Valentine\u2019s Day is not all chocolates and roses for men; you have to pay the piper. Exactly one month later, on March 14, men who received a “honmei-choco,” (‘chocolate of love’) or “giri-choco” (‘obligation chocolate’) on Valentine’s Day are expected to return the favor by like-wise giving gifts. Traditionally, popular White Day gifts are cookies, jewelry, white chocolate, white lingerie, and marshmallows. Sometimes the term “sanbai gaeshi” (‘triple the return’) is used to describe the generally recited rule for men that the return gift should be two to three times the worth of Valentine’s gift.<\/p>\n
White Day started in 1978 with the National Confectionery Industry Association as a response (read: double-dip, cynical old me LOL) to Valentine’s Day, because men should pay back the women who gave them chocolate and other gifts on Valentine’s Day. In the late 70s, a Fukuoka based confectionery company, Ishimuramanseido, marketed marshmallows to men on March 14, calling it Marshmallow Day.<\/p>\n
Shortly after, confectionery companies cottoning on to the opportunity began marketing white chocolate. These days the spectrum of gifts men give to women they received chocolate on Valentine’s Day has widened: jewelry or things with sentimental value or white clothing like lingerie, flowers, and other gifts.<\/p>\n
***Given the new circumstances of the spread of Coronavirus are canceled, and I recommend contacting the Hiroshima Tourist Centres (see list at bottom) to confirm them.***<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n March 8<\/strong><\/p>\n Kintai-kyo Bridge Road Races<\/strong> Kudamatsu Kasadojima Island Trail Race<\/strong> March 14 – March 15<\/strong><\/p>\n Cross Shimanami Stamp Rally<\/strong> During the \u201cShimanami Juusou\/Shimanami Traverse,\u201d rather than a book and rubber stamps, participants check-in at the various locations on a free smartphone app.\u00a0Participants are welcome to walk as well as cycle. There is no charge for entry, and you can hit as many or as few as you like.<\/p>\n **The event is held March 14 and 15 and checkpoints open 07:00-17:00<\/p>\n Be aware that a lot of people are expected to take part, and if you are planning to do the event over two days, you are advised to book accommodation as early as possible.<\/p>\n You can download the \u201cShimanami Kaido App\u201d app for iOS and Android.<\/p>\n March 22<\/strong><\/p>\n Kiyomori Festival<\/strong> Parade route: March 29<\/strong><\/p>\n Momo-mi Peach Blossom Viewing Tea Ceremony<\/strong> Price: \u00a5600 plus park admission fee @ Shukkei-en Garden Miyajima Tourist Information Office<\/strong><\/p>\n Address: Beside Miyajima Pier, 1162-18 Miyajima-Cho, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Pref. Fukuyama Tourist Information Centre<\/strong><\/p>\n Address: JR Fukuyama Station, 30-1 Sannomaru-Cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Pref. Shin-Onomichi Station Tourist Information Office<\/strong><\/p>\n Address: JR Shin-Onomichi Station, 9381-4 Kurihara-Cho, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Pref. Hiroshima City Tourist Information Centre<\/strong><\/p>\n (JR Hiroshima Sta. South Exit) Hiroshima City Tourist Information Centre<\/strong><\/p>\n (JR Hiroshima Sta. Shinkansen Exit) Hiroshima City Tourist Information Centre<\/strong><\/p>\n (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park – Rest House) Image: by John Hritz<\/a>\u00a0via flickr.com<\/a> [CC BY-NC 2.0<\/a>] – modified<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Valentine\u2019s Day is not all chocolates and roses for men; you have to pay the piper. Exactly one month later, o […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":4035,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,85],"tags":[89,51,52,155,209,402],"class_list":["post-4034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hiroshima-2","category-miscellaneous","tag-february","tag-hiroshima-city-2","tag-hiroshima-prefecture-2","tag-march","tag-valentines-day","tag-white-day"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n2km, 5km, 10km and Half Marathon distance road races held next to the beautiful Kintai-kyo Bridge in Iwakuni.<\/p>\n
\nChallenging early season trail races of varying distance (32km, 19km, 2.4km) on a pretty island in the Inland Sea of the coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture.<\/p>\n
\nLove a \u201cStamp Rally\u201d? This is an event when people go from place to place, putting a unique rubber stamp in a book or a card to prove they\u2019ve hit the checkpoint, often with special gifts as an incentive. They are a great way to discover new places, and the Shimanami Kaido hosts one of Japan\u2019s longest stamp rallies over two days in March.<\/p>\n
\nHeian period costume parade on Miyajima to honor the memory of Taira Kiyomori, who, developing Itsukushima Shrine during the 12th century, laid the foundations for the prosperity of the island.<\/p>\n
\nSquare in front of Miyajima pier \u2192 Omotesando Shopping Arcade \u2192 Mikasahama beach \u2192 Itsukushima Shrine \u2192 Kiyomori Shrine
\nMarch 22 \/ 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm \/ Free
\nMiyajima
\nHatsukaichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken Japan<\/p>\n
\nTea ceremonies through the day at this annual tea ceremony at Shukkei-en Garden.<\/p>\n
\nDate: March 29 \/ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm<\/p>\n
\n2-11 Kaminobori-Cho, Naka-Ku
\nHiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken 730-0014 Japan
\nPhone:
\n(082)221-3620<\/p>\nTOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nPhone: +81-(0)829-44-2011
\nOpening Hours: 9:00-18:00
\nLanguage: English (Always)<\/p>\n
\nPhone: +81-(0)84-922-2869
\nOpening Hours: 9:00-17:15; Closed on Dec. 29-Jan.3
\nLanguage: English (Always)<\/p>\n
\nPhone: +81-(0)848-22-6900
\nOpening Hours: 9:30-18:00; Closed on Dec.29-Jan.3
\nLanguage: English (Always)<\/p>\n
\nAddress: At the General Information Counter on the 1F (Next to the Ticket Reservation Office near one of the regular line exits), JR Hiroshima Sta. South Exit, 2-37 Matsubara-Cho, Minami-Ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Pref
\nPhone: +81-(0)82-261-1877
\nOpening Hours: 9:00-17:30
\nLanguage: English (Always), Chinese(Sometimes), Korean(Sometimes)<\/p>\n
\nAddress: JR Hiroshima Sta. Shinkansen Exit, Concourse 2F, 2-37 Matsubara-Cho, Minami-Ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Pref
\nOpening Hours: 9:00-17:30
\nLanguage: English (Always), Chinese(Sometimes), Korean(Sometimes)<\/p>\n
\nAddress: Rest House in Peace Memorial Park, 1-1 Nakajima-Cho, Naka-Ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Pref.
\nPhone: +81-(0)82-247-6738
\nOpening Hours: 9:30-18:00(Apr.-Sep); 9:30-19:00(Aug.1-15); 8:30-17:00(Oct.-Mar.)
\nLanguage: English (Always), Chinese (Sometimes), Korean(Sometimes)<\/p>\n