Blog

2018年3月2日

Get Dressed in Kimono by a Professional

At the times of my mother and grandmother, Kimono was to quickly wear by themselves just before leaving the house. However, now it’s a common practice to hire a Kitsukeshi (着付師, professional Kimono dresser). Of course, there must be a lot of Kimono lovers who wear Kimono by themselvesa and I am not against it. ・・・

2018年3月2日

Ninomaru Goten at Nijo Castle

This year is the 150th anniversary of Meiji Ishin (明治維新, political restoration at the beginning of the Meiji period). Since last year was the 150th anniversary of Taiseihokan (大政奉還, restoration of imperial rule), Nijo castle (二条城) is still crowded with many Bakumatsu (幕末, the final days of Tokugawa Shogunate) fans.　 Taiseihokan, where Tokugawa Yoshinobu (徳川慶喜, ・・・

2018年2月22日

Plum Flowers at Kyoto Gyoen National Garden

February in Kyoto is truly freezing. However, during the cold windy days, sometimes we feel a slight hint of spring. At the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden (京都御苑, a garden which surrounds Gosho Imperial Palace), a place for recreation for Kyoto residents, plum flowers are starting to bloom. People go to Hanami (花見, cherry blossom viewing) ・・・

2018年2月19日

Ochaya* at Fushimi Inari Taisha

For many of my readers, hearing the name Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine conjures images of Senbon Torii (千本鳥居 – the thousands of Torii gates), but in fact there is a lot more to see at the shrine. Located in the Fushimi ward of Kyoto, a convenient district for traveling from YUMEYAKATA by Keihan line, the ・・・

2018年2月19日

Honmaru Goten at Nijo-jo castle

Among the many visitors to Niji-jo castle, relatively few make their way to Honmaru Goten (本丸御殿 – a group of castle buildings and gardens within Nijo-jo castle) located at the far end from the front entrance. In fact, Honmaru was located at the very center of the castle and served as the control room at ・・・