Kabuto(兜）

Do you know what it is?

It's a Kabuto(兜） which is a type of helmet first used by ancient Japanese warriors and in late periods, it became an important part of the traditional Japanese armor worn by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan.

It looks cool, doesn't it?
But it is not only this type. There are many type of Kabuto such as the below picture.

Which one do you like?
I think it's difficult to choose one. Because each Kabuto has a quality all its own.

If you come to Japan, you can see other type of Kabuto.
Also when you go to the Kabuto shop, you can try them on.
If you do that, it would be good experience for you. But be careful, it's too heavy.

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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

Bike Traveler

He is a Japanese guy.
He is a guest from Nagoya.



He is traveling from Nagoya to Kyusyu by motorbike.
Kyoto is on his way, so he stopped in Kyoto.
before he was traveling from Nagoya to Tokyo for 3 weeks by bike.


How cool he is!


I do not have a motorbike drivers license, so I do not know how tough it is to travel for 3 weeks by motorbike.
I guess it is quite hard.


It is his first time to stay a backpackers hostel.
He was surprised to know that there were lots of international guests in our hostel.


He is not good at speaking English, but he said  he would try to talk with some foreign guests.


In our hostel there are many guests from many countries.
It is best place to enjoy international exchange.

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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

Fushimi-inari Shrine with thousands of gateways

When you climb up stairs, through the Fushimii-inari shrines's gateway, you will reach this part which is about the middle of mountain.

I found a kimono girl. It's really nice to watch a kimono girl in the Japanese famous shrine. The place suits her.

Everybody is relaxing in a restaurant. They ate Soba noodle and drunk sweet sake(amazake).

This shrine has thousands of gateways like the photo! It's amazing. When you count them, you will  think "Oh, it's impossible. How do I count it correctly?". Because sometimes there are 2 ways, and sometimes you will find very small ones. Yeah, it's impossible...

It's a better way to enjoy the shrine just for hiking, without counting gateways.
Yeah, it's simple. Feeling the atmosphere is more important than the number!

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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

Comment Book

There is a "Comment Book" which our guests leave a message about their trip and A-yado in our living room.
Most people leave a massage in this book, but few people leave a massage in the scratch paper next to our computer.

Hungarian guests who have stayed recentry left a message in the scratch paper. They are really nice guests and we had a lot of fun with them. So as long as i read this writing, i thought this message was for us. But there was something to be worried about.

The writing of the second line, it has been written "Mt's an amazing hostel !"
Mt is a mountain? or is it a name of other hostel? or is it just mistake of "It's"?
Because if it is only one letter difference, the meaning will be different.

Well, we don't care about small things, we just believe that this massage is for us.

"Thank you so much. We had a really good time with you guys. When you have time to come back to Kyoto, please come down here. We look forward to seeing you guys again."

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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

Comic books

We have some comic books in our common lounge.
Unfortunately they are written in Japanese.


Some foreign guests enjoy seeing pictures even though they don't understand Japanese.

She is a guest from Canada.
She was studying Japanese, so she was using comic books for helping her study.


However she was just a beginner and she was struggling to read Japanese letters.


Japanese letters are very complicated so I think it is quite difficult for foreign people to study Japanese.


She told me that it took 6 hours to read a comic book!!
I hope she keeps studying Japanese.

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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

Fushimi-inari Shrine for the first visit to Shinto shrine

I went to Fushiminnari Shrine in new year days. And there were so many people who went there for the first visit to a Shinto Shrine. It's one of the most famous event in Japan.

This street is not very busy. Because I choose not crowded one and the time. But, still many.

Oh, it's a Shinto gateway. How big! And when you go through the gate and went down...

You will find this building. Everybody was appreciating and praying as the Shinto style.
Behind the building, there's a small mountain with stairs and thousands gateways. This time I didn't go up. But, I highly recommend you to go up. It's amazing!

The "Inari" means a deity of a fox. It brings you your business success. So a lot of companies devote money to wish their success, and appreciate it.
Fushimi-inari Shrine is said that it is the highest ranked deity of foxes. The shrine is worth seeing. And maybe worth asking!!

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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

Orizuru Salon(折り鶴サロン） in Kyoto

Do you know "Origami(折り紙）"?
It is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding.
You can make beautiful paper creation such as animal, flower with it.
And the best known origami model is the Japanese paper crane.

When i was walking on the street near Kyoto station few days ago, i found "Orizuru salon(折り鶴サロン）" which you can learn how to make the Japanese paper crane.
It was first time for me to see the kind of shop in Japan.
I was really interested in it and checked their homepage.
There is a origami master who is a practitioner of a daunting origami technique called "renzuru(連鶴）". This involves folding multiple cranes from a single sheet of traditional "washi(和紙）"paper.
It's absolutely great skill and he makes Japanese letter with it.
I really want to learn it from him when i have time.
If i get this skill, i'll teach you how to make it.
So please look forward to it!!

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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

Snow in Japan

Last week it was very cold in Kyoto. It was snowing in the morning.
I was freezing...



In Tokyo it was colder though.
I visited Tokyo last week for private business.

Tokyo was like this.
Snow was left unmelted.

Usually I don't go to Tokyo.
I was a totally stranger there.
However I was excited to visit a unfamiliar place, so I will write about Tokyo this time.


I went to a hotel which was close to Tokyo Dome, so......

Tokyo Dome!!!


Unfortunately I didn't have time to go inside.
In summer baseball games are played in it and it is filled with baseball fans.

This is a souvenir shop.
It sells a lot of items for baseball supporters.


I would like to watch a baseball game there someday.

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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

Kyoto's Night Life

Late at night I went out to buy a can of coffee, and somehow I wanted to take a photo of the night of Kyoto. It's a good idea to enjoy the relaxing time!

On a bridge I watched the lights of buildings. The black part is the sky and river. The river reflect those lights.

And near the busiest street of Kyoto, there were no people. But, I still found so many cars.

So many cars and so many people at a busy cross road. It was too dark on the sidewalk. So in the photo it looks line being without people. No, no, so many!

Kyoto has 17 world heritages. They have their own history and reason to be there. That's the historical side of Kyoto, and if you go out at night, you can enjoy bars clubs, and taverns. This city is also nice to drinkers.

I didn't drink this time.
But, I do sometimes!! A little bit drinking makes us more healthy, right?
Enjoy both, if you love both in Kyoto!

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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

The king of winter flavor

In Japan, it is said that the king of winter flavor is ..................

Yes, it is "crab".

I suddenly wanted to eat crab and decided to go to Echizen(越前） city is located in Fukui(福井）.
Although i was worried about the snow, it was sunny day.
Driving through the Sea of Japan(日本海） was so nice!!

 I went to "Echizen Crab Museum" as soon as i arrived in Echizen.
Because i wanted to know about crab before eating.

There are diorama of the ocean floor, 3D theater which you can learn how to catch crab, a picture-story show. I think adults and children both can enjoy there.

After that, i was very hungry and went to Ryokan(旅館) for meals.
And i had a really nice full course of crab dishes such as grilled crab, crab tempra, crab pot, crab sashimi..............

It was very tasty and i was very satisfied with that.
I think i have to go to eat something delicious once in a while.

If you have a chance to go to Echizen, try to eat crab.
You will be happy!!

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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

Manekineko, which means a Lucky Cat!

My colleague wrote this post yesterday. Yes, there are so many Manekineko, which means a lucky cat everywhere. But, sometimes too many.

This is a sushi restaurant. You see sushi in glass cases. And, please take a look at the upper left in the photo. 

Yeah, too many. 1 or 2 cat(s), it's OK. But, you know, could you count them?
My colleague wrote they bring money or customers due to the hands, left or right. If you are wondering about the gesture of a cat, you're familiar with Western style.

When Japanese beckon someone, the person will hold up the hand, palm out, and repeatedly folding the fingers down and back up. So they don't want to say "go away". Sure! They're beckoning cats.

Anyway too much. Too much money, it makes us more greedy. Too much customers, what should we do with them? If we have 10,000,000 beds, we can accept all! That's difficult, sorry! X(

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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

Maneki-Neko(招き猫）

When you go to the souvenir shop in Japan, you can find these cute cat dolls with its paw raised.
These cat dolls are called "Maneki-Neko(招き猫）" and it is popular in Japan as a lucky charm that brings you happiness.
Also it is said that the one with its right paw raised brings you money and the one with its left paw raised brings you people.
For that reason, Maneki-Neko is often displayed in shops or offices in Japan.

Unfortunately there is no Maneki-Neko at A-yado.
The above picture is our guest souvenir for her parents.
But we have many lucky charms from the other country here. When some guests checked out, they gave us them. So we hope that those lucky charm will bring us happiness.
Actually we are always happy. Because we can meet the guests from all over the world every day. Also we always think of sharing our happiness with our guests.

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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

Z Warriors in Our Common Room!

He is very good at shooting Kamehame-ha. It looks 3D graphic because of his vigor!

Our guest from German loves manga such as Dragon Ball Z. He is in high spirits. Big manga festival is held on that day. It's exiting to us!

He is a big writer. He is writing so many letters to his family and friends all over the world from many countries. Yes, they're so lucky. Because they can get letters from countries he is in.

Outgoing guests love our living room. When they come back to the hostel, and meet up together, the atmosphere gets very familiar and friendly. He loves it too!

"I bought too many latter sets", he said "You can get them."
"Thank you!!"

Yeah, if I go abroad, I will use them! Thanks! You are a GREAT Z warrior!

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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 a Karaoke Box Sing along music!

We are in a Karaoke box with my friend, who is a Nepali. This is a key controller with a touch panel. On the panel there are some menu in Japanese such as Singer's name, Song's name, or New song to look for your favorite song. 

Don't worry. It's quadrilingual. Of course, English is available. Using 4 languages you can search a song. 

I'm too much shy. So I said to my friend "Go ahead".

"You first." He respond.

"Well, I have to decide a song I want to sing first. So..."

"OK, why not."

And he choose a song very quickly. His favorite rock band is "Oasis". He speaks great English by the perfect pronunciation. So It's easy to him. I don't know about his ear for music. 

Anyway the song starts. And he sings the song. I didn't know he has a good ear for music, and the harmony, and he has some techniques to make words dramatic in the song.  

He finished singing, and that Karaoke machine judge him by the score and ranking of his singing.

Wow, he got the first prize on the online ranking! His score is 90.189 point. The average score is 83.587. He is SUPER!

"Good job" I said.

"Yeah, not so bad" He smiled.

Next, I choose a Japanese old song. But, actually I'm kind of out of tune. He stand it. He shows his frown, though. In a few minute the music finished.

My score is 81.552 point, and the average is 92.416. I don't know why every can sing very well.

"Anyway" I said, "This is just a judge of a machine".
"You're right" He said, "But, the machine can judge tune if it's harmonious or NOT".
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, because I can judge the machine"
"Aha"
"Which means I can judge your singing"
"Aha"
"In such a sense, I can major the level or judging"
"OK"
"The best judge is this machine, and the second best is me. You're the third best"
"OK, you win"

I need more practices, anyway.

You will find Karaoke boxes everywhere in Japan. The cheaper one is for about 200yen per hour. It's also OK to enjoy Karaoke alone. Yeah, I will.

How about your country? Karaoke is so familiar, I guess all over the world. Originally, Japanese guy invented it. The name means Kara-Orchestra. Kara means empty in Japanese. The audience seats are empty in a orchestra concert.

I will try again! The seats should be empty.

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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

Remen restaurants for Japanese

Japanese love curry rice, sushi, fried chicken, cutlet, and ramen noodle. They are very popular and familiar in Japan. I like curry rice the best, but this time I want to talk about ramen story in Kyoto..

.Here's Kyoto tower, which was made as the highest tower in Kyoto. It was supposed to be like a candle, and I guess the top part is the fire on it.

By the way around Kyoto tower and Kyoto Sta. you will find this cross road. They are common sign with roman letters of streets.

And two famous ramen restaurants are located along the street around the cross road. Red one is Shinpuku-saikan, and yellow one is Dai-ichi-asahi.

The red one is the oldest ramen restaurant in Kyoto. About 60 years ago the owner opened it.The yellow one is the second oldest ramen restaurant in Kyoto. Both are great ramen restaurants.

Somehow, they are next to each other. At night, in their opening hours, so many people are in a line to wait. Some of them are very particular about ramen noodle. They goes a lot of ramen restaurants, looking for the best ramen.

Have you ever eat the great ramen? It shouldn't be a cup noodle.
If you haven't, please try one!! Ramen restaurants are very common in Japan. So you will find them everywhere.

But, those tastes are completely different. The combination of soup and noodle should be really harmonious. Writing it, and thinking about ramen, I've came to eat ramen. OK, I have to go for dinner!!

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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

Cute Koalas!!

 Look! Look! This Koalas!!

They are so cute!! They are clinging to the rock.
Did you realize that this rock is on the calender?
It looks like 3D's rock.

This koalas and calender are present from our Australian guest.
Actually there are 5 koalas in our guest house.

One of them is clinging to the Eiffel Tower.

Some of them are clinging to the T-shirt.
They are always finding the place they can cling.
Also we don't need to feed them. so these pets  are very easy to keep.
When you come to A-yado, please find them.
They are always somewhere at the reception.

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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

Finding Balloons Late at Night

I wend down a street along Kamo River, which is famous for one of the big and beautiful rivers of Kyoto. And I found them at the opposite side of the street.

I guessed they were colorful balls. Red, yellow, orange and pink. Yeah, it was clear. But, I was not sure why they were in a small space late at night like a kind of an exhibition. 

They were balloons. 7 balloons. Yeah, it was clear. But, I was still not sure why they were in a small space late at night like a kind of an exhibition. 

Because it was an exhibition. Yeah, now everything was clear.

Sometimes you may find strange things in this city, Kyoto. I love them all. If you find 100 balloons in a bathroom, please let me know.

Yeah! Kyoto is sometimes a mysterious city!

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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