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.