Valuable words of Zen(禅) Buddhism concept

In the evening, I walked along Kamo-gawa River(鴨川, かもがわ). I was little bit depressive because of the problem of my human relationship. But, the scenery was really nice to heal my mind. There were some interesting shops and restaurants, and I found some a temple around at the delta by the river. It's in the photo above.

And I found this words in front of that. 

It says "When you find an enemy in yourself, the way to be grown up will be found!". 

"敵を自分の中に見出してこそ成長の道は開ける！".

Oh, I see. It's very impressive.

And next to the temple, there was another temple. The wooden wall was closed. 

Yeah, that was the words of the second temple.
It says "See. It's easy to see someone's fault, but hard to see your fault".
"みる、他人の過ちはみやすく自分の過ちは見がたい".

Oh, by chance, I found two valuable words of Zen(禅) Buddhism concept. When I see just the fault of my friend, there was a problem of my way to think.

OK, I should look for another way to resolve that problem.
It's our daily lives in Japan! It looks strange? No, no, that always happens!

It was Halloween today. The monsters are in our heart!

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Happy Halloween!!

Zombie attacked to A-yado last weekend.

When i was concentrating on the office job, i heard some voice like "Wow" behind me.
When i looked back timidly, three zombie lie came out of  "Resident Evil" movie were standing in front of the reception and they were laughing at me.
Because i was very scared of them.

When i looked them again, i realized that they were not zombie. They were our guest made-up.
I asked them "What were you going to do with make-up?"
and they replied me "We were looking for the Halloween party."

I'm not sure if they found the Halloween party after that.
But thy must have scared many Japanese people.

Anyway,everyone "Happy Halloween!!"

---

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.

info@ayado.net

I found a small temple, Marishi-sonten-do(摩利支尊天堂)

When I was walk around Gion area which is historical place, I found a small shrine with the sculpture in the photo. I was in Marishi-sonten-do(摩利支尊天堂) temple.

It's a wild boar. That kind of animal should look energetic and wild. But it looks smiling :)
This animal is one of the oriental zodiac's animal symbol.
According to the oriental zodiac, we, Japanese, know our own animal symbols. It's decided up to the year you were born in. It's said one of the 12 animals implicates your personality. For example, I was born in the year of the wild boar, which means I'm very powerful and able to just go straight :P

Yeah, if you're interested in it, please check your own animal. It's the almost same thing of the zodiac. Oh, If your animal is a monkey, don't hate it! X(

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Gion Wodori(祇園をどり), the geisha dancing show

They are geiko girls(芸妓) and maiko girls(舞妓). Geiko is almost the same meaning of geisha(芸者), and maiko is the apprentice of geiko girls.

Oh, I didn't take the photo. I just take the photo of the poster below. 

The poster says "During 1st to 10th of November, one of the cultural dancing show will be held". The name is Gion Wodori(祇園をどり). Gion is a very historical place of Kyoto we are in. And Wodori means Odori(踊り), a dancing in English.

The great season, autumn starts now! And in this season you can enjoy so many event such as illuminations, special exhibition of temples and that show. Of course, the beautiful colored leaves are very important. If you come to Kyoto in autumn, don't miss 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.

info@ayado.net

Our new staff has started working at A-yado

New staff has started working at A-yado.

His name is Yusuke, just call him Yu.
He is a university student and he has been studying about international education.
Also he is a sportsman.
When he is off, he often goes surfing in the sea.
So he has many friends all over the world through surfing.
If you would like to ask him about surfing, he will keep on talking until you get tired.

Well, of course you can ask him about your trip in Kyoto.
He will give you many information about Kyoto's life.

When you come to A-yado, please say "Hello" to our new staff.
He will welcome you with a smile at the reception.

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Japanese fruits in a stall beside a shrine

Beside a local shrine named Kumano-jinja shrine(熊野神社) I found a fruits shop which is just a stall. They sold so many kind of vegetables and fruits. Some of them are Japanese special fruits!

They look very sour! Yes, they are Mikan(みかん). They are just like oranges, but the taste is a little different, and the size is smaller than it. It's called mandarin orange.

They are persimmons called kaki(柿) in Japanese. Have you every tried to eat? According to the matter of ripeness, the taste and feeling on the tongue are totally difference. I eat them in autumn every year.

Every country has the fruits, and some of them are very specified. I love them! Autumn of Japan is one of the great season to enjoy those taste. Yeah, I will :D

When you come to Japan, please eat fruits even if it looks very strange from your view :)

---

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.

info@ayado.net

A sweet and hand of sweets

When I went to a sweet shop, I found a good space to enjoy the show. Yeah, it was a kind of show. 

The name of the space was Kayu-tyaya(菓遊茶屋). It'was in Tsuruya sweet shop(鶴屋, つるや).

His quick actions were making a sweet which is a Japanese cake.

They were so quick! And for a moment he made a small cake in the photo below.

Yeah, that was uncompleted. In the next photo there is very tasty and cute Japanese cake.

Yes! It's like a flower. From the first moment, it was supposed to be like it. Great job!

And I enjoyed the taste! :P You can say "Better fill a man's belly than his eye"!

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Hassaku orange Daifuku (はっさく大福）

One of our staff gave us "Hassaku orange Daifuku".

Do you know what "Daifuku" is?

"Daifuku"is a soft rice cake stuffed with sweet bean paste.
Especially, "Ichigo Daifuku"which is a soft rice cake stuffed with sweet bean paste and strawberry is very popular sweets in Japan.
It's very tasty and actually that is one of my favorite sweets.

But i have never tried to eat "Hassaku orange Daifuku"which our staff gave us before.
When i ate it, i thought it will be my new favorite sweets.
Sweet and sour Hassaku orange and sweet bean paste are really nice combination.
When i had one, i felt like i wanted to have more and mare...........
I think i will be addicted to having it!!

Everyone, you can eat this sweets in Hiroshima.
When you go to Hiroshima some day, you must try to eat"Hassaku orange Daifuku".
You'll definitely love 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.

info@ayado.net

Americamura(アメリカ村, あめりかむら) in Osaka

I went to Osaka to enjoy my day off. On that day I wanted to be excited by something busy!

And then I went to the center of Osaka. When you go there, you can enjoy "Americamura" area. It's very busy! Crowded and vigorous!

The streets are something chaotic. This red shop is a restaurant for grilled chicken.

As you see very busy with a lot of people and cars! 

And a relaxing place is in the photo. It's still crowded.
Yes, the city is so energetic! You will find so many shops and strange things there.

When people got together to make the city energetic, from their view the city was getting to be like America. It was surely just their imagination. They had the longing toward America. They called the city "Americamura" which means American Village in English.

Yeah, enjoy that city when you go to Osaka!

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Jidai Matsuri Festival, one of the three renowned festivals of Kyoto

I found a police car on a bridge when I went to work. No, no, I didn't find something danger. I found parades of a big festival, and this police car was supposed to stop the traffic for normal cars.

Because the parades were very long and gorgeous! The Jidai Matsuri Festival(時代祭, じだいまつり) is one of the renowned festivals of Kyoto.  

And it was really crowded. It looked very hard to go to the front row. But, the festival was still worth seeing from the back of the row.

On the seat for broadcast for a local channel, they were talking with a geisha girl. It was one of the good parts of that festival! When you go near the girl, she will smile to be taken by your camera.

Yeah, the festival is something special! On 22nd of October of every year, you can enjoy this festival! Enjoy the long parade! :)

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Our guest came here from Tokyo by walking

The man who checked in few days ago came to Kyoto from Tokyo by walking.

It's amazing, isn't it?

It is about 500 km distance from Tokyo to Kyoto.
He left Tokyo in July and took 3 months to get here.

Can you believe that?

I know that some people come to Kyoto by bicycle or hitchhiking.
But I never heard that some one came to Kyoto from Tokyo by walking.

He must be very strong!!

The watch of a black cat in the picture is his lucky item.
He's been wearing that all that time when he travels.

You know, it is believed that the black cat brings you bad luck in Japan.
But it brings you good luck in England.
It's opposite thinking.

I think he has English opinion.
I hope the watch of  the black cat will bring him good luck all that 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.

info@ayado.net

"Super Position" for anime character goods in Kyoto

If you love some anime or manga, you may feel you want to be with a character in it "One Piece" and "Dragon ball" inspire your nostalgia. And some of characters are so cute :D  

Why don't you get a doll or key holder at this shop. The name is su-poji in Japanese. And the below there's an English name, "Super position". You can find a small and very big doll of a character which appears in your favorite manga or anime. It's located at almost center of the city.

Yeah, the down leftward in the photo, there is a skull and cross bone with its straw hat.
Of course, it's Luffy's! Please find any other characters in "One Piece"!

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Where am I in Osaka?

 It's a riddle. Where is this place?  This photo is a ground of somewhere.

I know it's hard to get the answer. The answer is following photo. 

ANSWER: Osaka-jo castle

This is the whole picture. It has an elevator on the left side. That stone wall is nice. And the view from the top floor is so cool! You can look down at Osaka city very widely. And also, you will find golden shachihoko(kind of fish) on the roof :)

When you go to Osaka, enjoy them! That city is neighborhood of Kyoto!

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Shinbashi dori(新橋通り）

The picture of the street is Shinbashi dori(新橋通り） which is very beautiful little street in the heart of Gion.

It's a cobbled stone street lined with trees and stream.
And there are traditional Japanese restaurants and tea houses on the side of this street.
Especially when you visit there around cherry blossom season, it's very beautiful that you can not be expressed in words.
Also when you walk this street, you can feel as if it had been transported through time to old Japanese city.
In addition, if you are lucky, you could see Geisha on this street.

Would you like to go there soon?

It is definitely worth seeing this street.
You'll love it!!

It's only few minutes walk from A-yado.

---

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.

info@ayado.net

In our common room, everyone laughs

I heard laugh in front of the door of our common room :) I guessed everybody here got excited, and talk together and laugh together. And I opened the door.

Yes! They were so nice! Their smile were really welcoming.
I asked to take a photo of them, they said strongly "YES!". Yeah, that's the photo.

On the travel, you meet so many people. Some are good buddies, some has good local information, and some are very funny and make you laugh. I love that relationship!

Going travel is a good way to make friends! :D
Go to the common room and join them!

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Heian-jingu shrine(平安神宮, へいあんじんぐう) with the night sky

What's this big object?! Is it a type of Gundam? The answer is "No". It's a shrine gateway. The downside there is a taxi in front. It looks a good scale to major it. I took a photo before in day time. But, I couldn't realize the another fascination of that 24 meters gateway at night.. 

It's too big.. An orange taxi is not a Lego block. Please take a look the second photo. The base is bigger than a taxi.

And when you go through the gateway, you will get to Heian-jingu shrine(平安神宮, へいあんじんぐう). The entrance is closed at night. But in light it's still beautiful like furiously burning fire.

This kanji says "Keep out at night". If there is a event such as no play(能), illuminations or concerts, you can go inside at night.

The shrine's red or orange is sometimes very bold at night. I love them! 

Night is getting deeper. Well, I have to go home. But, please give me a few extra minutes!

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Toujinbo(東尋坊）in Fukui(福井）

I went to Awara Onsen(芦原温泉） located in Fukui(福井） as a company trip last weekend.

During this trip, I went to Toujinbo(東尋坊）which is a nutural monument of Japan as you can see the picuture.

It was my first time to visit there and cliff was full impact.
When i was standing on the cliff, i felt weak at the knees.
I was so scared because of acrophobia.
But it was superb view from there.

Also i had fresh seafoods at a restaurant near there.
It was so delicious!!

I'll recommend to go there if you visit to Fukui.

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Ukiyoe artist(浮世絵師, うきよえし) in Kyoto

In Japan an old city has an old temple. An old thing has its own meaning. It's not just old. We live in Kyoto, and we don't care the oldness of Kyoto. But, sometimes we find anything old. By the discovery we realize that we live in an old city. That is Japanese oldness.

This temple is so old. The name is Kennin-ji temple(建仁寺, けんにんじ). In front of that temple, I found something old.

From my view it doesn't look very special. The architecture is Japanese style. When I found pictures hanged on the wall, I approached it. Pictures outside a wall.. it's a little bit strange.

The shop was an Ukiyoe(浮世絵, うきよえ) shop. All the pictures were UKIYOE.

And it had the English message. I read it, and got fun :)

-------------------------

"UKIYOE SMALL MUSEUM" 

OPEN WHEN I WAKE UP"

AND CLOSE WHEN I MUST GO 

TO SLEEP 

WHEN I'VE HAD ENOUGH

 THE STORE IS CLOSED

-------------------------

There were so many Ukiyoe. Yeah, Ukiyoe is Japanese woodblock print. Of course I love them!

I went inside. And watched various types of Ukiyoe. All of them had their own fascinations. Some were new styles of pictures, yet kept the old process of printing.

This man is an Ukiyoe artist. He did never make himself look big. He was very humble, and very knowledgeable. His attitude was sort of ideal of Japanese humbleness. His name is Mamoru Ichimura(市村 守, いちむら まもる). One of the successors of Japanese woodblock print. He has a great technique to complete hit works.

His work style was very free. And his personality was also free. Free makes arts. If not, artists always watched their clocks. Without watching time he can spend his days, and those days must be brilliant.

If he is not inside, and the shop is closed, this bicycle is gone. He goes somewhere by it. It must be a good sign to tell whether it's open or not. 

Yeah, I felt something old, when I watched Ukiyoe and talked with him. 

"Everything is old here" 

That words remained in my mind.

I will drop in the shop again to talk with him and enjoy Ukiyoe works. Everything is old. And the human relation ship is something new.

Kyoto has a lot of aspects.. I love them all!!

---

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.

info@ayado.net

Japanese local scenery in Kyoto

Whether we want or not, we live in Japan, anyway. And in our mind there are many scenes andscenery belonging to Japanese daily life. One of them makes us nostalgic, one makes us something bored, and one makes us a little bit emotional. 

This is Japanese local scenery. I choose normal one, but watching it carefully, I found a mountain, which has the kanji on it. In the left side of the photo, You find that mountain with "大" which means "big" in English. I almost forget that it's a sort of special mountain.

This street is not very big and crowded, but, from view of me, a little busy. Yeah, I don't really like a street with cars running all the time. 

In the super market I found a poster about a Kendo(剣道, けんどう) match. In the right side of the photo, a two people is doing Japanese sword fight in protectors. The samurai spirits are still here!

For me they are in daily life. How about you? Your city and country have something special. Sometimes we don't realize it.

OK, let's go out to find them! And when you come to Kyoto, we will show something special 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.

info@ayado.net