Blog
Blog Spot introduction 11ページ目
-
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
-
Philosopher’s Path
The Somei-Yoshino cherry trees along the Philosopher’s Path have burst into bloom all at once. The path is bustling with tourists from morning till night. Perhaps partly due to the upcoming admission price hike at Ginkaku-ji Temple starting April 1, I also saw many Japanese visitors. With nearly 400 Somei-Yoshino cherry trees planted along a stretch of about 2 kilometers, it truly forms a tunnel of cherry blossoms. Additionally, although fewer in number, the native Oshima cherry trees—which bloom alongside new leaves—are also at their peak, creating a beautiful contrast of white and green. This is a place that has been maintained…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
-
Bustling Keage Incline
Somei-yoshino cherry blossoms are in full bloom all over Kyoto, and with it being the final weekend of the spring holidays, everywhere is absolutely packed. The Keage Incline is particularly popular at this time of year. The Biwa Lake Canal was a vital waterway linking Kyoto and Lake Biwa. However, part of the canal had a height difference of 36 metres, making it difficult for boats to navigate. To solve this problem, a 582-metre-long inclined railway—the longest of its kind in the world at the time—was constructed in 1891 to transport boats. After the war, it was decommissioned and abandoned,…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
-
Weeping Cherry Tree at Shōgo-in Monzeki
Shugendō is a uniquely Japanese religious tradition that blends indigenous mountain worship with Esoteric Buddhism and Shinto. Shōgoin is the head temple of this tradition. As the name ‘Monzeki’ suggests, it is a temple of high standing where members of the imperial family and the court nobility have served as head priests; indeed, it is one of only thirteen ‘Miyamonzeki’ temples. The term ‘Miyamonzeki’ refers to temples that welcomed as their head priests either ‘Hōshinnō’—princes who were granted the title of prince after taking monastic vows—or ‘Nyūdōshinnō’—princes who took monastic vows after being granted the title of prince. It also…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
-
Weeping Cherry Tree at Kamo-ohashi Bridge
The weeping cherry tree on the right bank of Kamo-ohashi Bridge, just beside our guesthouse, is now at its peak. Although there is only one tree here, it is a popular spot among locals where you can take your time to admire it. When I was looking for a property to start a guesthouse in Kyoto, I came across a place near Kamo Ohashi Bridge and felt naturally drawn to it. It was a place where I instinctively felt, ‘If I’m to continue living in Kyoto, this is the place.’ Nearby is Honman-ji Temple, also famous for its weeping cherry…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
-
Thunberg spiraea
The white flowers of the Thunberg spiraea are in full bloom, coinciding with the cherry blossom season. As this plant is found only in Japan and eastern China, visitors from abroad often ask me its name. Plants native to Asia often do not grow wild in Europe, and whilst they may have English or French names, these are rarely understood, which can be rather troublesome. That said, snow willow is popular as a garden plant, and varieties such as ‘Fujino Pink’, ‘Ogon’ and ‘Mt. Fuji’ are well known. Possessing a resilience that allows it to withstand flooding, it grows wild…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
-
Weeping Cherry Trees at Hotel Okura Kyoto
Hotel Okura Kyoto, situated next to Kyoto City Hall, boasts excellent access with a direct connection to the underground. I frequently visit this hotel myself, whether to meet clients or to visit ‘Panetteria Okura’, the bakery on the second basement floor serving freshly baked bread. There are weeping cherry trees on the hotel grounds, and they have begun to bloom slightly earlier than the Somei-Yoshino cherry trees in the surrounding area. Meanwhile, the weeping cherry trees in the Kyoto Imperial Palace Garden and at Rokkaku-do Temple are now in full bloom. Even though they are all weeping cherry trees, there…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
-
Somei-Yoshino Cherry Blossoms Along the Takase River
The official declaration of the start of the cherry blossom season in Kyoto has been made, following the blooming of five standard Somei-Yoshino cherry trees at Nijo Castle. This is three days earlier than average and marks the earliest declaration in the Kansai region. That said, it is still cold in the city, and only a few blossoms have appeared so far. The Somei-Yoshino cherry trees along the Takase River have also begun to bloom, but they are still far from being in full bloom. Although rain is forecast for tomorrow, warm, sunny weather is expected from the day after…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
-
Kyoto University Graduation Ceremony
Today, as primary schools across Kyoto held their graduation ceremonies, Kyoto University also held its degree conferment ceremony, resulting in a huge crowd gathering in front of the Clock Tower. Although, unfortunately, the cherry blossoms were not in full bloom, it is refreshing to see students setting off on a new journey. Once again this year, Kyoto University’s traditional cosplay made an appearance, offering a glimpse into the university’s liberal academic atmosphere. My former mentor embodied the very spirit of Kyoto University: he generally refrained from interfering and placed great emphasis on independence. It was truly a ‘hands-off’ approach to…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
-
Himeji Castle Admission Fee Increase
Himeji Castle is one of the finest cherry blossom viewing spots in western Japan. With as many as 1,000 Somei-Yoshino and weeping cherry trees in full bloom, the avenue of cherry trees at Sannomaru Plaza is particularly popular as a photo spot. Due to soaring maintenance costs, admission fees have been raised from 1,000 yen to 2,500 yen for all visitors except Himeji residents, effective from the 1st of this month. However, entry remains free for all visitors under the age of 18. Whilst opinions are divided, given the immense queues in early spring, the price hike may help limit…
- Himeji
- Spot introduction
-
Apricot Blossoms by the Kamogawa River
The apricot trees by the Kamogawa River, just a minute’s walk from the guesthouse, have begun to blossom. From a distance, they might be mistaken for cherry blossoms, but they are characterised by their round petals and the way the sepals curve backwards. The closely related plum blossoms do not curve backwards, and as they lack flower stalks, they appear to bloom directly from the branches. Cherry blossoms, on the other hand, can be distinguished by the notches at the tips of their petals and the fact that many flowers bloom on a single stem. With plum and apricot blossoms…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
-
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