Strolling around Gion (祇園)
Gion, the entertainment district with the atmosphere of ancient Kyoto. You’ve seen pictures or movies of maiko walking briskly along a stone-paved path, haven’t you? We could say this is …
How To Kyoto
Local information in Kyoto
Enjoy Viewing Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto
You may know that viewing cherry blossoms is one of the most pleasurable springtime activities in Japan. Since cherry blossoms start blooming in the early spring when it’s getting warmer, …
3 best spots for Hanami
As the sunlight becomes brighter and the temperature warmer in March, Japanese people become excited and begin to think, “When will cherry blossoms bloom this year?” “Where should we go …
The Allure of Kiyomizu-dera Temple
“Take a chance as if you were jumping off the stage of Kiyomizu!” This is a famous saying, meaning “Put yourself out there, even if you are taking a risk.” …
Kinkakuji -how to enjoy Kinkakuji 10 times more-
See how brilliant it is! As you know, this is Kinkakuji temple (金閣寺, Temple of the Golden Pavilion), which is one of the most worldwide attractive sights. Most tourists will …
How to Enjoy the Fall in Kyoto
As you may know, there are so many places where you can enjoy the fall in Japan. But today, I’d like to introduce one of my favorite routes for a …
How to Predict the Gender of the Coming Baby: Old Wives’ Tales in Japan.
For most moms/dads-to-be, guessing the gender of the coming baby is very exciting. Of course, you will know it by a particular medical check up like a blood test or …
When You Wish upon the Stars ~七夕 ”Tanabata”~
There is a traditional star festival that takes place on July 7th in Japan. On that day, people put up a lot of decorations made from origami paper and colorful …
Soba – The Noodle With a Thousand Faces – Part 2
I’d like to introduce to you some localized varieties of soba found in different parts of Japan. Some of them are standard, but there are some unique alternatives. Let’s explore …
The unknown sites of Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
It’s no secret that Fushimi Inari Shrine attracts a great number of tourists from around the world. Everyone knows the iconic vermilion torii gates called Senbon Torii (千本鳥居,thousands of torii …