Miyamaー Beautiful hamlets in north Kyoto

If you yearn for a glimpse of old rural Japan,head to lovely Miyama,

a town nested in the Kitayama mountains of northern Kyoto.

The town is composed of several village clusters spread over a large area.

These picturesque hamlets are home to an abundance of traditional

Kayabuki-yane(thatched-roof) farmhouses

thatched with a thick roof of long susuki (pampas grass) reeds.

Miyama-cho has become a popular home for artists,

and is also gaining attention from outdoor enthusiasts

for its excellent hiking,camping and kayaking on the Yura-river.

There are many thatched-roof farmhouses.

Some of the houses are farmhouses,and oters are cafe,inn,and so on.

There are many wild flowers.

This is also thatched-roof farmhouses.

Scarlet-tinged leaves are beautiful.

This is Yura-river.

There are many tourists from abroad.

It is possible to travel to Miyama as a day trip from Kyoto,but it makes a much nicer overnight trip.

In 1994 the village was designated a national preservation site.

There is not much to do in the village except walk around and admire the wonderful old houses.

Miyama is located in "Nantan City", next to Kyoto City. (Please look at this map.)

Public transport is very poor in this area(Nantan-City).

How to access

JR Kyoto - JR Sonobe　→JR train (570yen,44 minutes /one-way)

JR Sonobe - Miyama(Kayabuki-no-sato)   →a municipal bus (900yen,50 minutes/one-way)

Inn

Kajika-sou(河鹿荘）　10,000～13,000 yen a night per head (dinner and breakfast are included)　

You need reservation beforehand.

Tel  0771-77-0014

e-mail  kajika@cans.zaq.ne.jp

※Attention   Dishes change every season.

This dish is an example.

If you want to know more.....→Miyama tourist society  Tel 0771-75-1906

Gion-Odori （Autumn dance performance by Geiko and Maiko） ③

It is good to visit Gion at the beginning of November,

and please enjoy Maiko performance!

This performance is held from November 1 through November 10 at Gion Kaikan. 

Gion-Odori （Autumn Dance performance by Geiko and Maiko） ②

These girls below are fairies.

Usually they are in Dolls (Maiko's favorite dolls)

But when Maikos leave the house,they get out of the dolls,and begin to behave as they like...

Her pose is so cute.

She found something yummy in the kitchen,and she is trying to eat it when no one is looking.

Gion-Odori （Autumn dance performance by Geiko and Maiko） ①

 "Gion odori" is an autumn dance performance by Geiko and Maiko in Gion,Kyoto.
This performance started in 1894,and it is well-known as one of splendid autumn events in Kyoto.
This performance is held from November.1 through November.10.

Before the show starts,we enjoy tea ceremony.

They entertain us with green tea.

These are utensils for making green tea.

 

Maikos are playing with their favorite dolls... 

Japanese cats cafe

This is Japanese "cats cafe".
We can have a pleasant time with so many cute cats,drinking coffee,and feeding them in this cafe.
These days,cafes of this type are more and more increasing in Japan.They are very popular.

He is sooo relaxing...!

We can have relaxing time with these Cheshire cats...

This cafe is located in Nara,near Ikoma station.

If you have occation to visit Nara,please drop in at this cafe. (Cat's tail is the shop's name.)

Weekday : AM11:00 - PM18:30

Saturday,Sunday : AM 10:30 - PM19:00

 

5 minutes walk from Kintetsu Ikoma Station (Kintetsu Line)

TEL :0743-74-7033    CAT TAIL (There is a parking)

Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/nekocafe.cattail

 Address : Granvia Ikoma 1F
                 Higashi-Matsugaoka 2-1
                 Ikoma-shi  Nara prefecture
        （〒630-0244　奈良県生駒市東松ヶ丘2-1　グランビア生駒　1Ｆ）
　
キャットテイル　猫カフェ

Atelier Dousen（道宣）ー Yuzen kimono Atelier (Kyoto)

  He is Mr.Murata Dousen.

He is Yuzen kimono creator(artisan) in Kyoto. He is 70 years old.

50 years have passed since he engaged in creating kimono.

He dyes kimono from starts to finish by himself,and he seldom assigns his task to other people,

because he is very particular about his works.

But he is kind enough to show me his atelier and his works.

There are so many brushes and tools he uses every days...

These are tools he uses habitually.

Most of these brushes are made by wool.

He starts his work from making a sketch outside.

For example,he goes to the mountains or rivers,

for making a sketch.

These sketches are important for his creation,

because these sketches are the basis of his kimono patterns.

Then he makes a drawing of kimono,reffering to his sketches.

This is his conception of finished kimono.

And he draws outline of flowers on a cloth.

Special water colors are used for this outline.

 

This is a roll of cloth for kimono(finished).

This is also his work.

Camellia and Japanese apricot designs are beautiful.

These kimonos are also his works.

It takes about 1 year to create a kimono.

Sometimes he stays up all night to finish his kimono.

His kimonos are full of originality.

His simple rough sketches turn into these beautiful kimono...

These works are the fruit of his great labor.