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Japan 2025
  • Linda Frandsen
  • Linda Frandsen

Japan 2025

A 40-day adventure by Linda Read more
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  • Linda FrandsenJapan 2025Linda Frandsen

    Koi Fish

    August 30, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    These fish are entered in a contest yearly and have come in first most times winning 1 million dollars.

    Form, Color, Pattern are three basic factors for evaluation.
    According to the contest screening standard, Koi are evaluated on Form 50%, Color 30%, and Patterns 20%.Read more

  • Linda FrandsenJapan 2025Linda Frandsen

    Tokyo • Meet a Former Sumo Wrestler

    September 13, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 81 °F

    High ranker makes 15,000/month
    Low ranking makes 2000/2 months
    45 dormitories in Japan
    Size of dormitory varies

    This morning, we’ll get an authentic glimpse of a beloved Japanese sport—Sumo wrestling. We’ll meet with a former wrestler to hear about the skill and power that goes into this sport.Read more

  • Linda FrandsenJapan 2025Linda Frandsen

    Rakugo

    September 14, 2025 in Japan

    Rakugo (literally 'story with a fall') is a form of Japanese verbal comedy, traditionally performed in yose theatres. The lone storyteller (rakugoka) sits on a raised platform, a kōza. Using only a paper fan (sensu) and a small cloth (tenugui) as props, and without standing up from the seiza sitting position, the rakugo artist depicts a long and complicated comical (or sometimes sentimental) story. The story always involves the dialogue of two or more characters. The difference between the characters is depicted only through change in pitch, tone, and a slight turn of the head.Read more

  • Linda FrandsenJapan 2025Linda Frandsen

    Opt Mount Fuji Discoveries tour $300

    September 15, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Tokyo • Mount Fuji

    Discover Kawaguchiko, the unique region surrounding Mount Fuji.
    We’ll head to Shinjuku Station, where we’ll set off via motorcoach and drive to our first stop, Oshino Hakkai. We’ll arrive in Oshino, a small village in the Fuji Five Lakes region, and visit Oshino Hakkai—a series of eight sparkling ponds. Fed by the snow melt of Mount Fuji, these ponds are famous for their crystal-clear waters. As the snow melts and flows down the mountain’s slopes, the water is naturally filtered through porous layers of lava rock, resulting in extremely fresh spring water held in high esteem by the locals.
    During our visit, we’ll explore the Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan—a small open-air museum that encircles Oshino Hakkai’s largest pond.
    Exhibits include a traditional farmhouse with its distinctive thatched roof. Inside, we’ll find displays of traditional farming tools and household items, as well as samurai armor and weapons.    Read more

  • Linda FrandsenJapan 2025Linda Frandsen

    Kubota Itchiku Art Museum

    September 15, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    We visit nearby Kubota Itchiku Art Museum.
    This museum is dedicated to the art of the kimono, and its impressive collection features 104 kimono created by famed Japanese artist Itchiku Kubota. (no pictures allowed)
    Throughout his decades-long career—from the late 1970s to his death in 2003—Kubota revived 16th-century kimono-making techniques and modernized them with his own distinctive style.
    Each piece lavishly created, Kubota elevated the kimono from wearable art to installation pieces. One of the highlights of this collection is known as the Symphony of Light—a group of 36 kimono that create one impressive composition, depicting seasonal Japanese landscapes that flow from one garment to another. We’ll also witness Kubota’s Mount Fuji and Oceans series which highlights the artist’s sincere reverence for nature through two themes frequently found in Japanese art: Mount Fuji and water in its many forms.    Read more

  • Linda FrandsenJapan 2025Linda Frandsen

    Furusato World Heritage Center

    September 15, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    My. Fuji has been registered as a World Heritage site under the title, ‘Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration.” The South Hall presents plainly the charms of the 25 sites of “worship” and “art” that make up “ World Heritage Fujisan” with panel displays and videos.Read more

  • Linda FrandsenJapan 2025Linda Frandsen

    Ise Shrine

    September 16, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    Train ride to Ise • Toba
    We’ll arrive at Ujiyamada Station and then drive to the famous Ise Shrine, which is actually a collection of many shrines—a riverside complex with some structures dating back 2,000 years. Enjoy a walking tour through the shrines before returning to check in to our hotel in Toba.Read more

  • Linda FrandsenJapan 2025Linda Frandsen
    73/78 oldest 84

    Toba • Meet Local AMA

    September 17, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    Meet local ama

    Morning: This morning, we’ll visit a pearl farming family. Here, we’ll witness a hands-on pearl harvesting demonstration. Then, we’ll drive to a hut, where we’ll meet up with the local ama, “sea women.” These remarkable women free dive without a breathing apparatus for octopus, lobster, sea urchins, and other
    marine delicacies along the coast. Afterwards, we’ll drive to a local ama hut for lunch.
    Lunch: With the local ama in their diver hut, where we’ll have the opportunity to taste the seafood the divers caught that day and discuss their profession and lifestyle.
    .
    Squares shows eyes of gods watching over
    Was Over 400 divers now only 80    Read more

  • Linda FrandsenJapan 2025Linda Frandsen
    Mochi
    SeaweedClamsIce Cream sandwich

    Toba • Meet Local AMA 1

    September 17, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    Ama" refers to Japan's traditional freediving women divers who historically collected seafood from the sea without breathing equipment, primarily along the Kii Peninsula. This ancient, female-led profession is in decline due to dwindling fish populations from climate change and a lack of new recruits, but some communities are adapting by offering eco-tourism and cultural experiences, such as meals cooked in traditional ama huts (goya).
    What is the Ama tradition?
    Freedivers: Ama divers rely on deep breathing techniques and their own skills to hold their breath and dive to collect seafood like abalone and other shellfish.
    Female-Dominated: Historically, the profession has been female-dominated, partly due to a belief that women have a natural advantage with more body fat to endure cold water, and because it allowed for independent, self-supporting lives.
    Ancient Practice: The tradition dates back centuries, with some sources noting a 5,000-year history.
    Where can you experience the Ama culture?
    Kii Peninsula: Many Ama communities are located along the coast of this region.
    Mie Prefecture: Areas like Toba and Osatsu are known for their Ama culture, and you can find museums dedicated to the tradition.
    Ama Huts (Ama-goya): Some traditional huts have been converted into tourist attractions, offering visitors a chance to see the divers and eat a meal of their freshly caught seafood.
    Challenges to the Ama Tradition
    Climate Change: Warming waters and sea surface temperatures have caused the loss of kelp forests (isoyake), which are vital habitats and food sources for the shellfish the Ama collect.
    Declining Fish Populations: The loss of kelp has led to fewer abalone and other valuable shellfish, making the Ama's work harder and less profitable.
    Aging Workforce: There are fewer young women training to become Ama, and the average age of the divers is increasing.
    How the Ama are adapting
    Eco-Tourism: Some Ama are opening traditional huts to tourists, sharing their culture, and cooking freshly caught seafood.
    Advocacy: Ama are becoming advocates for conservation, raising awareness about climate change and its impact on marine ecosystems to ensure the future of their livelihoods.
    Community Efforts: Efforts are underway to protect the marine environment and promote sustainable practices to help preserve the tradition for future generations.    Read more

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