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2018年2月15日

Karamon Gate of Nishihongwan-ji (Hongwanji) Temple

Hongwanji (本願寺), also known as Nishi Hongwan-ji (西本願寺), a very famous World Heritage Site, is the headquarters of the Hongwanji denomination of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism (浄土真宗本願寺派, Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-school). The Karamon (唐門, a type of gate seen in Japanese architecture, such as temples and shrines) on the premises is also referred to as Higurashi no ・・・

2018年2月15日

Uji Bridge in Japanese History

We often hear from our customers that they would like to visit Uji (宇治, a city located at the south of Kyoto) city. For many of my readers, Byodoin Temple (平等院) established in the Heian (平安) period must be the most famous place in Uji. However, Uji was already a developed and civilized city far ・・・

2018年2月14日

Kimono Culture in Hanamachi

In my previous article of November 5, 2017, “Enjoy Kimono as You Like“, I wrote that there were two different cultures in Kyoto associated with Kimono (着物). Today, I would like to introduce you the one of them, the Kimono culture in Hanamachi (花街, districts Maiko () and Geiko () reside and work). For Maiko ・・・

2018年2月13日

Jofu, High-Quality Plain-Woven Linen

Jofu (上布) is a type of extremely precious fabric for Japanese summer Kimono (着物), which is exquisitely plain-woven with superfine linen. Echigo Jofu (越後上布) from Niigata (新潟) prefecture, Oumi Jofu (近江上布) from Shiga (滋賀), and Miyako Jofu (宮古上布) from Miyako island of Okinawa (沖縄), are very famous among other types of Jufu produced, and most ・・・

2018年2月13日

Somei no Mizu, Top Three Mineral Water in Kyoto

Nashiki shrine (梨木神社) at the east side of Gosho (御所) Palace enshrines Sanjo Sanetsumu (三條実萬) and Sanjo Sanetomi (三條実美), a father and son from a court noble clan. They both advocated the Ousei Fukko (王政復古, Restoration of Imperial Rule) from the early stage of Meiji Ishin (明治維新, Meiji restoration) and Sanetomi was consecutively appointed to ・・・