Chasing Sakura - Japan (17) - Yamasaki River (山崎川)

After lunch, I went to the beautiful Yamasaki River for a walk.  I read about this place from another blogger's page and thought I would come if time allows.  I am glad I did as you can see how beautiful it is from the pictures!

Houraiken (蓬莱軒神宮店)

This was a meal I have been anticipating during this trip.  I am glad to report it did not disappoint!  Since I went there well passed the normal lunch hours, plus it was a weekday and I was alone, I didn't have to wait at all - lucky!!!

Chasing Sakura - Japan (16) - Nagoya: Atsuta Shrine (熱田神宮)

Finally back from my Inner Mongolia trip!  If you are following me on Instagram, you will be able to see a preview of my trip.  Work is getting busier so I can only do my best to get these updates up as fast as I can... but then, summer time is also the best time to enjoy the outdoors right? So please bear with me!

If you have ever played King of Fighters, I am sure you know Kyo Kusanagi.  Well, it has nothing to do with Atsuta Shine.  It just makes me think of the Kusanagi no Tsurugi everytime.  According to the Kojiki (the oldest extant chronicle in Japan), the Atsuta Shrine was originally founded to house the Kusanagi no Tsurugi!  Sadly, peasants like me are not allowed to appreciate the beauty of the sword... yet, the Atsuta Shrine is beautiful and worth a visit in my opinion.

the south entrance

Chasing Sakura - Japan (15) - Nagoya

After bidding farewell to Takayama, we took the bus to Nagoya.  The ride took approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes.  We got off at the JR Nagoya station and my friends left for Osaka right away while I explored the city and meet my friend and her family for dinner!  I found the station quite confusing and there wasn't enough signs.  Nevertheless, I was able to navigate around it in the end and accomplished everything I wanted to do / see in Nagoya!  Yay!

Nagoya from Nagoya Castle

Chasing Sakura - Japan (14) - Shin-Hotaka & Hirayu

If you ask me, April is not a good month to go to Shin-Hotaka, unless you want to see snow.  Since I used to live in Chicago I have seen enough snow for the rest of my life...  Not only was it snowing, it was only -6 degrees Celsius!!!  Thank goodness I brought my fleece sweater with me.

It was such a cloudy day... can't see much of anything
this was my "best" picture of the day

The Lobster Shack at Two Lights

I don't feel like writing on my Japan recap today but I do feel like sharing a restaurant in Portland, Maine.  The food is good but the view is to die for!  Great place to visit in the summer.  In fact, Portland, Maine is probably one of my favorite places in the USA.

Apple Turnovers

Originally, I planned to make palmiers this weekend... as I opened my dough package, I finally realized I bought phyllo dough instead of puff pastry.  Clearly, I can't make palmiers with phyllo dough... (duh!)  Since I got my butter melted and phyllo dough opened, I have to make something... the first thing came to my mind was - Apple Turnovers.