Blog
Blog 2026年3月 2ページ目
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Japanese morning set service
My home prefecture of Gifu is the Mecca of the ‘morning set’ culture. A ‘morning set’ is a service available only in the mornings where, when you order a coffee, you receive not only toast but also a salad and a boiled egg at no extra charge or for a very small fee. The Tokai region has a thriving textile industry, and as the noise from the looms was so loud, business meetings used to be held in coffee shops. It is said that this tradition began when a certain coffee shop started serving boiled eggs and peanuts to its…
- Food
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Sashimi in Obama City
Obama is just under a two-hour drive from Kyoto City. For those born in Kyoto, it is one of the most accessible seaside resorts. It is also well known that when Barack Obama became President of the United States in 2008, the town of Obama was abuzz with excitement and thronged with tourists, simply because it shares the same name. Wakasa Bay, which Obama faces, boasts a short distance between the fishing port and the fishing grounds, allowing visitors to enjoy fresh sashimi. Furthermore, mineral-rich freshwater flows in from the neighbouring mountains, and the abundance of plankton adds a rich,…
- Fukui
- Spot introduction
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Chokushi-mon Gate of Eiheiji Temple
When you visit Eiheiji Temple, the Chokushi-mon Gate is the first thing you see as you approach. This gate was originally reserved exclusively for the Emperor’s envoys (chokushi) and is usually kept closed. For this reason, the imperial chrysanthemum crest, symbolising the Japanese Imperial Family, is displayed on its façade. It has become such a symbol of Eiheiji Temple that if you search for ‘Eiheiji’, you will find numerous images of this Chokushi-mon Gate rather than the temple complex itself. Eiheiji Temple was founded in 1244, but it was destroyed by fire on several occasions, including during the Ikko-ikki uprisings…
- Fukui
- Spot introduction
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Sanshōkaku Hall at Eihei-ji Temple
Eiheiji Temple is a popular destination among foreign tourists. Sanshōkaku Hall is a place where visitors stop to rest before entering the Shichidō Garan (Seven Main Halls), which form the centre of the temple’s ascetic practices. The ground floor serves as a waiting room for visitors, whilst the first floor houses a large hall. The most striking feature here is the 230 ceiling paintings, created by 144 Japanese painters in the early Shōwa period. The project was overseen by Komuro Suiun, a master of Japanese painting who was active from the Meiji to the Showa periods. However, although he created…
- Fukui
- Spot introduction
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Hosoi Cherry Tree at Tokusei Bridge
The Biwako Canal is a famous spot in Kyoto for Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms. Whilst the Somei-Yoshino trees are still a long way from blooming, the Hosoi cherry tree near Tokusei Bridge is in full bloom. It is an early-flowering variety, a cross between the Karamizakura—native to China and blooming as early as the beginning of March—and the Somei-Yoshino. The Prefectural Botanical Garden, where as many as 27 varieties of cherry blossom can be seen, is also currently at its peak.
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Fushimi Sake Festival 2026
Today marks the annual Fushimi Sake Festival. Twelve sake breweries from the Fushimi district are taking part in this event, where visitors can enjoy tasting the new vintage. There are also stalls offering rare sake available only on this day, as well as snacks to accompany the drinks, and the venue is packed with Japanese people enjoying the tasting. At this time of year, tourist spots throughout Kyoto are bustling with foreign visitors, but this place is in a league of its own. The guests are finally able to savour a quintessentially Japanese scene and delicious sake, leaving them all…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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It’s cold…
The Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms in Kyoto are due to bloom next week. The avenue of cherry trees along the Lake Biwa Canal is magnificent. Perhaps due to last week's warmth, some of the Somei Yoshino along the Lake Biwa Canal had begun to bloom. However, the cold snap caused the petals to wither. On top of the cold, large amounts of cedar pollen are being dispersed. Please take good care of yourselves.
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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American Wigeon on the Kamo River
Having finished an early morning request for travel support, I was strolling along the Kamo River when I spotted a particularly striking cream-coloured head amidst the usual flock of Eurasian wigeons. It was an American Wigeon, which breeds in North America and winters in Mexico and northern South America. Japan lies outside its breeding range, so it was quite a rare bird when I was a child, but sightings have increased recently. Still, it remains unusual. Upon checking, I learned it has been wintering on the Kamogawa since last year. The beauty of the Kamogawa is that even rare birds…
- Birds
- Kyoto
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Kawazu Cherry Blossoms in Ichijō-modoribashi Bridge
Alongside the Yodo Waterway and Sanjō-ōhashi Bridge, Ichijō-modoribashi Bridge is renowned for its early-blooming Kawazu cherry blossoms. They are now almost in full bloom. While Somei-yoshino cherry blossoms can only be enjoyed for about a week, Kawazu cherry blossoms are characterised by their long period from full bloom to petal fall. In 1591, Sen no Rikyū known as the consummate master of the Japanese tea ceremony, was ordered to commit seppuku and his head was displayed at this very spot. Ichijō-modoribashi was once a place where the heads of criminals were publicly displayed. Nearby lies the popular power spot, Seimei…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Harumekizakura, cherry blossoms adorning the graduation ceremony
Alongside the Okamezakura at Chōtoku-ji Temple, the Harumekizakura at the former Seitoku Junior High School is a hidden gem for early-blooming cherry blossoms. Planted along Takatsuji Street, it offers a popular spot for locals to take beautiful photographs with the school building, constructed in 1931, as a backdrop. The Harumekizakura displays a colour reminiscent of pale purple-pink with a hint of purple-pink shading, and is also characterised by its strong floral fragrance. As school graduation ceremonies in Japan typically take place from early to mid-March, the early-blooming Harumekizakura is gifted to primary and secondary schools by the Harumeki Foundation as…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Okame Cherry Blossoms at Chōtoku-ji Temple
The Okame cherry blossoms at Chōtoku-ji Temple, a three-minute walk from Tonton Nobu, are blooming beautifully. Characterised by their deep pink flowers that bloom facing downwards, this variety flowers nearly two weeks earlier than the more common Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms found throughout Japan. Although last year's blooming was slightly delayed, this year is on par with usual years, so cherry blossoms should be enjoyable in various spots by the end of this month. Chōtoku-ji is a private temple, so entry is not permitted. However, the Okamezakura blooms by the temple gate, attracting crowds of photographers. It's recommended for those wishing…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Eihei-ji, Temple of Eternal Peace
Recently, Eihei-ji Temple has become a popular Zen pilgrimage site for visitors from abroad. While group coach tours are fewer, the number of individuals visiting independently is increasing. It is also popular as a sacred site among visitors from France, who have a strong interest in Zen. I was requested to guide them and travelled to Fukui for this purpose. It is not uncommon to see monks from overseas practising here, partly because Steve Jobs, drawn to the teachings of Zen Master Dōgen who founded Eihei-ji and practised the most rigorous training, trained here in his youth. Although only offered…
- Fukui
- Spot introduction