Yuru-kyara as the Japanese Culture

Have you ever heard Yuru-kyara?  If so, you are so familiar to the modern Japanese culture. It is sort of culture for younger generations. And also it has something to do with touristic things. 

The guy in the photo above is Yuru-kyara of Kagawa prefecture. Our guest gave the post card to us.

Every prefecture in Japan has Yuru-kyara. And some of them are so strange. The guy is too. Kagawa prefecture is famous for the good taste of Udon noodle. The guy is eating Udon. And his brain is also contains Udon. Yeah, so strange... But at the same time, it's cute, right?

Its name is Udon-Nou, which means Udon and brain. Yeah, so simple.

We love Yuru-kyara. If you take a look of big dolls of Yuru-kyara, please take a photo with them! It should be a good souvenir!  

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Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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Japanese Famous Sweet and Hero

Our guest after the journey from the west of Japan gave us the sweet. It's a sort of race cakes. The race cake called "Kibi-dan-go" has the story about a hero named "Momo-tarou". The guy was born from a big peach and he got friends, a monkey, bird and dog. And he went to an island of ogres. They wiped out the ogres and got treasures.

The sweet is the key to make friend for the hero. He gave the sweet to make friends. 

It's one of the most famous stories in Japan. Every Japanese know it. 

Oh, NO! The sweets was not bribe! He just gave them because he has so many kibi-dan-go!

Giving something to somebody means good. Of course it's a good beginning of the friendship.

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Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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The Toei Kyoto Studio Park(東映太秦映画村）

I went to the Toei Kyoto Studio Park(東映太秦映画村） which is a film set and theme park last weekend. Actually, many Japanese movies have been produced in there.

Many traditional buildings as you can see the photo are used as a backdrop for filming historical movies and television dramas.

If you walk through this small town, you can feel as if you had been transported through time to Japanese old age.

Also, there are many attractions such as Ninja show(忍者ショー） and a fun house(お化け屋敷）.
I think everyone from adults to children can enjoy there.
Besides, you can dress up in period dress such as samurai costumes and get photographed there.

I think you can definitely have a good experience there. I really recommend to go there when you come to Kyoto.

It takes about 30 mins by tube and walk from A-yado.

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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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Colorado's Post Card from Peru ~Loving Traveling~

If you know the scenery, you love things such as wild nature or mountain. And of course, you love travel. Oh, or you live in USA.

The Staff, Shinji, is going on travel. And he send this post card with the picture National Park or Colorado.

With the message on the other side. Now he is in Peru. 

That's why the person on the stamp has something to do with Peru. 

We love travel. And we love travelers. So we'd like to serve. The traveling make people have the wide view to look at anything. We, Japanese, is in an island. Going to abroad is something special and important to us. Sure. If we put ourselves into a cage, the view must be smaller forever. 

Looking widely like the scenery of National Park in Colorado. 

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Good access by buses and trains to everywhere. 
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Crown Did Great Job Even If He Has Small Space

Putting a red round nose on his own, he was saying about MUST to do of crowns. 

Crowns should do something funny and emotional. Right, now he was doing it in a photo.

When he smiled, the atmosphere had been changed. It's just the difference of the corner of his mouth and smiling eyes. Yeah, it's a sort of show, even if he has a few square meters. No, if he was bounded, he could move his muscle on face. And then he can be a great crown! That's not matter of space.

He is traveling all over the world to observe any skill for performance. He is not only a great crown, but also a super backpacker!

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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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Japanese hostels are one of our guest's favorite

She is our guest from Switzerland.

She has been travelling around the world for 1 year.
Before she arrived in Japan, she visited South America, North America, Hawaii.
She said she stayed more than 100 hostels during the trip and Japanese hostels are one of her favorite in the world. Because Japanese hostels are very clean. Also the staff is friendly and always care about the guests.
When i heard about that, i was really happy.
Because our staff always think about the satisfaction of the guests.

She is going to other Asian countries afterwards.
I hope she will find nice hostels at each countries and enjoy the rest of her trip.

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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.

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Finding a Shrine, which is so Bizarre

When I walk down a small street, I found a shrine. The building is, of course, Japanese style. But, shrine color was bit fade away. And there's nobody.

This is the stone torches. It looks old. Some parts have moss. And under the torch there're weeds. It's not really bad. 

But actually the white line, in front of torches are for parking lot. I don't understand why the shrine is in a parking lot.

Yeah, it looks the name of it. Old things have the meaning. Perhaps this shrine too.

Kyoto is sometimes such a strange city. Because of the history. When you explore, you can find something special in this city!

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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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Origami Class on the Front Desk ~Art of Paper Holding~

They are holding Japanese papers. Origami, it's really difficult, if you have ever done it. Yet, making some shapes by paper is so fun. The photo was blared. Because they are high in spirits!

They made cranes! Congraturations! And thank you for good smiles of you. 

One guest was waiting for using dryer in our reception. He was so nice. So he waited for it, when I changed the focus to take a good photo. So sorry. It takes 15 seconds!

At last they made something. A girl from Norway made a crane very quickly. And the guy on the left made a good shaped one. Oh, the guy on the right made a triangle. Yeah, of course, it's good! If you want to make anything you want, please use Origami paper.   

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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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Our Guest from France in Yukata!!

Another staff, Yusuke wrote this article.

http://hostelkyoto.blogspot.jp/2013/08/getting-lost-but.html

Yeah, at last, she,with her friend, was in Yukata .

Oh, but before their "cheese", there's another story. She was looking for how to wear Yukata. But, it's very confusing and complicating.. So she was worried about the time for a festival called Bon Fire. 

Oh, on the day there're 2 male staff. We couldn't help her! ;(

About 10 minute later a super helpful Japanese girls came to check in. And she said "I could do it for her!!"

After 30 minutes, her smile and posture in Yukata were perfect!

Yes, it's a great day for them and us. The story sounds nice, because it has something to do with the human relationship. Even if we speak different languages, and we can't talk in a common language, there's no problem. If a person smiles, so do another!

It's set a great relationship! The place, A-yado GION is such kind of hostel!

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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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Currency Exchange at Kyoto Station

When you are traveling in a foreign country, money is very important.
In Japan only Japanese yen works.


Today I will show you a convenient place for currency exchange.

This is the money exchange counter at Kyoto Station.
Most of our guests come to A-yado via Kyoto Station, so if you need to get Japanese yen, this counter is very convenient.


At this counter there are English speakers available.
You do not have to worry about communication.


By the way at Kyoto Station there is a information center.

Here also there are English speakers working.
You can get lots of useful information here.

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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. Yoshida (吉田山)

This is the entrance of Mt. Yoshida (吉田山).
I went up this mountain.

First there are easy slopes and stairs.
There are lots of trees so we can walk in the shade.

The road becomes a little bit steeper.
Now it is summer so many cicadas were chirping.

This is a sign which means "summit".
Walking a few minutes more, you get to the top.

This is the resting place at the top.
There are chairs and a roof so it is good for take a rest.

This is the view from the top.
You can see the Mt. Daimonji (大文字山).

The letter "大" is very clear.


Mt. Yoshida is not so high.
It takes only 5-10 minutes to the top.
It is good for exercise.

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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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The message T-shirt doesn't need the words

I think the internet is the one of the essential items for backpackers nowadays.

When the guests arrive at A-yado, many of them ask "Do you have WI-FI ?" at first.
The message of T-shirt which our guest is wearing on the photo represents the feeling of many people.
It is written "I want to use the internet" in Japanese. Also the word "必要（necessity) "is running on the T-shirt.
It is a really unique T-shirt, isn't it?
When i told him what is written on the T-shirt, he said "Haha.....It is really nice. Actually i'm addicted to the internet. I can tell everyone what i think without words when i wear it".
That's true. If you see his T-shirt, you can feel what he wants to do.
He is going to Thailand after Japan.
I think he will buy a T-shirt with the message he wants is written in Thai when he travels there.

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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

Getting Lost but...

She is our guest from France.
She is very happy because she bought yukata (浴衣) at a good bargain.


I asked her, "Where did you buy the yukata?"
She answered, "I don't know. I found the yukata store unexpectedly when I got lost."


She found a good store by a fluke.
Even when she lost her way, she enjoyed the situation.
She is a paragon of traveler.


At the store she bought yukata and obi (帯, girdle for yukata) at low price.
She also got a pair of geta (下駄, Japanese traditional sandal) for free.
First she could not find geta which fitted her feet well.
Then a clerk gave her a pair of geta which only fitted her for free because the clerk got the geta from the rack of inventory disposal.


How lucky she was.
She also bought yukata for her friend as a souvenir.
She was satisfied with her shopping.


The location of the store is still unknown.
The only clue is that it is on the way to Kiyomizu-dera Temple from A-yado.


If you have time, please try looking for the yukata store.

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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.

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Kodai-ji Temple（高台寺) for Japanese Monsters & Ghost and Illumination

When I walk down on a small historical street, I found something strange.

The lanterns with Japanese monsters or ghosts called Yokai.

And I walked up the stairs of Kodai-ji temple.

I found so many lanterns.

And it remained me, the day was for the exhibition of Japanese monsters and ghost and illumination in the temple. 

The dark blue color was behind the building. Trees were illuminated.

Old Japanese houses and a lake were also illuminated.

I watched nice Japanese technologies in the temple. It was like a movie. Monsters run on the wall. 

This was a kind of ghosts.

Maybe you see the face on the left side of the colors.

The moon was nice.

The lake reflected the trees like a mirror.

When I go to the exit, there were down stairs. 

Bamboo forest was there. Nice to walk.

You know this type of dragons? Parts of them was made of bamboo.

Then I go back to the entrance stairs and lanterns.

It was nice experiences about beautiful things and scarring things. I watched pictures of monsters and ghosts, though I couldn't take photos because it's prohibited. Of course when I was a child, ghosts are scarring. Now I watched them again, it was still scarring.

So many things must see at night too!

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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