Daisetsuzan Shirakabaso Youth Hostel

A hostel review for the accommodation in the year 2007 during the trip in the post of Volcano and Caldera Lakes in the Daisetsuzan National Park. 

This Youth Hostel was situated very nearby to the Daisetsuzan National Park. One of the first accommodation I had lived in Hokkaido, it was a pleasant experience. Amenities and facilities are perfect but before further reviewing, let's take a look at the photograph which might be a better proof. Well pictures paint thousands of words

The youth hostel and log cabin by the side..

One of the standard shared rooms in the hostel..nice and clean

And here's the Log Cabin, for the ladies of the group..

the living room of the log cabin

The ladder up to the 2nd floor..it's so purely log cabin..

One of the few bedrooms and..

the toilet fully automatic though it's a little narrow

and some of the food. This was my dinner served at that time.

Not only the internal are beautiful, the external are also very nature as well.

Nice cool streams

My most favourite shot for this post.

And that's me in front of the Youth Hostel.

Overall I would like to give Daisetsuzan Shirakabaso a rating of 4.5/5, for its great experience, courteous host, cleanliness, amenities and facilities (Free WiFi provided), as well as great natural onsen at the back of the hostel. Sorry no photos for the onsen as there were guests dipping in the pool at that time. Otherwise I would have taken some photos .

I will DEFINITELY return to this lodge again in my next visit.

For bookings, please contact them at this email: shirakabaso@ai.wakwak.com

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Historical Osaka Castle

A year 2008 single day trip to Osaka. It was during the cold winter month of January. Thanx to one of my Japanese buddy, I was able to explore Osaka for a day. The journey was about an hour from Kobe at the Hanshin Line (phew still remember a lil though). During this trip most of the trip was sightseeing which includes the Osaka Castle. Osaka castle trip took almost half day (+Sightseeing and photography)

Originally called Ozaka-jou, it is one of Japan's most famous castles, and played major roles in the unification of Japan during the 16th century war or better known as Sengoku jidai. 

(Warring States Era) 

The main tower of Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one kilometer square. It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, using a technique called Burdock piling, each overlooking a moat. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from sword-bearing attackers. The Castle grounds, which cover approximately 60,000 square meters (15 acres) contain thirteen structures. (Source: Wikipedia, 2011)

First glance from a far, The Osaka Castle

Huge moat around the castle

More moats

Some birds swimming in the moat of the castle

Close up shot..anyone, any ideas what species are these bird from?

The Osaka Castle from another angle

That's me as a proof that I was there.

with trees as foreground

That's me again with two cosplayer..the guy with the eyefold, he's playing Masamune Date, a famous tactician in the Sengoku jidai, aka One-eyed Dragon... if I can still remember

One of my favourite angle

 Sakuramon (Cherry Tree Gate)

 This is the front gate of Honmaru (central citadel) which was called "Sakuramon" during the Toyotomi period. The existing gate was built in the year 1626 during the Tokugawa period but was burnt down in they 1868 civil-war and reconstructed in the year 1887.

Sakuramon Stone Square

Magnificent stone walls were built here to defend the front gate of hte central citadel. Scorch on the stone wall indicates the site of Sakuramon Daimon gate which was burnt down during the civil war in the year 1868. The stone in the facade was called "Takoishi" or better known as "Octopus Stone", is the largest stone in the castle. The surface area of the stone is about 60 meter square. Huge isn't it? and estimated weight of about 130 tonnes. 

Passed by a museum but was closed on that day.

Kinmeisui Well and Roof

This well is about 33 meter deep above the surface of the water and lined with stone. Originally called Ogonsui (Golden Water). Regarded as the most important castle well (dunno the reason though), it was dug in the year 1624 and its roof was constructed in the year 1626.

A Signal Gun/Noon Marker

This is an ancient, muzzle-loading cannon with a length of about 348 cm, outer diameter of 40cm and 20cm for the internal, the base material of this cannon was probably from a bronze sort.

 More Osaka Castle

 Views from the Osaka castle at the 5th level.

The famous gold fish of Osaka Castle

Last but not least a dog driving a car bidding good and see you again!

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Panoramic Kedah

Well this posting will be mainly on panoramic photography on my one day trip to Kedah with my friends. We drove past a huge vast land of sugar cane farm. Coupled with HDR (High Dynamic Range) photos, I hope this would be an enjoyment for everyone until my next post on Osaka.

 Non-HDR panoramic shot. Click to enlarge

  Non-HDR panoramic shot. Click to enlarge

HDR panoramic shot. Click to enlarge

Focused shot

Well that's all folks. The shortest post ever!

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