Backpackers Hostel's Blog l J-Hoppers Guest House Lounge

The rain clouds are almost disappearing ,

I feel the strong sunbeam burning my skin.

It’s summer!

On of the biggest and beautiest festivals in Japan ,

Gion Matsuri-festival started on the 1st day of July.

It’s unknown for many tourists but the Gion festival goes on for 1month long.

And many of the ceremonies are held in this period.

I hear a sound of Ohayashi from the every corner of downtown.

.Ohayashi is a happy sounds music which people play for festivals.

The main event of Gion festival is Yoiyama and Yamaboko-junkou..

Strong guys pull and lift the the heavy “Hoko” (‘1.5ton)around down town.

I describe this event as a silent passion.

As it is a traditional culture of Kyoto, people do not show much emotion on surface.

They keep the feelings inside within their mind and speak softly.

But the core of the Kyoto spirit is tougher than any other culture.

That’s why, they can carry such heavy hoko.

Real strength not comes from the muscles but comes from the soul.

I will be waiting for you in Kyoto with sounds of ohayashi in the silent heat.

It is rainy season started in Japan.

The hydrangea flower change the color from the blue to purple, purple to pink,

snails are stretching their face and look up the sky on the watery leaf of the hydrangea.

Those rain drops pleasure moss in the garden , let the leaves shine.

The “Hotaru” ”fire flies” started flying.

They can only live in a very pure water.

Only once a year, they appear to flame their short life out in the air.

I went to the path of philosophy and some of the ancient shrines to see them.

Their beauty is hardly express by words or photos.

Rain is grace, amazing grace of the nature and it brings us so much to appreciate.

You see the stream of the life in the rain as you can see it in the Zen garden on the rainy day. Like rain drops becomes a river, a river down into the ocean and becomes part of it .

Ashi-yu means foot bath.

I went to the Ashi-yu café as a first time.

It was late at night but many salary-man came in to relax .

Those bath culture is quite popular in Japan.

Ashi-yu orinigaly came from the hot spring.

People dip their feet in to the hot spring water and get easy treatment.

I was exhausted that night but some how, after dipping my feet for 45min in the hot water, all over my body got hot and felt so ease.

They serve so many different kinds of herbal tea.

Me and my friends played board game mean while .

Now I know why “old man in Hungary likes playing chess in the bath”.

I’m addicted to it ,, I think I might take massage as well next time..

On sunny beautiful day of early summer, one of the biggest festival in Kyoto"Aoi matsuri festival was held .

The AOI-matsuri-festival. Those Heian costume is so gorgeous and impressed many people on the street. I was moved by horse riding ceremony in Kamigamo-shrine .

Green Green May!　The Iris Laevigata”Kakitsubata” is fully blooming silently at Ota shrine near the Kamigamo-shrine. Reina

Cherry blossom
just ended their magical show and now it's time for the other flowers to show their beauty.
There are so many flowers are blooming in every temples and shrines in Kyoto .
Also the fresh green of Momiji leaves are so bright to our eyes.
I went to Honnen-in temple, one of my favorite temple in Kyoto .
When I'm gazing the moss, I almost find the wide universe within small world .
Blooming time! A lot of people might think there is not much to do or see for this moment in Kyoto.
no way no way, I think this is one of the best time of the year to visit Kyoto.
The weather is so mild and easy to chill out.
I wish I could show you how colorful they are and send you the gorgeous scent of those flowers.
Reina

Iida-san has spoken the other day about Mt Atago (google map) which is little bit north of the well known Arashiyama, and you can read (in japanese) and see more about it on a former message too.
Actually this a very interesting area if you want to discover japanese nature while staying at Kyoto, and since I get back here from Hiroshima this is the first spot I felt like introducing to you. By the way, for my final best selection of places to hike and bike around Hiroshima, click here !

I recently discovered a very interesting connection between the Arashiyama "torokko" touristic train (also called sagano scenic railway) and the start point for mount Atago.

By foot, first go to Arashiyama (bus #11 or #93, or train from Shijo-Omiya, both around 200 yen/30mn) (google map), then walk few minutes to the torokko touristic train. Then enjoy this little railroad that goes along the river and get off at Torokko Hozukyo station (don't mistake with Hozukyo station) (google map). If you go farther you can get back on boat or raft, I may tell you about that another day.

Touristic boats going down the Hozu river.

Old traditional house's roof.

There is a lot of little shops here to take a rest or buy handycraft before entering the forest.
Then you will have a hard time climbing the pass in the wood, and be very careful while going down on the other side : it's extremely steeply !! But as soon you reach the top you understand that's a spot ! At the bottom of the slope you reach the entrance of the course of the kiyotaki. If you keep on forward you can have a very enjoyable piece of a ride for a very long time. I haven't went very far as it wasn't my goal of the day but will surely come back and speak about it later. I made a peaceful picnic on a top of a rock while looking at a funny pack of monkeys on the opposite side of the mountain, with the touristic train or laughing rafters interrupting regularly their games.

The pass of the road 50.

From the entrance of the hiking course it becomes common with walking course. By bicycle it may be a little bit tough but you will enjoy the challenge for sure. About the spring ... well I'm still looking for it !! I've seen a small one that I supposed afterward to be the kiyotaki spring but ... Maaa the rest of the course is enough anyway ! :-)

The course goes along a charming little river.

The wildlife is abundant and splendid...



... as well as the flora.
About this very beautiful flower, there is actually a little more to the north a village called Takao where a side of the mountain is completely covered. It's so beautiful to look at ! But let's talk about that later ;-)

The course is not so long and not very difficult by foot, and finally you will reach the small village at the beginning of the course for Mount Atago. Ah, There is also connection with others hiking course that goes directly to the mount Atago through the woods. This village seems well known as a spot for fireflies, though it'd better go there in summer. Except that you're in the middle of nowhere, but you may find opened a little restaurant of udon ...

Then if you're a crazy walker/rider you can keep on your way to the top of Atago, or come back to the road to Takao (there are bus going there if you're by foot), or come back to Kyoto with bus #62. By the way this bus is the best, and actually only, one to take from Kyoto if you want to go to Mt Atago. The bus stop is a little top of the village (google map). Just follow the road, it's one way, thus hard to get lost there. The bus #62 will bring you back over a long tunnel to the fork previously described (actually you are back on the road 137). If you pass the tunnel by bicycle take good care at you as it's so narrow that you can hardly pass with a car at the same time, and it's long and completely dark !! Either you may prefer the long and steep way over the tunnel. It would cut your legs off !

That's all for today folks ... !

Thanks to Kurokawa-san with who I found the idea of this itinerary while enjoying this wonderfull tool that is Google map ! :-)

It's burning hot these days in Japan, isn't it?
I am sweating everyday for 24 hours, and moisture in my body is evaporating every moment.
I really want to dive into the sea and soak up water into my body. Otherwise I'm going to be dried.

In my J-Hoppers days, I was asked about a beach around Kyoto many times, and wasn't satisfied with my answers. I have recommended Shirahama beach in Wakayama Prefecture. But there is no backpackers hostel so that a day trip is only the way to go there.

A change happened in last June . A hostel set up there [nima Guest House] The owner of the hostel is a girl and she has been to J-Hoppers months before. It takes 2 hours and half from Kyoto. It could be a long time, but worth going there. You will see a country side of Japan, and find many differences between people live in the sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. You can get there all the way by JR. It shouldn't cost if you have a JR Rail Pass. Visit them if you have a time and travel differently from the other travelers.

View from nima Guest House

Have you ever seen fireworks festival in Japan? Probably you have played with them or seen some in your countries. But the one I went to the other day is not the same as you imagine at all. This is the Japanese summer. I hope you see one of fireworks festivals during traveling in Japan or buy and play with them. You will see many kinds of fireworks sold in Japan. Click the image on the left side to see my video.