Blog
Blog 2026年4月 2ページ目
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Arashiyama at the Weekend
The weather in Kyoto this weekend has been fine; although the cherry blossoms are beginning to fall, the streets are bustling with foreign tourists everywhere you look. The path through the bamboo grove, in particular, is absolutely teeming with people. It is not clear exactly when this bamboo grove was established. The bamboo is of the species mōsō bamboo, native to China. Although it is said that monks brought it back from Tang China in either the 9th or 13th century, it is believed that the species was not introduced on a large scale until the 18th century, so it is…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Great Buddha Adorned with Flowers
The Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara was adorned with a profusion of flowers. Apparently, the entrance ceremony for Tōdai-ji Gakuen school took place yesterday. It is said that new students and their parents are allowed to ascend the pedestal, an area normally off-limits to the public. This is a special place accessible only to those associated with Tōdai-ji. The Great Buddha was cast over a period of three years in the mid-8th century, but its head fell off during a major earthquake in the mid-9th century. Although it was restored, it was destroyed by fire during the wars…
- Nara
- Spot introduction
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Yaebenishidare Weeping Cherry at Ryōan-ji
The Yaebenishidare Weeping Cherry begins to bloom slightly later than the Somei-Yoshino cherry. At this time of year, in the rock garden of Ryōan-ji, one can enjoy the striking contrast between the deep crimson petals and the white sand. It is said that the rock garden at Ryōan-ji was created by a Zen monk in the mid-15th century, but the identity of the gardener remains unknown to this day. There are 15 stones arranged in the garden. As it is impossible to see all 15 stones at once from any single vantage point, it is said to represent an imperfect…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Kameyama: A Traditional Confectionery Shop
In Kyoto, there are small traditional confectionery shops known as ‘oman-ya-san’, which are beloved by locals as places to buy everyday sweets. Kameyama is situated on Gojo Street—where it is said the tragic warlords Yoshitsune and Benkei met in the 12th century—and is now located within the Matsubara Kyogoku Shopping Arcade. It is a shop recommended by Rakucho Nakaoka-ya, the makers of the ‘ojami’ zabuton cushions used at our guesthouse. It is said to have been in business for over 200 years. Their anmochi, filled with sweet red bean paste, has a gentle sweetness. It is a shop we highly…
- Food
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Mokko Bridge on Shirakawa Canal
The forecast for Kyoto is rain from tomorrow evening. The rain looks set to scatter the cherry blossoms. In the city, the blossoms are already in full bloom in the northern areas such as Kurama, and it feels as though they’ve come a little early this year. A spot I recommend for next year’s cherry blossom season is the bridge commonly known as Mokko Bridge, which spans on Shirakawa canal. Until 1980, there was an ice factory here, and the bridge was named ‘Mokko’ because it was used to transport sawdust—used to preserve the ice—via ‘mokko’, a net-like carrying device…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Takase-bune
The Takase River flows to the east of the Hotel Okura Kyoto. It is a canal opened in 1614 by Suminokura Ryōi—who amassed his fortune through the Red Seal trade, primarily with Vietnam—and his eldest son. Drawing water from the Kamo River at Nijo-ohashi Bridge, it extends to Fushimi, covering a total length of just over 10 kilometres. It is said that the river was named Takase-gawa because the shallow water required the use of flat-bottomed boats known as Takase-bune. Although the water intake from the Kamo River is now an underground channel, boats are moored at the shallow stretch known…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Carpet of Cherry Blossoms on the Philosopher’s Path
The Somei-Yoshino cherry trees along the Philosopher’s Path are gradually beginning to shed their blossoms. Near the Ginkaku-ji police box, fallen petals have gathered to form a magnificent carpet of cherry blossoms. This stunning carpet, with its striking contrast of pink and white petals, is a sight to be seen only at this time of year. Even visitors who were feeling a little tired after walking the approximately 2-kilometre stretch from Nanzen-ji couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Disruptive Behaviour by Tour Guides
The cherry blossoms along the Kamogawa River, which had been in full bloom, are now beginning to fall in places due to the rain and wind. As this is the final weekend of the cherry blossom season, Kyoto Station is extremely crowded. In particular, visitors from overseas are so engrossed in taking photographs that they come close to colliding with the Shinkansen, and there are occasional instances of people failing to observe Japanese rules, which often causes problems. Unfortunately, there are people who behave in that way, even amongst us tour guides. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many…
- Column
- notice
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Somei-Yoshino Cherry Blossoms at Ebisugawa Power Station
The Ebisugawa Power Station, located at the terminus of the Okazaki Canal—a famous spot for cherry blossoms. Built in 1914, it is a dam that has been supplying electricity to Kyoto City for over 100 years and continues to do so today. Although the drop in water level is a mere 3.4 metres, the discharge rate of 14 tonnes per second is truly impressive. It forms part of the Lake Biwa Canal, which played a key role in Japan’s modernisation, and is now designated as a Japan Heritage site. The recommended spot for photography here is on the west side…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Jikkoku-bune Boats on the Okazaki Canal
The Jikkoku-bune boats in Okazaki operate only during the cherry blossom season. The Jikkoku-bune was a small transport vessel that operated during the Edo period, linking Fushimi in Kyoto with Osaka to carry rice, sake and passengers. They take around 30 minutes to cover the 3-kilometre route from Nanzen-ji Temple to the Ebisugawa Dam. Tokusei Bridge and Kumano Bridge are popular spots for photographing these boats. The boats pass under the bridges every 15 minutes. The area is illuminated from sunset until 21:30. It is beautiful at night, though the evenings are still rather chilly.
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Pink Moon
Entrance ceremonies were held at many private universities across Kyoto, with students dressed in black suits striding confidently about. The Pink Moon seemed to be welcoming these fresh-faced students. It is not that the moon actually appears pink; rather, the name comes from the fact that it coincides with the season when moss phlox is in bloom. The weather in Kyoto is set to remain fine until tomorrow, but it is forecast to turn unsettled from Wednesday. The cherry blossoms will be at their peak until this weekend.
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Our Guesthouse’s Eighth Year
Thanks to your support, our guesthouse has now entered its eighth year. Having worked as a civil servant and a researcher, it might seem at first glance that my career has nothing to do with running a guesthouse. However, when it comes to listening to people’s voices, all my past experiences and the people I have met have served as invaluable lessons. The photograph shows the weeping cherry trees at the Kyoto Imperial Palace. They are among my favourite cherry blossoms in Kyoto. Soon, the Kyoto Imperial Park will be filled with the beautiful songs of migratory birds.
- Column
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction