Do you know what today is in Japan? -- 11/11

What is today? It is "Pocky & Pretz Day" in Japan!

November 11 is Pocky & Pretz Day every year in Japan. Both are popular stick snacks sold by Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. 

http://pocky.glico.com/1111/

Pretz is flavored with salt while Pocky is chocolate coated. Pretz is named after pretzel which is a crisp biscuit originated in Germany. 

Tips: when you see サラダ味, it means flavored with salt (and salad oil).

A box of two packs.

Handy.

Pocky was developed from Pretz: actually plain Pretz coated with chocolate as a substitute for salt.

 

Pretz                         →                         Pocky

Additionally, Pocky is snapped when you eat and it sounds "pokkin". That's why it was named Pocky and has been loved for almost 50 years.

This is the Pocky sold only in winter: covered with cocoa powder.

Also a box of two packs. This winter only Pocky is shorter than common Pocky.

A part of stick is not coated with chocolate in order to be able to eat without soiling your hands. 

Their stick shape resemble the number 1. That's why Pocky & Pretz Day was started on 11/11, the 11th year of Heisei Era (1999).

Other flavors I bought today at Family Mart (Japanese convenience store) .

By the way, I'm already starting to forget about that this blog about Kyoto's AREKORE...haha

Speaking of Kyoto, there is Matcha flavored Pocky! 

Quoting from:Travel.jp (http://guide.travel.co.jp/article/9141/)

This is sold only the Kinki Region including Kyoto, and Giant Pocky. It is one-and-half times as long as common Pocky. This will be good souvenirs of Kyoto for your families and friends! 

Here is a commercial of Pocky. The dance by the guys of the third J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE (Japanese popular boy band) is unique.

See you next time!

Kameoka dream cosmos garden,Tanba, Kyoto

What do you think of if I say "an autumn flower"?　

Many Japanese imagine cosmos. Accordingly,  I visited Kameoka dream Cosmos Garden（亀岡夢コスモス園）, Tanba, Kyoto. 10/25/2015

You can enjoy the cosmos of 8 million, 20 types in 4.5 hectares.

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Adress: Anagawanomizu, Yoshikawa-chou, Kameoka-shi, Kyoto, Japan 621-0014

Access: It takes about ten minutes by Keihan Kyoto traffic bus from JR Sagano Line Kameoka Station to Undou Kouen Mae （運動公園前）bus stop.

Bus fare is reasonable :¥230, probably. However, on this section of the line bus run infrequently, so if you want to get there fast and at ease, I'd recommend going by a Kyoto taxi or Hirano taxi after getting discount ticket at JR Kameoka station tourist information office. Show the discount ticket to the driver, you can pay a flat-rate. It is 1,000 yen taxi ride one-way from the station to Kameoka Dream Cosmos Garden.

Business day and time: AM9:00〜PM4:00 (weekends PM4:30) from the end of September to the end of October (Was in business until November 1st this year.) 

Entrance fee: 600 yen*weekdays 500 yen / [primary schoolchild] 300 yen

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     The representative of Japanese flower, as you know,  is cherry blossom, and it is called SAKURA in Japanese. SAKURA written in kanji (a Chinese character used in Japan) is 桜. When cosmos is written in kanji, it is 秋桜, although it's usually written in the katakana syllabary: コスモス. 秋 means Autumn. What it comes down to is that Japanese consider cosmos to be a Autumn cherry blossom.

The occasion was favored by magnificent weather. Strong wind though.

The contrast between the bright pink and the white is amazing.

Yellow ones are also stunning.

In the garden, creative scarecrow contest was held.

This is the characrer motif in Studio Ghibli's popular animated movie "My neighbor Totoro."

I'll be back next autumn! And I'm sure you also will visit there!

The season of cosmos was over, but leaves begin to turn red or yellow. Kyoto's noted for the autumn foliage. They are a lot of famous spots for its beautiful aurumn leaves. You can enjoy them if you come to Kyoto at this time.

Thank you♡

Let you know Kyoto's AREKORE.

Japan is full of beautiful cities. One of the best-known is Kyoto.

I was born and raised in Osaka, however, I had been going to a university in Kyoto for four years- was on exchange and in Ireland for about one year though- and the office I'm working now is also in Kyoto. It's not just a neighbor prefecture, but that is something much more familiar to me.

Kyoto is one of oldest cities in Japan. It was the imperial capital of Japan for more than 1, 000 years. Visitors from around the world to Kyoto increase in number year by year. Kyoto was voted world's best city 2015 on Travel + Leisure magazine, the U. S.

Kyoto is worth visiting once. If you have not been to Kyoto yet, you should get airplane tickets now. Precisely speaking, you don't get tired of it no matter how many times you go there.

Historic building, beautiful scenery, traditional culture, majestic nature, delicious meals and sweets...there are more attractions here than you can experience in your lifetime.

Through writing about my daily life here, I'd like to convey the appeal of Kyoto, and want you to know AREKORE, this and that, of Kyoto.

If you are looking for cultural experience in Kyoto, see our website. Wrapped in Japan