new Haneda international airport

Event Dept.

Bus trip to new Haneda

international airport

We went on a bus trip to new Haneda international airport on June 12(Sunday). Fifty two people joined. The bus left Noda city hall at 8.30. We had slightly cloudy skies with weak sunshine on that day. On the right hand side of our way to Haneda via the coast of a bay, we could see the Sky Tree which would open next spring.

Mr. Shu and his wife Mrs. Go, they are from Taiwan, stated their impressions of Haneda airport as follows.
We thought an airport is an only takeoff and landing field, but in Haneda we found some spots where we wanted to stop by. The discovery museum and the shopping street like Edo alley were good to see. We were happy to be with many friends joined in this bus trip.

Mr. Okada gave his thoughts on the discoveries of Haneda airport.
First, he discovered no-check-in airport travel which means how to spend at airport without flight. It includes walking in the facilities, moving around Edo alley, shopping street and restaurants, chatting on an observation deck, and so on. Second, he discovered Wabi-sabi travel in the Sen Rikyu exhibition. It was the discoveries of the beauty to be found in quiet simplicity beyond the popular taste and of hospitality. Finally, he wrote about the importance to be in harmony with each other in the group tour.

tea ceremony, the Sen Rikyu exhibition

Edo alley

It was a very pleasant bus trip.

The number of participants to be admitted was 30, but 102 people applied for the trip. As a result, 52 people could join. The new international terminal seemed to have an appeal for many people.

Nasu Karasuyama

Event Dept.

Nasu Karasuyama 　

(A trip to experence Japanese traditional arts & crafts)

　
We went on a bus trip to Nasu Karasuyama city (Tochigi pref.) where is famous for the production of washi (Japanese paper)on Sunday, June 13.
Twenty-eight people (23 NIA members including 9 NIA staffchildren, 2 childen and 3 non-members ) joined.
Foreign members were from Thai (1), China (3), Philippines (6) and Korea (1).
The bus left Noda city hall at 8:25, and went on Route 294.
We took a rest at Mouka (a strawberry-growing district) and then arrived at Nasu Karasuyama "Washi no Sato”(a village of Japanese paper) at 11:30.
On our way to Nasu, we had a good time making self-introduction and speech and singing songs in the bus.
At “Washi no Sato”, we visited a paper-making factory.
We got explanations of traditional Japanese paper and made two sheets of postcard- sized paper under the guidance of the instructor
Our works will be delivered to each of us later on. We are looking forward to it.
After having lunch at a hand-made soba shop, Shogetu, near Karasuyama station, we visited "Washi Kaikan” (Japanese paper museum) in which paper manufactures made of Karasuyama hand-made paper were exhibited and sold.
The paper manufactures here have been taken over for 780 years.
Next, we enjoyed the view of the Ryumon Falls which is 65m wide and 20m high. We returned to Noda city hall at 17:30.

Throughout this bus trip, we could promote mutual friendship and experience one of the Japanese traditional arts & crafts.

All the members in a commemorative photo・・We enjoyed very much.
At the entrance of the Ryumon Falls

Songs in our home country were introduced in the bus.

Behind the "Washi no Sato” sign is a paper-making factory.

We were given explanations how to make Japanese paper by the instructor.

Our finished works

Lunch at a hand-made soba shop, Shogetu, near Karasuyama station
(Hand-made soba, chestnuts & rice, and tempura of vegetables)

The Ryumon Falls (65m in width, 20m in height)

Oarai stroll to eat a nice little dainties

Bus trip to Oarai town, Ibaraki pref.

We went on a bus trip to Oarai on June 7 (Sun).
The bus left Noda city hall for Oarai at 8.30 a.m.
It was an ideal weather for an outing after the rain.
Fifty four people (29 NIA members including 9 children and 25 non-members) joined.
Foreign members were from Philippines, Vietnam and Thai.

It took an hour from Noda to Oarai through the Joban Expressway.
Each one of us introduced oneself in the bus on our way to Oarai.
There was a family of four, a married couple from Kasukabe, too.

①　Arrival at the Oarai town office.

Oarai one-coin tour (every article of food costs \100) has started under
the guidance of the staff from “Oarai Gaido no Kai” who wears a yellow jacket.

Study visit to a sake factory

Demonstration of caramel cooking (Karume Yaki)

Sushi of Aji (horse mackerel) and omelet

Egg croquette

②Lunch at a Japanese hotel priding itself on its cuisine, named Sakanaya Inkyo/Heisei Uomatsu

Each of us ordered his (her) favorite food
such as Sashimi set meal and fried food.
We had delightful local fish in the restaurant hall.

③Museum on the end of the Shogunate era and the Meiji era
　We learned the daybreak of modern Japan.　
We enjoyed a movie “youthful group of the end of the Shogunate era and the Meiji era”.

④Oarai science museum (Oarai Wakuwaku Kagakukan)

Children in tornado

⑤Oarai beach

We arrived at the beach where children have been looking forward to coming to.
Some infants like the touch of sand beach and
got wet to the skin in the sea water.
It was not so bad in this season.

All the members in a commemorative photo・・・We enjoyed very much.

⑥We came back to Noda city hall at 6.00 p.m.　
Thank you for joining us.
We’ve heard many people want to join the activities like this again.