The Onsen Hotel Trip

My friend asked me if I wanted to join her in Fujinomiya for an onsen overnight. Of course I said yes! The place we stayed was Hananoyu, and it is walking distance from the Fujinomiya Station. 

I didn’t take pictures in the bath area, but believe me when I tell you, it is huge! I tried out the indoor baths, but spent most of the time in the outdoor baths.  I tried out nine of them, different types of water to cure all that ails you. 

The photo below is from the website.

My room was basic and comfortable.

We ate dinner in the hotel restaurant.  I had cold soba and tempura.

Breakfast was a typical Japanese style buffet. In addition to this, I also ate more of the fish and some cereal.

These pictures were taken around the hotel facility. In addition to the onsen, there are many places to relax and hang out.

The room below is full of comic books.

After checking out of the hotel the next morning, we walked to Sengen Shrine. It was rainy and not many other people were around.

It was a nice little get away.

Work in Progress Wednesday

Ribbon pouch progress - the ribbons are all sewn down, and I picked out a zipper and a piece of kimono fabric for the lining.

Drawn Thread progress

Japanese Pattern 35

Death Penalty Support in Japan

The Japanese government reports that over 80% of Japanese support the death penalty. The government survey, which is taken every five years, showed support for the death penalty at 83.1%, up 2.3% from the previous survey in 2019. This is the fifth consecutive time support has exceeded 80%. The survey included 3,000 people, age 18 and over. 

In the survey, many people said the death penalty is “unavoidable”. A common reason for support was concern for the feelings of the victims of capital crimes and their families. Others in support of the death penalty said they were concerned the abolition of capital punishment would lead to a rise in terrible crimes. 

Of those who are against the death penalty, the most common reason given was that mistaken convictions become irreversible. Last fall, an 88 year old man, Iwao Hakamata, who spent more than 40 years on death row after being convicted in a 1966 quadruple murder case, was acquitted in a retrial. This is the main reason why I am against the death penalty. You can’t bring the person back after the sentence was carried out by mistake. 

According to Wikkipedia:

The 193 United Nations member states and two observer states fall into four categories based on their use of capital punishment. As of 2024:^[9]

• 53 (27%) maintain the death penalty in law and practice.
• 23 (12%) permit its use but have abolished it de facto: per Amnesty International standards, they have not used it for at least 10 years and are believed to have a policy or practice of not carrying out executions.^[10]
• 9 (5%) have abolished it for all crimes except those committed under exceptional circumstances (such as during war).
• 110 (56%) have completely abolished it, most recently Zimbabwe (2024).

I’m surprised such a high percentage of Japanese people are in favor of capital punishment here. I’ve  not talked with any of my friends here about the topic, so I don’t have any reason to say that. I read the news and learn new things.

Monday Morning Star Count

This week I have continued with quilting the borders. I’m making progress.

World’s Smallest Park

 

On February 25, 2025, Guinness World Records recognized this Japanese Park in the town of Nagaizumi, Shizuoka Prefecture as the world’s smallest. The park measures just 0.24 square meters. The town has unofficially called this park the world’s smallest, and now Guinness has made it official, after a recent land survey led to the official recognition.

Strong Wind Warning

 

Another Carving Class

Wednesday I joined another carving class and decided to try a new project. This is what I started with. The finish will be a small Jizo statue.

Mine is on the left, mid-way through the class. The one on the right is the finished example.

Our teacher, Hitoshi Yamazaki, is on the far right. The two women are advanced carving students.

This is the finished example and my piece at the end of the class. It still needs a lot of work, but I like how it is coming along.

Cake and Coffee with Miyu

The Tokyo bride returned from her honeymoon last week.  She emailed me that she and her husband would be visiting Shizuoka and asked if I’d like to meet with her.  Of course I said yes! The cafe was very slow, but we didn’t mind. We talked and she showed me photos and video on her phone from her two week honeymoon. She gave me some nice souvenirs from her trip. It was a happy way to spend the afternoon.

Work in Progress Wednesday

New start - I bought these 30 cm. lengths of ribbon at Seria (100 yen chain store). I’m stitching them down along the sides to a piece of plain white fabric, with the idea of making it into a little pouch.

Japanese Pattern 34

Only 17% of Japanese Hold Valid Passports

 

I was surprised to read that only 17% of Japanese citizens hold valid passports. I don’t know what I expected, but 17% seems like a small number. Currently 51% of Americans hold valid passports, up from 46% in 2023, and 30% in 2008.

I read that before the pandemic about a quarter of Japanese held valid passports. In addition to not traveling during the pandemic, the weak yen has compounded the issue. In the last five years the yen has lost a third of its value. My students tell me that they don’t often get a big enough block of time off from work to enable them to travel abroad. The one time in their lives that they do take a big international trip is for the honeymoon. 

One of the good things about living in Japan is that even though this is a small country, there are countless beautiful, cultural, historical, and natural places to visit. When the yen gets stronger, I will think about traveling out of the country again, but for the time being, I’m happy to stay in Japan. In any case, I will keep my passport up to date.

Monday Morning Star Count

I’m not ready to put it on yet, but I made some scrappy colorful binding for when I am ready.

I finished the quilting of the hexagon weeks and started on the red border.

It’s coming along. 

Emperor’s Birthday

Today is the Emperor Naruhito’s birthday and a national holiday in Japan. Because his birthday falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on Monday.

He became the Emperor on May 1, 2019, following his father’s abdication. He studied history at Gakushuin University and English at Merton College, Oxford. In June 1993, he married diplomat Masako Owada and they have one daughter, Aiko. 

Happy Birthday! I hope someone makes him a carrot cake.

Domino’s Pizza in Japan Closing 172 Restaurants

Domino’s Pizza, the international pizza delivery giant, announced it is closing 205 of its restaurants worldwide, with 172 of them in Japan. The reason for the closures, according to the company, is a strategic shift in its approach to growth and profitability. Domino’s Pizza Japan currently operates 1,000 shops across Japan. Many of the restaurants to be closed were established during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline in demand for delivery meals post-pandemic, has been compounded by increased operating costs, including rising prices for ingredients, labor, and energy. 

There is a Domino’s Pizza that I pass by on my walk to the grocery store that has been there since before I moved here.  It doesn’t look like it will be closing. I’ve only bought pizza there once, but the delivery scooters and bicycles seem to be on the move all the time. 

Have delivery or take out restaurants near you been closing since the end of the pandemic?

Friday Finish - Summertime Mt. Fuji

 I finished this into a hanging with a sleeve on the back.

It represents Mt. Fuji and some of the places that make up the Mt. Fuji UNESCO site along with the mountain.

I made Mt. Fuji with clouds and the torii on top, just as I remember the top when I climbed Mt. Fuji in 2019.

This is one of the many old pine trees that make up Miho no Matsubara, which is walking distance from where I live.

Shiraito no Taki is a beautiful set of waterfalls, with a pool of water at the bottom.

Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine is in Fujinomiya.

I’m happy with how this turned out!