Taken yesterday on my way to Kagamiyama Koen/Park, where the only bus stop nearest. Bushes were getting dense during summer, I saw some workers did the trimming.
But I got the feeling they must have left these untouched :). Don't know the name though, I love simple flowers.
This is the season when people grow rice, and they do need rain. As a small town, it's usual to find rice field side by side with houses in downtown.
.JPG)
I do love this tea shop. But it takes 50 minutes and 650 Yen to get there. The shop is at Mihara station. Took the photo two weeks ago on my second visit to the town.
Looking out from 9th fl Sun Square building on Saturday last week, I saw an event held by YMCA on the rooftop of Fukuya shopping mall. Not quite sure what event it was, I think it was a part of their motto, Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.
.JPG)
And another late news :), from one of my previous posts about the old JA building which was demolished a couple of months ago. It turns out to be a new parking lot. Oh no!
It's common to find small cans like this in Saijo hung on wall, bus stop, fence, etc. They function as ash tray and cigarette butts, or candy wraps container. What about soda can? In case you don't see trash bin, put it in your bag until you find one :).
A Kirin Lemon ad in front of a restaurant. It's probably an old Kirin ad, but you can see the same kind of bottles today :).
Couldn't resist to snap some photos in a cinema in Hiroshima yesterday. Hope I'm not the only one among you who read and watch Harry Potter along with Quidditch Through the Ages, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I had a chat with my siblings yesterday about this hot issue and was quite proud that my memories still serves me well :).
Postcards, letters and small packages sent for you are distributed by JP Postal Postmen using this red motorcycle. Among the many newest and trendy designs of this kind of vehicle, our post office -in Japanese 'yuubinkyouku'- stick to the old ones. No complain, I love it.
Got this postcard from Delilah and Jack when they spent a month in Turkey. They are now somewhere in Egypt having the most fun trip ever :). Wishing them a happy, safe journey.
Can't afford a new scooter? Why not a used bike? You can get it from as low as 40.000Yen (US$ 400).
Yesterday I posted a photo of an old scooter someone had left unused at the university's bycycle parking lot. Today it's time to show you brand new scooter being displayed at a store not far from the campus. What brands? Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Vespa, you name it.
Back to regular days. An old photo I took early in the spring this year at the campus. No, I won't talk about the season, just want to show you this abandoned nice scooter. It 's left right in front of parking lot for bycycle and has been there for months. Too early if you ask me :).
I'm back with more photos from festival yesterday :). Mikoshi is a portable shrine people bear on the shoulders by means of two or four poles. During the matsuri, people bring it around the shrine's neighborhood.
Following the mikoshi are several priests from the shrine who stop by at houses to give blessings.
He followed a pick-up car while playing some traditional Japanese songs whose melodies somehow made me felt sad. 
This is Shishimai the lion. He entertained people as well as scared off children. I saw at least three kids cried because of him.
And what surprised me more was this dance club from university who did the same performance at Yukata festival, a modern dance and music, except that yesterday they wore traditional costume. With long and exhausting rehearsal, they deserve to show the dance more than once, don't they?
Today was sunny and I went out to cover (ahem...) Gion Matsuri. The festival lasted for two days, it is an annual event held by Mitate Shrine, located not far from Saijo Station. About the shrine, I will post its photo in the future. 
Men and women took part in this event, carrying Mikoshi around the shrine's neighborhood as a form of entertainment (or I think offering) to Gods. If you notice from the photo above, foreigner can also take part in such festivals.
It was super sunny and hot as well, yet people were overwhelmed by the spirit of the festival.
The route to carry Mikoshi was quite long. At some spots, participants stopped to take a rest, they were offered drink and snack by some hosts and entertained by a traditional band group who followed Mikoshi until its last stop.
The last stop was at a sake house where final performance and blessings were done. 
It's been raining all week. Playing with a camera, this is a view I saw just about two hours ago, when the full moon was covered with soon-to-be-rain clouds, from my window.
Playing with this toy seems so intriguing. First time trying it, I didn't want to stop until I got at least put the ball on one of its cup which is the easiest part.
A kendama consists of a ball with a hole in it and it rests on a spike on the top of a kendama, a hammer shaped handle, two cups at the two extending sides, and a small cup at the bottom of the handle. Kendama play consists of catching and spearing the ball in various ways, putting the ball on the spike or the cup. 
There are some steps on how to drink matcha/tea properly, but let's skip half and start with: 
How to prepare a bowl of tea? Put two scoops of powdered tea into the bowl, add hot water and whisk it with the tea whisk until it gets frothy. It's delicious, and taste so fresh,
but will not complete without a slice of red beans cake. Enjoy.
Today, July 7th is Tanabata day , a Japanese star festival. It's when people write their wish on a piece of paper called Tanzaku and then hang it on decorated bamboo branches. According to my teacher, in order to have your wishes come true, don't forget to write your name on it. The festival itself derived from the Chinese star festival which is now has become one of Japanese tradition.
Full moon now in Saijo. It's the thing that always cheers me up and I like saying, "Hey, look up! It's me up there!". To anticipate it earlier, I learned how to shot the moon, followed the step by step, and when I saw the result, it's far cry from it was expected. Better do with my own mode :). How's moon in your place? Are there any differences?
I couldn't resist peeking in this house. Later my friend informed me it was her landlord's house.
About once a month I go grocery shopping with friends in this area in Higashi Hiroshima, borders with Saijo in the north. I've been to that place several times but never with a camera and longed to show you this ice cream shop which at a glance doesn't look Japanese except for its name. Surrounded by paddyfield and Japanese style houses, this shops really stands out. Last Sunday I managed to remember bringing my camera along. It is also a reminder for me of how sunny a day can be because now it's rainy season in Saijo and will last probably until next week.
.jpg)
