Monster bar

A secret bar was opened in front of Kawasaki Station for the ultra-monsters appearing in the “Ultra-man” series, to conspire about the earth conquest by gathering every night after night.

Vartan star person, Zetton, King Joe, and Red king are the ultra-monsters who open up a fierce fight against the Ultra-man, thrash him at times, and drive them out to the bunker.

It seems that they gathering at some bar every night whenever they did not appear on the screen, and are maintaining the energy for the next day.
Such a concept bar “Monster bar” was opened for a limited time of one year before the Kawasaki Station.
By hearing as “Monster”, some may think that it is a childish store like the toy store, but inside the shop is the usual bar of calm atmosphere.

However, the difference is that each booth is decorated with the theme of the monsters, you can talk from the vast stock of knowledge without thinking about the buff, and a small story or joke will be scattered everywhere.
The number of menu with the monster image looks visually delicious.

There is a goods corner selling the rare and limited goods that cannot be purchased elsewhere, and a small room for the monsters to hide. The adults, who did not forget the heart of their childhood, support the spirit for the next day along with the monsters. 

If you enter the shop, the space dinosaur Zetton will welcome you.

Zetton knocks down Ultra-man first, and looks that he is being worshiped as the hero between ultra-monsters.

There was the real mouth of Jamira in the corner.

Jamira

It is said that the person who can transform into person related to the defense corps and hero cannot escape when they put the hand in this mouth. You can enter the store only after proving that you are not a person related to the defense corps and hero.

If you proceed inside, the panel exhibited with the collection of famous scenes of the figures and monsters nearing 200 can be seen.
The special image completed by the overall assistance of Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.is shown in the monitor inside the store, and the trick that the journalist can also enjoy without the vague memory of ultra-series is also enhanced.

A unique monster menu to eat is also prepared.

The big favorite dish of Crab pilaf and Guton inside the scissor shaped vessel of the Rutan adult, and the jumbo prawn fry selection in the monster “Twin tail” having two tails are essential foods.

Crab pilaf and Gutom

。

Jumbo prawn fry with twin tail

You can take back the chopsticks placed in the seat.
In the goods corner, the bar specific goods such as monster beer mug are sold.

Goods corner

 

This shop will be open for a limited period of 1 year until March 2015, and hence I request the visitors coming to Japan within that time to visit this.

Shizuka chan of Doraemon turning 30 years

The popular 1000cc car “Passo” of Toyota has got the evolution version engine.

Toyota Passo

The fuel cost has improved from the previous model by about 30 percent by doing minor changes.

The 1.0 L (2WD) has achieved 27.6 km/L, the top of the gasoline engine registration car.
Shizuka chan of Doraemon appeared in the advertisement of the “Passo”, not as the animated cartoon but the actress Asami Mizukawa appeared in the adult role of Shizuka chan.

If the Shizuka chan of Doraemon turns 30 years old, then will she look like this?

If I have to say my personal opinion, then I feel that she has matched with the image.

Charging infrastructure consolidation for EV and PHV

It seems that the 4 automobile companies of Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors have join hands to establish a new company, to promote the Charging infrastructure consolidation for EV and PHV, by the end of May this year. The purpose is to accelerate the domestic growth of EV and PHV that is making no progress due to shortage in the cruising range of a single charging.
 
At present, about 4000 normal charging stations, and 2000 rapid charging stations are set up. The policy to strengthen the system by the establishment of new company aiming at doubling the target number of installation was published last summer. It is a rare case of major competing car companies jointly starting up the company, and it seems that they also had the vision of providing the hydrogen station consolidation for the FCV (fuel cell vehicle) in the future.
 
In the new company, the convenience is considered by aiming for the interchangeability of the pricing system, so that the charging can be done with 1 card all over the country, in addition to providing the pricing and settlement service when using the charger.

The system of Government assistance for a maximum of 2/3 has already been installed, among the rapid charging station that takes more than US$ 50,000 (5 million yen) to establish, and the four companies share the equivalent part of the balance establishment cost. It is said as the policy to ease the establishment by the entrepreneurs of the gas (petrol) station and the convenience store etc.

Nissan Leaf

Toyota Prius PHV

Though Nissan “Leaf” and Toyota “Prius PHV” etc. are proceeding with the EV and PHV, the Leaf is making maximum vehicle sales, but the fact is that the total domestic sales of 37,000 vehicles is lesser than the target.

The concept is that, if EV can be charged by about 80% in about 30 minutes by using the rapid charger, and if the number of installations are increased then the environment of traveling far distance will be in order, and the growth can be promoted.

The European power such as BMW and Volkswagen have already started to introduce the EV into Japan, and it seems that the four domestic companies have judged the necessity to speed up the infrastructure consolidation by establishing the new company.

Capsule hotel

The Capsule hotel is one of the form of peculiar lodging facility in Japan, and is the lodging facility that provides a simple bed in the capsule shape (Box shape).

It often used with the aim of saving by the business men, young students going on private tour, and expenditure and traveling expenses by the working men and society members, because the use price is cheaper than a usual hotel.
The capsule hotel is used by most of the guests when they are unable to return to home by missing the transportation such as last train and the late night bus, because this hotel can be booked just by walking in without any reservation.
This capsule hotel is also used when the users cannot stay in the regular hotel due to full booking.
Such a hotel is not available in counties other than Japan, and hence foreign tourists used to stay here to get an experience of the capsule hotel.

This hotel consists of the simple bed in the capsules piled up in 2 levels, and the users can get inside this capsule to sleep and take rest.

Inside the capsule, the lights, ventilating fan, alarm clock, radio, small size TV (Hung from the top) etc. are available in addition to the bedding.
All these are functionally arranged to operate it while in the sleeping position.
The blind and curtain can be used isolate with the outside.
However, there is a concern of the step noise by the walkers through the path, the alarm sound of the alarm clock from other capsules, snoring of the users etc., as there is no sound insulation.
There is no key for the capsule, and hence a separate locker with key I provided.

The capsule is linked with the public bath, and there are some facilities that provide 24 hours bathing.

It is said that the restaurant, massage, and laundry installed inside the facilities can be used for 24 hours.

If you think of just sleeping for a night, then you can stay here with least expense, take bath at the big public bath, sleep in a clean bed, operate various items, and have a pleasant stay.

I have also used it during my younger days when I could not afford much money.
 
What do you think about staying for one night in a capsule hotel for the foreign tourists visiting Japan?

TOKYO

NAGOYA

OSAKA

Okage Yokocho (Ise Jingu)

The street that crosses over the entrance of the Ise Jingu Shrine is called as Okage Yokocho.
You may like to check the blog on Ise Jingu Shrine in the below link.
http://japanindiacart.blogspot.in/2014/04/ise-jingu.html

http://www.okageyokocho.co.jp/
Here, a lot of souvenir that will remind you of Japan, and delicious foods of Ise special product are available.

There are lot of tourists visiting here at the same time of visiting the Ise Jingu shrine for worship.

The food items that I would like you to have is Akafuku and it can be purchased at HONTEN.

Kindly buy one box of Akafuku first as a take-home item.
However, you have to eat it before the next day because the “best if eaten by this date” is only until the next day.

You can eat the Akafuku at the shop, but there are some Akafuku that can be eaten only at the shop. It is the “Zenzai” and the warm seasonal “Akafuku Kouri”. Please try these two without fail.

Akafuku kept inside the ice is very delicious.

Akafuku in ice

Then, it is Ise Udon.

Ise Udon

There are lot of Ise Udon shops, and you can try it in any shop.

Ise Udon is a type of noodle in which the black and dense broth added to the stock of the fish and the seaweed in soy sauce, is mixed with the thick noodles and eaten.
The Ise Udon is only available at Ise, and hence when you visit here try this without fail.

You can eat the food that has a history of being consumed by the shrine visitors from the Edo period (AD 1603–1867). I think it is the suitable menu to serve the crowd customers visiting Ise.

This is the innermost entrance of Okage Yokocho to Ise Jingu.