Backpackers Hostel in Gion, Kyoto: August 2012

Friday, August 31, 2012

Tenugui (手拭い）

Do you know what it is?

It's called "Tenugui（手拭い）".
It's a thin Japanese hand towel made of cotton.

It can be used as a washcloth, dishcloth, headband, not only hand towel.
Also it can be used to wear under the Men（面）for Kendo（剣道）practice.

Many ways to use........It's very convenient.

There are many shops to buy tenugui in Kyoto.
Let's find your own way with it if you have a chance to buy.

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Dear deer in Nara(奈良, なら)

If you go to Nara(奈良,なら), you are meant to see deer sitting, walking, eating and sleeping. There are so many deer in Nara park. When I counted deer, I gave up it when that number reached about 100. And the figure was etched in my mind. Even after coming back to Kyoto, I was looking for deer...

Yeah, don't worry. If you are suffered from the same condition, you can buy this doll in Nara before hand. It's cute and good to count. I can say just "one". Sure, that's all.

Well, I was little bit confused with deer. Hey deer, don't disturb my mind.

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Stamps for free

In the small round plastic cases, there are stamps each. One of them has the figure of a yellow bear. Another is like a cup.

We gave those stamps to our guests fro FREE. One day we got a lot of stamps and starting from that day we began to do it. And they are left on a table in a common room. Sometimes that paper box was empty. So we restocked them over and over. A month later, they were all gone.

And that paper got a lot of stamps!! Yeah, blue pictures are all stamps.

I'm sure they enjoyed it!

Wow!! it's so crowded. If you concentrate on looking at the photo, you will find a bear which is not stamp, but a hand drawing. It's not very difficult. Please try!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The guest gave us the American flag

One of our guests gave us the American flag.

That's a funny thing.
The person who gave it is Italian and lives in Finland.
The American flag is no connection with him.
He just bought it for souvenir when he was travelling in USA.
Normally when the guests give us something, it is from their own country.
But we are really happy to receive it.

Thank you very much!!

"When you stay the guest house in another country, please give the Japanese flag to them next time."

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Mt. Fuji(富士山, ふじさん)

Please take a loot at the price of cans of drink in the vending machine.

400yen??? Wow it's about 35 dollars for a can. Very expensive....

I took a photo on Mt. Fuji which is highest mountain of Japan. The height is 3776 meter. The price of drink get higher, when you reach the top. So please bring water in your pot or plastic bottle.

You can enjoy that beautiful scenery. It's a sea of cloud from the 9th grade or Mt. Fuji.

The photo is sunrise from the top. I couldn't express those scenery by words.

Staff of A-yado are basically very active. We go to travel to so many places and get the information. So we can recommend them to you, if it's so nice!!

If you love climbing a mountain, I highly recommend you to go to Mt. Fuji!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

A bear doll feeling safe and comfortable

Our hostel is so safe and secure. Sometimes a guest worries that somebody who doesn't stay with us walks into a room or a valuable is stolen. Don't worry. We give you a keys to lock doors and a security box. Also we always pay attention about them, though Japan is so safe country.

Yes, that's why the doll looks off guard.

Yeah, it looks feeling so comfortable. Our hostel has the nice security also for a doll, which means a girl who put that doll felt safe and secure, right?

I guess it's her valuable, so she brings it during her travel. Yeah, I'm pretty sure.

O.K, make yourself at home! And don't worry about the safeness.

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Tenjin-san market

Tenjin-san market is held on the 25th of every month at Kitano Tenmangu shrine.

You can buy many variety of products there. Especially kimono and kimono fabric are very resonable priced about 1000yen.
Also they sell antique, food, furniture. I think it is going to be a good souvenir for your family and friends.

If you get a cheap Kimono there, let's walk around Kyoto city with it like traditional Japanese!!

Actually, This market was today and i wanted to go there. But nobody changed my shift(>_<)
I'll try to go there next month and enjoy it!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Friday, August 24, 2012

In a traditional house preservation area

It's in Arashiyama(嵐山, あらしやま) area of Kyoto. There are so many houses preserved having the same figures of old Japan. This photo is took in the area.

That wooden house with a thached roof is totally old and historical. Moss is on the roof. It looks like something an art object.

There's no way to get to the preservation area directly by a public transportation. Just walk!! I walked from Arashiyama station for more than one hour. It was fun! In nature you can enjoy path with trees, blew by a refreshing breeze!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Our signboard at the entrance

We are A-yado, a hostel in Kyoto for all travelers, especially, backpackers. Backpackers, basically, have a good sense of direction. They go out everywhere, remembering names of streets and landmarks which is useful to realize where they are.

But nobody's perfect. So some of them get lost, when they are heading our hostel.

Asking local people, checking their maps, in the end they find our signboard.

It's nice, isn't it? You know our hostel's name. That red and white one with the name, "A-yado".

It's the opposite side. If you come from Gion(祇園, ぎおん) bus stop, you will find this one.

It will release you with a heavy burden, if you are getting lost.

A-yado is waiting for you!!
Oh, If you lose your way and think that there is no way to get to the hostel, please call us by a public phone. We will show how to get!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The Tengu Statue

When you get off at Kurama station, you can see the big Tengu statue.

Tengu is one of the best known youkai monster worshiped as minor Shinto gods.
We believe that Tengu used to live on Kurama mountain about 800 years agao.
But nobody has not seen him. The story of Tengu was transmited from generation to generation.

It's also the subject of a Noh play(能） nowadays.

If you go to Kurama mountain, you might see a real Tengu.
You will be a first person to see a real Tengu if you come across.

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Hiko-nyan is so cute!

In Shiaga prefecture, which is neighbor hood of Kyoto, there are some castles. One of them has a very cute mascot character named Hiko-nyan(ひこにゃん). Yeah, it's cute.

That photo is a box of Manju called a sweet bean dumpling in English. On the bottom right, he is sitting. Well, cute.

When you open the box, you will see it running (or jumping? I'm not sure). Yes, it's so spirited.

I didn't show, in this post, how the castle is like. I wrote about just Hiko-nyan. Because it's more popular than the castle itself these days...

Yeah, it's strange.

Hikone-jo Castle(彦根城, ひこねじょう) is also very nice. In the castle Hikonyan is dancing and spreading good cheer.

If you go there, please enjoy both, the castle and Hiko-nyan!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Monday, August 20, 2012

A talisman or ticket?

Have you ever seen this paper with Japanese kanji?

It looks something special, at least, from the view of Japanese. How about you? We can get it sometimes when we pay an admission fee for a temple. Then, is it just a ticket? Or is it a talisman with mysterious powers?

Answer:
That is a ticket and talisman at the same time. Yeah, some of people put it on a wall of their home to protect themselves from evil spirits. And others threw it away after using it.

Uh, what should I do? I got three when I go out for enjoying beautiful temples.
If I threw a talisman, does that power change into curse?

NO!! It should have a heart of gold. So even if you do so, nothing happens.
It's all up to you!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Our guest came to A-yado by bicycle

One of our guests came to A-yado from Nagoya by bicycle.

「How long did you take from Nagoya to Kyoto by bicycle?」

「11hours」

「11hours!? If you take shinkansen, it takes only 30min. Anyway, how long are you staying in Kyoto?」

「Just 1 night. I just came to Kyoto to meet up my friends. I am going back to Nagoya tomorrow.」

「Wow. You came over for 11 hours on a bicycle just for that. I can't believe!!」

Our guest takes the action can not be predicted.

I hope he'll go back home safely.

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Tatsumi-bashi bridge(巽橋, たつみば) is so nice

In the photo, there are green leaves, an old wooden house, and a small bridge with cable stones. That bridge is nearby our hostel by walking for 3 minutes. It’s something historical.

By chance I saw Geisha girls on 1st day of August. They were walking on the bridge modestly. That day is for Hassaku(八朔, はっさく) which is their important event to greet restaurants they work for. I saw more than 10 geisha girls in a day!

Kyoto has so many events in the 4 seasons. And to enjoy them, there are a few tips.

Firstly, go out frequently.

Secondly, watch carefully something you are interested in.

Thirdly, ask our staff to get the information!!

Yes, we will!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Friday, August 17, 2012

They are in high spirits!

In front of the reception, there are our guests talking and laughing. They liked joking around. Especially, the man on the right in the photo loved joking around. When he showed up, saying something, everybody laughed and looked happy.

He stayed in our hostel for some days with his girl friend. They traveled a lot of countries as backpackers. After traveling in Japan, he thought going South Asia and Korea.

In those countries, he will make people laugh and happy.

That’s his style!

Thank you, you made my day!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Gozan no okuribi

Five distinctive characters formed by bonfires will be appearing on five mountains surrounding Kyoto city tonight. Three of the fires form giant chinese characters(Dai/Myo/Ho) and two form familiar shapes( a boat and a shrine gate).

This custom is called"Gozan no Okuribi", also known as " Daimonji" is related to "Obon" which is an ancient to honor the souls of one's ancestors.
The origin of the event is not clearly known but it has long been an important public summer lit.
The fire are used as a way of guiging the spirits of the dead back to the Buddhist Pure Land.

Many our guests are going to see them tonight.
We hope that they will enjoy the event!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

"Roundb 1" for bowling, video games and Karaoke

How is it like from your view? In that photo, there is an entrance of something. Well, it looks gorgeous.

"Round 1", the name is kind of famous for everyone who loves bowling in Japan. It's a site for bowling, video games, billiard and Karaoke. If you don't want to go out under the sun of summer, you can spend the whole day in it.

When you go inside, you will find many UFO catchers. I love it!!

But don't put so many coins into the slot of that. Sometimes you have to pay 300yen once...
O.K, just once is better. Then let me try!

I want one who comes up in OnePiece! XD

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

In a boiling hot day, it is life water

In a boiling hot day while I was cleaning rooms so quickly, I was going to lose water in my body.

And I felt dizzy, when I payed attention about lack of the fluid.

"Oh, should I drink water? Water makes up most of the human body."

In that case, I was lack of attention to take fluid. How about you? While you are traveling, you may be suffered from it too. To maintain your health, in our fridge there are so many bottles of...

Water!!!

It makes you vigorous. You can go everywhere by the heart of summer's sun! You can buy a bottle for 100yen.

Oh, oh, don't forget to take a rest in a shade. Otherwise, you may suffered from sunstroke!!
Not only water, but a good rest!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Monday, August 13, 2012

The illuminated Nijo-jo castle

The Kyoto Star Festival has finished tonight.

One of our guests went there and took pictures of Nijo-jo castle.then she showed me them.
How beautiful the illuminated Nijo-jo castle is!!

I wanted to go there and watch it.
But today i have been working alone. so i couldn't go there.

Next year i'll definetelly take days off and go there.

Please join me if you are in Japan!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Kimono girls from Hungary

They are good at Japanese and have good knowledge about Japanese culture.

And they have a technique to wear Yukata(浴衣, ゆかた) so quickly.

They went out for sight seeing in Yukata. It's so nice to go out in Yukata in Kyoto. That clothe is suitable in summer of that city. You will find a lot of Yukata girls everywhere, especially if summer festivals take place.

They are from Hungary and they love Japan. They know how to enjoy Japan with 4 seasons.

Cool!!

Thank you for showing beautiful Yukata!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Planed blackout in Kansai area

This year we, people in Kansai area, may be suffered from the lack of electricity. And if government decides to execute a planed blackout, we cannot use electricity at all. A light doesn't work, a fridge doesn't work, and a PC and the Internet doesn’t work. Oh, oh, traffic lights will be turned off!! Be careful, if you cross a street!

But don't worry, if you stay in our hostel. We prepared them. It will work, if the lights are turned off. One of them cast some colors of light. It's so beautiful.

If there is no option, you should enjoy it. In the dark, illuminated by colored light, you can enjoy a conversation with your friend whom you meet in the hostel.

Let’s enjoy!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Our guest gave us converters

In that picture there are 4 types of converters for almost all countries. When you go abroad you may be bothered with a plug which is different from yours. The types of a plug are different in many cases.

A guest gave us to those converters, saying “If somebody is worry if its plug type is applicable or not in another country, please give it to her or him”.

Thank you for your kindness!! We definitely will!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

A strange restaurant on 1st floor “Hana-ari”

A restaurant named “Hana-ari” is on 1st floor in the same building of A-yado.

Here is the menu of it.

Well, so many foods are served in that restaurant.

Yeah, that menu is not normal because it's on the wall of the building. So bizarre...

But if you want to find our hostel, that weird restaurant is a very good landmark, isn't it? Also, if you are bold and brave, please go inside!! You will enjoy the taste of char-broiled chicken and offal!

If the taste is good, tell me! :) I will go there for dinner!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Ryoma Sakamoto (坂本竜馬, さかもとりょうま）, the stone marker

If you love the history of Japan, you've definitely heard that name, Ryoma Sakamoto who is a great samurai with the energy to change the old Japan.

The stone maker with his name is in that picture. He suffered from a hard situation in that place.
The maker said "In this place there was a small house to store lumbers, in which he escaped from a hard situation".

So many places of Kyoto have something to do with the history. Over a long period of the history, a lot of things happened, and some of them is a tragedy or comedy.

On your way of the travel you will find them!!

And if Japanese is difficult, we will help you to understand what happened there!
Take a photo and show it to us!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Kyoto Star Festival

The Kyoto Star Festival has been held from 4th to 13th of August. During this period there are various programs at the temples and shrines in the city.

On the main location, at Horikawa Kaijo, the visitors can enjoy the exhibition of the art works made by bamboo with the illumination all around the site. Horikawa River is decorated by floating lanterns, and above the river thousands of lights make the Milky Way.

It's very beautiful and definetly worth going there!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Monday, August 6, 2012

A lower bunk in a female dorm

When the sunshine come from windows, the orange and pink color will be clear.

We clean up every dorm, a living room, and around our reception, and, of course, toilets and shower rooms.

In that picture we put curtains off and let the sunshine inside more.

Normally there are curtains hanging on almost every side of beds.
Looking at the nice colors, feeling the hottest temperature in a year, we will be sleepy.

Nooooo!! X( We have to clean the rooms to maintain the cleanliness!

O.K. Ready, set, go!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Akafuku-mochi with red bean paste

If you like Japanese sweets such as Anko (餡子, あんこ), which is red bean paste, I recommend this rice cake to you.

A famous Japanese sweet named Akafuku-mochi (赤福餅, あかふくもち) is in that picture. The rice cakes are covered by red bean paste. It looks very tasty from my view!

But if you’ve never eaten red bean paste, you may not imagine the taste. You may think “Bean? It can’t be sweet”. Actually it’s so sweet, because it includes sugar. You can call it red bean “sweet” paste.

Try it and enjoy that taste!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

The flea market of Kyoto Shiyakusyo-mae

There are lots of flea markets in Kyoto.
This picture is a flea market of Kyoto Shiyakusyo-mae.
There are many people visiting this market each month.
You can buy second hand clothes or sundry goods there.

Actually, sometimes I have a stall and sell lots of clothes, bags this market.
When you visit there, you might find me.
If you find me, I'll give you discount!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Our common room to meet people

Just in case of you're not energetic and not willing to make an itinerary for the next day, you can enjoy our common room in the picture below.

It's on the fifth floor of a building. They enjoy drinking, talking, the internet and relaxing. Sure, they will be a good friend of yours!

And a few hours after, you will be released from the tiredness.

Then make a good travel plan for next day!

Oh, but, you may put in so many hours for it, without traveling and even without going out side.
Yeah, it's O.K. Because one of the best joy of traveling is making friend, right?

It's a good place to meet warm-hearted people!

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.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

A guest from Poland playing a ukulele

I heard really beautiful music, when I was cleaning up around our common room. That rhythm changed sometimes strongly and sometimes softly. Soon my hands stopped, and I put a vacuum. Because the noise of vacuum was very noisy. I wanted to listen that music.

She was from Poland. And that instrument was ukulele. Comparing a guitar, it’s small and, from my view, so cute. The tone is brilliant, and the volume was not lower.

She was a real artist. I like music and instruments. I’m longing to bring a instrument to overseas, when I travel. She was good at playing it. I’m not.

O.K. Let me improve my skill to play! I will!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Sushi candy

When I talked to our guest about dinner, one of our guest brought me suchi.

「Do you want to have them?」
「Yes, Thank you!!」
But when i looked them again, i realized that it is something different.
「Uh-un It's not real sushi. It's sushi candy. But it looks like real sushi.」
She was laughing when i realized about that.

Sometimes guests make us laugh like that.
We really enjoy their jokes!!
When you come to A-yado, please make us laugh at you jokes!!

The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in its historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains. The center of Kyoto.
Please contact us, if you want to book our hostel.

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