Blog
Blog Column
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Natural Disasters
Whilst guiding a guest to Kinkaku-ji, we were suddenly caught in a torrential downpour. To make matters worse, there was incessant thunder and lightning. Lightning struck nearby, and everything before my eyes turned completely white. The alarm in a souvenir shop began to blare, which really panicked me. At the same time, as a guide, it made me think about how one should act during a disaster. After safely escorting my guests back to their hotel and settling down to relax at home, the major earthquake struck Kumamoto. Whilst the extent of the damage is not yet clear, I sincerely…
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Kokushobi
The Japan Weather Association has adopted the term ‘Kokushobi (Extreme Heat Day)’ this year, based on a questionnaire. A day is classified as Kokushobi when the maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees. Today in Kyoto, the temperature has exceeded 38 degrees. Although it is not officially classified as a ‘Kokushobi’, the heat and humidity make it feel as though one is inside a steam sauna. Almost all those walking outside are foreign tourists. Yesterday, a sign warning of heatstroke was displayed at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, indicating the highest level of risk. There was no one in front of the Shishinden…
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- Kyoto
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Chaos at Kyoto Station
The crowds at Kyoto Station show no sign of abating. There is a constant stream of foreign tourists who, at the Shinkansen ticket gates, tap their smartphones without displaying a QR code, or attempt to pass through using their EX Reservation Details (EX利用票) only to be blocked. On top of that, there are long queues at the ticket machines. Today, I had to wait for nearly 20 minutes. Online bookings for the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines can be made via smartphone. https://smart-ex.jp/en/index.php Recently, there has also been an increase in incidents involving large suitcases. There have been cases…
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- Travel tips
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Wild birds are drawn to dirty places
The source of the Hantavirus infection is rodents in South America, and there have been reports suggesting that the Dutch couple who died may have contracted the virus whilst taking part in a birdwatching tour in Ushuaia, southern Argentina. One of the places visited on that tour was a rubbish dump. Some of you may be surprised to hear that they went to such a place, but for us bird enthusiasts, it is perfectly natural. Rubbish dumps are teeming with insects and rats, attracting large numbers of small birds and birds of prey that prey on them. One of the…
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Chairman of the Neighbourhood Association
This year, I became chairman of the Higashi-Imadegawa Neighbourhood Association, where our guesthouse is located. My involvement with this neighbourhood association began ten years ago. When I purchased the property to open the guesthouse, I received a letter from the chairman at the time asking me ‘please do not operate a private accommodation business’. At that time, Kyoto was in turmoil over the issue of private accommodation which called minpaku in Japanese, and for local residents, the prospect of a complete stranger opening a guesthouse was nothing but a source of anxiety. I went to explain the situation immediately, and…
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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…
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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.
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- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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China’s call for travel restraint
Concerns exist regarding the negative economic impact stemming from the Chinese government's call for travel restrait in Japan. However, concerning the Japanese tourism industry, it appears there has been little effect thus far. As for our guesthouse, since the onset of the pandemic, we have had virtually no guests from China, meaning we have been entirely unaffected. Regrettably, the Japanese media focuses on Chinese-run private lodgings, bus companies, or hotels and kimono rental shops overly reliant on Chinese tourists, portraying the tourism industry as suffering. Yet, I have heard of no one being adversely affected. Rather, I am concerned that…
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