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Blog Spot introduction 4ページ目
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Cherry blossoms along the Kamo River in full bloom
The Kamo River is the symbol of Kyoto. In the mornings and evenings, the river is busy with joggers and dog walkers. Many Someiyoshino cherry trees are in full bloom along the Kamo River, stretching about 7 km from Shimogamo Shrine in the north to near Tofuku-ji Temple in the south. As of today, Kiyomizu-dera Temple is only about 30% in bloom, so it looks like we will be able to enjoy the cherry blossoms for a relatively long time this year. However, Kyoto Station is very crowded at this time of year. This is because many F1 spectators visit Kyoto this…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Someiyosino along Takase River
The Takase River is a canal that was opened by drawing water from the Kamo River. It is said that there were seven boating docks for loading and unloading goods, called funairi, and that there were many wholesale stores along the river. Goods were transported between Kyoto and Osaka via the Takase River. Because of the narrow width of the Takase River, one-way traffic was used: upriver in the morning to bring goods into Kyoto, and downriver in the afternoon to bring goods out of Kyoto. Now that the canal is no longer in use, someiyoshino cherry trees are in full…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Weeping cherry trees bloom in Kamo Ohashi Bridge
Someiyoshino cherry trees have blossomed in Tokyo and other parts of western Japan, and it is now time for cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto. Someiyoshino around the guesthouse are still only a few blossoms here and there, but it is expected to be in full bloom by the end of this week. The best place to visit at this time of year is the weeping cherry tree, which called shidarezakura in Japanese, at the west end of Kamo Ohashi Bridge. It blooms earlier than Someiyoshino and is crowded with people taking photos with the Kamo-ohashi Bridge and Mount Hiei in the background.…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Kohigan cherry blossom
With the warm weather continuing, the Okame cherry trees at Chotokuji are in full bloom. The kohigan cherry trees along Kamo River have blossomed next.Kohigan cherry blooms about a week earlier than Someiyoshino, the most common cherry tree in Japan, and is so named because it blooms around the time of the Ohigan holiday. The Ohigan is a period in spring and autumn when people make offerings to their ancestors. As a uniquely Japanese Buddhist event, people visit graves, hold memorial services, clean Buddhist altars and make offerings.The Kohigan cherry is most famous in Takato Joshi Park in the south…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Wakayama Castle
Wakayama is a city that I rarely come to for interpreter-guide work. This time I visited on the request of an interpreter's test. The keep of Wakayama Castle, located in front of the Wakayama Prefectural Government Office, is a popular photogenic spot during the cherry blossom season. Unfortunately, the cherry blossoms were still in bud, but the castle keep is beautiful against the blue sky. Wakayama Castle was the residence of the Kishu Tokugawa family, a branch of the clan of the Tokugawa family that founded the Edo Shogunate, and was known as a castle with a vast area. The castle remained intact…
- Spot introduction
- Wakayama
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Okame-zakura cherry trees at Chotoku-ji blossom
It was cold and raining, but the Okame-zakura cherry trees at Chotoku-ji temple have started to flower. It will still be cold tomorrow, so the best time to see the cherry blossoms may be after the middle of next week. Plum blossoms are also at their best in Kyoto at the moment, and some people often mistake cherry blossoms for plum blossoms. Both have pink or white flowers, so they look very similar, but the easiest way to tell them apart is by the shape of the petals. Cherry blossoms have an incision at the tip, while plum blossoms have round…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Okame-zakura at Chotokuji temple
The early-blooming cherry blossoms in Kyoto are the famous Kawazu-zakura at Ichijomodoribashi Bridge, but the Okame-zakura at Chotoku-ji Temple near our guesthouse is also popular. The cherry blossoms bloom around 10 March every year, but this year they are a little late, perhaps because of the cold weather. Today they were only buds, but if the weather continues to be warm, it is likely that the deep pink flowers will be visible the day after tomorrow. Chotokuji Temple is normally closed to the public, but only during the cherry blossom season can it be enjoyed from the car park.
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Hina matsuri
Today is Hinamatsuri, Girls' Festival. Every year on 3 March, dolls are displayed to wish for the healthy growth and happy marriage of girls. It was believed that seasonal milestones were prone to evil spirits, so the festival was held to ward off evil spirits and pray for happiness. Today, fewer and fewer households decorate their homes, but in the lobby of the Hotel Okura next to Kyoto City Hall, a seven-tiered decoration of 15 dolls is displayed, attracting passers-by to stop and look. The topmost represents the Emperor and Empress. It is a prayer that, like the Emperor and Empress,…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Kehi Shrine
The Kyoto-Kanazawa-Shirakawa-go-Takayama route is popular with foreign tourists. However, as the Hokuriku Shinkansen has not yet fully opened, train travel between Kyoto and Hokuriku has become very inconvenient and expensive. It is necessary to change from the limited express Thunderbird to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tsuruga Station. If you come all the way to Tsuruga, you may want to drop in at Kehi Jingu Shrine, which is known as the largest spiritual site in the Hokuriku region. It is a 15-minute walk from Tsuruga Station, so it is a good spot to visit while waiting to change trains. The Chomeisui (long-life water),…
- Fukui
- Spot introduction