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

There is a unique street near Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.
The name of the street is Ichijo Street.
The people in this area have nicknamed “Yokai Street” on the street.
(I have sometimes mentioned about yokai in this blog. See the link below)
http://j-hoppers.japanhostel.net/2007/08/goblins-yokai.html

I went to the street with my family the other day.
It is a small local shopping street and most shops along the street have their own Yokais at their storefronts.
Very interesting.

There is a website of the street (Japanese only though …)
http://www.kyotohyakki.com/

You know,
The concept of Yokai street ultimately leads to ecological thought.
I will write about it next time.

Anyway, please drop in the funny street when you visit the famous Kitano Tenmangu Shirine.
The street running east and west, one block south of Kitano temnangu shrine　
Map
From J-Hoppers Kyoto Hostel, please take city bus #205 at Kujo Shako bus stop and get of at Kitano Hakubaicho Bus stop. It take about 30-40 minutes by bus.


Kasa (umbrella) Yokai









Shokupan (bread) Yokai









Rabbit (?) Yokai









One-eyed student Yokai









Hyotan (calabash) Yokai

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

Usually we enjoy viewing momiji leaves in autumn, when their colour turns red and yellow.
However green momiji leaves are also fresh and nice.


By the way, I took this picture in Jinko-in Temple, which is in the north of Kyoto City.
Google map
It is not a very famous temple and is off the major sightseeing course.
Actually, it is pretty cool.


The small temple is well maintained and has many kind of flowers and trees.
These flowers seems to open up one after another every season and delight visitors' eyes.

Jinkoin in each seasons

It is said the temple was founded in the 13th century (Kamakura Period).
Free entrance.


You can get there by City Bus
Please take #9 from Kyoto Station Bus Terminal and get off at Jinko-in Busstop.

3 years have passed since I moved to Kyoto. I have never stayed at the same place longer than 2 years after graduating high school, and hopped place to place with my backpack. I was born in Kanagawa prefecture (south to Tokyo) and didn't have any ideas that I would choose to settle down in Kyoto. I know that I might move to the other place and spend many years at the place.

Besides, the above reason, Kyoto is becoming one of the most important cities in me because it is where I married. On a sunny day of the beginning of April under full-blown cherry blossoms, I married at Shimogamo shrine in totally Japanese style.


I couldn't ask .... but the next couples who had a wedding ceremony was German.

If you are in the downtown of Kyoto city or somewhere nearby, please rear up and look toward the north-east direction. You could see a mountain like the photo above.
The name is Mt. Atago.
It is the one of the most famous mountains in Kyoto.
There is a small shrine on the 924-meter top of the mountain.　Many people climb the mountain to visit the shrine on every July 31st and Dec 31st every year. If is not that special occasion, people enjoy casual hiking in the mountain.

The mountain is familiar with people life of Kyoto.
You may see this tag in the kitchen of a restaurant or in your friend's house in Kyoto. This tag is sold at the shrine.

Also, Kyoto people forecast daily weather by watching the mountain. For example, if the mountaintop is covered by clouds in the mourning, it should rain in the afternoon, etc …
In winter, cold wind blows from Mt. Atago-san. We call the wind "Atago-Oroshi" = "Atago Wind" in English.

At the foot of the mountain, a limpid stream flows from the east to the west. We can enjoy "firefly watching" in June. In summer, the area becomes very busy for swimming and barbeques.

If you get bored visiting temples, would be good idea to try Atago-san.
From J-Hoppers Hostel to the mountain, it takes about 1 hour using JR and the city bus. And also it takes about 2-3 hours to the top. Please take good shoes.

I guarantee it will be a very physical day for you !!

The cherry blossom is commonly celebrated by eating and drinking under the trees while enjoying the return of warmness. But even busy people can enjoy them by going at evening to one of the numerous lightups organized at this season. The whiteness of the 'sakura' even get stronger on a dark blue background !

Yesterday, I checked the homepage of Kyoto Imperial Palace and I found an article that said some cherry blossoms started to bloom!! I was so happy to know it!! One type of cherry blossoms called Itozakura is mainly blooming especially around Konoeike Pond in the Imperial Palace. To visit inside the Palace, you need to make a reservation at the office there at least 30 min before English tours start (there are two times a day, ~10:00, ~14:00). However, to see these cherry blossoms, you can just pop in the Palace. I used to go there to eat lunch box when I was university student.

Mibu-Yashiki Monthly Guesthouse
The exterior appeerance from the back

MIBU YASHIKI monthly Guesthouse is almost ready to welcome new tenants.

As I wrote something about it last month, the guesthouse is also our family’s private house.

The house has 5 bedrooms, 2 common rooms and 3 gardens. We have renovated the house partially and maintained the garden and the garden trees. Also, we have installed a very fast optical fiber internet line and we can access the internet anywhere in the house.

One of the guestroom

The house is modern Japanese style and actually it is in a very convenient area　(please see the embedded Google Map below)

We are now looking for new tenants.

We have just uploaded the brief website.

Please check it out for the details.

Tsuboniwa Garden

The temperature in Kyoto is getting higher and higher. I don't need thick jackets and sweaters any longer, and put them into boxes in the closet till November *v* .

Aki introduced Kitano Tenmangu Shrine the last week and I tell you the other Ume Blossoms viewing place. At this place you can look at Ume Blossoms without a fee. It's Kyoto Gyoen (National Garden). I went there on 16th Sunday, and Umes are 30% blooming. I think the best time is the next week and weekend.

When I see Umes blooming, I feel that the busiest tourist season come. Peoples are walking here and there any time any day and traffic jams are occurred anywhere. And the city is surrounded by red plum petals and pink cherry petals. The most exciting and beautiful season is just around the corner. Why don't you come to Kyoto ?

Kyoto Hanatoro has just started, too.

Ume blossoms in Kitano Tenmangu Shine, north of Kyoto city
video clip

Sakura is definitely the most famous blossom in Japan.

However, Japanese plum trees (ume trees) bear beautiful blossoms, too.

When it comes to plum blossoms in Kyoto, we cannot talk without Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.

http://www.kitanotenmangu.or.jp/eigo/index.html

The shrine was built in the 10^th century to honor Michizane Sugawara. He is believed to be kind of Genius, many students visit there to make a wish for their admission exams.

About ume (Japanese plum) blossoms

It came to Japan in the 8^th century from China.

In Heian period (8the -12^th century), ume was more popular than sakura (Japanese cherry blossoms) for blossom viewing (Hanami)

Ume smells sweeter than sakura and it tells of arrival of spring a little before sakura.

I went to the shrine with my family yesterday.

It has blossoms out around half.

I think you will enjoy them at least until the mid march.

I recommend you take Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in you travel schedule.

Despite the trend of warm winter, we have a lot of snowfall in Kyoto this season.

Yesterday it snowed quite much. I went to Hirano Jinja Shrine with my son.

Hirano Jinja is a very old shrine founded in the 8^th century.

The shrine is famous for the cherry blossoms.

If you travel Kyoto in april, don’t forget to visit the shrine.

takutaku is one of the most famous rock bars in Kyoto. An old Japanese sake cellar that had been about to be demolished were renovated and turned to a record shop. It's in 1974, lives were started in 1975. There have hardly seen any changes in the building as the wall sake barrels have been papered.

I have watched live of Kazuki Tomokawa in 2005 (please take a few minutes on the link below, if you like rock or have an interest in Japanese musicians or simply want to know something nice). I was shocked by the band (they were a trio), the atmosphere of the old box and their energetic performances were outstanding. Kazuki Tomokawa was 55 years old. I watched the live acts of The Rolling Stones and David Bowie in their late 50's. Honesty, there is little to choose between the three.


It's in the downtown of the city, but quite difficult to find (it takes some ten minutes for me). Feel free to ask the reception and get the map when you go to there, and check the schedule before you go.

Enjoy !!

It started to snow in Kyoto. This year, even though it's not very cold usually, it snows a lot!! Last Saturday, it was snowing for 6 hours and I found 5 cm-snow on the roofs of my neighbours. I just couldn't believe how much it was snowing without end. Also tonight, according to the weather forecast, it will snow until tomorrow morning. I love to see snow when I'm at home, but now... I started to worry how I can go home with this weather.