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Blog Spot introduction 9ページ目
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Gozan no Okuribi
This year's Okuribi (Sending-Off Fires) ceremony was held without incident.On 13 August, we welcomed the spirits of our ancestors into our homes, and on the night of the 16th, we sent them back to the afterlife with the Okuribi ceremony.Since ancient times, the Japanese have revered mountains as sacred places, and we believed that after death, our souls would ascend to the mountains and reside there.The Sending-Off Fires also serve to comfort the souls of those who died in war, making them a prayer for peace.In the past, the Sending-Off Fires were held separately on five mountains around Kyoto, but…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Tea fields of Ishidera
The tea fields of Ishidera are one of Kyoto's most representative landscapes. Wazuka-cho, where the tea fields are located, is the main production area for Uji tea, and the picking of new tea will soon begin. The tea fields are a must-see, but are difficult to access without a car. The roads around the area are extremely narrow, making it difficult for vehicles to pass each other. In addition, there are signs along the road prohibiting parking, as it would be an obstacle to the farm work. Normally, people park their cars at the Wazuka Tea Café run by the Wazuka…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Osaka Expo surprisingly well received
The Osaka Expo has been criticised in the Japanese press since its opening. There was a succession of reports that the newly constructed Yumesima Station was overcrowded, that there was no escape route when it rained, and that the toilets were overwhelmingly inadequate and difficult to find. Safety is a concern, especially as methane gas above standard levels has been detected. Construction of pavilions has also been delayed, and the interiors of four pavilions in India, Nepal, Vietnam and Brunei have not yet been finished. Despite the numerous problems, the feedback from overseas visitors seems to be generally positive from what I…
- Osaka
- Spot introduction
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Surprisingly uncrowded Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu-dera Temple or Arashiyama are the most popular tourist attractions in Kyoto for foreigners. At the beginning of April, the temples are crowded with tremendous crowds, but this year there were surprisingly few people. However, of course there were huge crowds at Ninenzaka and Yasaka Pagoda. What was empty was the stage of Kiyomizu. Normally, you have to wait quite a long time to get to the tip of the stage, but this week the cherry blossoms were at their best in many places, so the tourists seemed to have been spread out quite a bit. At Kiyomizu-dera you can see around…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Flower rafts on the path of philosophy
Today, when the weather was fine, foreign tourists flocked to the Philosopher's Path in droves, taking photos as they pleased. Especially popular were the flower rafts, which can only be seen at this time of year. Petals scattered by the wind cover the surface of the water and look like a flower raft. The cherry trees along the Philosopher's Path were donated by Mr and Mrs Hashimoto Kansetsu, Japanese painters who were active in the Kyoto art world at the beginning of the 20th century, and there are currently around 400 trees along the waterway. Hashimoto Kansetsu was well versed in…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Heian Jingu shrine garden
Heian Jingu Shrine was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Heian-kyo, the ancient capital of Kyoto. It attracts fewer foreign tourists than other tourist attractions and offers a relaxing experience. An entrance fee of 600 yen allows visitors to explore the four ponds inside. At this time of year, weeping cherry trees can be enjoyed, and the bridge over Seiho Pond in East Garden, Taiheikaku, which can be seen at the end of the tour, is magnificent. After the transfer of the capital to Tokyo in 1868, various projects were undertaken in response to fears…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Todaiji temple in full bloom of cherry blossoms
Today I visited Todaiji Temple in Nara with guests from Bulgaria.The cherry blossoms in Nara are a little later than in Kyoto, but the weeping cherry trees and Someiyoshino cherry trees at Todai-ji Temple were in full bloom.As it was Friday, there were hardly any Japanese people there, but only foreigners as far as the eye could see. It is good that people from all over the world can appreciate the beauty of Japanese cultural assets, but some people started smoking in the precincts of the temple.Smoking on the streets is often prohibited in Japan, and of course at shrines…
- Nara
- Spot introduction
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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