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2018年1月27日

YUMEYAKATA Oike Bettei Introduced on Kansai Walker Magazine

YUMEYAKATA Oike Bettei was introduced on January 5th edition of Kansai Walker magazine! ​​ In the article, Oike Bettei, our newly opened branch, is introduced along with many other must-visit places in the Kansai (関西). The building of the new branch is a renovated famous Kyomachiya (京町屋, classical Kyoto-style houses). If you are looking for ・・・

2018年1月27日

Gifts in Seven Colors

Setsubun (節分 – February 3, the end of winter) is drawing near. In order to do Yakuyoke (厄除け – warding off calamity or misfortune), Kyoto residents visit shrines or temples on Setsubun. Speaking of Yakuyoke, we have a custom to send something in seven colors to friends and family members who are in their Yakudoshi ・・・

2018年1月27日

White Elephant on Cedar Door at Shokokuji Temple

Founded by Yoshimitsu Ashikaga (足利義満), Shokokuji Temple (相国寺) is the largest Zen (禅) temple in Kyoto. It’s close to Gosho palace (京都御所, Kyoto Imperial Garden) and its premises is rich in nature. In a chamber of this temple, there is the famous cedar door painting of magnificent white elephant, created by Hara Zaicyu (原在中), a ・・・

2018年1月26日

HAKAMA and Female Students

In the Meiji (明治) and the Taisho (大正) era, Hakama (袴, divided skirts over Kimono) was a standard outfit for female students.　 The root of Hakama can be seen on Haniwa (埴輪, ancient terracotta figures from the Kofun period) wearing it which are more like broad pants. In the Heian (平安) era, noble women wore ・・・

2018年1月26日

Togetsu Bridge This Morning

Ever since the Heian (平安) period, people were fascinated by the beauty of the moon which lit up the night sky. Though there are many places in Kyoto for moon viewing, the best spot for me is Togetsu bridge (渡月橋). They say that a retired emperor Kameyama (亀山上皇) of the Heian period, once expressed his ・・・