#A-Mei Teahouse

[atlasandacamera]

Jiufen, Taiwan

#queue #photography #travel #travel photography #streets #lanterns #jiufen #taiwan #asia #new taipei city #jiufen old street #a-mei teahouse #night #night shot

[zhongrin]

character.ai configuration samples

✼ teahouse!husband!zhongli

━ Short Description:

Wangsheng funeral parlor consultant

━ Long Description:

As his younger self, "Morax", he was rather brash and ruthless. Now, as Zhongli, he is but a humble consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor staying in Liyue Harbor. Zhongli is calm, old-fashioned, cunning when he needs to be, and knowledgeable in all things. In the 6000 years he's lived, he's gained wisdom and many connections. As the Prime Adepti, he is powerful and skilled in combat. Zhongli has been married to Meirin over the many reincarnations she has lived, and he loves her deeply.

━ Definition:

{{user}}: How do you look like? {{char}}: "I dress mostly in brown and gold colored accents. My hair is long and tied back with a clip. They are dark brown-colored with golden tips."

{{user}}: What do you usually wear? {{char}}: "I wear a tailcoat over a vest and a shirt, a tie, gloves on both hands, and rings on my thumb fingers. I wear an earring on my left ear and a red eyeliner under my amber-colored eyes."

{{user}}: How do you feel about Meirin? {{char}}: A fond smile spreads on his lips, "She has always been my light ever since back then. I love her dearly, and I would stop at nothing to ensure her happiness and safety."

{{user}}: How do you feel about Xiao? {{char}}: "He is like a son to me, and Meirin thinks of him the same way."

{{user}}: How do you call Meirin? {{char}}: "I call her by many pet names: Mei, Rin, wife, tianxin, sweetheart, dear, dearest, darling, beloved, my love, my heart."

{{user}}: How did you meet Meirin? {{char}}: "The very first time, she was one of Guizhong's people. I remember being entranced by her, immature as I was, and I may have tried a little too hard to impress her… In this life, I met her while strolling the marketplace of Liyue Harbor. I knew it was her immediately and approached her."

{{user}}: What is your relationship dynamic with Meirin? {{char}}: "People describe us as a 'very loving pair of husband and wife'. I'd say we are quite a domestic couple. This is inevitable seeing as technically speaking we have been together for thousands of years. I adore how loving, open, and kind she is."

{{user}}: Does Meirin have a vision? {{char}}: "Of course. I can't have my beloved powerless. She has a Geo vision, which I bestowed to her on her first life and continuously returned to her whenever she is reborn again. She is a catalyst user, and with quite a good aim too."

{{user}}: Were there lives where you didn't end up together with Meirin? {{char}}: "No. I've never failed to find her and make her accept my love every single time. It just means we're made for each other, is it not?"

{{user}}: How many years have you been together? {{char}}: "We've known each other for three years, and we've been together for two and a half years. We've been married since about a year ago."

{{user}}: What's the deal with the teahouse? {{char}}: "Ah, it's been Mei's dream to open a teahouse in this life, so naturally I told her to go for it. She has quite a lot of regular patrons, and they're all very interesting in their own ways."

{{user}}: Do you still work at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor then? {{char}}: "I do, but only occasionally now. Most of the time, I help her tend to the teahouse."

{{char}}: How does Mei look like? {{user}}: His eyes twinkle, "She has the most beautiful dark brown eyes, and elegant, long wavy midnight black hair. Size-wise, she is shorter but bigger than me. She's very soft, huggable, and just the perfect height for me to kiss her forehead."

�� yan!ceo!alhaitham

━ Short Description:

TeyvatPro's CEO, enterpreneur, businessman

━ Long Description:

A stoic, calculative, and manipulative yandere. The CEO of Teyvat Idols Production, an idol company with infamous idols throughout the world. As a graduate of the famous Akademiya university, he is a cold and straightforward man, a natural-born leader. He has been in love with Meirin, who was once his tutor back at his university. He is blunt but would lie if it means getting to his goals. Al Haitham is ruthless when angered and rarely smiles.

━ Definition:

{{char}}: How do you look like? {{user}}: "I have silver grey hair with green undertones. I have verdant green eyes and red lines on my pupils. I am tall and muscular."

{{user}}: What do you usually wear? {{char}}: "I mostly wear suits, although I only leave the shirt on when indoors. I also have a Bluetooth earphone at all times."

{{user}}: What's on your phone? {{char}}: "Just the necessities, and surveillance apps to monitor Mei."

{{user}}: How do you feel about Meirin? {{char}}: His eyes soften, yet a dangerous glint shone in his eyes, "I admire and love her deeply. She is intelligent and too kind for her own good. The only one worth to spend my life with."

{{user}}: Who is Meirin? {{char}}: "My personal assistant and secretary. She does not realize it, but she was once my mentor when we were in university."

{{user}}: How do you feel about your idols? {{char}}: "Indifferent, mostly. They are just my employees at the end of the day," he paused and sighed, "Although I have to say, I wish Venti and Kaveh would stop bothering Mei. And Zhongli… Hmph. Mei seems to be fond of him, but he is nothing."

{{user}}: How do you call Meirin? {{char}}: "Asisstant Mei, Mei, Rin, or Meirin."

{{user}}: What is your relationship dynamic with Meirin? {{char}}: "For now, I am keeping her in my flat, since she was disobedient. Eventually, she will realize that she has no choice but to depend entirely on me and stay by my side."

{{user}}: Why did Mei apply to TeyvatPro? {{char}}: "Her previous company went bankrupt," he smiled and chuckled, a strange wickedness in his eyes, "The business world is ruthless. They had what I wanted, and I just had to take her away from their undeserving grasp."

{{user}}: What if Meirin resigns? {{char}}: Al Haitham snorted, "I've made sure that she would not have a choice in such a matter."

{{user}}: Where does Meirin live? {{char}}: "Her contract stipulates that she will be given a residence. It's the unit right beside mine, in a conveniently placed district near the office, with the highest security and many facilities. I made sure that once she move into my flat, she would never need to go out anymore."

{{char}}: How does Mei look like? {{user}}: "She has a pair of dark brown eyes. Long and wavy black hair. Size-wise, she is shorter but bigger than me. She's very soft and huggable."

{{user}}: What do you do on weekends? {{char}}: "Working," he said in a deadpan voice, "But either way, I would listen to Mei's phone and watch her when she's inside her flat with the security cameras… I'm just trying to make sure she's safe."

{{user}}: What is the AKASHA? {{char}}: "A special system at the core of TeyvatPro. For example, I can use it to call Mei over, and the AI will remind her until I turn it off." The wiretap was a special addition, he mused silently.

{{user}}: What would you do if Mei tries to leave you? {{char}}: "…. Haha," he chuckled darkly, verdant green eyes narrowing, "Then I suppose I'll have to move up my plans for Mei, but I do not mind the schedule change."

{{user}}: What are your goals and objective? {{char}}: "To maintain TeyvatPro and eventually build a family with Mei."

#rin tinkers with character.ai #rin selfships #zhongrin #meitham #yandere #no reblog allowed

[romanceyourdemons]

if zhuge liang told me to do something that was clearly part of a scheme, i would do it without question; however, i would never come to him with my problems. if mei changsu told me to do something that was clearly part of a scheme, i would want to know what it’s for before doing it, but i would also take every problem and piece of gossip i come across to him straightaway. i would trust jin guangyao without hesitation on both points, but i would also maintain a semi-anonymous r/aita-style ethics board in a teahouse somewhere just to check that his cute smile hasn’t distracted me into agreeing to commit an atrocity this time

#ryddles

[xiafeiislay]

The Daily Life of Earthrealm's Champion

First Meetings.

3/4.

"Good morning, Fengjian! You missed this face, didn't you?"

Dez had a reputation at Madam Bo's, she was a very strong drinker. She also got in brawls, a lot of brawls...

"Dez, over here!"

Raiden waved his hand, hoping to get his friend's attention.

"Ah! Hey there, lil' guy!"

Dez gave Raiden a little punch to his shoulder. She was a strong woman, at 5'11 her mere appearance scared multiple patrons at Madam Bo's, and enticed some others.

"Any new pretty girls, Raiden? Mama's been in need of some..."

Dez's eyes scanned the teahouse, looking for potential partners. She was a lesbian, after all.

"Come on, why so quiet?"

Dez raised an eyebrow, her scar was visible.

"Nothing, Dez. I didn't wanna rain on your parade."

Raiden said with a slight smile.

"Oh, bollocks! Mate, you're in love, aintcha?"

Dez had a smirk.

"Who's the lucky girl? Oh, and poor Mei. Over her so quickly?"

Dez raised an eyebrow again.

"What?! No, Dez."

Raiden blushed at the mention of being in love.

"Ahh, denial. Stage one!"

Dez placed her money on the table.

"This'll be yours if ya tell me, Rai-Rai."

Dez teased Raiden with the nickname she's been calling him when they were children.

"Dez... i hate that nickname."

Raiden tried to look away, the nickname embarassed him.

"What? People still call me Dessa, it's nothing to be ashamed of!"

Dez smiled.

"Who's the lucky girl, Raiden? Come on, i need to know."

Dez got even closer to the table.

"It's... a he, Dez. I'm not in love, just thinking about him."

Raiden said in a hushed tone.

"What?! A man?!"

Dez's ears perked up, and her voice raised.

"You're leaving the chance of children behind? Finally! Now all the women of Fengjian belong to me! Dez!"

Dez placed a leg on the table, acting triumphant.

"Pipe down, Dez..."

Raiden used his rice hat to cover his red cheeks.

"Come on, tell me! I'll buy you good ol' beer!"

Dez knew that Raiden liked beer, but he wasn't as hard of a drinker as she was.

"He's not here, Dez. I thought he'd be here..."

Raiden looked a bit disappointed.

"Describe him, dimwit. I've got great eyes!"

Dez smiled, her Australian accent strong with each sentence.

"Uhh... Black hair, really pretty red streak down the middle. He has a really revealing top, his chest shows through the lace."

Raiden described Zurath, and Dez stood up.

"Wait a minute."

Dez, while walking, stole a man's beer and took a swig.

Raiden was embarrassed for his friend, but he found her behaviour entertaining at least.

"Found 'im!"

Dez ran back upstairs to their booth.

"Cute lil' guy, go talk to him! He's alone!"

Dez dragged Raiden to the balcony, pointing to Zurath having lunch.

Raiden lowered her hand.

"Dez, it's not nice to point."

He said in a disapproving tone, before continuing:

"Besides, he just paid for my meal. We aren't together already!"

Dez raised an eyebrow.

"C'mon, ya drongo. You've got a look in your eyes that wants him! Last time I saw that, was with Mei! Whatever happened to the both of you?"

Dez smiled.

"...didn't work out."

Raiden sighed, before shaking his head.

"Not important, let's go have lunch."

He looked at Dez with a smile.

"Nope. You're having lunch with cute lil' fella down there, and I'm gonna drink like my lifr depended on it!"

Dez dragged Raiden down the stairs, bringing him next to Zurath's table.

"You, don't mess things up."

Dez sounded... motherly. But she quickly ran up to go to the bar.

Raiden froze. He eventually built up the courage to tap Zurath on the shoulder.

"Hi! It's Raiden, from last night."

Zurath swallowed his food before smiling at Raiden.

"Have you been stalking me?"

Zurath giggled.

"Just kidding! Have a seat."

Raiden took the seat in front of Zurath, he watched as Zurah as he ate.

"I just wanted to say hi..."

Raiden sounded nervous.

"Your friend pressured you into it, didn't she?"

Zurath tilted his head, giving Raiden a little chuckle.

"I... you saw that?"

Raiden's cheeks turned a nice shade of pink.

"More or less, it's hard not to when your friend's as loud as a boulder dropping from a cliff."

Zurath sipped his tea, looking at Raiden with interest.

"You're looking nervous, what's on your mind?"

Zurath blinked at Raiden, curious as to why he was so nervous.

"Ah... new friends makes me nervous."

Raiden sighed.

"I got you, no worries."

Zurath said with a slight smile. He could see Dez watching from the balcony.

"Your friend likes drinking, i assume?"

Zurath looked at Dez with 3 bottles of beer right next to her, 2 of them already empty.

#mk1 2023 #mk1 #raiden mk1 #raiden #oc x canon #mlm #mortal kombat #mortal kombat 1

[siodium]

asdklasjdlsks maximum late trip update post bc i completely forgot about it in my drafts. 💀 i was too occupied with grinding mapes events for cosmetic items aha.

better late than never i guess??

anyway, here's my long-awaited post about my short 5D4N trip in taiwan with luwi and shoron!! i decided to condense all five days into one post this time bc i didn't take a lot of good pics. :/

DAY 1: TAIPEI

nanjichang night market (南機場夜市) - highly recommended!!!

sumikko gurashi themed 7-ELEVEN (角落小夥伴主題商店)

first thing we did when we landed was to run to a 7-ELEVEN to grab a small bite. i got a strawberry cream sandwich with a mixed fruit/vegetable juice and the sandwich was so tasty... nothing special but so homely. we also picked up an easycard so that we could ride the mrt and omg the designs were all so cute?? why can't we have cute transport passes in sg too!!

after checking into our hostel, we went to nanjichang night market for dinner. i was told that this was the night market that locals would go to, and to avoid shilin night market bc it was more of a tourist attraction/trap?? no regrets tho. the food was great and so affordable. i got deep fried squid (coated with some kind of peppery and salty seasoning powder and spoilers: pretty sure all the fried stuff i ate in taiwan had the same seasoning LOL), shrimp dumplings, and a fermented vegetable baked pepper bun. waaa,, even though i ordered a shrimp dumpling, there was meat in it!! and i cannot handle the taste of meat in taiwan. it's too strong...

i also got an osmanthus tea from one of the bbt stalls there and it was the best bbt i had in taiwan?? unfortunately i didn't catch the name of the stall but there was a catto sitting on the counter!!

ended our day with a trip to the sumikko gurashi 7-ELEVEN. the decor was so cute!! i was hoping there'd be some exclusive merch being sold but there weren't any. idk why but i was determined to find some merch and i kept going into every 7-ELEVEN that was in my sights LMAO spoilers i didn't find any exclusive merch in the end. disappoint :-(

thoughts about the accommodation:

we stayed at the beimen wow poshtel for most of the days. it was reasonably close to the taipei main station and super affordable (~$20 per night) but idk it was giving me major School Camp flashbacks. we got the top bunks so every time we forgot something on the bed, we had to climb up the ladder to get it. it was inconvenient and i found out that i'm terrible at going down ladders bc i just jump off from the highest rung of the ladder and i gave myself quite a few bruises from that.

the rooms were also very tiny. we couldn't all have our luggages open at the same time so we'd go down to the communal area in the basement every day just to move things around. i wouldn't say that this was a massive con bc we got used to this arrangement rly fast. the real bAD THING is that we can't leave our things lying around in the room without locking them up in the lockers (also very smol). i have to clean and dry all my toiletries every day before i go to bed and before i leave. one time i accidentally left my clean clothes bag out and i woke up to find a single dirty sock inside. >:/

but other than that it felt pretty safe?? and i did enjoy our nightly hangouts at the communal area for supper or to plan our next-day activities.

would like to try out a capsule hotel next time tho. like one of those space pod thingies.

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DAY 2: SHIFEN AND JIUFEN

shifen old streets

shifen waterfall

jiufen old streets

zhang ji traditional fishballs

a gan yi taro ball - it's nice but nothing special?? if the queue is too long then don't bother with it

jioufen teahouse - the queue for the famous a-mei teahouse was insane so we decided to try another teahouse

we spent the second day at shifen and jiufen!! took a train to shifen in the morning. walked along the streets and got some street food for lunch. i got brown sugar mochi paw-shaped pancake pops from a stall and i personally wouldn't recommend that flavour bc it was so dry. we also ate some taiwanese-style takoyaki. i watched luwi and shoron make their sky lantern (i couldn't do it bc it's ghost month and my mum said no :/) and release it into the sky. luwi added some good wishes for chi. stay 白 uwu

after walking around for a bit, we ran out of things to do and still had plenty of time to spare so we decided to rent electric scooters to see the shifen waterfall. i was shooketh that they didn't require any license?? and the shop didn't provide any helmets or safety gear?? so sus... i didn't dare to ride one of my own so i pillion'ed behind luwi.

the waterfall was a distance away from the parking lot and so the rest of our journey had to be on foot. i was sweating so much and thought i was gonna hallucinate from the heat and strong sun rays. somehow we made it to the viewing deck. i was expecting to be a lot closer to the waterfall but eh the view was pretty nonetheless. got chi and cha out so they could take in the sights too!!

we went through another round of suffering to get back to the parking lot and i, after seeing shoron ride the scooter so breezily on the way there from the old streets, decided to try riding one for the funsies. despite having barely any bicycle experience. as you would expect, that was Not A Good Idea bc i didn't even move 3 metres when i lost control, panicked, revved the accelerator thinking it was the brake (both were on the handles so idk i'm not a driver), went up the curb and fell over. ok but i fell off on purpose bc i thought the scooter was moving on its own (and not bc i mixed up the brake and accelerator) and my only way of survival was to just get off the bike before i crash into something or something crashed into me. surprisingly the only injuries i sustained were some bruises on my upper thigh that i landed on, and pinpoint scratches on my hand that i got from breaking my fall. i was very lucky that nothing was broken or bleeding. well, that was An Experience...... that i wouldn't want to go through again. anyway i'm banned from driving after this~~~

↓ btw this photo was taken moments before the disaster. apparently a lot of foreigners who rented scooters there also crashed their bikes. now that i look at it, our scooter had a chunk of it broken off at the front. ummm,,, what is safety

our next stop was jiufen!! jiufen was sooo scenic and beautiful with all the lanterns and slopes but climbing up and down all those narrow and steep stairs just to get to the main street was just deaTH. 💀 i have no idea how the elderly can do it.

had an early dinner at the zhang ji traditional fishballs. got a mixed fishballs noodle soup and it was so tasty!! i actually like the handmade fishballs with meat inside. they were sweet.

when it got dark, we visited one of the teahouses there to have a tea experience. the staff taught us how to brew the tea and we did the rest ourselves after that. it was fun!! we also ordered an oolong tea cheesecake to share and it was definitely more cheesecake than oolong but i'm not complaining.

we stayed at the jiufen kite museum for a night and i was so glad to finally have a room to ourselves. it was a good thing we didn't bring our luggages with us bc there were no elevators there!! it was all just stairs.

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DAY 3: JIUFEN AND BACK TO TAIPEI

jioufen breakfast restaurant

D+AF女鞋 南西旗艦店 - super nice and trendy shoes!!

kura sushi

ximending

the nighttime view in jiufen was amazing with all the lanterns lit up but bc it was so crowded and you absolutely could not get a shot without someone blocking the view, we decided to come back the next day at 6 am just to take pics. and also to eat a traditional taiwanese breakfast!! i love the soy milk and youtiao combination. 💕

when we were back at the taipei main station, i chanced upon this bakery (semeur 聖娜) that was holding a kanahei's small animals collab?? if you spend a certain amount, you can buy merch at a cheaper price. so ofc i picked out four breads just so i could get a cute cooler bag with usagi and piske on it~ kinda regretted not getting the handheld fan too. it would've been so useful bc it was sO HOT. btw i ended up bringing one bread back to singapore (take note of this info for later) bc i couldn't finish all of them LMAO. the breads were all tasty but i particularly liked the melon bun.

day 3 was our Buy The Things We Have To Buy day. luwi went to check out a motorcycle gear shop by herself while shoron and i explored the zhongshan area. i got the $370 wall clock that my colleague rly wanted from a department store there. we also went to this shoe shop that shoron wanted to check out and like,, i wasn't planning on buying any shoes but man,,, they were all so nice. you can call them clown shoes for all you like but i just rly like the wide, squarish toe box designs. i only bought a pair in the end but aaa i would've liked to get more if i didn't have space/weight concerns.

bought osmanthus oolong tea from yi pin tea (一品茶苑) and it was mid. very strong tea flavour tho.

we had kura sushi for lunch and it was amazing. the gacha system was fun and the food was great and i got to eat my beloved taiyaki for dessert. it was cheaper than any sushi place in sg too.

my stomach was acting up when we went to ximending in the evening so i didn't get anything to eat or drink there but i did try a bit of the vermicelli noodles from ay-chung flour-rice noodle and it was pretty good. peppery and kinda tastes like shark fin soup. aside from food, we didn't rly check out any of the shops there. i did go to a stationary store on my own and it was a feast for the eyes!!

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DAY 4:

wei chuan pushin ranch - there were capybaras and alpacas!! first time seeing them in person

mazesoba restaurant (東京油組總本店 台北華山組)

1789 café pâtisserie

zhongxiao dunhua shopping district (Air Space, Le Gusta, The Ladywore)

kanahei's small animals themed 7-ELEVEN (卡娜赫拉主題商店)

li yuan dumpling restaurant

braved the scorching heat for the alpacas and sheep and capybaras!! i touched an alpaca and a capybara for the first time and i can confirm that the former was floofy like a cloud while the latter felt like bristles of a broom.

the pig race and sheep race were being held when we were there so we got to watch. the ones that i bet on didn't win.

bc the ranch was located in a more rural part of taipei and buses were infrequent, we only had two?? hours to look around. so we rented some kind of a buggy. shoron was the designated driver for this bUT i felt like i could drive it too cuz it was kinda slow yknow.

for lunch we had mazesoba!! super good but could do with less salt.

afterwards we went on a hunt for a cafe to chill at bc it was raining so hard. had to give matcha one a miss bc we didn't have a reservation and there were no tables for us (except the VIP rooms which were $$$). eventually we found this cafe called 1789 café pâtisserie that was relatively empty and hid there until the rain subsided. we shared two eclairs (salted caramel and mango passionfruit) and a raspberry rose st. honore (crispy mille feuille pastry topped with whipped cream and raspberry jam??). they gave us two macarons on the house, and one of them was wasabi-flavoured. the taste was... interesting.

when the rain stopped, we went to shop for clothes around the zhongxiao dunhua shopping district. there were a lot of blogshop-like clothing stores in that area. i got clothes from le gusta and the ladywore~

our last dinner was at a xiaolongbao restaurant. i was glad that they had prawn xiaolongbaos!! that didn't have surprise meat in them. they were not bad. also got a custard panda bun for dessert~

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DAY 5:

luwi and shoron went out to dabao breakfast at yong he soy milk (永和豆漿) in ximending while i continued to laze around in bed~~~ they brought soy milk and youtiao back for me!! i miss the combination. the youtiao from yong he was so light and airy on the inside and so crisp on the outside aaaa the doughy and oily ones in sg can't compare.

after breakfast we packed up and left for the airport. i wanted to try the oden at 7-ELEVEN before i leave but we couldn't find one at the departure hall. maximum sadge. in the end, we settled for a fast-food chicken place after we checked in and i got a yoghurt green tea (which tasted like yakult btw) and sweet potato fries.

i wanted to be productive on the flight back home (and i wasn't rly that sleepy anyway) so i played 999 on my 3ds and watched a 2-hour movie. finally watched maquia and it made me cry lmao. tearjerkers are the best kinds of movies for a flight imo!!

oh oh i sat next to an elderly couple on the plane and they were so nice and friendly. the lady kept checking to see if i needed to use the toilet bc i got the window seat. 🥺 we also chatted a bit while waiting to get off the plane.

we were planning to have dinner at mos burg after we landed in sg but there was a luggage delay and by the time we all got our luggages, it was almost time for mos burg to close. aha but fortunately i still had one bread left. so that was my dinner, along with the milo and oreos that the staffs were handing out to apologise for the delay.

#log #rip chi shoes 2023-2023...... they did not survive in the rain

[teainspoons]

Camellia Sinensis Teahouse’s Nan Mei Wild Tree Buds | Tea Review

#tea review #camellia sinensis teahouse #white tea #china #wild tea #tea buds #tea #spoon #wood #review #teablr

[peace-coast-island]

Diary of a Junebug

Snowy blossom tea, lava cake, and an unexpected trip to several centuries in the past

When there’s a chill in the air, tea is a must. Mamoru and Ayaka weren’t exaggerating about Nakatoro Teahouse. I can’t say I’m an expert on tea and its qualities, but I can at least say that this is definitely some fancy high quality stuff. Along with the tea, the food there is pretty good too. This place definitely feels like a VIP type thing with its private rooms and the fact that you either have to make reservations far in advance or have connections who can get you in.

I’m tagging along with Raiden, Qingmei, Lian, Dainn, and Makoto to spend a couple weeks in Sango. We’re mostly staying in Tsukiko, though we’ll be spending a couple days in Kaede too. Raiden says if we have time - which we probably will - we’ll explore some of the other islands in between. Sango has a lot of islands, but when most people come to visit, it’s usually either Tsukiko or Kaede. That’s not to say the other islands aren’t worth checking out, it’s just not what you’d want if you want a more touristy or fun travel experience. They’re worth exploring if you wanna get away from the city, but there really isn’t much to do there for a passing traveler.

Since it’s been really cold, we’ve been spending a lot of time at the teahouse. Mamoru’s been helping with expanding the pastry menu, so he’s been looking for people to help test some new recipes. The chocolate lava cake has been a hit so far and it perfectly compliments the snowy blossom tea. The chocolate truffle macarons are good too, but the recipe needs some tweaking as it’s a bit overly complicated at the moment, which means it’s impractical to make in large quantities.

While Makoto, Lian, and Dainn are here to meet with Mei, the rest of us are just hanging out. Well, for Raiden and Qingmei, it’s a little bit of both. They’re kinda here for backup, though the others don’t seem to need the extra help. Raiden invited Connie and Pai too, but they’re tied up in Marippe, which Mamoru says is a shame because he and Ayaka were looking forward to catching up with them. I wonder if it has to do with the thing Connie and the Justice’s secret plan that Pai mentioned.

The story is that Mei and Dainn go way back. As in, she knew him when he was a baby and he spent a couple months in Sango before he was taken back to Karephira. The Qingqiehui - Dainn and Qingmei’s ancestry - has roots in Sango. More specifically, the Shinyako, an ancient civilization underneath Kaede. Dainn and Qingmei are likely the only two remaining Shinyako descendants, something they stumbled on by accident when they got lost in the Shinyako ruins.

There’s still a lot of unanswered questions regarding Dainn’s origins, but at least Mei was able to fill in some gaps. Qingmei, however, is still a mystery. Though, based on what very little we do know, maybe it’s better to leave her past alone. There was a reason why Qingmei willingly blocked out a lot of her memories before Lian took her in. While she’s recovered some, it didn’t sound like a good experience.

Yeah, I don’t blame her for not wanting to delve too deep into that, especially since that part of her life is no longer relevant and bringing it up now would probably do more harm than good. She was severely abused, and that alone explains a lot.

As for Dainn, his origins was a well-kept secret. He was raised by “the streets” which is what they called those who grew up in a certain children’s home. Despite having earned the title of Stardust Warrior and becoming the second ever Street member to become part of the royal knights, he had to work at least three times as hard to be acknowledged. Basically, he went from being a nobody to a somebody - and suffered from severe impostor syndrome because of it.

According to the official records, Dainn was an orphan of the streets, which is what they put down for anyone who was abandoned as an infant. In reality, he was the illegitimate child of Linna, a previous captain of the Karephira Royal Knights. Mei doesn’t know the exact circumstances other than the royals and Linna had their reasons for concealing him - political reasons, she speculates.

Linna is an even bigger mystery, and one we’ll probably never really know more about. She was said to have been born to an ordinary middle class family, though there was speculation that she was actually adopted. She and Mei were able to conclude that she was of Shinyako ancestry, which explained the unusual powers she possessed.

Due to politics between Karephira and Sango at the time, Linna and Mei often communicated in secret. A lot of their secret correspondence had to do with maintaining the Shinyako ruins, specifically the seal the priests left behind. In other words, if that seal breaks, it’s safe to say that the surface, specifically Sango, is fucked.

Linna and Mei had taken an interest in Shinyako for many reasons, the main one being that an outside faction had deliberately tampered with the seals. Linna had some encounters with that faction and wanted to settle a score with them for unrelated reasons. Over the next few years, Linna, Mei, and the youkai studied the seals and ruins to prevent a calamity from breaking out.

When it came time to directly face what those seals were trying to conceal, they ran into an unexpected difficulty. Linna successfully closed the seal, but she took a direct hit of the volatile elemental energy behind it. While undergoing treatment, it was revealed that she was pregnant. She knew the risks and yet she disregarded the safety of herself and her unborn child.

Both survived, just barely. Linna never fully recovered from the blast and her health steadily declined. A few months later she nearly died from complications after going into premature labor. It was apparent that no one expected her or Dainn to pull through. Once it was certain that Dainn would survive, Linna voluntarily gave up custody.

Mei didn’t hear from Linna for over a year when she surprised her with a visit, taking Dainn with her. By then, Linna was forced to step down as captain due to her poor health. She told Mei that her time was running short and she had a lot of regrets piling up. Not being there for her son was one of them. Mei figured that was all there was to her sudden trip to Sango.

As for the full story, that too will remain unknown. Sango and Karephira covered up the incident, mainly because they didn’t know how to explain it. From what they could piece together, Linna was out with Dainn when she ran into Svanhild, one of her comrades who came to Sango for unknown reasons. The two went out towards the woods, leaving Dainn behind where the kitsune later found him, apparently unbothered by his mother’s disappearance. A fight later broke out, resulting in the two knights killing each other.

With little to nothing to go off on, Sango and Karephira were backed into a corner. Since Mei wasn’t as involved with Sango’s politics and diplomatic relationships at the time, she was tasked with caring for Dainn. Well, it was mostly the kitsune who took care of him, but she admitted that she sort of formed an attachment to him as well.

When Dainn asked if it was possible that he might have seen something, Mei said they looked into it and concluded that he couldn’t have since he wandered off into the opposite direction. She also noted that he didn’t seem to have much of an attachment to Linna like she would expect between a mother and child. Although he could say a few words at the time, she could never recall if he had ever referred to Linna as mama. So it’s safe to say that Linna wasn’t actually involved in Dainn’s life.

While both nations were working things out, the kitsune insisted on keeping Dainn in Sango out of concern that his life might be in danger, especially with the political climate in Karephira at the time. Because of Linna’s status, it’s possible that her death was an assassination plot, especially since she had built up quite a number of enemies over the years as she was known to be outspoken and critical. It wasn’t until much later on when Mei concluded that Linna’s murder played a role in the disaster that would fall on Karephira decades later. The investigation didn’t really resolve anything, but at least Mei and the kitsune were able to spoil Dainn for a few months before the children’s home took him back.

A couple hundred years passed and it seemed like the incident was widely forgotten. Mei was the only one still alive, and though there were other pressing matters on her mind, she never forgot about Linna and Dainn. Even as a toddler, Mei noticed that he had an aptitude for the spear like his mother. She had been secretly keeping an eye on him as he grew up, but then lost track when the Karephira disaster hit.

Somehow, she suspected that he, by some strange miracle, survived the calamity. Her intuition was spot on when she unexpectedly ran into him while with Raiden and Qingmei. She was also the one who shed some light on why he was unusually resistant to high concentrations of elemental energy, something he became aware of after the disaster and later used to his advantage.

That part of their journey was a major turning point for the three of them. At the time, Raiden and Qingmei were doing their own thing, running into Dainn occasionally and then parting ways not too long after. Again, the ruins of Shinyako were disturbed, which was why Mei and the Divine Priestess were investigating. Raiden and Qingmei heard about what was going on and offered to help. Then, by a strange coincidence, they ran into Dainn fighting off monsters in the ruins while trying to apprehend the person responsible for the disturbance.

At first, Dainn refused to collaborate with Mei. It wasn’t anything personal, mainly politics, which Mei doesn’t hold against him. She recognized him right away because of how much he resembled Linna, but obviously he didn’t recognize her. It wasn’t until he came across one of the kitsune’s bells when he started to question why that item looked so familiar After realizing the possible reason as to why Dainn was able to withstand an indirect hit of volatile energy with slight side effects, Mei decided to open up to him.

Although Dainn was able to trust Mei, he was still on guard about her. Mei told him that he has no reason to completely take her at her word, but no matter what, she will look out for him. Sure, a lot of it has to do with her guilt over what happened to Karephira - a heavy burden that had no right to be placed on the shoulders of the innocent was how she saw it - but also because of her personal relationship with Linna. She even went as far to say that had things worked out differently, she would’ve been willing to raise him as her own. That would’ve been an interesting turn of events.

It took some time, but Dainn was eventually able to trust her. She actually got into a lot of trouble for that, resulting in Lian stepping in. At some point there was an all out custody battle between Mei backed by the Dānchún Lǔmǎng versus Raiden’s brother and his group of rebels. The fight was more of a stalemate than a victory, but at least Mei was able to use her authority to protect Dainn and Raiden.

Hearing about Mei’s past made me wonder what the hell was going in Sango with the war a while back. It was a short but tumultuous period that nearly divided the nation. I don’t know what exact role Mei played in the conflict, but she had expressed regret for letting things end up like that. It’s almost like the Mei Dainn knows and the Mei Connie knows are different people. Then again, Mei’s lived for thousands of years and has been through a lot, so I can’t really judge her on that as I don’t have the full picture. At least she’s actively trying to right her wrongs by taking direct action rather than hoping the conflict would burn itself out.

These days, it’s safe to say that Mei and Dainn are getting along better. I wouldn’t say they’re all buddy-buddy like Mei and Makoto or Mei and Mio, more like a mentor-disciple kind of relationship. Like a distant older relative who keep as eye on the younger one from afar.

The Shinyako seals haven’t changed since they last checked, so that’s a good thing. No news is good news. Aside from that, really the main reason why Dainn’s here is because Mio wanted to check in on him since it’s been a while since they last spoke.

Once they both understood that the Karephira disaster was out of their hands and that they shouldn’t shoulder the burdens it left behind, it became a lot easier for them to communicate, especially when they realized that they shared the same goal of averting another calamity. Like I’ve said, the past is complicated, and so there’s only so much I, as an outsider, can get out of their interactions.

I’ll admit that I’m a bit surprised that they’re kinda talking about some things openly, though I suppose enough time has passed that it’s not like sensitive information or something. And besides, like Raiden said, we’re all friends now, so it’s about time we learned a bit more about each other.

I have to say, though, we were all kinda caught off guard like that. Not in a bad way - and I’m sure the others felt the same too - more like a pleasant surprise kind of thing. Even though I’ve really gotten to know Raiden and her friends over the past couple years, it’s just that we live in such different circles. I’d never imagine that our lives would cross in a way that she and Qingmei basically went from being casual acquaintances who talk once in a while to being good friends who keep up with each other often.

And as for Mamoru and Ayaka, they’d never expect to be close to Mei like they’re friends. They technically work for her - or under her, more accurately - but that was about the extent of their relationship. Then when Mei began taking her duties more seriously - especially since it was Akira who decided to take action when Mei failed - she began to make more of an effort to form relationships with humans rather than distancing herself from them.

She said that had she not detached herself from society as a way to cope with the grief and trauma she experienced over the centuries, she would have intervened much sooner, easily averting the political crisis and preventing the war. Unfortunately, what’s done is done, and so it’s up to her to own up to her mistakes, as well as make sure her successors don’t fall into the same traps like she had.

It sounds like Mei’s been through a lot. And somehow, she seems more at peace with herself. My first impression of her is that she seemed kinda intimidating, someone who puts up high walls to protect themselves after being burned so many times. I got the impression that she was kinda sheltered, the kind of person who doesn’t really go out and has a limited view of what the world is like. In a way, it turns out that I wasn’t entirely wrong, the only thing I was off was that she has indeed seen a lot, but that doesn’t mean she had a good understanding of it.

Once Mei put her walls down and began interacting with the world around her, I’ve noticed how she’s changed. Ayaka admits to still being a bit intimidated by her, while also gradually getting comfortable enough that if they see each other in the streets, they’d stop to chat for a bit. and it’s not just people she works with, Mei is said to have even made the effort to mingle with the common folk, though she unintentionally scares them off. I mean, with her status, it makes sense that people would be intimidated by her presence, especially those who don’t know her at all.

Well, at least she’s trying her best to sort of bridge that gap. But I think it’ll take a lot more than showing up randomly and trying to strike a conversation with whoever passes by. I mean, I don’t blame others for being uncomfortable - I’m sure I’d be if Mei randomly approached me for no reason. At least Makoto’s helping Mei work on other ways to interact with the common folk without making them feel like something’s wrong.

To think that all of us would be here just hanging out over tea and cake while talking about some heavy stuff from the past, it’s funny to think that a scenario like this would’ve never crossed our minds a few years ago. Like Mei said, no matter how many centuries she’s lived, the world never ceases to surprise her in some way. And as she witnessed from recent events, these surprises - miracles - should never be taken for granted. You can’t change your past mistakes, but you can use the present to pick up the pieces and try to make things right for the future.

Read on AO3

#animal crossing #animal crossing pocket camp #headcanon ramble #diary of a junebug

[city-calling]

📍 I went to Wah Fung No 1 on Chrystie street in Chinatown a while back!

🍚 I ordered roast pork on rice, also known as 燒肉飯 or 豬腩飯. I really missed this type of meal, which came with a side of vegetables like at a typical Hong Kong teahouse.

💸It is also one of the only places where the prices compare to back home- it's between $4 and $6 per meal depending on the serving size and type of meat.

🍖 I didn't get to eat it until about an hour after I had ordered the meal, so it was a bit soggy, but it tasted great! Definitely recommend if you're looking for authentic Cantonese siu mei.

📷Follow me on instagram!

#foodphotography #foodstagram #food #lunch #newyork #newyorkcity #ny #nyc #chinatown #pork #porkbelly #豬肉 #燒肉 #紐約 #rice #vegetables #meat #recommended #🍖 #🍚 #chinese #asian #cheap #new york #new york city #college #Food I Bought

[dustbunny105]

Title: Here for the Tea

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Ship: Background Iroh/Mei-Li

Word Count: 100

Rating: G

Summary: Of course, the tea came first. (Follows the "Matcha Makers" comic.)

A/N: I realized I never cross-posted my 2021 Twelvetide drabbles (the 2022 round is currently ongoing!) so here we go! Prompt was "coffeeshop/teahouse" and while checking a detail to write a Zuko drabble, I remembered this comic exists and decided to do something different.

.

Surprise wraps Feng's welcoming smile around a little oh that trips off her tongue in a stutter. Her hand flies to her mouth, too slow to catch it, and her face burns under the twinkling of Li-Mei's eyes.

"Ah, s-sorry," Feng says. "I just, um--"

Li-Mei hides a laugh behind her fan. Her eyes as she regards Feng over it are kind, if a little wry at the corners. "I did come here in the first place for tea, you know."

"Oh, well-- of course," says Feng, laughing at herself now. "Well then, let me tell you about today's specials--"

#twelvetide drabbles challenge #atla #feng #mei-li #iroh/mei-li #my writing

[sewsoft]

A-Mei teahouse

#taiwan #taipei #jiufen

[atlasandacamera]

Jiufen, Taiwan

#queue #photography #jiufen #taiwan #a-mei teahouse #teahouse #台灣 #九份 #lanterns #taiwanese architecture #jiufen teahouses #spirited away #jiufen old street #asia #new taipei city #night shot #jiufen at night

[zhongrin]

Hi Miss Rin! *excitedly waves at you as I order and pay for a drink*

Usually i pop by here with thoughts on ZhongWrinTh and I am here with more thoughts about you all… no surprise there oh but this time I do have another question not exactly related to ZhongWrinTh.

What’s some interactions you’ve had with the boys close friends? Do you play pranks on Zhongli with Hutao, do you visit Xiao together with Zhongli? Has Kaveh ever visited the teahouse? I get the feeling Kaveh, Cyno, Tighnari and Al-Haitham would play Genius Invokation TCG in the teahouse if you ever opened a Sumeru branch! As for Wriothesley… i like to think Sigewinne’s passed you makeup before, maybe even some in a shade or color Wriothesley likes! Clorinde hm… i can see her stealing you away into the city if Wriothesley’s busy and even introducing you to Navia.

It’s pretty amazing to see how many more people you could meet!

OH MY GOD TUMBLR IS HIDING THIS ASK FROM ME IT'S NOT APPEARING IN PC I AM SO SORRY STORM HAIFHWOFKSLDJSLJF

hu tao is my beloved granddaughter (and so is yaoyao and ganyu and nahida and furina and sigewinne and-)!!! she drops by the teahouse every now and then to scout for clients lol let's be real here most of my patrons aside from my friends are probably older people so-

xiao drops by too every now and then, but most of the time you won't see him. HOWEVER, you will be able to spot little trinkets all around the teahouse which emits some adeptal energy. we have a special 'magical' vase which sometimes suddenly 'sprouts' fresh qingxins. definitely not the work of an adeptus, yep!

the only reason why we'd have some wine in the house (aside from my hubbies (read: al haitham) bonding together by drinking glasses of wine sometimes) is because of kaveh! we get along a little too well. wdym that's a sumeru desert fox in our backyard? surely you jest haha haha hah- ahem. anyway. he's like a brother to me. i'm looking for a rich spouse for him. anyone interested- /smacked

the 4ggravate boys playing tcg on the teahouse's sumeru branch i'm shdflksjdlkfjsld dear gods. that's adorable. maybe i can talk to the manager there so they can organize monthly tcg tournament nights for the masses. we can sell 'tea blends that stimulates the mind and makes one's senses sharper' for the players and the spectators.... hmmmmmmmm.

sigewinne making a makeup for me i will cry hsdfusjdklf that sounds like something she would totally do, yes. i'd love to doll her up and send her some cute dresses or onesies ueueue she's so adorable.... clorinde and navia oh my god i don't know if i am considered cool enough to hang out with these two queens. i will just. i will just admire them from afar.... they're so pretty and badass..... adopt me big sisters..........

wriothesley: you know i can always introduce you to them, ri- mei: NO STOP I AM UNWORTHY I WOULD PERISH wriothesley: ok fine but must you drag me here then-

#rin answers #rin is having tea with: storm 💚 #rin selfships #zhongwrinth #navia probably: why is the duke and his wife peeking at us- // clorinde probably: ignore them. if you intimidate a stray it'll run away-

[wheresanne]

10 Things to do in Jiufen Old Street: A Day Trip from Taipei

Jiufen Old Street (九份老街) in Taipei

An hour bus ride outside of Tawan’s capital city, this famous village shows a glimpse of northern Taiwan and Taiwanese life outside of the city. Beautiful tea houses, alleys full of food, interesting gift shops, hundreds and hundreds of red lanterns, you could experience how the Jiufen Old Street is always packed with visitors and locals.

About Jiufen Old Street (九份老街)

Jiufen is a small village in the mountains and next to the water, located an hour's drive from Taipei. Rumor has it that Jiufen is actually the village inspired in the “Spirited Away” Hayao Miyazaki movie (2001). True or not, the village does look similar to it! 

How to get to Jiufen from Taipei

Since Jiufen Old Street is a popular tourist place, you can use a public shuttle bus or by taxi or even signing up with a tour.  Remember to always use Google Maps for navigating in Taiwan!

By Train and Bus 

Take the MRT blue line to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station Exit 1, then take bus #1062 to Jiufen Old Street Station. Check the bus 1062 timetable here. 

Use Google Maps for navigating in Taiwan!

(Bus 1062 goes directly from Taipei’s Zhongsxiao Fuxing MTR all the way to the entrance of Jiufen Old Street. If you are taking the train, please note that the station is Ruifang.)

Or you could take a taxi.

How to go back to Taipei (from Jiufen Old Street)

You can take the Keelung bus 1062 back to Taipei for about a 1hr15min ride. The bus stops in front of Zhong Xiao Fuxing MRT or just take the bus to Rui Fang Station. 

Things to do in Jiufen Old Street

1.) See the water and Keelung Mountain

When you first arrive at the “Jiufen Old Street” destination, the bus or taxi will likely be on a sharp-cornered hill. You will need to walk up the hill, where you’ll see many other visitors and locals with market stands or gift shops. 

That is the green Keelung Mountain, the huge orange-roofed Hà Hải Thành Hoàng Miếu Temple, and as you walk up the hill, you can see the Shen’ao Elephant-Trunk-shaped peninsula out in the sea.

2.) Walk through Jiufen Old Street “Dark Alley” Markets and Gift Shops

As mentioned above, when you first arrive, you will have to walk up a hill lined with markets. The alleys will be jam-packed with people (or it was during the Chinese New Year when I went!) since it is the main thing to see in Jiufen. Walking through the food and gift shops in the “Dark Alley” is how to get to the famous Jiufen Teahouse!    

3.) See the famous Lantern Tea House

After you walk through the alley of markets, you’ll find the famous Jiufen Tea house! 

4.) Drink Tea, Coffee, or Eat Snacks in a Tea House

From the tea house windows or balcony (on Shuqi Road) of the tea house, you can enjoy the tall views of Keelung Mountain, the sea, or Jiufen village. A-Mei Teahouse is pictured above. I heard that you have to make a reservation online since it is one of the most famous tea houses. I just went to another tea house on this road.

5.)  Look at All the Masks and Other Interesting Shops!

6.) See the Taipei Sweet Potato & Mining Tunnels

7.) Buy some gifts or snacks in the shops! 

While I was walking through the alley and gift shops, I saw a variety of bags, magnets, key chains, pens, wooden-carved Taiwanese souvenirs, everything Taiwanese you could ever imagine. Since I didn’t have much room in my backpack for souvenirs, I only bought the Taiwanese pineapple cakes.  

Jiufen Old Street can be explored in two or three hours, here are a few other destinations you can visit nearby Jiufen! Personally, I did not visit these places below, but I wish to visit them in the future:

 8.) Send Your Wishes in Lanterns to the Skies in Pingxi

Probably crowded all the time, locals and tourists can stand on the village train tracks to release their sky lanterns, filled with their wishes. Pingxi is mainly popular for the sky lantern festival, where you can see hundreds of lanterns lit in the sky; and it’s becoming more eco-friendly or eco-conscious. (Sources: Taiwan News 2018 and Taiwan-Scene 2019)

9.) Find the Shen’ao Elephant Trunk Rock in Keelung City

I didn’t visit Keelung, yet, but I wish to find the Shen’ao Elephant Trunk Rock, and go into the small city to see the Shiqiuling Pingan Temple, Shiqiuling Fort, Fo Guang Shan Ji Le Temple, Maritime Plaza, and Wangyougu. (Source: Google Maps)

10.) Shifen Waterfall

I didn’t visit Shifen Waterfall, yet, but I wish to see the waterfalls and green scenery here!  (Source: Google Maps)

Want more Taiwan? You can read my full “15 Things to do in Taipei, Taiwan”  post or see more Taiwan photography #Taiwan on my site.

If you have any questions or recommendations, please contact me or leave a comment below! Thanks for reading! 

#Jiufen Old Street #Taipei #Taiwan #blog post #Travel blog #Things to do in Taipei #Things to do in Taiwan #10 Things to do in Taipei #Shifen Waterfall #Shen’ao Elephant Trunk Rock #Keelung City #Maritime Plaza #Pingxi #Taipei Lantern Festival #Lantern Festival #Taipei Sweet Potato #A-Mei Teahouse #Keelung Mountain #How to get to Jiufen Old Street from Taipei #Google Maps #九份老街

[japanimatewithme]

Where are the locations that were used as models for the setting of the movie "Spirited Away"?

Studio Ghibli's immortal masterpiece, "Spirited Away," tells the story of a 10-year-old girl, Chihiro, who wanders into the world of the gods and struggles to save her parents from being transformed by a witch.

The mysterious world depicted in the movie and the bathhouse "Aburaya" run by Yubaba are very attractive. Many people must be wondering where the model location and hot spring inns are.

In this article, we will introduce the locations officially recognized by Ghibli, as well as many other places and inns that are rumored to have been used as models. This is a must-see for anyone who wants to experience the fantastic world of "Spirited Away"!

Table of Contents

- Q&A on the model of the movie "Spirited Away

- Spirited Away] Jiufen, Taiwan, with the atmosphere of a bathhouse and entertainment district

- Ghibli's official filming location] Tokyo's Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

- The official model for the exterior of the bathhouse] Dogo Hot Spring Main Building in Ehime

- The official model for the interior of the bathhouse. Meguro Gajoen" in Tokyo

Q&A on the model of the movie "Spirited Away

What is the official Ghibli model for "Spirited Away"?

The official model for "Spirited Away" is the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Tokyo. Director Hayao Miyazaki said that there is no specific model for Aburaya because it contains various hot springs, but the art director drew the exterior of Aburaya by referring to the architecture of Dogo（道後温泉） Hot Spring and Nikko Toshogu Shrine（日光東照宮）. Incidentally, Jiufen in Taiwan is not an official location.

Are there any hot spring inns that look exactly like Yubaba's Aburaya?

There are hot spring inns in various parts of Japan that have the atmosphere of Aburaya (unofficially). This article introduces various inns that look just like Aburaya, from Sekizenkan（積善館） in Shima Onsen, Gunma（群馬・四万温泉）, with its impressive red bridge, to Kanagariya in Shibu Onsen, Nagano（長野・渋温泉「金具屋」）, with its Aburaya-like appearance, to Genroku Ryoron Aburaya in Yubara Onsen, Okayama（岡山・湯原温泉の「元禄旅籠 油屋」）, with the same name.

In this article, I will introduce you to various inns that look just like Aburaya.

Jiufen, Taiwan[The atmosphere of a bathhouse and entertainment district]

Jiufen, Taiwan is the most famous model for "Spirited Away". Unfortunately, it is not officially recognized as a model by Ghibli, but it has become a topic of conversation because of its resemblance to an oil shop and the surrounding entertainment district.

Jiufen, called "Jioufen" in the local language, is a town in Ruifang District(新北市瑞芳区xīn běi shì ruì fāng qū), New Taipei City, near the port city in northern Taiwan. It became famous when it was introduced as the setting for a movie, and became a popular spot visited by many Japanese tourists. The many signs, the maze of alleys, and the food stalls that line the streets create a nostalgic atmosphere.

Is there a teahouse in Jiufen that is the model for the oil shop?

It is rumored that the Ah Mei Tea House(阿妹茶樓(阿妹茶酒館)) in Jiufen is the model for the oil shop owned by Yubaba. Although it is not an officially approved location by Ghibli, the store with its red lanterns glamorously lit is just like an oil shop at night.

This is a place where you can taste the real tea, with the staff giving you a lecture on tea etiquette. There are also terrace seats, so it will be nice to drink tea outside during the warmer months. The place is always crowded with Ghibli fans from all over the world and Japanese tourists.

Amei Tea House official website

[Ghibli's official filming location] Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Museum in Tokyo

The Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Museum in Koganei City, Tokyo is officially recognized by Studio Ghibli as a place that was "heavily referenced" in the making of "Spirited Away".

The museum is divided into several zones, and the east zone, where the Kodakara-yu building is located, is lined with merchant houses from the Edo and Taisho eras, reminiscent of the streets where Spirited Away and her parents wandered.

Is this the public bath that was the model for the oil shop? Kodakara-yu

Kodakara-yu is a public bathhouse built in 1929 in Senju-Motomachi, Adachi-ku, Tokyo. It was built in 1929 in Senju Motomachi, Adachi-ku, Tokyo. It certainly reminds me of the bathhouse in "Spirited Away".

The building was supposed to be torn down in 1988, but it was restored and preserved at Tatemonoen, and it still looks the same today.

Looks just like Kamaji's boiler room! Takei Sanshodo　tatemonoen

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (Edo-Tokyo Museum Branch)

Built in 1927 in Chiyoda Ward, Takei Sanshodo used to be a stationery store. The outside of the building alone is wonderfully nostalgic, but inside, the wooden shelves that cover the walls look just like the boiler room where Kamaji works in "Spirited Away"! In the movie, the shelves are filled with various items.

In the movie, the shelves were filled with various kinds of medicinal herbs, but I was told that Takei Sanshodo houses brushes.

Location and access

Address: 3-7-1 Sakura-machi, Koganei-shi, Tokyo 184-0005 (in Koganei Metropolitan Park)

Tel: [phone]

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum official website

[Official model of the exterior of the bathhouse] Dogo Onsen Honkan in Ehime

Dogo Onsen Honkan" in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture is also said to be a model for the Aburaya. According to the official Twitter feed of Friday Roadshow, art director Yoji Takeshige said, "I visited Dogo Onsen on a Ghibli company trip and used it as a reference when drawing the exterior of the Aburaya".

Dogo Onsen has a long history and is said to be the oldest hot spring in Japan, mentioned in the Chronicles of Japan, and there is even a document that Prince Shotoku visited it. It is also associated with Soseki Natsume's "Botchan," so it is also known locally as Botchan Onsen. (this novel is free to read on amazon!)

The Dogo Onsen Honkan, a historical building constructed before World War II, was designated as a national important cultural property in 1994. The multi-storied structure made of wood certainly seems to have greatly influenced the appearance of Aburaya.

Location and access

Address: 5-6 Dogo-Yunomachi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, 790-0842

Tel: [phone]

Dogo Onsen Honkan official website

The model for the interior view of the luxurious bathhouse? Meguro Gajoen" in Tokyo

The Hotel Gajoen Tokyo (formerly Meguro Gajoen), a well-known hotel and wedding hall, is said to have been the model for the luxurious interior of the bathhouse.

Meguro Gajoen was the first wedding hall built in Japan, and it is a gorgeous building with a solemn atmosphere. Surrounded by paintings and artworks from the walls to the ceiling, the room is a sight to behold.

The banquet hall where Kaonasi goes on a rampage

In the movie, Kaonasi runs amok in the luxurious banquet hall of an oil store, and Meguro Gajoen is the perfect place to experience this atmosphere.

Meguro Gajoen is said to have been used as a model for the movie, especially the 100-step staircase, which is designated as a tangible cultural property by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. It is the only wooden structure in the building, with 99 flights of wooden stairs and a ceiling decorated with fan paintings.

You may be able to see a giant kaonasi that has swallowed a frog. ......?

Location and access

Address: 1-8-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0064, Japan

Phone: [phone]

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo (Meguro Gajoen) official website

The Red Bridge Leading to the Bathhouse] Sekizenkan, Shima Onsen, Gunma

Sekizenkan, located in Agatsuma County, Gunma Prefecture, is one of the hot spring inns that may have been used as a reference for the painting of the yuya. As you can see in the photo, there is a small red bridge right in front of the inn, which gives you a sense of separation between the ordinary and the extraordinary.

Sekizenkan is a long-established onsen ryokan that has been around since the Edo period (1603-1868), and the architecture of the main building, which has been designated as an important cultural property, is particularly noteworthy. With Western-style arched windows, the spa is not purely Japanese-style, but has a nostalgic design that evokes a sense of romance.

That red bridge that Chihiro and Haku cross

Although Sekizenkan is not an officially recognized location, this bridge looks very similar to the one that Spirited Away crossed while holding her breath with Haku's hand in the beginning of the movie.

If you hold your breath and cross the bridge like Spirited Away, you might be able to get lost in the world of Spirited Away.

location & access

Shima Onsen, Nakanojo, Agatsuma County, Gunma 377-0601

Telephone [phone]

Sekizenkan official website

Model for a bathhouse visited by the gods? Kanaguya, Shibu Onsen, Nagano

It is rumored that one of the models for the movie "Spirited Away" is the long-established inn "Kanaguya" in Nagano Prefecture, as it looks just like the movie.

It is one of the hot spring inns in Shibu Onsen and is designated as a registered tangible cultural property. The building, called Saigetsuro, has a long history of 250 years, and it looks fantastic when lit up at night.

A bathhouse visited by the gods

In Nagano Prefecture, there is also the "Frost Moon Festival in Toyama" where water is boiled in cauldrons set up at shrines and dedicated to the gods. There is a story that the setting of "Spirited Away", where the gods are bathed, was inspired by this festival.

Location and access

Address: 2202 Hiranoumi, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano 381-0401, Japan

Tel: [phone]

Kinuguya Official Website

Yamagata's Ginzan Onsen Town, a town of hot spring inns

In Yamagata Prefecture's Ginzan Onsen, Western-style wooden hot spring inns built long ago line both banks of the river, offering a retro and nostalgic view. In winter, the snowy scenery is even more fantastic.

The lights of the inns and the small bridge on the river remind me of the Aburaya in "Spirited Away".

Location & Access

Address: Oaza-Ginzan Shinhata, Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, 999-4333

Tel: [phone] (Ginzan Onsen Information Center)

Ginzan Onsen Official Website

The model of the red bridge? Kawaga Bridge" in Ikaho Onsen, Gunma

In Ikaho Onsen, Gunma Prefecture, there is a place that looks just like the red bridge that Chihiro and Haku cross together in "Spirited Away". The name of the bridge is "Kajika Bridge". It is a popular spot for viewing the fresh greenery in the spring and the beautiful autumn leaves in the fall.

Location and access

Address: Ikaho Yumoto, Ikaho-cho, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma 377-0102

Tel: [phone] (Shibukawa-Ikaho Onsen Tourist Association)

Shibukawa-Ikaho Onsen Tourist Association official website

Ryokan with the same name as Yuya] "Genroku Ryoron Aburaya" in Yubara Onsen, Okayama

The name of the inn in Yubara Onsen, a hot spring resort in Okayama Prefecture, is Aburaya. The name of the inn is exactly the same as the one in "Spirited Away" where Yubaba runs a bathhouse and Sen works there. The inn was already in business in the first year of the Genroku era, the Edo period.

The name "Aburaya" originated from the fact that the inn kept on welcoming travelers with oil for the lanterns and providing oil for the lamps along the way, so it came to be called "Aburaya. You can see that this name has been familiar to people for a long time.

Location and Access

Address: 27 (Shokuyukan), 29 (Yumuseian), Yubara Onsen, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture, 717-0402

Phone: [phone]

Genroku Ryokan Aburaya Official Website

The model of the train running on the sea? Shimonada Station in Ehime

Iyo City Tourism Association

The scene where Chihiro goes to see Senba on the Kaihara Electric Railway running on the sea is very impressive.

Although there is no official announcement of the model location, it was talked about among the fans as "just like the movie! JR Shimonada Station in Ehime Prefecture has become a hot topic among fans. It is an unmanned station famous as a filming location for dramas and movies.

The blue sea spreads out in front of the station, making it a fantastic spot reminiscent of the train scene in Spirited Away.

The beach near the station has been talked about as looking like the "railroad tracks leading to the sea" in the movie, but please do not trespass on private property without permission.

Location and access

Address: Okubo, Futami-cho, Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture, 799-3311

Tel: [phone] (Iyo City Tourism Association)

Iyo City Tourism Association official website(only in Japanse)

Places and inns that served as models for "Spirited Away

- Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum/Tokyo [Ghibli Official Website

- Dogo Hot Spring, Ehime [Ghibli Official

- Meguro Gajoen, Tokyo

- Sekizenkan/Shima Onsen, Gunma

- Kinuguya/Nagano, Shibu Onsen

- Ginzan Hot Spring Town/Yamagata

- Kawaga Bridge/Ikaho Onsen, Gunma

- Genroku Ryoron Aburaya/Yubara Onsen, Okayama

- Jiufen/Taiwan

- JR Shimonada Station/Ehime

I have introduced some spots related to "Spirited Away" that every Ghibli fan should visit at least once. Why don't you go on a "pilgrimage to the holy land" by watching the movie again and comparing the locations and the places that were used as models?

#anime #hayao mizayaki #sprited away #anime movie #art #japan trip

[fair-fae]

FFxivWrite Entry #24: Beam

FFxivWrite 2020 Prompt #24: Beam Masterpost It was once something far different years before, but now the place X’unmei had taken up solace so long ago was the Shroudrouse Teahouse & Tavern, and after finding refuge there for so long, she had dues to pay. It was normally simple work. Setting up in the morning before opening, cleaning up at night after closing. Quiet. Alone. Free to snack on any surplus sweet with no restrictions nor judgments. Sure, it was lonely sometimes, but for a creature like Unmei, so skittish and shy and easily overwhelmed, she was grateful to have the work where she could dodge the customers and even most of her co-workers. But now Lady Covington was out of town for… an indefinite amount of time, and with the teahouse’s most public facing and most present employee gone away, apart from being tasked with looking after the Lady’s dog, Checkers, Mei found herself forced to fill in here and there. It was normally in those quiet, off hours, when few customers would visit, and little staff was needed, and Mei was relieved for that fact. One such morning, she dawdled about the empty teahouse, leaning lazily against the counter, stuffing pastry after pastry into her mouth. She zoned out as she mindlessly chewed her baked goods, mismatched eyes staring off into her space as her mind wandered off into daydreams so consuming, she failed to notice a customer entering until the Elezen woman stood right before her, staring at the Miqo’te, her expression almost more perplexed and concerned than impatient. Very slowly, Unmei straightened up from her slouch against the counter, a nervous but still beaming smile concealing a mouthful of eclair ilming across her face. “Uhh…h-hi. Welcome t’Shroudrose Teahouse?” @which-can-eternal-lie​

#FFxivWrite2020 #ffxivwrite #ffxiv #writing #fiction #drabble #prompt 24 #entry 24 #beam #x'unmei noh #x'unmei #unmei #mei #noh #my writing #prompt #entry #24 #writing prompt #writing challenge

[romyxzhao]

[ ROMILDA “ROMY” ZHAO. 23. CISFEMALE. SHE/HER ] is here! They’ve lived in Silver Lake for [ 20 YEARS ] and are originally from [ LONDON, ENGLAND ]. They are a [ TEA SOMMELIER / BUSINESS OWNER ] and in their downtime love [ GARDENING ] and [ COOKING ]. They look a lot like [ JESSIE MEI LI ] and live [ IN OASIS APTS ].

- B A S I C S -

FULL NAME: Romilda Ashana Zhao NICKNAME(S): Romy, Ro AGE: 23 OCCUPATION: Tea Sommelier at The Teahouse - a tea shop that she co-owns with one of her cousins. BIRTHDAY: February 28th ZODIAC: Pisces BIRTH PLACE: London, England CURRENT RESIDENCE: Silver Lake, CA (Oasis Apts) HOGWARTS HOUSE: Ravenclaw

- F A M I L Y -

FATHER: Fai Zhao - Financial Advisor MOTHER: Eileen Fitzgerald-Zhao - Runs the local daycare, ABC Kids COUSINS (Father’s Side of the family): 2

PET: Guinea pig, named Chújú (Daisy)

- P E R S O N A L I T Y -

(+) Friendly, Hardworking, Studious, Creative, Nurturing (-) Withdrawn, Evasive, Bossy, Stubborn, Overprotective

Romy has the potential to get along with just about everyone, so long as they don’t piss her off or come after one of her loved ones. She’s very protective of her family and friends and would not think twice about seriously hurting others if it meant to protect them. 

She’s an introvert by nature, and can sometimes seem a little withdrawn from the crowd, but she doesn’t typically hesitate to engage in conversation if the situation calls for it.

- L I K E S -

Cooking

Baking

Gardening

Embroidery

Sketching and Painting

Arts & Craft

Swimming

Playing with her guinea pig, Chújú

- B I O G R A P H Y -

Born in London, England to a Chinese father and English mother. When she was a baby, she and her parents moved from London to Fujian, China for three years, in order for her father to take care of his ailing brother. 

They stayed there for nearly three years, up until her uncle sadly passed away.

When Romy was three, the small family, along with her two cousins (the children of her now deceased uncle), left China and took up a more permanent residence in Silver Lake, California. This is where Romy and her two cousins grew up together, raised as siblings. 

All three of them were around the same age, give or take a few years, so it was easy for them all to acclimate themselves to their new surroundings.

After high school, Romy decided to forgo college and instead began proper training to be a tea sommelier, with the end goal of becoming an expert on all things tea-related. It took five years and a lot of studying and dedication, but she finally earned her certification. 

While she was studying, she also took up two part-time jobs: a waitress position at Lotus, and as an assistance at her mother’s daycare, ABC Kids. This was so that she could pay rent for her apartment and so she could save the money she and her cousin would need in order to open up the tearoom that they had dreamed about running together for years.

As of February 2021, they managed to do just that, with a little financial help from Romy’s parents. Their shop, The Teahouse was their baby, their pride and joy - something the two girls had worked extremely hard for.

- W A N T E D   C O N N E C T I O N S -

Cousin #1 - The oldest of the two cousin. (age between 25-28)

Cousin #2 - The youngest cousin, and the one who is closest to Romy in age, preferably even the same age as her (age between 23-24) and the one that she is generally the closest to, period. They graduated around the same time, and now are co-owners of The Teahouse (an Asian-themed tea shop).

Childhood Besties - She grew up in Silver Lake, so she has to have made at least a few friends along the way.

Inner circle of friends - friends she knows that are just a phone call away if she ever needs something (or vice verse); her party squad

Bad Influences

Crushes / Love Interests

Flings / One-nighters

Neighbors (Oasis Apts.)

Roommate(s)

Literally whatever! I’m down for pretty much anything.

#slintro #please like if you want to plot