Saturday, January 28, 2012

Nishiki-Market (Kyoto)

Nishiki-Ichiba(Nishiki-Market) is the most famous marketplace in Kyoto,
located on a road one block north and parallel to Shijou-Street and west of Teramachi Street.
There are always so many people,including tourists here.

Here you'll find many kinds of pickles,Japanese sweets,fresh seafood,fresh vegetables,etc...
This marketplace is worth visiting.
So many people here...
This shop sells Japanese traditional bean snack.
These are lovely sweets...
These are soft Japanese sweets,called"Nama-gashi".
She is grinding Japanese pepper in front of her shop.
She is giving a demonstration now.
And please try these Kyoto pickled vegetables!
Kyoto pickled vegetables have an excellent reputation in Japan.
They're so good!
"Kyoto-Vegetables" are local harvest.
They are very popular among many people in Japan.
I found a nice restaurant, named "Mochitsuki-ya".
Please look at these dishes.
These are very look like real dishes,but they're not.
They're imitations!
In Japan,imitation dishes are often displayed in front of the shop,
They're like "menu". We can easily understand what kind of dishes we can eat in this restaurant.
This is appetizing...

These are yummy...
These are toasted rice cake,
covered with sweetend yellow soy bean flour,dried laver,
adzuki beans,and soybean paste.
Please try them.

To be continued....

Saturday, January 21, 2012

David VillaーHope you'll soon recover

He is David Villa,Barcelona's star FW.
Unfortunately he broke his leg in the last Club World Cup (Japan) semi-final against Al-Sadd.
"He will be a long time. It's a big blow to the team.
We just hope that he can play again as soon as possible." his manager said.

Wish you a quick recovery.
See you in Munich at Champions League Final 2012.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

New Year Japanese archery competition (Sanjuu-sangen-dou Temple,Kyoto)②

She fixes an arrow to a bow....
And draw a bow to the full...
They aim at these targets.
Hurry! It's my turn...

New Year Japanese archery competition (Sanjuu-sangen-dou Temple,Kyoto)①

This is "Sanjuu-sangen-dou" Temple in Kyoto.
Today we have an annual Japanese archery competition here.
Young men and women (age 20),who have an experience of archery, gather at this big Temple,and compete with each other.
Another meaning of this event is a cerebration of coming-of-age.
This traditional event dates back to Edo era.
About 600 years ago,samurai people competed their skills of archery at this Temple,and that is the origin of this event.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEzWiN6XaAQ&feature=related
They wear special costume,called "Hakama".
Today is the long-awaited day for them.
They practiced strenuously for today's competition.

Finally the competition started...
They focus all of their concentration on a target...

(To be continued)

Friday, January 13, 2012

Rakugan sweets (Kyoto)

This is "Rakugan". Traditional Japanese sweets.
When we hold a tea ceremony,we enjoy this kind of sweets.
"Rakugan" is a hard,dainty sweet made of soybean and rice flour mixed with sugar.
Originally Rakugan was introduced into Japan from China,about 700 years ago.
With tea ceremony spread throughout Japan,Rakugan become popular sweets in Japan. 

This is "Namagashi".
We can feel a sense of the season from them.
The left sweet is made in the shape of  "Japanese bell".
In New Year,every Japanese people goes to shrine,rings a bell,and prays to God.
So "bell shape" means "New Year".

The right sweet is made in the shape of "a narcissus".
A narcissus is known as a typical winter flower in Japan.
This flower begins to bloom in this cold season.
That is why we enjoy it in this season.

Right sweets,in the right season.
This is the heart of Kyoto sweets.

If you go to "Kinkaku-ji",you can't miss this shop.
"Nichiei-ken" is the shop name.
So many lovely sweets are here!
You'll be at a loss what to choose...
This shop is located near Kinkakuji-michi bus stop.(bound for Hakubai-chou).
(There are two Kinkakuji-michi bus stop.(going and coming).So just be careful.)

Monday, January 9, 2012

Kinkaku-ji Templeー Kyoto

"Kinkaku-ji" is one of the most beautiful and famous temple in Kyoto.
It is designated world heritage in 1994.
This temple refrects its beauty on the pond(Kyouko-chi).

About 700 years ago,Yoshimitsu-Ashikaga(1358-1408),a general of Muromachi era,rebuilt this luxurious temple to show his power to the world.
(Originally this building was another person's property,and Yoshimitsu obtained it from him.)
Please look at the top of the Temple,you can see a phoenix bird.
This bird is said to represent General Yoshimitsu himself. He wanted to rank himself as a top.

This temple is three-story building.
1st floor was constructed in the aristocratic style.
And 2st floor was constructed in the samurai style.
And the top phoenix represents General Yoshimitsu.
This ranking is very significant to him.
This shows that Yoshimitsu wanted to show his power to the aristocrat people and Samurai people,and wanted to govern them.
He wanted to show them,"I am top.Obey me."

Yoshimitsu wanted to carry on commerce with China.
He often invite Chinese trade mission people and entertained them here.
He imported weavings,books, and raw silks from China.


How to access
This is a brief map.
The fare is about 420 yen from Arashiyama to Kinkakuji-michi.(one-way)

In Arashiyama,There is 3 diffrent tram line.
① JR Arashiyama
② Keifuku Arashiyama (nickname "Randen")
③ Hankyu-Arashiyama

And Keifuku-Arashiyama line(Randen) is important to go to Kinkaku-ji Temple.

This is "Keifuku-Arashiyama" station. You have to find this station at Arashiyama.
I recommend "Keifuku-line",because in April,you can see beautiful cherry blossoms from this train.

This purple train is "Keifuku-line",another name is "Randen".
And you have to transfer at "Katabira-no-tsuji",and head to "Ryouan-ji" station.
You get off at "Ryouan-ji" station.
"Ryouan-ji" is also a wonderful Temple.Beautiful garden is famous.
And "Kinkaku-ji" is not so far from "Ryouan-ji".
After you enjoyed Ryouan-ji, you can walk to Kinkaku-ji from Ryouan-ji.
(And of course you can take bus from "Ryouan-ji mae" bus stop,to go to Kinkaku-ji.)
http://www.ryoanji.jp/
There were many tourists from abroad.
This is also Yoshimitsu's big residence.
He entertained trade mission people from China here.

If you have time,it is good to visit this temple with a long and distinguished history.

There are very good Kyoto-sweets shop near Kinkakuji bus stop (return).
You can't miss it.
The shop name is "Nichiei-ken".
This shop has no web site,so please see this site below.
http://anzamu.exblog.jp/11151660/

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

New Year encounter with Maiko ーArashiyama,Kyotoー

Arashiyama (Kyoto) is a nice place, worth visiting.
It is a typical Kyoto sightseeing spot,located in the western part of Kyoto City.
There are always many tourists here.
Arashiyama is surrounded by mountains,and there is a very famous bridge,"Togetsu-kyou"(ęø”ęœˆę©‹) over Katsura-River(ę”‚å·).
How about enjoy sightseeing in Arashiyama,riding in such ricksha?

And fortunately I encountered with two Maiko girls in Arashiyama.
 It is a good sign for me at the beginning of the year=D

 (And if you want to see Maiko for certain,I'd rather recommend "Miyako-Odori "in April,Gion.
Not Arashiyama.There is little likelihood of seeing Maiko in Arashiyama.
Gion is Kyoto's most famous Maiko district.
In April,"Miyako-Odori" is held at "Gion-Koubu-Kaburenjou" Theater,
from 1th April through 30th April.
Maybe you can get a day ticket on that day at that theater.(4000~4500yen/one person)
"Gion-Koubu-Kaburenjou" is the name of the Theater of Maiko Performance.
This theater is located in "Hanami-koji" Avenue,near Yasaka shrine.)
These web site below are important.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html
http://www.miyako-odori.jp/odori_en.html
http://kumiko-yoshinoyama.blogspot.com/2011/04/miyako-odoritraditional-spring-dance.html
There are many shops,restaurants,cafes lined up along the street.

This is traditional Japanese fan shop.
And you can also enjoy these sweets to the full in Arashiyama.
How to access
JR Kyoto ćƒ¼ JR Saga Arashiyama  (JR Sagano lline)    → 230yen (one way)

Tram map in Kyoto City↓

Saga-Arashiyama....  You get off at this station and enjoy sightseeing tram(torokko-ressha) and enjoy kayaking(Hozugawa-Kudari).They are worth trying.
sightseeing tram...600yen/one way (http://www.sagano-kanko.co.jp/pdf/english.pdf)
kayaking...3900yen/ one person (http://www.hozugawakudari.jp/en/tickets-en)
Early morning(8:00 a.m) is good,because there will be so many people lined up and waiting.

Kawaramachi... You get off at this station (terminal) and head to Gion to see Maiko.(Hanami-kouji street)

Sonobe...You get off at this station and head to Miyama by bus.(Sonobe is terminal station.)

Higashi-yama...You get off at this station and enjoy having a stroll here. There are many good temple nere here,for example,Shouren-in.
http://kumiko-yoshinoyama.blogspot.com/2011_08_21_archive.html