Runner on the Bank of Kamo Riv.

Kyoto has some big rivers. One of them is Kamo River(かもがわ, 鴨川), which is in the center of Kyoto north to south like a center line.

That's it. Having nice scenery, especially in the morning. 

When you come to Kyoto, and you like running, this river is the best place to run. The chilly winds in early morning make you energetic. You see a person running on a bank in the photo.

The speed is good, and the actions to swing hands are so nice. I want to run too!

After she run to the out of the scenery, the river has the same countenance. The river is always same. That's big and stable.

If you like running, please go to the bank anytime! That will be a running and also refreshing!

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

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The van Gogh Exhibit in Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art

This is the other side of an entrance of Municipal Museum of Kyoto. Nice door, but doesn't open.

And, the entrance side is in the photo. The blue and red pictures on the wall, you see Van Gogh!

Today the museum hold the exhibition of pictures drown by Van Gogh. It sounds fantastic! 

Prohibited to take a photo of pictures for Gogh's master piece. So I take this one inside the Museum. Liechtenstein's exhibition is also held on those days. This is combination of picture and a real chair. The cart is on the picture, and the chair is just there. You can sit on it, and take a photo.

Kyoto has a lot of museums. Some of them are very famous and gather many master pieces from all over the world! 

Yeah, it's one of the characteristics of Kyoto. That is the Art 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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

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Old Camera (Polaroid)

Hello this is Aki.

The picture is my Polaroid camera. Do you know it ?

Nowadays people normally use digital camera, but I think film camera like this polaroid can take nice pictures as well.

When I go out and walk around Kyoto, I will take some photos by it and show you some pictures which are taken by it !!

See you :)

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

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Heian-jingu Shrine with a lot of Travelers

Kyoto has so many shrines and temples, and also museums and any attractions. Almost all travelers want to visit famous shrines or temples, especially, Golden temple, Zen temple or the Castle.

It's one of the famous place. The name is Heian-jingu shrine(へいあんじんぐう, 平安神宮), which is popular for the big gateway of Shinto. The gateway is 24 meters. Quite big.

In front of the shrine, I found travelers in their journey. They travels as a tour for about 20 people, taking photos, going everywhere, eating Japanese foods.

That type of styles is not same as the backpackers like you, yeah, I assume you are backpackers. You go everywhere by your own itinerary. And you like impression by your own one, just for yourself or with your friends.

No, no, it can't be compared. Both are travels. And both are enjoyable. If you are tourist in a tour, you like it, and if you are backpackers, you like it. That's it.

We, staff, love travels and travelers. That's why we love you all!

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

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Other Types of Cherry Blossom Trees

The photo was taken in the last half of April, you see the tree with pink collar flower. It's a type of cherry blossom trees. It's called Yae-zakura, which is named double-flowered cherry tree.

That's also beautiful. Or depending on people, double-flowered is more beautiful than the normal type because of the thick flower.

The cherry trees are not just in the beginning or middle of April, but until the end.

Yeah, they all are worth seeing! Don't miss 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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

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Big torii(鳥居）in Kyoto

Hi :)

Nice to meet you !

I'm Aki and I'm a new staff in A-yado. Everything is new for me, I have to remember a lot of things !

But I will try my best !

This picture is Heianjingu's (平安神宮) big torii. Have you ever seen this ?

I'm sure that you are surprised how big it is !

So beautiful view, isn't it ? :)

I recommend to go when you visit 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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Yoshida-jinja Shrine with Daruma doll fortune tellers

When I walk up the stars, I felt the cool breezes on my cheek. Still cold these days, but sometimes so warm, as if winter and spring was chasing each other.

Here's main part of the shrine, Yoshida-jinja shrine. The orange gate way is always beautiful.

This time I drew a fortune telling lot, whose figure is doll.

Inside the doll of small Daruma(達磨), I found it and pulled it out. Yeah, that is not bad!

Here's Japanese stone lanterns. That don't look like lantern. I took just the hole on it. People put fire inside.

The new green leaves is super refreshing. I love them all!

Those kind of combination by a shrine and nature is really touching. If you like one or both, please try many shrines in Japan!!

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

"Tanto (たんと)", which is a famous Okonomiyaki Restaurant

We, Japanese, especially people in Kansai area love Okonomi-yaki. It's like pancakes, but should be lunch or dinner. People in Osaka is good at cooking Okonomi-yaki in their family dinner. And if you go to Osaka, you will find 1000 Okonomi-yaki restaurant. Yeah, I'm not sure about the number.

This is a famous Okonomi-yaki restaurant in Kyoto. Actually from our hostel, you can go there for 5 minute walking.

When I go inside, I found some nice objects. In the vase in the left, I found a gold fish.

This is shoes lockers. The wooden plates have numbers. They are the keys.  

HARU is a professional base ball player in Japan. Yeah, he came here.

In the restaurant, there were a tatami floor and a big hot plate Cool.

This kind of hot plates is something vital to cook Okonomi-yaki!

This is not the typical type. Normally it should be round.

Looks tasty! Right?

OK, I took photos, then I can show them to you all, and next I can eat. Yeah, showing good things by photo is important.

Well, ITADAKIMASU!!

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Our new staff

In Japan the Golden week which is a long holiday from 27th Apr to 6th May will be coming soon.
Many people will go on a trip during this period.
Also Kyoto will be one of the busiest week in the year.

By the way, new staff has started working at A-yado.
His name is Aki.
He is a university student and has experience studying in England.
Also he was born and raised in Kyoto.
So if you would like to ask him about your trip in Kyoto, he will teach you in detail about that.

We all are waiting for you with a smile at A-yado.

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Bon fire in Kyoto ~Getting warm, rainy season coming, remembering summer~

If you know Japanese Bon fire, you may know also these mountains in Kyoto.

In the photo, there's a picture of mountains. That's at night, because you see the moon on it. 4 mountains has kanji each and 3 has symbols. Though it's just a picture, if you come to Kyoto, you will find all the mountains located separately. And in August local people will fire the sort of torches to make the kanji on a mountain. It's really amazing.

It's bigger photo for one mountain. The kanji means "big" in English. That has deep meanings each!

The event is called Gozan-no-okuribi. One of the most famous event in Japan.

Nor it's in Spring getting warmer. I love Spring, and I love summer. Oh I shouldn't forget the beginning of summer, which is known as the rainy season of Japan. I love it, despite of rainy days.

There's so many things worth seeing just in the season such as flowers, festivals, and any events.

Rain isn't always good, but sometimes really good!

  

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Geisha girl in Ponto-cho St.

Kyoto has the night lives to enjoy during your travel, though this city is famous for temples and shrines.

It was about 21:00. I found a Geisha girl on Ponto-cho St. She walked quickly as if she have should go somewhere in a second. The white make up on her face was really beautiful. I felt I have been in a unreal world.

The street was very tiny. BUT, when she walked, everybody give the space to her. In front of her there were some people, who wanted to take a photo.

That is Kyoto's night life. And if you like drinking, you can find bars and clubs near the area.

This city, Kyoto has many characteristics!

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

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Many places in Kyoto are used as a shooting for the TV dramas and movies

In Kyoto there are many places TV dramas and movies were filmed.
Actually, Chion-in　temple(知恩院）which is 5 min walk from A-yado was used in the filming of the Tom Cruise movie "The Last Samurai".

When i watched TV period drama few days ago, many famous sightseeing places in Kyoto such as  Tatumibashi(巽橋）,Shirakawa(白川）,Yasaka shrine(八坂神社） were used as a shooting place for that.
When i watched that, i felt very happy.
Because if someone watch this drama, they might want to come to Kyoto to visit those places.
I hope that Kyoto city will be more famous and many people will come to Kyoto.

If you like Japanese TV dramas and movies, check the places they are filmed.
You will enjoy your trip more if you know that.

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Japanese lesson, which is strange

When you learn Japanese language, why don't you use this street sign. In the photo you see the sign of Shome-dori St(正面通り).

Syomen means "front". If you say "Mt. Fuji no Shomen", which means "front of Mt. Fuji". Yeah, I'm not sure about the front of the mountain, though.

BUT, the angle is not facing the front. That sign is bent askew. Though the name is front, that doesn't look front at all. If you see it, you will definitely learn the word, "Shomen".

This photo is just the extra. Kyoto tower is always facing front to welcome you. Yeah, it's cool.

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Geisya Daicing Show in Kyoto

When I walked by a famous shrine of Kyoto, Heian-jingu Shrine. There were so many people and all they entered the shrine as if they were pulled in. Yeah me too.

And inside I find so many things for a festival, Shinto priests and some objects to adore.

The Geisya, actually they are called Maiko or Geiko in Kyoto, were dancing. Under the sun shine their white make ups were like being in unreal world.

Kyoto has so many festivals in almost all seasons. Yes, I love 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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Kyoto Aquarium

When you walk west about 15 min from Kyoto station, you can find the Kyoto Aquarium.
It was opened in March 2012 in Umekoji park and now it has been Kyoto's newest tourist site.
It is divided into 9 zones with various themes, exhibiting a variety of aquatic animals.
There is also a dolphin stadium and you can enjoy the fantastic dolphin show.
In addition that, you can see the five-story pagota(五重塔）and Shinkansen（新幹線）from the seats. i think it would be nice.
I recommend you to go there if you like an aquarium.

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Garbage Collection Car with Dolls

Sometimes people think funny things in their daily lives. From the view of others it may be strange and bizarre. And of course worth seeing. 

When I walk down a street, I found a garbage collection car. If you watch under the main part of that car you can find something unpredictable.

Yeah, they are dolls. You see Miny and Fruit there.

And also Chopper behind them. Yeah, they are cute and must get along with each other.

Or course under the car.

If you are bored with daily lives or travels, please check under the cars. Especially this city, Kyoto has so many strange things. I'm sure. I live in Kyoto for about 30 years.

Yeah, the city is still fascinating to me.

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Our guest look for restaurant

They are guest from USA.

They often come Japan. Because they have Japanese family.
In this trip, they will go to Osaka and Okinawa after Kyoto.


Tonight, they looking for cheap and good restaurant.
Around A-yado, There are many cheap restaurant and good restaurant. So If you come A-yado and look for restaurant. We recommend you these restaurant.

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

O-yamasaki-sanso-Musiam

A nice couple was taking a look at the map on a stone. I came to O-yamasaki-sanso museum in spring with the warm weather. 

It's on the mountain side. When I walk up the slope, there's a gate way in the photo. Yeah, good welcoming! 

The cherry blossoms are still in booming. I was lucky! Actually some of the trees are still in blooming after the blooming season like in the end of April. The mountain side or north side has the late blooming timing.

Here's the museum. That's awesome. But, It was prohibited to take a photo. Nohhhhhhh! X(

The museum was really cool. You can go and observe inside directly. 

In the garden I found a hare. Of course, it's a sculpture.

The name is one that. Yeah, I love it.

Kyoto has so many museums and good places to watch the cultural things. 

It's not only historical.

Yeah, enjoy them!

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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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Miyako-Odori, the Maiko Dancing Show just in Spring

When I walked on Hanami-koji St., I found the street is very bright and crowded.

I find the light in front of the building, which is called Gion-kobu-kaburen-jo theater.

Oh, the light is for Maiko dancing show. The name is "Miyako odori".

Here's the poster with Maiko girl.

And also you never lose because of this gateway. 

This season, April is not just for cherry blossoms, but many events. Miyako-odori is one of them.

Of course, sometimes you may be confused which one is better and how to get or how is it like.

Yeah, we will help you! We are something expert on 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 by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact