and were at the counter where I could watch them cooking.  The chef would make 4 plates of gyoza at a time in one skillet. 

 The chef was very fast and went to the back for the fresh-made ramen and came back out to boil them in batches.  He made 12 orders with one batch of noodles.  I ordered the curry ramen which is unusual to combine together.  The Japanese told me I was adventurous with my food because they would not order that combination.  

 RAMEN IS SERVED FOR ALL.  We are lucky we got to sit at the counter, I feel uncomfortable sitting at Japanese style tables. LOL

Nobuko surprised us with a trip to a glass art studio.  We had no idea about this surprise until we arrived here.  We went into the studio and up the stairs to the glass class.  

I was thrilled when I saw the glass torch and items that we will use to make something?

Here are a few pictures of Marlon making his tonbodama (glass beads).  In Japan, these beads are made by melting glass rods called satake.

Hajime Saitoh our sensei put the finishing touches on our beads. They needed to be filed and the inside of the bead cleaned out. 

 Master burner Hajime Saitoh was taught in the USA how to be a glass artist burner. He is very famous now in Japan and has won many awards for his glasswork.

 Look how perfect his beads are the same diameter, very impressive.

 These beads will be added to our bead to make a necklace or key chain.

While our beads are cooling down we dived into another project.  Kazako and I designed glasses to be sandblasted so our design will be permanently on the glasses.

 Our completed glasses.
  Our beads are cool now and we can make a necklace or key tag with them.   Long - story -short- this is why I made a bead with dots.  I was eating curry ramen and had a white shirt on.  The noodles are long and hard to eat with chopsticks.  I dropped them from my chopsticks and they fell in the broth and splashed little dots on my white shirt.  I made this bead to remember my experience with curry ramen.  My necklace to me is called curry ramen DOTS>

 Finished art glass made by Donna & Marlon!

I gave Nobuku the keychain I made.  I hope whenever she sees it, she will think of me and all our good times together.  She immediately attached it to her purse.

Uphiill 229 steps at Orihime Shrine with Nobuko

 229 steps to the top to see this shrine.

The name of this shrine is called Orihime. Orihime was the daughter of Sky King, Tentei. Orihime used to weave clothes for her dad by the heavenly river. The story goes that one day she met a herdsman called Hikoboshi who worked at the other side of the waters. The two fell in love and got married, but after the wedding, they both neglected their work, so Tentei separated them and forbade them to see each other – except on the 7th day of the 7th month, which is now the date of Tanabata (star festival). The city of Ashikaga has a long history of weaving and therefore Orihime Shrine was built and dedicated to Orihime. Because of the tale about Orihime and Hikoboshi, the Orihime Shrine is also a place that celebrates marriage and is considered a sacred place for lovers. For this reason, many couples pay the shrine a visit to pray for their relationship. Never hurts right?

We are ready to get going up those steps.  Yes all 229 of them.

 Can we do it?  Yes, we can!! Let's get this hike started!!

 UP, UP AND AWAY WE GO! ALMOST TO THE TOP!!

We have made it to the top and reached the shrine.  This is the largest Shinto Shrine in Ashikaga. Here we are with Nobuko and her friend Kazuko.

Before visiting the shrine you must prepare yourself by cleansing at the fountain.   This ritual called Chozu.  We each poured water first on the right hand then the left hand.  In the past, they would take a sip.  This is done to cleanse yourself before making any prayers at shrines or temples.  Below is the fountain.

Marlon and I chose from the boxes at the shrine for our fortune.  We both got good fortunes!

  

Beautiful view of Ashikaga City from the shrine. 

 On the way down from the shrine, we decided to take a different path by walking through the many tori gates.  I don't recall what all the different colors mean.  The signs telling us were in Japanese of course. :-)