It takes around 2.5 h by car from Tokyo to Nishizawa Keikoku valley. 4 h hiking course was very good. Beautiful water color.

I went watching 10th Koga fire works festival on August 1st. It takes around 1.5 hours by train from Tokyo to Koga city which is in Ibaragi prefecture. I arrived at watching spot at the river side 1 hour before start. According to the city office, total 25,000 shots of fireworks are launched, this is one of the most shots in fireworks festival in Japan, so I felt exciting, and indeed, the exhibition was amazing and very big scale. Watching fireworks is poplar and traditional event in Japan especially in Summer season. This was the first time for me to visit Koga fireworks, and found it was nice place.

This was taken in East side of town in Shinjuku. Meters are a bit retro.

This is newly launched official mascot character of Koenji town in Tokyo, whose name is “Psyche Delhi san”. Not so cute…Children are scared of it and cry…but it stick out in my mind…