Sakurajima's 500th eruption of the year was an explosion

Sakurajima(Kagoshima) erupted in August 18 at 4:31. and the smoke of volcano reached 5000m. It was the 500th eruption of this year. The biggest eruption of Sakurajima was October 2000 in the last several decades, the recent eruption was equal to that.

The smoke fell on the urban, that make the train stops temporary.

Mt.Fuji charged 1000 yen on trial

I translated this http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20130804-OYT1T00430.htm



Mt.Fuji was registered as one of the World Heritage, and the prefecture tried to charge for entering a mountain area for 3 days.

The charge was voluntary and 1000 yen generally, and 34327 of people paid about 34 million yen. They expected that 10 thousand of people(1/4 of all the climbers) would pay this, so it can be said that the reaction was good. They will use this charge to environmental conservation of Mt.Fuji and security of climbers.

At first, parties of tourists hardly paid it because they were afraid of taking time. However, they started to pay after leading guide explained about the gist. Meanwhile, many expats climber passed through it, so staffs made translated signboards in a hurry, but a few people paid it. American climber told us, "I knew about that when I reached the sixth station. You should ask that on the Internet and stuff."


There is no tipping in Japan basically. Exceptions are a Japanese-style hotel and stuff, but it is like an extension of gifting, not a tip in fact. I don't know much about tip system, I'm worried if I fail to tip when I travel.

Sumidagawa fireworks display was ceased this year

Sumidagawa fireworks display is one of the biggest event of fireworks. However this year it was ceased because of a thunderstorm. 27 July, the day of Sumidagawa fireworks display, the atmosphere was very unstable. It suddenly started to rain hard 30 minutes after it started, and 780 thousand of audiences evacuated to under the eaves and stuff.

Then, what become of left fireworks? 15 thousand of all left fireworks will be scrapped because they got wet. Fireworks cost 60 million yen, now they're talking about who defray it.

The past few years it rains suddenly in Japan. We often call them "Guerrilla Rainstorm".We can't go out without a folding umbrella in summer because Guerrilla Rainstorm is hard to calculate for a radar. 

This is why we can't forecast them. They occur suddenly and local. Against these rainstorms, some private enterprises started to take measures. For example, they ask users to tell them when it rains. Then they gather them and announce original forecasts.

I hate humid wheather