[For Seniors] Enjoyable Brain Training! Liven Up with a Local Three-Choice Quiz

Arigayaki

Arita ware is Japan’s first porcelain, produced in and around Arita Town in Saga Prefecture. It is sometimes also called Imari ware, reportedly because it was shipped overseas from the Port of Imari. Today, Arita ware and Imari ware are largely distinguished by the places where they are made. Back then, they were extremely popular worldwide, especially in Europe.

Kagoshima Prefecture

Shirokuma is shaved ice topped with condensed milk, raisins, and fruit. It’s said to have originated at a long-established restaurant in Kagoshima Prefecture. It was devised and sold in the years shortly after the war. At this restaurant, you can enjoy several varieties of Shirokuma. Nowadays, you can even find Shirokuma sold in cups in the ice cream section of supermarkets.

Ibaraki Prefecture

Kasumigaura in Ibaraki Prefecture is a lake that comprises Kasumigaura, Kitaura, and the Hitachitone River. It is the second largest lake in Japan after Lake Biwa, and is characterized by being wide and shallow, with an average depth of about 4 meters. September 1 has been designated Kasumigaura Day every year. In the past, there were periods when the water quality was poor and turbid, and Kasumigaura Day is intended to raise awareness of water quality improvement.

Yamagata Prefecture

Ginzan Onsen, with its Taisho-era buildings, has a nostalgic charm. Besides being known from the drama Oshin, it’s also famous as a setting that inspired Studio Ghibli films. The area originally prospered as a silver mine, where hot springs were later discovered. Although the mine was eventually closed, the hot springs remained popular as a therapeutic retreat and were lively even back then.

Ehime Prefecture

Imabari towels are said to be highly regarded for their quality not only in Japan but around the world. They have unique evaluation standards, and the “5-second rule” is one of them: a small piece of towel is placed in water to test whether it begins to sink within five seconds. This test guarantees absorbency, and if a towel doesn’t pass, it cannot be certified as an Imabari towel.

Shizuoka Prefecture

Miho no Matsubara is a coastline in Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, lined with pine forests. It’s one of Japan’s premier scenic spots where you can admire the sea, the pines, and, in the distance, Mount Fuji. It’s also famous as the setting of the legend of the celestial maiden and the fisherman, the Hagoromo Tale. At Hagoromo no Matsu, the pine where the celestial maiden is said to have hung her feathered robe, you can even take commemorative photos.

Shimane Prefecture

Izumo Taisha is a shrine dedicated to Ōkuninushi no Ōkami, a deity who appears frequently in Japanese mythology. It’s commonly called “Izumo Taisha,” but its formal name is “Izumo Ōyashiro.” It’s famous as the place where the gods of Japan gather in the tenth month of the old lunar calendar. While that month is known as Kannazuki (“the month without gods”) elsewhere, in the Izumo region where Izumo Taisha is located, it’s called Kamiarizuki (“the month with gods).