GeGeGe no Kitaro, a famous Japanese manga

Do you know "GeGeGe no Kitaro", which is a so famous manga created by Shigeru Mizuki, a manga artist? In the manga, you meet a lot of imaginary creatures known as yokai.

Yokai is a sort of Japanese folklore ghosts, monsters, or phantoms and also it's a sometimes gods. Here is the picture of one.

If you know him, you must love that manga!

This sculpture is made of the same material of a grave stone. It's so weird, but looks nice.

We know so many weird things observed from view of yours. It's just one of them.

If you love it, we will let you know where it is and how it is like.

Right, I love manga too! I've grown up with them :)

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

D-2 bus stop at Kyoto station

One of the way to come to A-yado from Kyoto station is by bus.
The bus is easiest way to get here.
This picture is D-2 bus stop which you can come to our hostel.

Here is the access from Kyoto station to A-yado.

1.From the bus terminal" JR Kyoto Karasuma-chuo-guchi"
  (which is on the north side of Kyoto station)
   Take No.206 bus at "D-2 bus stop" for about 15min.

2.Get off at "Gion bus stop"

3.Please walk to the north about 1min. (same way to No.206 bus is going)

4.When you find "Shinmonzen-street, turn left.

5.Go straight until you come to a crossroads.

The hostel is located on the north-east corner of Shinmonzen-street and Hanamikoji-street!!

We think it's easy to find us.
But.....if you get lost, please ask Japanese people "A-yado ha dokodesuka? (Where is A-yado)".

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Our guests in colorful yukata

Hi, hi! It was a nice day too, everybody looks nice.

In summer there will be a lot of matsuri (Japanese festival) being supposed to take place. 

In Japanese matsuri, what's the best traditional costume?

It's absolutely yukata(浴衣, ゆかた）! In the photo above they wear colorful yukata.
They are our guests in front of a front desk. They look nice and cute!! If you are interested in Japanese clothes, please try one. And go out to enjoy matsuri!

We normally don't wear Japanese traditional clothes such as kimono(着物, きもの).
Because you need a technique to wear and maintain it. But yukata is easier one. So don't hesitate to wear it!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Enjoy Wii

There are so many things worth seeing in Kyoto. If you spend more than 1 month, it's impossible to cover the whole of them.  

Golden pavilion, Kiyomizu-dera temple, Heian-jingu shrine, Bamboo path, Philosophizer's path, Fushimiinari shrine, Nijo-jo castle, and etc. So many!!

Plus, we have Wii.
Yes, it's a famous game machine. You can enjoy Wii in our common room!


Well, you have to make a efficient plan for your travel, maybe, without playing Wii.
But, it's so fascinating!!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

A unique type of omikuji

Do you believe a fortune telling?

When you go to Kibune Shrine, you can see a unique type of omikuji (fortune telling paper slips).
It's completely difference between normal omikuji and Kibune's omikuji.
The normal omikuji is that you can see your fortune directly on the paper.
But the Kibune's omikuji appears your fortune after it has been dipped into the water.
It is interesting, isn't it?

If you go to Kibune Shrine, please tell your fortune with omikuji.
Bright future might be waiting for you........

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

A tram in Arashiyama area

In Arashiyama area of Kyoto, you can ride on a tram in this picture.

That is colorful and cool! It's really fun to enjoy the cool breezes on it.

Arashirama area has beautiful nature, like a famous bamboo path we've introduced in this blog. 

And also, a historical preservation area, white water rafting, and a monkey park are so fun.

I like the third one :) Monkeys were so cute!!

A monkey wanting to eat nuts I had. It was not a monkey cage. I was in a cage :)

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Shinto-wedding in Shimogamo-jinja shrine

When I go to Shimogamo-jinja shrine, I came across a couple in their wedding ceremony.

Yes, it's totally Japanese style. The bride wore a white dress, and the groom wore a black and gray clothes, which are known as Shinto-wedding style.

They looked really happy!

And one more photo.

On the same day, I came across another couple at the same place. How lucky!!
They were drinking sake to promise their lives putting together.

It was a beautiful sunny day. I wish their marriage will be very happy!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Teru Teru Bozu

June is a rainy season in Japan.

When it is a rainy day, we make "teru teru bozu(てるてる坊主）" which is traditional hand-made doll made of white paper and hang it outside of window by a string.
It looks like a ghost.
But we believe that they have a special power to bring good weather and stop a rainy day.

If you are from a rainy city such as London, try to make and hang it outside of window.
It might stop a rainy day and you could go out.

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

A guest with beer cans

Our guests laugh a lot, joke around a lot, play a lot, and sometimes drink a lot. 

Yeah, sometimes tremendously...  

A guest drank those cans of beer. The pyramid was build with 10 cans.
He said "I can finish beers in your fridge".


After he said that, I came back to our reception to spend 20 or 30 minutes as a receptionist. And then going to the common room, without believing in what he said, I was surprised with the pyramid. He was there, saying "Hand me one more can!!"

O.K. He can drink all cans. His friend should bring ukon, which is good for a hangover, to him.

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Takoyaki (octopus dumpling)

I like takoyaki (octopus dumpling), which was first popularized in Osaka (next to Kyoto prefecture). Takoyaki got very popular and familiar for all Japanese.

This is takoyaki I ate in a festival. Well, does it look tasty from your view? I guess that picture is O.K. But first you've heard "Octopus". Ummm, I don't know if you eat a octopus or not... If that sea creature makes you uncomfortable, you shouldn't eat it.

BUT, I still recommend you to eat this kind of Japanese food cooked with weird ingredient from view of yours. Because if you don't know what is in it, you will shout "How delicious!!!".
O.K. Let's try.   

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Toji Market

Why don't you go to the flea market?

Once a month, on the 21st, there is a big market in grounds of Toji temple.

There are more than 1000 stalls, with a vast number of people visiting this market each month.

This market generally runs from 5am to 4 pm, but it is up to individual stallholdrs when to open or close. It might close early when it is bad weather.

I'm going there tomorrow.

Please join me!!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Our washing machine

We like cleaning, washing, and keeping all the things here tidied up. A-yado, our hostel is one of the cleanest hostels in Kyoto. We believe in it!

Oh, but don't worry about getting our rooms messy. Sometimes people do, despite their intention.  We feel really happy while we are cleaning! That's why this hostel keeps cleanliness.

Yeah, it's our washing machine which is used everyday. It looks being able to accept so many cloths. How many bed sheets can it wash once? More than 10!!
That is a really good buddy of ours.


And also, that is a good buddy or yours. Because you can use it after sunset to 10pm to wash your clothes. (It's free, BUT a dryer is for 200yen for one hour.) 


On my day off, sometimes I go to climb a nice mountain, such as Daimonji-yama mountain (大文字山, だいもんじやま) in Kyoto. It's not so big, but good for hiking. I will show how to get there, if you like it too. And if your pants are contaminated with dirt, please ask us to use the washing machine! 

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Dip in Kamo-gawa River

Well, so hot. The summer has come around the corner.
I love summer. But I feel it's too hot, and it should be easier to survive.
(Actually, the temperature is 28 degrees centigrade now. It's not so hot in your country?)

Woooo, check that picture! It looks very comfortable. The river is called Kamo-gawa River (鴨川, かもがわ). O.K, I will go there, maybe, tomorrow! That river is nearby our hostel, within walking distance for 7 minutes.

Well, at first, I have to check the weather forecast of tomorrow. I want tomorrow to be sunny.

Pretty please with sugar on top!!! 

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Kurama onsen

Have you tried japanese onsen(japanese style hot spring) before?

When you go to the north of Kyoto city, there is one onsen called Kurama onsen.
They have a variety of bath (indoors and outdoors).
Specially I recommend you to try "Roten Buro" which is natural setting outdoor bath.
You can enjoy a nice view of Kurama-yama during the bath.

It must be a great experience for you!!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Samurai hero

Do you like a Samurai(侍, さむらい) hero? Samurai is a sword warrior in old Japan.

A famous movie, "The Last Samurai"  describes a Samurai hero who is acted by Tom Cruise.

Wow! He has a Samurai sword and wears a Yukata (浴衣, ゆかた), which is like from old Japan.
He is our guest and he likes things of old Japan.  Enjoy them! And go out with them!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

One-day bus pass for Kyoto

Kyoto doesn't have so many train lines. If you want to go, for example, the north-west side of Kyoto, A bus is the best way. The bus system is really nice to go everywhere! But the fare is a little bit expensive. 220yen for one ride. Well, what should I do? X(

Ta-dah!! We sell a one-day bus pass at our reception for 500yen. You can go almost everywhere in Kyoto city. And you can use it for one day.

O.K. Let's count sight seeing spots you can go for one day!!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Beer Garden on the roof of the building

It's getting hot in Kyoto.
When it's a hot day, I always want to drink beer.

This picture is beer garden on the roof of the building.

Drinking beer while watching a nice view such as Kamo river is exceptional.

Also they have the course menu that all you can drink. So you'll definitily enjoy it if you like to drink.

You might be addicted to beer garden!!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Burger King in Japan

Is Burger King popular in your country?

If you are in a Western county, it's familiar for some extent.
In Japan there are a few Burger King joints, and Kyoto has two in the center of city.

Well, it looks like a normal burger joint.
If they wear black pants or skirts and white color shirts lined by red color, they look like staff of MacDonald. They wore black uniforms. So the picture is taken in a Burger King joint.

Anyway, the burger looks very tasty! It was covered, but I know :P

If you come to Kyoto, and you miss that taste, I will show where burger joints are!
Tasty foods in your country are really valuable for your buds.
Same as you, Japanese miss miso soup and soy souce, sometimes :)

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

June bride in Kyoto, Japan

In your countries is a June bride famous?

It was from ancient Rome, and everybody thought a wedding in June was really fortunate.

Because an etymology of June is Juno, a goddess of marriage in Roman mythology. Juno gives the blessing to couples.

In also Japan, everybody thinks it's so nice to get married in this season.

But the style of a wedding is different from your countries.

In the picture above a couple got married dresses up in Shinto(神道, しんとう) style of cloths.

Anyway, they look really happy!

"Congratulations!"

Oh, oh one more thing.

The ricksha is not only for people in their wedding.

You can ride on it!!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Presents from Wales

Guest from Wales gave us these presents today.

It's pin badge and key chain.

The name of his local station has been written on the key chain.

He said " Our station is the longest name in the world"

「Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch」

It's certainly long!!

I can't even pronounce.

Someone....Please tell me how to pronounce when you come to A-yado.

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Jigsaw puzzle of Tokyo Skytree

Do you know Tokyo Skytree?
It opened to the public starting from 22nd/May 2012.
And the tower is a tallest tower in the world.
The height is 634 meters! Wow, how tall!

Somebody likes tall, big, and large things.
Similarly, others like small things, like a jigsaw puzzle.

Look at that carefully!
It's a jigsaw puzzle of Tokyo Skytree.
The tower is very tall. And somebody likes a small jigsaw puzzle and also the tallest tower.
 I guess that's why that person wanted to make the jigsaw puzzle of Tokyo Skytree.

A guest gave us the jigsaw puzzle.

Anyway, the tower looks nice for sight seeing.
And it looks nice to put together pieces of it.
How many days should I spend?
Maybe 100 hundreds or so.

Well, let me try!!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Gion is a historical area

Hi, everybody.

This area we are in is sort of a historical area of Kyoto.
There are so many things worth seeing. They are not only temples and shrines.
But also Roads, rivers, and also people, like the ladies in following picture.

They are called Maiko-san (舞妓さん, まいこさん）. They have skills to entertain their guests, by playing a Japanese instrument, dancing a classical Japanese dance, and singing a old song.

They walks on streets so naturally with their white makeup, wearing a colorful Kimono.

I feel very fortunate to meet them!

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The backpacker's hostel is in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access with buses and train lines. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Presents from Indonesia

Sometimes guests give us souvenirs from their countries.

Look at this picture!

It looks special!! Guests from Indonesia gave us those presents.

A strap, ornament, and soup, it makes us really happy.

We keep and use them. And, of course, we cooked that soup with hot water and drank it.

It was very tasty and HOT. 

We are hanging the ornament in front of our reception.

When you come here, we will show that :)

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The backpacker's hostel in Kyoto, located in its historical district, Gion.

Have good access to transportation. The center of Kyoto.

Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

info@ayado.net

Staff like laughing

Hi, it's getting hot in Kyoto. I observed fireflies last night. It's one of the beautiful summer events in Japan.

By the way, do you like a iPad?
One of our staff likes it, and he's come up with a nice way to use it, like the following picture.

Amazing!!
I've never seen a iPad standing on a front desk.

Sometimes we are joking around.
And everybody likes laughing here!

The path of bamboo in Arashiyama

You will reach in Arashiyama for the 15 mins ride on the train from Hankyu Kawaramachi station.

There is the path of bamboo(竹林の道）  which is one of the best reraxing place in Kyoto.

When you're standing the space surrounded by bamboo, you feel as if time has stopped only this space. Also you feel as if you're in another world.

It will definitely reflesh you and heal your daily fatigue!!

You must go there when you visit in Kyoto.

It is highly recommended place.

Hydrangea flowers in a rainy season

Now summer has almost began!
The temperature is getting higher and higher.
Then it will reach about 36 degrees centigrade in August. Is that too hot in your country?

Well, in this picture there is a sort of special flowers for Japanese.

It's called Ajisai (紫陽花, あじさい), which is a hydrangea flower in English.

When we find them blooming humbly, we think that a rainy season is coming soon.
Japan has a rainy season in a year. And it continues for about one month.
Though the season is not really good for going out, the flowers and many places, like shrines, temples, and historical roads, looks beautiful in rain.

Don't you like rain, while you go out ?
Me too.
But, looking at sceneries in rain, I've come to love it.

Hydrangea flowers with a small shrine.