journal Kyoto March issue

Spring has really come!

Did you already see the plum blossom?

I'd like to recommend going to the plum tree garden in the west part of the Imperial Palace.

..However the photo of the cover page of this issue is the huge peach tree in Shimogoryo Jinja Shrine, located on 10m south walk from the corner of Teramachi and Marutamachi St.

(Oh~ this is the corner of which our cafe c.coquet was there..)

You can pick up the journal Kyoto at several ryokan, hotels, museums, International community house, Tourist information at Kyoto Stn. and c.coquet.

Kabuki Appreciation Class

Have you ever seen kabuki before?

It 's very difficult to understand the story.

The perfect kabuki for the kabuki beginners is on now at Minamiza Theater located downtown Kyoto.

It is composed 2 parts; the first one is interpretative performance by a traditional comic story teller, the second part is a kabuki drama as a popular and easier kabuki number.

You can enjoy all aspects of kabuki.

Kabuki-kansho-kyoshitsu (歌舞伎鑑賞教室）

2 performances a day.

Feb.10th-14th 11:00~& 14:30~ ¥2000 (all no reserve seat)

Minamiza Theater 075-561-1155

On the corner of Shijo and Kawabata St.

The Snowy Palace green

Oh~too chilly..

This photo is this afternoon's scenery from my office.

looking for coming spring. really hope so..

Setubun event

What did you do yesterday? Did you enjoy a traditional Japanese ritual on February 3rd. ?

That is called "Setsubun". In olden days, people thought the demons appeared when the season changed. This setubun ceremony is held to drive away the demons and the people's sins.

The photo above is my son wearing the demon's mask of which is sold in a supermarket before the setubun day.

It is said the setsubun day is the start of spring. It is so strange.

Today, really chilly..

journal Kyoto Feb. issue come out!

The photo above is the top cover of journal Kyoto Feb. issue.

This is a winding and rough route to the top of Mt.Kurama, which is famous for the spiritual spot or the birthplace of reiki.

This issue features the mountains surrounding Kyoto. The famous event, Setsubun -drive away demons- is held at some shrines located in the mountains.

Kurama-dera

(Mt. Kurama, north part of Kyoto city)

Feb.3rd 14:00- Setsubun ceremony

Yoshida-jinjya Shrine

(Mt. Yoshida, east next to Kyoto university)

Feb.2nd 18:00- Driving demons ceremony

3rd 23:00- Bonfire festival

You can pick up the journal Kyoto at several ryokan, hotels, museums, International community house, Tourist information at Kyoto Stn. and c.coquet.

Kabuki kite fell!

Tako kite sounds like a kind of nostalgia. I remember I've ever become to the champion at the kite flying game in my elementary school.

The long time has passed !

I bought very Japanese style kite with a kabuki face for my son.

We tried to fly it at the Kamogawa river bank. Some other kids were flying their kites. They were flying powerfully in the blue sky. How about ours ?

..Our kabuki kite seemed to be tired or dull. I used to be a champion ! Why..?

We tried to fly it many times, and then kabuki face tore. My 5 year son was upset and cried.

Suddenly the airplane of JAL flew trough my mind.

JAL, this is the company which I spent and flew together for the air crew in my twenties.

The time has passed...

Tea ceremony at a traditional ryokan

NISHIYAMA RYOKAN offers the Tea ceremony service (free) for foreign visitors.

Next event will be January 22nd and 29th, 19:00-20:00.

For more information, see the blog by NISHIYAMA RYOKAN.

Today's lunch

How do you feel about it ?

This image is appetizing or not ? I know the foreigners don't like eating a whole fish, actually appearing its head.

I chose sanma-teishoku roasted saury lunch because I felt my brain was so tired after the heavy computer works. Sanma contains much DHA, is low calorie, and of course is tasted !

Today's lunch was with vegetable dish, miso soup, rice and pickles. It was 800 yen.

The person who was sitting next me had Oden set lunch. It looked delicious !

I might order it next time.

When you stay in Kyoto city, I recommend Watatsune local restaurant.

The chef can speak English and Spanish, and helps you to enjoy Kyoto.

sake!sake!week

This week has started as sake drinking at Open House of Fushimi sake town.

I enjoyed Kiki-zake, freshly brewed sake tasting, and then lost control, so was drunken..

Fresh sake was smooth, sweet and a little carbonic.

If you want to try this taste..

Next Open house of Fushimi sake town :

February 14th 11:00-15:00

(10 min walk from Fushimi-momoyama station on Keihan railway)

Today is Wednesday.

I was invited to the party of opening the new office of WAK JAPAN.

WAK JAPAN is the company which provides the Japanese cultural experiences for foreign visitors. They moved very close from my office, located on Takakura St. to the side of the Palace.

They gave away the sake bottles with the photo of their new office to their guests.

Oh~I can drink sake again !

Sake has been necessary for these happy situation in Japan.

Enjoy sake !

India in Kyoto !

Are you enjoy a Kyoto cuisine during your stay ? Or are you bored with 3 times Japanese meals ?

If you would be so, I'd like to introduce one of international cuisine in Kyoto.

AJANTA is the best Indian restaurant in Kyoto. The photo above is the owner and chef of AJANTA and his wife. He used be a 5 star chef in Mumbai, India, and migrated Kyoto about 10 years ago. He imports indian spices and creates a real Indian taste.

AJANTA is located in a very convenient place where is to a little south of Kyoto electronic town.

AJANTA -Teramachi branch-

The south of the corner of Teramachi and Takatsuji St., Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto city

Tel&Fax 075-352-1427

Lunch time : 11:00-14:00 Dinner time : 17:00-22:00 on every day

Share mind! -Aritsugu knives-

I went to Aritsugu, which sells great Japanese knives and kitchen tools in Nishiki food market, to say a happy new year. The photo above is a president and also a craftsman of Aritsugu, Mr. Terakubo, who has been sharpening and maintaining the beautiful edge of knife. His crooked fingers show his long lives with this job.

A lot of people from all over the world visit Aritsugu in Kyoto, and brought the knives back to their homes. Actually I'm wondering they could maintain the edges of knives made in steel, because it's more difficult to maintain their sharp edge than the stainless steel knives.

Pres. Terakubo says " I hope our foreign customers bring not only the knives but also the Japanese mind. This is the mind which appreciates the tools, maintains them with our hands and spends with them for long time. Ecology? Kyoto Protocol? We've been eco-friendly with everything from very old time. This is just usual."

I agree with it. It could be said "Mottainai" mind, which is the Japanese word as taking care of everything.

Share the Japanese tools, share mind !

Aritsugu

10m east from the corner of Gokomachi and Nishiki St. (in Nishiki food market)

Fax : 075-231-1066 Open : 9:00~17:30 everyday

(Their website is under re-construction.)

Big problem of Google Map

View Larger Map

How do you feel about this Google map ?

Can you get a name of green square looks like a garden on north side of Kyoto station ?

Only town names such as Shioyacho or Nakaicho are founded.

One visitor came to c.coquet (Tour Information in front of Palace) today, and he asked me where he was. He lost his way, actually he had walked while looking at the Google Maps on his mobile.

He was looking for one ryokan east next to Higashi-honganji Temple located on north side of Kyoto station. However he didn't find the name of Higashi-honganji, so took his about 40 minutes , and then arrived at c.coquet in front of Imperial Palace.

It's difficult to see a wide area of map in a mobile phone. But if the names of temples, shrines and other sightseeing spots would be listed in the map, he could reach his destination only in just 10 mins !

You can get a paper map or journal Kyoto ! at Tourist Information on the 9th flr. of Isetan department store next to Kyoto station.

Or after seeing the Palace, please stop by our information desk, c.coquet-communication service-. We are pleased to talk to you and assist your Kyoto travel.

Kyoto Imperial Palace tour

It is so chilly today..

I took Jane and Steve to the English tour of Imperial Palace.

The tour started at 10am. I surprised a lot of tourists(about 70 people) joined the tour in this cold season.

It was the first visit to palace for me, because Japanese people have only two chances to see the palace a year. It is held in spring and autumn, very busy season, so I couldn't come actually.

The architecture, garden and interior of palace are super stylish, and more chic than I expected.

This is Wabi-sabi style.

The culture of Japanese architecture is said to one of the most developed group in the world.

I really think so. (I know that Kyoto downtown has not been maintained to be beauty, Kyoto people seem to forget their senses of beauty.. it's so sad..)

Steve, who is a great writer of journal Kyoto, will write about this tour and palace in the February issue.

I'd like to introduce how to apply the tour ;

1, You apply for the permission at the Imperial Household Agency Kyoto Office.

(located on the northwest side of the palace ground)

2, You present your own original passport or alien registration card. Photocopy will not be accepted.

3, You complete the application form which will be issued at the office.

4, No application fee. No admission charge.

( Your application will be accepted 3 months prior to the expected date of visit.)

5, Office can not accept the application by phone or e-mail.

Tour details ;

Tour schedule : 10:00 & 14:00 on weekdays (English guided), closed from December 28th to January 4th.

Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult (20 years old or above)

A maximum of 9 persons in one group may apply for the permission.

(Office Hours : 8:45~noon, 13:00~17:00 on weekdays, phone:075-211-1215)

Soba noodles on New Year's Eve

Journal Kyoto proposed a unique event on the last day of 2009.

It was "Demonstration and tasting of hand-made soba'. We were happy that a lot of people from several countries joined it. France, Italy, Spain, USA and of course Japan !

Soba master Mr. Nakatsuka and his son, who are also the manager of Watatsune restaurant in downtown Kyoto, showed us how to make soba. It was more dynamic and cool than I expected.

Every participants looked exciting and enjoyed it.

After the demonstration, we had, of courese, the fresh-made zarusoba cold soba. Zarusoba is the most symple style of soba dish, so we can taste a pure soba as a sweet aftertaste and a firmness.

We appreciated joining this event, and Mr. Nakatsuka gave us his precious time and share a wonderful evening.

(For more photos, see the flickr )