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Blog Spot introduction 5ページ目
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Ganko Takasegawa Nijo-en
Tonight, I’m taking guests to Ganko Takasegawa Nijo-en for a dinner with maiko. As photographs of the maiko are not permitted on social media, here is a picture of the garden instead. This garden was created in the early 17th century by the wealthy merchant Suminokura Ryōi. During the Meiji era, it became the villa of Aritomo Yamagata, who later served as Prime Minister; the garden was subsequently renovated by Ogawa Jihei, who was responsible for the landscaping of Heian Jingu Shrine and Maruyama Park, and remains in its present form to this day. At night, the garden is illuminated,…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Tea Picking Experience
Wazuka Town is popular with foreign visitors as it is relatively close to Kyoto, offers scenic views, and provides the opportunity to experience tea picking. It is a frequent stop on tours. The chance to try tea leaf tempura and sample a variety of teas is particularly popular. At this time of year, the tea fields are covered with black sheets known as ‘kanreisya (cold-proof netting)’. This is to prevent sunlight from reaching the tea leaves, thereby bringing out the umami flavour of the ‘tencha’ used to make matcha. Due to the growing global demand for matcha, the use of…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Chii Hachiman Shrine
Chii Hachiman Shrine is situated to the east of the Miyama Thatched-Roof Village. It is said to have been founded in 1071, but was subsequently destroyed by a landslide and relocated to its present site in 1567. Furthermore, a legend of the Eight-Headed Great Stag is associated with this shrine. In the early 8th century, a demon in the form of a giant stag with eight heads appeared at the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, causing immense damage by ravaging fields and killing livestock. Empress Genmei, who reigned at the time, ordered a military commander named Kaga Saburō Kaneie to subdue…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Michi no eki (Roadside Station) Woody Keihoku
When visiting the Miyama Thatched-Roof Village, a stop at Michi no eki Woody Keihoku is an absolute must. As it is about an hour’s drive from Kyoto, it is the perfect place to take a break. Michi no eki is a government-designated roadside station found along roads and highways in Japan. Like other Michi no eki, the premises are lined with locally grown seasonal vegetables, which are so popular that they often sell out before midday. You can also try Keihoku’s speciality: natto mochi, where salty natto is wrapped in mochi and coated in kinako. However, my personal recommendation is the local soft-serve ice cream.…
- Food
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Miyama Kayabuki-no-sato
About a 90-minute drive from Kyoto city centre brings you to this thatched-roof village, which could be described as a quintessential Japanese landscape. Nearly 40 thatched-roof houses stand side by side, with the oldest reportedly built over 200 years ago. Whilst Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its thatched roofs, this village, despite its proximity to Kyoto, sees few coach buses, allowing visitors to enjoy it at a leisurely pace. The downside is that it’s difficult to get there without a car, but there are day-trip bus tours available from Kyoto Station. We also organise car tours…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Imamiya Shrine Sinkō Festival (Procession Festival)
The 5th of May marks the Shinkō Festival at Imamiya Shrine. Its history is ancient, reportedly dating back to the year 1001. Three portable shrines—the Agui Mikoshi, the Taka Mikoshi and the Ōmiya Mikoshi—were prepared within the shrine grounds. The each weight of the Taka Mikoshi and the Ōmiya Mikoshi is said to exceed 100 kg, making them the heaviest in Kyoto. As Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the second "Great Unifier" of Japan, played a pivotal role in the revival of Imamiya Shrine. The Ōmiya Mikoshi, which he donated, bears not only the Imperial Chrysanthemum crest but also the paulownia crests (Go-san-no-kiri…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo shoots grow at an astonishing rate. At their peak, they are said to grow by more than 1 metre a day. Whilst other plants have only one growth point, bamboo shoots have growth points at every node, numbering around 60 in total. As these nodes undergo cell division simultaneously, the shoot grows rapidly. Each node is covered by a single layer of skin; if this skin is removed, growth is said to cease. From March to May, the process of bamboo shoots growing can be observed in various locations. The photograph shows Moso bamboo in Arashiyama. Although native to…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Tripe and Liver Tempura
What has struck me most since arriving in Kyoto is the tempura made from tripe (the first stomach of the cow) , called ‘mino’ in Japanese, and liver. Although it is called ‘tempura’, it is clearly a deep-fried dish coated in breadcrumbs. In the past, you could find this tripe and liver tempura almost everywhere, particularly in the Tanaka district, near our guesthouse. Today, it can only be found in a few restaurants in the Sōjin district, near Kyoto Station. One of these is ‘Satake’. Perhaps because it has moved to new premises and the place has become cleaner and…
- Food
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Gionkaku in Daiun-in Temple
Daiun-in Temple is open to the public for special viewings in spring and autumn. The 36-metre-high Gionkaku pavilion within the temple grounds is often referred to as ‘Dōkaku-ji’ (Copper Pavilion Temple) due to its copper-clad roof. This Gionkaku pavilion was built by Kihachirō Ōkura, founder of the Ōkura Zaibatsu, inspired by the floats of the Gion Festival. It will be open daily during the Golden Week holiday period from 29 April to 6 May. As it is less crowded than other attractions and offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Kyoto’s cityscape from the top of the pavilion, it comes highly…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Matsumoto Castle
There are only five castles designated as National Treasures in Japan. Among them, Matsumoto Castle is particularly popular with French visitors. A hospitality team dressed as ninjas and other characters helps to entertain the visitors. It is said to have originated as Fukashi Castle, built by the Ogasawara clan who ruled Shinano Province during the Warring States period; the main keep and the castle town were subsequently developed by Ishikawa Kazumasa, a close aide to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Edo Shogunate. During busy periods such as public holidays, queues can stretch to over two hours, and the…
- Matsumoto
- Spot introduction
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Daiō Wasabi Farm
On tours that include Matsumoto, a visit to Daiō Wasabi Farm in Azumino is almost always included, alongside Matsumoto Castle. This area is blessed with natural spring water—filtered over many years by meltwater from the Northern Alps and residual snow from glaciers—and, as the water temperature remains stable throughout the year, it is ideal for wasabi cultivation. The vast farm also features a watermill, and at this time of year, when the greenery is at its best, visitors can enjoy scenery reminiscent of an Impressionist painting.
- Matsumoto
- Spot introduction
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Takayama ramen
In Gifu City, where I’m from, there’s a Chinese ramen shop called Kotengu, which I often visited to round off a night out. This ‘Chinese ramen’ is what is now known as Takayama ramen. Whilst the name ‘Takayama ramen’ is now well established, it used to be called ‘Chinese ramen’. Because the soy sauce base and broth are simmered together in a large pot, the colour is quite dark, but the flavour is light and refreshing, and it goes very well with the thin, curly noodles. Nowadays, Takayama Ramen is as popular as Hida beef. I visited Ramen Fukuchan. It’s…
- Food
- Spot introduction
- Takayama