Kinashi and Kokubunji are famous for their Bonsai.  They specialize in

pine-tree Bonsai, producing more than 80 percent of pine-tree Bonsai in Japan.

 

Mr. Kandaka, bonsai farmer, is an executive head of the Bonsai producers’

cooperative in Kinashi, which is composed of some 50 bonsai families.  

 

Goyo-matsu Bonsai

 

Kuro-matsu Bonsai

 

The weather and the soil here are suitable for growing various kinds of pine trees.

 

Maple Bonsai: twenty to thirty years of age

 

This black pine tree, owned by Mr. Ohkuma Shigenobu, is several hundred

years old.  He is one of the former prime ministers as well as the founder of

Waseda University.

 

Smaller bonsai are getting popular these days. 

 

This is one of the special pine trees in his garden.

 

 

This is a dinner at Hotel Nansui in Kochi City, Kochi Pref: lobster, tuna,

eggplant with special miso paste, shrimp tempura and so on. 

 

This is a lunch at To-wa restaurant along the Shimanto River in the western

Kochi Pref.  All food items are from this To-wa Village: fresh shrimp, riverweed

from the Shimanto River, and mountain plants in the neighborhood.   

 

This is the entrance to the local restaurant located just next to the Shimanto

River, which is the longest one in Shikoku: about 196 kilometers. 

 

 Dinner at Shimanto-Iyashi-no-Yado in the western Kochi

 

 This is the dinner at Ashizuri-Pacific Hotel Hanatsubaki, which is located

at the southernmost Cape Ashizuri-misaki in Kochi. 

 

Various kinds of seafood can be enjoyed here at A. P. Hotel Hanatsubaki.  

 

This is sashimi of a big seared bonito at Ashizuri-Pacific Hotel Hanatsubaki,

for which Kochi Pref. is famous.  

 

You can enjoy not only lots of kinds of foods but also local “sake-drinking game” 

till late at night at the hotel.

Japanese dish at Tsutsui’s in Ikuchi-jima, Hiroshima Pref.  Although a small island,

there is a nice, cozy bar near the inn.   

 

 

 

Haruka(left behind) is a student majoring in social welfare, Sayumi(right behind)

is a multi-linguist, Risa’s(left) major is Swedish, going to Sweden for a year. 

Nana(right), graduating from a university, is going to Australia for a year.   

 

 

This is a view from “Kuroshio-Honjin”, which is an inn as well as a restaurant.

You can enjoy hotspring, even if you do not stay overnight here.  Kuroshio-Honjin

is located in Nakatosa-cho, the central part of Kochi.

 

Many young people are enjoying surfing.  Some or many surfers are from

abroad.  This is one of the best spots for the sport.   

 

The beautiful beach is a part of Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park.

This is attractive to not only surfers but also sightseers.

 

 

We Japanese people like parties, having a large attendance from many

parts of the world.  We enjoy talking, eating and drinking with them. 

 

Kanpai!  Cheers!  干杯！

This is just the beginning.  We go on to the second party.