1 Meter of Strawberry Shortcake on a Bank

Um, today I found something tasty. That something was short cake.

It looks tasty, right. It was on a bank of a big river in Kyoto.

Too big... Too big piece of short cake

Oh, he's our guest from Chile. Eating banana, relaxing under the blue sky, we watched the short cake. We met eventually. 

Behind him there're about 10 people. They prepared that short cake. They're meeting up on 22nd of every month. You can watch the short cake on every 22nd.

Anyway he was so cool after watching the short cake. He just lifted his blows. When he started eating banana, the people around him were excited. Because he was so nice and much elegant to eat banana. 

Yeah, Kyoto is such a nice city with foreigner like him and people, who love foreigners!!

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The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in a historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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It was meant to be......

They are our guests from Australia.
They are very friendly guests and have a cheerful makeup.

Actually, the girl on the left side on the photo stayed at A-yado with other friends 2 years ago.
It was second time to come here.
When she arrived and talked about that, she told me "Actually,i completely forgot about that when i booked. But when i arrived here, i recognized that i have stayed here before."
But we were really happy that she came back here even if she didn't recognized her stay here until she arrived. Because she chose to stay here twice by chance.
When i told here about that, she said "it was meant to be."
Yes, it is a destiny.
We really would like to treasure this kind of destiny with the guests.
Also we hope we will see them again not by chance!!

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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.

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Advice for Tourists or Just to "TALK"

When I walked down a street, I found it. "English Help". What does it mean?

He is the English Helper. He looks very friendly and out going. I asked what was this?

The reply was very simple. According to the board he is helping tourists to give information in English. It's said in Japan there're a few people around you who speak more than 3 words in English. We say, for example, Go and Straight or Dog and Run. 

Yes, we, Japanese, are not good at English. Sometimes we are called by foreigner, and get upset, saying nothing.

BUT, Japan is well known as a polite country. If you're lucky, the person you called to get direction might let you follow her/him. Even though the person don't speak in English, it works. 

I don't want to say anything exaggerated. It depends on the people. I just want to say Japanese are sometimes amazingly helpful!

Oh, but, please do not say something to business people in suits for getting direction to go somewhere. They're so busy for their jobs! That's another aspect of Japan.

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The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in a historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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Yaeyama Islands②(八重山)

It is the southernmost island of Japan. Name is Hateruma「波照間」.


This island is so small. You can go around only 1 hour by motorbike.

There are sugar cane fields.  I felt the abroad when I saw this view. This is first time to see this view. It was so amazing.

There are many cattle. It was a free-range.

And this island has the monument of Japan's southernmost. I thought this is southernmost place when I found it.

There are Cliffs in the back from monument.

Wave is so strong. It's so cool.

 You can feel some nature in the Hateruma.

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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.

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Kanko-sai(還幸祭）

Gion Maturi(祇園祭）is the most important festival and there are related events taking place throughout the month of July.

One of this event called Kanko-sai(還幸祭） was held on the 24th July.

The Kanko-sai ceremony is the return of three Mikoshi(神輿 portable shrine) from Otabisyo(御旅所） to Yasaka shrine(八坂神社）.
When these Mikoshi arrive at the shrine, special prayers are held to welcome the sprits back to their main "home". And this ceremony ends around midnight.

Actually, i really wanted to see this ceremony.
But i had to work and stay at hostel.
so the above photo was taken by our guest.
Our guest who took this photo told me how fantastic this ceremony was.

I'll definitely go to see this ceremony next year!!
Also if you are in Japan next year, let's join with me!!

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The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in a historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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Japanese Aphorism ~Don't be Afraid of Asking~

When I went back to my home, I found a temple with an aphorism on a board.. 

That's it. I guess a Buddhism monk wrote it by Japanese calligraphy style. It looks good. And the words a monk wrote were really profound.  

"Don't be afraid of asking. Asking gets to be the zest for living."

If my translation is not really good, sorry! The words itself is nice and thought-provoking.

So many temples have the boards. When you watch, and you don't read Japanese, but you're interested in it and feel nice, please take a photo. Then we will translate it into English.

But, sometimes we don't understand the phrase... If it much profound!

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Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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Yaeyama Islands①(八重山)

Do you know Yaeyama Islands? Yaeyama Islands are located south west from Okinawa Island. I went to Yaeyama.

At first, I went to Ishigaki(石垣).

Ishigaki has some fresh fish restaurants. I could eat bonito hart and lever.

Okinawa's most famous liquor is Awamori(泡盛). I tried this. I was be a hangover. Awamori is stronger than the other liquor. So if you try this, be careful.


Next day.



I went to the southernmost place in Japan. It is Hateruma(波照間).

I used ferry from ishigaki. It took about 2 hour .


This picture is took from ferry.

I think, Yaeyama's sea is most clean in Japan.


It is easy to access to Yaeyama from Kyoto. Peach airline（Kansai airport） has direct line.

After enjoyed in Kyoto, would you like to go to Yaeyama?

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The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in a historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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The portrait of our guest

He is our guest from New Zealand.

He went to Kyoto International Manga Museum(京都国際マンガミュージアム） and asked an artist to draw his portrait.

How is his portrait?
It really resembles, doesn't it?

He is also satisfied with his portrait.
Because he is wearing Kimono and having a sword like Samurai on the portrait.
He said he really look forward to showing this to his family.

If you would like to get your portrait, go to Manga Museum.
There are many great artists in there.
Also even if you just would like to read manga, they hold about 200,000 items.
So you will definitely enjoy there.

It takes 30 mins by walk from our guesthouse.

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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.

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Mitarashi-Matsuri Festival(御手洗祭, みたらりまつり) in Shimogamo-Jinja Shrine

When I walked along the approach of Shimogamo-jinja shrine, I found some stalls. They're not so many. I smelled something sweet.

Today the shine hold a festival called Mitarashi-matsuri festival. The festival is very historical from about 1000 year ago.

If you go down to the a small river, you can go into the gate. Actually it's a bridge. Yes, you're going under the bridge.

Having a candle, I was walking in a river. The water is very cold!! It's a good refreshment in hot and humid summer. Everybody feel summer heating and boiling. So the festival is really nice for everybody.

People put a candle on the shelf. Good, a woman holding a kid on her back was putting a candle.

This festival is for wishing no sick and good health. So it's also good idea to go there with children!

Oh, don't forget about sweets in the festival.

You can take it out.

This is a Japanese popular sweet called Mitarashi dango. It' a sort of stick of sweet dumplings.

The same name of the festival. Because the origin of this sweet is the festival. So this sweet has also the own history about 1000 years.

These kind of historical things are, sometimes, really complicating and fun. There's always more to learn!

Enjoy the cool water, and Japanese sweet! They were also good learning to me!

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Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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First time to watch 'nou' for me

The other day, there was a show called 'nou' that is traditional plays .
It was first time for me and I was not sure what it is.
I knew I wouldn't understand what they do.
but I wanted to feel their atmosphere and I like music, they play traditional instruments too.
In the beginning, I  actually got a bit sleepy.
When the story got in climax, the main actor and the back-sounds excite us
that was awesome!

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The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in a historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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Mitarashi Dango(みたらし団子） and Mitarashi festival(御手洗祭り）

Have you tried to eat Mitarashi dango(みたらし団子）?

Dango is a Japanese dumpling and sweets made from rice flour and Mitarashi dango is a type of dango skewered onto sticks in groups 3-5 and covered with a sweet soy sauce glaze.
It's very tasty and one of my favorite sweets.

Mitarashi dango is said to be named after the bubbles of the Mitarashi which is purifying water placed at the entrance of a shrine of the Shimogamo shrine(下鴨神社）.

Untill tomorrow, there is Mitarashi festival(御手洗祭り）at Shimogamo shrine.
In the festival,people put their feet in the cool waters of the stream running through the shrine and pray for a healthy life.

I think this festival is good for cooling you down and you'll forget about hot and humid days of summer!!

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The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in a historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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The Guest from Paris Loves the City

Wow, they're carrying a potable shrine for a largest festival in July of Kyoto. The festival has the schedule for almost everyday in July. I took the photo on 5th floor of the building A-yado is in. Our guests and I are so lucky!

And here's a photo of a nice woman with the lovely smile. She knows about Japan and Kyoto very well. She speaks very beautiful Japanese, and she knows the culture. Her name is Esther.

And she gave us the present! It's a famous souvenir of a shrine. It made us happy! Thank you! 

We opened it. It looks so nice.

Beautiful Candies! We all love sweets. And we love souvenir from our guests.

Thank you for the good present!

She has been in Japan in April, Autumn and Summer. In Japan we can enjoy four seasons with the characteristics such as cherry trees and colored leaves. She has experienced three seasons. The Winter of Japan is waiting for her.

Thank you for everything, Esther. When you have the chance, please come to Kyoto. This city is also waiting for you! And, of course, we're looking forward to seeing you again!

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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.

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Mt. Daimonji (大文字山)

On August 16th five giant bonfires are lit on five mountains surrounding the city.
This is an event called Gozan no Okuribi in Bon festival.


I went up Mt. Daimonji, one of the five mountains.
The mountain is close to Gikaku-ji Temple.

It is the beginning of the mountain trail.
First there is an ascent.
You can hear songs of birds and insects.

After the ascent, There are stairs to the top.
You need to mind your steps not to fall down.

This is the half way point.
You should drink water frequently to prevent dehydration.

Going further, you get to this stairs.
This is a very long stairs and we do not see the end from the starting point.
However the top is not so far.

This is the view from the top.
The summit commands a panoramic view of Kyoto.

There are fire grates for Gozan no Okuribi.


It takes 30-50 minutes to get to the top.
Please do not forget to bring a bottle of water and a towel with you.

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The backpackers hostel in Kyoto is located in a historical district, Gion.
Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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Our guest has enjoyed the Gion festival

The Gion festival(祇園祭） reached its climax yesterday during Yamahoko Junko(山鉾巡行） which is a parade of beautifully decorated floats.

Unfortunately, i couldn't go to see it. I was watching it on TV.
But our many guests went to see it and enjoyed the festival.

The guy on the photo, he was also enjoying it.
He is half Japanese and has been to Japan more than 15 times.
But he has never seen the Japanese festival  before so that he was born and grew up in England. so he was really looking forward to seeing this festival.
Also he is going to see the Tenjin festival(天神祭）next week.
The Gion festival and the Tenjin festival are one of the 3 biggest festival in Japan.
I think he is a lucky guy.
Because he can see the 2 big festival during his stay.

If you come to Japan in summer time, you can enjoy many festivals and fireworks.

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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.

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Gion Matsuri Festival 2013 ~Yoi-yama, one of the main parts at night~

The clouds are something strange. It looks the calm before the storm. With a temple and sunset it's getting more beautiful.

Wow, so many vacant seat. It' said for "17th/July". What happens in this city, Kyoto?!

Yes! Tonight Kyoto has a part of the great festival, Gion Festival（祇園祭, ぎおんまつり).

It looks so nice. All lanterns are like having their own faces.

Bigger one! It's in Shijo-dori St.

On that one, there'are so many people playing their instrument. They're not only exciting, but historical. Those style are from some hundred years ago.

This one is also fantastic! And coming 10 pm, which is the closing time of playing instruments, the whole area is getting crowded, and everybody is so excited!

Oops! It's blared. Because I feel dizzy for crowded streets and the heat of people! Now time to finish taking a photo...


The Gion festival is one of the biggest three festival of Japan. It stars 1st of July and continues to 31st of July. Some parts are just for local people and priest of Shinto. But, spectacle parts, which you can join in are all worth seeing!

Matsu is Japanese culture. Sometimes we feel nostalgic for it. Because we, Japanese join in it from childhood, having foods of stalls, laughing loudly.

That's a definitely good cultural part!! Yeah, of course, you can join in! And enjoy!!

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Link to Our Website
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