Nezu Museum (根津美術館), Tokyo, Japan

This article was updated on 19 Sep 2021 to clarify taking the train or subway to get to the museum.

The Nezu Museum (根津美術館, Nezu Bijutsukan) is an art museum in the Minato district of Tokyo, Japan. The museum houses the private collection of pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art of Nezu Kaichirō (1860–1940), the former President of Tōbu Railway, and is built on Nezu's former residence and garden. Closed due to large-scale renovation and renewal in 2006, the museum re-opened in fall 2009 with a completely new museum building designed by the noted Japanese architect Kuma Kengo [1]. Kuma Kengo was also the architect for the modern redesign of the Akagi Shrine, which I reviewed in this earlier article: 

• https://ducksoupeasytravel.blogspot.com/2019/05/not-your-typical-japanese-shrine-akagi.html.

One of the defining architectural features of the Nezu Museum is the street entrance. The photograph of the entrance at the beginning of this article is the museum's most identifiable feature and is a tribute to Kuma Kengo's skill as an architect. As the museum is a very popular with both tourists and locals, it is really hard to get a photo without someone walking through it!

While it is worth a visit to view the art exhibits at the Nezu Museum when you're in Tokyo, for me the real reason to visit the museum is to see the garden. The site not only contains the museum, but also four tea houses and statuary within the garden. I last visited the museum on 29 Nov 2017, when the Fall colors were the most prominent and the garden most picturesque. Read the rest of the article to find out more information, and see more photographs of the museum and gardens.

Yuasa Soy Sauce (湯浅醤油有限会社), Yuasa, Japan

This article was updated on 19 Sep 2021 to clarify the train trip to Yuasa Station and the factory.

Everyone loves ice cream, but ice cream was not the reason I made a trip to see this factory in Yuasa, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The ¥400 ice cream cone was an added bonus for visiting and it is a unique flavor that is a specialty for this place. The flavor of this ice cream is soy sauce and you can try it at the café attached to the Yuasa Soy Sauce factory. Soy sauce ice cream is not salty in taste (as one might think), and is a nice tasty treat after touring the factory. Please read the rest of the article to find out more about touring the factory and the real reason why I made a special repeat trip here.

Honke Owariya (本家尾張屋 本店), Kyoto, Japan

This article was updated on 20 Sep 2021 to correct rail pass information.

Soba (そば or 蕎麦) is the Japanese name for buckwheat and usually refers to thin noodles made from buckwheat flour. They contrast to thick wheat noodles, called udon (うどん). Soba noodles are served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth as a noodle soup. The tradition of eating soba originates from the Tokugawa period, also called the Edo period, from 1603 to 1868. In the Tokugawa era, every neighborhood had one or two soba establishments, which functioned much like modern cafes where locals would stop for a casual meal [1].

Soba restaurants are still common in Japan to this day, functioning much as they did in the Edo period. So if soba restaurants are so common and casual in today's Japan, why did I make a special trip to eat here on 04 Nov 2019?

Please continue to read the rest of the article to find out why and to see more photographs.

Tōtō Museum (TOTO ミュージアム), Kitakyushu, Japan

This article was updated on 21 Sep 2021 to clarify the rail trip to the museum.

When visiting Japan, every itinerary will and should include museum visits. Each museum is unique, range in size from large to small, and each usually specializes in one of a wide variety of different subjects. The types of museums include: national (many located in Tokyo), prefectural, municipal, company, and private. These museums are well worth the time to visit given your particular interests and are located throughout the country from the largest cities to the smallest villages.

This article covers a 03 Nov 2019 visit to a company museum located in the city of Kitakyushu on Japan's southern-most main island of Kyushu. Company museums can be glorified places to advertise products, but most are informative about the industry or product the company specializes in. Many times, the museum is located adjacent to the company's production facility, so it is possible to take a factory tour and see the museum in one visit. In this instance, the museum is located on the grounds of company headquarters, next to a production facility, but tours are not given.

From the picture at the top of the article, you probably have guessed that this museum involves toilets and you would be partially correct. While toilets are a large well-known part of the products offered, the company is also known for its kitchen and bathroom fixtures. However these are not just any toilets, these toilets are manufactured by Toto. Toto is credited with being the first to develop and market washlets, probably Toto's most famous product today. Not only do modern washlets wash and dry toilet users, they also come with heated seats, automated flushing capabilities, play sounds to mask toilet noises, and automatically open and close lids. You will find these toilets throughout Japan, both in private and public bathrooms. Please read the rest of the article to find out more about this unique only in Japan museum and to see more photographs.

Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore

This article was updated on 21 Sep 2021 to add a map for Jewel Changi Airport.

Singapore's Changi Airport is not only a major transportation hub, but also a shopping and sightseeing destination. Jewel Changi Airport was developed over a former open car park for one of the terminals and is accessible from three of the (current) four terminals at the airport. Jewel's centerpiece is the world's tallest indoor waterfall, named the Rain Vortex, and is surrounded by a terraced forest setting, which is further surrounded by an upscale shopping mall. I will not go into the details, but you can get more information about Jewel on Wikipedia:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Changi_Airport

All I can say is that Jewel is spectacular and definitely worth seeing if you're ever in Singapore. Jewel not only attracts airport users, but Singaporeans themselves come to Jewel not only for shopping, but also eating. Singapore's rabid food culture has so many food choices and places to eat, it is no wonder that Jewel has also mirrored the food options found in the city itself as well as offering unique eating places that can only be found at Jewel.

If you're scheduled for a flight out of Changi Airport, it is possible to check-in early with selected airlines, and then go shopping and eating before the flight leaves. It is not unusual to see passengers in transit wheeling their baggage carts while viewing the Rain Vortex.

Map

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I Wonder What You're Not Supposed To Do? Orchard MRT Station, Singapore

Singapore has an extensive, ever expanding, and efficient Mass Rail Transit (MRT) system that can transport you anywhere in this city state. Singapore has a reputation of using heavy fines and imprisonment to deter unwanted behavior. The most famous being the chewing gum ban in 1992, where the importation and use was subject to imprisonment and fines [1].

When I first visited Singapore 30 years ago, there was obvious and extensive signage to deter any unwanted behavior (e.g. peeing in an elevator). Not only was the behavior ubiquitously advertised as an offense, but also was the large fine that could be imposed in order to shape societal behavior. Those types of signs are few and far between in today's Singapore. While the offenses are still law, the heavy handed signage has diminished greatly.

This signage at the Orchard MRT station struck me as being overkill and hearkened back to the signage of the first Singapore visit. While the message of what you're not supposed to do is pretty obvious, the deterrent effect and social behavior of people doesn't always follow the dictates of the authorities, since soon after I took this photo I found people sitting on the steps using their smartphones.

References

[1] Wikipedia. "Chewing gum ban in Singapore". Last modified: 15 Oct 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gum_ban_in_Singapore.

Support

• I hope you're enjoying these posts. If you're enjoying them, please go to https://www.facebook.com/ducksoupeasytravel/ and give it a like on Facebook.

• Also if you've been following my food blog, please go to https://www.facebook.com/ducksoupeasy/ and give it a like too.

• Thanks for your continued support and comments.

Suntory Yamazaki and Hakushu Japanese Whiskey Distillery Tours: Yamazaki and Kobuchizawa, Japan

Over a decade ago, Japanese whiskey was not well known and not in demand, which resulted in some whiskey distilleries closing. As a result, the remaining Japanese distilleries planned for modest production quantities. Since aged (as opposed to no-age) whiskeys are typically sold after 25-, 18-, 15-, 12-, and 10 years, the modest production decision affects the future availability of these products. So production and availability of these products cannot be increased if demand suddenly increases in the future. Japanese whiskey's popularity has greatly increased since and the demand is so great now, that it outpaces the supply due to the previous modest production decision. As a result, prices for the older aged Japanese whiskeys has increased and are no longer available after the limited production quantities sold out.

The oldest, largest and most well-known Japanese whiskey producer is Suntory. Suntory is a large multinational Japanese company that produces many non- and alcoholic beverage products. Suntory's main whiskey brands are Yamazaki and Hakushu (there are more brands sold only in Japan), both of which are well known outside of Japan. Suntory produces both blended and single malt whiskeys. Single malt whiskey are from whiskeys only produced from one distillery, while blended whiskeys are mixtures from multiple distilleries.

Suntory's Yamazaki Distillery is located in the town of Yamazaki, which is between Osaka and Kyoto, and the the Hakushu Distillery is located in the town of Kobuchizawa, which is accessible from Tokyo. Both distilleries offer factory tours and I've had the opportunity to visit both factories (Yamazaki in Nov 2017 and Hakushu in Nov 2018). If you're planning a trip to Japan and/or a whiskey fan, please read the rest of the article for more information and pictures.

Not Your Typical Japanese Shrine: Akagi Jinja (赤城神社), Kagurazaka, Tokyo, Japan

If you go to Japan, you will inevitably visit temples and shrines. Temples are associated with Buddhism and shrines, called jinja (神社, じんじゃ) in Japanese, with the native Shinto religion. Customs and practices are different between the two, and these places of worship can be found in all parts of Japan from the largest cities to the smallest village. There are an estimated 80,000+ Shinto shrines in Japan [1] and the common picture that comes to mind is that of a traditional well preserved building that has graced the area for a long time. That picture is true for most shrines in Japan, but not for the Akagi Jinja (赤城神社). The Akagi Jinja has been in the Kagurazaka neighborhood in Tokyo since the 1500's [2], but the traditional buildings on the shrine grounds were replaced with a modern architectural interpretation in 2010 by noted Japanese architect Kuma Kengo. He also designed the condominiums adjacent to the shrine, which has a café open to the public on the first floor. Having condominiums with a café on shrine grounds is highly unusual in Japan. This modern interpretation of a Japanese shrine is unique and worth a visit when you're in Tokyo. The shrine is an easy two minute walk from Kagurazaka Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.

Kumamoto Castle (熊本城, Kumamoto-jō), Kumamoto, Japan

Kumamoto Castle is located in Kumamoto City on the southernmost Japanese main island of Kyushu, about six hours and a distance of approximately 1300 km (800 miles) from Tokyo, or about 3.5 hours from Osaka (Shin-Osaka Station) by Shinkansen. Kumamoto Castle is one of the three most famous castles that travelers should see when visiting Japan (the other two castles being Himeji and Matsumoto Castles) [1]. A large-scale renovation of the inner castle was completed in Dec 2007, in time for the castle's 400th anniversary [2]. I was fortunate enough to visit the castle in Dec 2009 (and Matsumoto Castle; Himeji Castle had been visited previously) to see the results of the renovation before my most recent visit in Nov 2017.

On 14 April 2016, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the island of Kyushu, which caused major damage to many places on the island, with Kumamoto Castle having the most visible and significant. Roof tiles fell, foundations were damaged, entire structures collapsed, and the stone walls sustained major damage. Sections of the wall collapsed (as pictured above), leaving some structures perilously close collapsing themselves. The repairs to the castle started two months after the earthquake and has a target completion date of 2036 (yes, an estimated 20 years to repair the damage!) [2]. Whereas previously you could freely walk the grounds of the castle before the earthquake, visitors are now restricted to walking the perimeter of the castle while reconstruction is in progress (for obvious safety reasons). The route is well marked, easily walkable, and there are numerous informative signposts in Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese  (Simplified and Traditional) along the way.

Adachi Museum of Art (足立美術館), Yasugi, Japan

This article was updated on 18 Sep 2021 to clarify the details on taking the train to Yasugi Station and the Adachi Art Museum.

The Adachi Museum of Art (足立美術館, Adachi Bijutsukan) should be on everyone's sightseeing list when visiting Japan. While it is an art museum, the real reason you should visit the museum is to see the 16.5 hectare (40.7 acre) garden. The garden has been voted the number one Japanese garden since 2003 by the Journal of Japanese Gardening. The museum's founder, local businessman Zenkō Adachi (1899-1990), believed "the garden is also a picture" and devoted himself to gardening until his death. As seen in the picture above, the inside of the museum was designed to frame the garden as a picture. While the views from inside the museum impressive, the views of the garden from outside of the building are spectacular (visitors are not allowed into the garden themselves). The views change with the four seasons, so one visit will only give you a glimpse of garden's possibilities. I've been fortunate to visit the garden twice, once in Dec 2009, and more recently on 14 Nov 2017. Please continue reading the rest of the article and to see more photographs.

Station Master Tama: The Cat That Saved A Railroad, Wakayama, Japan

Wakayama Electric Railway (和歌山電鐵, Wakayama Dentetsu) is a private railway line that operates just one 14.3 km (8.9 mile) train line, the Kishigawa Line (貴志川線, Kishigawa-sen), between Wakayama and Kishi stations [1]. In Japan, small and short railway lines are not profitable due to the dwindling population outside the cities, and many of these lines have closed. However, this small line is open and operates profitably today because of a cat. I took the Tamadensha train (aka "Cat Train") for a visit on 23 Oct 2018.

Please read the rest of the article to find out more about this unique railway and its now famous cat station master, and to see more photographs.