Backpackers Hostel in Gion, Kyoto: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

Kiyomizu Ｔemple(清水寺）

I went to Kiyomizu Temple(清水寺） few days ago.
It takes only 20～30 mins walk from A-yado.
It is one of the most famous temple in Kyoto and registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto in 1944.

This temple's veranda juts out of the side of a mountain supported by 13-meter-high wooden columns.
The view from there is very beautiful and make you calm.
Also there is a Japanese expression"to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu(清水の舞台から飛び降りる）"after this veranda of Kiyomizu Temple.
It is the same expression as "Take the plunge" in English.
So i had to make a big decision, i always went there and thought about it on this veranda.

If you have to make a big decision, try to stand and think about it on there.
It would be going well!!

The following URL is to go to our website.
https://sites.google.com/site/kyotoayadogion/
The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in a historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains to everywhere.
Please contact us by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Loving Football ~Guests from Denmark~

Everybody was from Denmark. 2 guys and another 2 guys, meeting each other at our hostel were wet on that day. They went out and got wet.

On the first day of stay in Kyoto, 2 guys were playing football in a park. And on another day, I've heard they played foot ball again. Yeah, people from Denmark love Football very much! Am I not right?

If they played football and got wet, that's so nice. Loving something means sometimes paying the price for it! Getting wet and enjoying football, it's a good deal!!

Thank you for the super nice smile of 4 of you!

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Shakuhachi (尺八)

He is our guest from Israel.
Do you know what he is playing?

The answer is shakuhachi (尺八), traditional Japanese bamboo flute.
It is a typical Japanese musical instrument.

He bought this in Kyoto.
His hobby is collecting foreign musical instruments.
This shakuhachi is his first Asian collection.

Actually some Japanese people (including me) have not played the shakuhachi.
Of course it was his first time to play the shakuhachi.
He did not take any lesson about how to play the shakuhachi, but he played it well.

If he practices more, he will become a good shakuhachi player.
I hope he will make shakuhachi famous in his country.

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Beautiful irises of Ota Shrine(太田神社）

When you come to Kyoto in early May, you can see very beautiful irises(かきつばた）.
Normally the irises start blooming in the beginning of May and you can enjoy them for 2～3 weeks.

Look at this photo!! It's very beautiful, isn't it?
This photo is the irises of Ota Shrine(太田神社）.
Ota shrine is known throughout Japan for its thousands of irises.
It is located in the northern part of Kyoto and takes 30 mins by bus from A-yado.
Normally the shrine is free to visit, but during iris season they charge 300yen to enter.

If you like flowers or would like to relax, i recommend you to go there.
The time will be flowing slowly when you are on there!!

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Monday, May 27, 2013

Micro-brewed beers Festival 2013

On 5.11, there was Micro-brewed beers Festival at Sanjo shopping mall
the event was started from last year. that event is really enjoyable because you can drink many different beers from the same place and every people get red on the faces in daytime.
It's very-known party for foreigners too.
Many people got together there having music until 9 p.m
I loved that atmosphere!

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Sunday, May 26, 2013

Finding Ojizo-san(お地蔵さん) along Local Street

When I wend down a street, I found a small Ojizo-san, which is a type of Buddhism sculptures. Comparing the other bigger ones it's very humble and local. That's why it was beside an apartment house.

Somebody bring flowers. The color of flowers were so vivid. They were brought few days ago or on the day. And you will find one interesting thing.

Cans of beers were used as the vase. If you know the sort of humbleness of Japanese culture, you might understand the situation. The local people though even if the vase is not really good, they bring the flowers, not everyday, but many times in a week, and keep the place clean. If you find a gorgeous and rich place, and that place was dirty and not hygienic, also flowers for the place was withered away, you may feel money is not good to feel something. Somebody pay a lot of money just to build it.

The same feeling is in the hearts of local people. Paying attention means taking good care. Without taking good care, everything goes bad, and everything getting dirty.

I like Ojizo-san. It's a nice part of Japanese heart.

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Saturday, May 25, 2013

Fushimi Inari Taisya at Night

I went to Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社)　in the evening.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of Inari.

Some shrines and temples have opening hours but Fushimi Inari opens 24 hours.
You do not need to pay admission fee.

This Shrine locates in the mountain and there are lots of staircases.
As you go up, you can enjoy the view.

This is at the sunset.

This is after the sunset at the same point.

If you want to enjoy a night view, this is one of the best places in Kyoto.

This is a photo of a staircase.
There are many torii (鳥居、Gateway to Shrine).

Now it is warm at night in Kyoto, so please try this place.

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Friday, May 24, 2013

New restaurant has been opened in Shijo(四条）!!

New restaurant has been opened in Shijo(四条） recently.

It's called "yasai hori".
Yasai means vegetable in Japanese.
So this restaurant mainly serves vegetable-centered meal.
Actually the owner of this restaurant is my friend. We have been known each other for more than 10 years. After he trained at other restaurant, he opened his own restaurant.
He would like everyone to eat seasonal vegetables send for the farm from all over the country.

I went for a lunch today.
Lunch meal is only Japanese curry.
But it was very tasty. It's highly recommend.

Please find this restaurant when you come to Kyoto.
Even if you are vegetarian, you will enjoy the meal!!

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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Great Words on Board of Temple

When I went back to my home, I found a temple near our hostel. The gate was closed, but the figure was quite peaceful.

This is a sort of information boards of temples. It's very common to put a board in front of a temple, and write something good and nice on the board.

Here's the words from Buddhism monks. I translated it into English below.

"The stream of mountain rivers is quick and restless.

However, lives are quicker than the water and endless."

In May

Well, I'm not sure the translation is good or bad. Anyway, what I wanted to tell is that the words of temples are so nice and sometimes very profound!

Yeah, if you come to Japan, and find it in Japanese, and you read the quite difficult language, please try to understand. Or you can take a photo of it, and later we will translate it!!

Good Luck!

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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

How do you write your name in Japanese?

He is our guest from France.

He showed me presents for his family he bought today.
They are his family name which is written in Japanese by Japanese artist.
They are cool, aren't they?
But this Japanese letter used as a phonetic symbol.
So when we played a game about his family name, i could guess some of them. But i couldn't guess few of them.
But even if we can't guess them, i think they are good presents for his family.
His family must be very pleased.
Also if it is an opportunity for his family to talk to Japanese people some day, they will be a good topic to communicate.

If you come to Japan, try to make your Japanese name as well.
It will be fun!!

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Japanese Carpenters ~ Tiles and Speedy Works~

In front of our building Japanese carpenters started to fix the roof surface. Japanese style's houses have so many tiles on the roofs. It's called Kawara in Japanese.

The carpenters started the work afternoon.

And it's almost finished in the evening. They were so quick and did great job! This kind of carpenters have their own skills. I took a photo on the 3rd floor of the building we are in. That was a good exhibition by experts!

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Monday, May 20, 2013

Good Souvenir for Traveling Japan --Gama-guchi(がま口) purse--

Kyoto has good souvenir shops, and some has Japanese small things such as parches or wallets. They are not heavy. They will be very nice souvenir to your families and friends.

This souvenir shop is sort of special.

They sell Gama-guchi parses and bags. Gama-guchi means a purse, which has the open part made of steal and it's like a mouth of a flog.

So many purse, and they're all Gama-guchi.

The design are beautiful. So many artist made them.

It's bigger ones. If you look them carefully, you will find the open part of the purse.

Japan has some special things. They all will be good souvenirs!

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Sunday, May 19, 2013

A happy couple

They are our guest from Germany.

They have been travelling around Asia for 9 months.
Actually, this trip for them is a honeymoon.
That's why they look a happy couple.

I asked them"How can i become a happy couple like you?"
They answered"We have spent for 3 years in the car when we were in Australia and New Zealand. That's why we are very close"
Yeah, I understand. But i don't think i can do that. Even if i do that, it will be easy to break up.
So i really respect them.

I hope they will be a happy couple forever and their honeymoon will be great!!
And i hope i will see them again in the future!!

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Saturday, May 18, 2013

Too much Instant Food

They are Japanese boil-in-the-bag curries.

This guy gave them to our staffs.
He is a guest from Netherlands.

He was staying at a host family in Kyoto several years ago.
He speaks Japanese fluently.

His ex-host-mother gave him these foods caring for him.
However the amount was a problem.
He said he had received about 20 packs.
Foods in the photos are only the tip of an iceberg.

They are too many for him to eat and to bring back to his country.
So he gave some of them to us.

Other guests got some, too.
They said these Japanese instant foods would be good souvenirs.

When you come to japan, please try some instant foods.
It is often said that food in Japan is expensive, but they are inexpensive and tasty.

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Friday, May 17, 2013

Koto(琴), a Japanese Harp　- movie

When I went to a flea market, I found koto players. I guess they are not professional. Because the music they chose to play were basic ones.

They started to play. The photo doesn't have sound. Yeah, that's normal.

Then this is the movie with, of course, sound.

Koto has the clear tone color. It's nice to listen.

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Thursday, May 16, 2013

The cheap restaurant in Japan

Would you like to eat something cheap food in Japan?

When the people come to Japan, they always feel the food is very expensive.
Actually that is true. But there are some nice cheap restaurants in Japan.
So i recommend you the restaurant which you can find everywhere in Japan.
It's called"Nakau(なか卯）".
They serve tasty food like Gyudon(牛丼 rice topped with beef), Oyako donburi(親子丼 rice topped with chicken), Japanese style curry, Udon(うどん Japanese style thick noodles).
They are all cheap.
For example the Gyudon above the picture costs 290yen.
It's very cheap, isn't it?
And i think you can satisfy the taste as well.

When you come to Japan, try to find this restaurant.
You will save money for the travel!!

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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Monk's Chanting on Street

Around our hostel, A-yado, you will find so many temples. some are so local, and some are very popular or famous. One of the most famous temples is Chion-in temple(知恩院). Starting from the temple, so many monks go out for begging.

Here's the movie.

Is it strange? Yeah, the tiny streets are not appropriate to the monks. Though they are not so many, sometimes they faced things like a traffic jam.

The chanting is fantastic. If you watched it on mute, please try again!

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

City with Parking Lot and Stone Marker

Which do you like? The parking lot or the stone marker. I, personally, like the stone marker. But some like parking lot probably. If you like the stone marker or a parking lot, please come to Kyoto. This city is sort of combination of both things.

Yeah, it look very historical. Sometimes, from my view it seems strange because of the old thing and a new things.

That marker says "some samurai were died at this place in 1864. That happening is sort of big events. In the end of samurai period there were many many big happenings between the conservative side and the revolutionary side. That period is called "Meiji ishin(明治維新)" famous for Shinsen-gumi, an aggressive section of the conservative side and Sakamoto Ryoma(坂本竜馬), who made a revolution. One of the most interesting period, and one of the most mysterious era.

Kyoto has something in between New and Old. You can enjoy both, and you can observe Both!!

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Monday, May 13, 2013

Ramen Koji(拉麺小路）～Ramen street～

Do you like Ramen(ラーメン）?

If you like it, there is a nice place at Isetan(伊勢丹) department at Kyoto station.
It is called "Ramen Koji((拉麺小路)".
Ramen Koji is a Ramen street which has 8 Ramen restaurants.
You can try any kind of Ramen all over Japan there.

Actually i went there few days ago.
When i got there, every Ramen restaurant was very crowed. Even it was queuing.
I expected that i had to wait for it. But it was more than expected.
After 20 min, finally i could get in the one restaurant.
Ramen in the restaurant i went was so tasty.
So my patience was rewarded.

If you are patient, try to go there and have a nice Ramen.

The following URL is for our website.
https://sites.google.com/site/kyotoayadogion/
The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in a historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains to everywhere.
Please contact us by the form, if you'd like to book our hostel.

Contact

Sunday, May 12, 2013

The sunny day in Kyoto ~Spending a day and night~

When I woke up early, the sky was really fine with thick cloud. I felt the sudden desire to hang out and take a look at nice scenery.

On a bridge, I was looking at the beautiful stream. That is not a river, but an artificial canal. The green leaves are newly colored. They were so fresh.

Looking up at the sky, I have come to feel to go a bigger river. Kyoto has some big rivers, and one of them was near the place. The name is Kamo River.

I spent almost one day on a bridge. So when I got to the bigger river, the sun has almost set. The lights on the stream were touching. They built a good place along the river to feel cool breezes just in the summer. It's called Noryo-yuka

This city, Kyoto has so nice scenery during all the day and night. I was sleepy. So I go back to my home, but I wanted to enjoy the scenery of a night. Summer hasn't come yet. But it's just around the corner. Yes, that season is really nice to enjoy nights with beautiful scenery!

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Saturday, May 11, 2013

On the Sofa...

When I went to the lounge in our hostel, I found him.

He is a foreign guest.
He was sleeping soundly on the sofa.
I wondered why he was sleeping on the sofa not in his room and I found this.

I see...
This is shochu, Japanese alcohol.
It contains about 25-35% alcohol and is stronger than sake.

I guess he underestimated the strength of shochu.

To prevent him from catching cold, I woke him up.
He said, "Oh, I drank too much. Good night." and he went to his room.

It takes less than 30 seconds from the lounge to the bed room in our hostel, so it is easy even when you are drunk.
However please be careful for drinking too much.

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

Friday, May 10, 2013

Noryo yuka(納涼床）in the Starbucks

It's getting warm in Kyoto.

When you go to Kamo river(鴨川）, you can see Noryo yuka（納涼床） was set up.
Noryo yuka is a terrace to enjoy lunch or dinner in the cool breezes.
It is a Japanese summer tradition.

Normally Noryo yuka is set up in the restaurant.
But you can enjoy it in the Starbucks in Kyoto.

In addition , they don't charge any fee for seats. Just buy only cup of coffee is OK.
Normally when you go to to Noryo yuka of the restaurant, they charge at least 3000yen for lunch.So Noryo yuka of the Starbucks is really reasonable, isn't it?

When you come to Kyoto in summer, try to go to the Starbucks to enjoy Noryo yuka.
You will experience a Japanese summer tradition with a cheap price!!

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

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Geisha Film made in USA

He is our guest from USA.
He was watching a film in the lounge in our hostel.

I found geisha(Traditional Japanese female entertainers who act as hostesses and whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music, dance and games) in the film.
He told me that it was a film about geisha and made in USA.

It is interesting that a film about geisha, typical Japanese culture is made in a foreign country.
I wonder if Japanese culture is described correctly.

He told me that the casts are Japanese and some Asians such as Chinese.
For me it is strange to see an Asian actress play Japanese.
However it happens often when I watch foreign films.

Kyoto is famous for geisha.
A-yado lies in Gion and there are many geisha there.
If you are lucky, you can see geisha walking in the area.
When you come to Kyoto, please try to find them.
You will be surprised to see how fast they walk!!

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

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Souvenir chocolates has gone

We got souvenirs! It's chocolate boxes. from Malaysia. Thank you!!

It looks very tasty, and smells nice. But, there's one problem. I will go back to home because my work for that day was finished. My colleague will eat it after a few minute when I leave. That's a problem.

And I came back to the hostel next day.

I found a phrase in Japanese. That said "Don't remove this one". The arrow was pointing a shell.

Of course I removed the shell, and I found a almond.

The chocolate boxes were for almond chocolates and raisin chocolates. BUT, my colleague ate all the almond chocolates, because he like almond.

Yeah, that's what I worried. I found a few raisin chocolate in another box. Of course, that was tasty. I never complain.

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

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Friday, May 31, 2013

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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

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Saturday, May 18, 2013

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Thursday, May 16, 2013

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Friday, May 10, 2013

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Wednesday, May 8, 2013