When the movie title is changed into other language, it seems to be different

He is our guest from Holland.
His T-shirt is cool,isn't it?
Do you know what T-shirt is?
There is movie title in Chinese.
Can you guess the movie title "星球大戦"?
Well, it is "Star Wars".
When i saw it, i can't guess.
We have Chinese character in Japanese. But it is hard to guess.
Sometimes when the movie title is changed into other language, it seems to be very different.
Anyway, i like his T-shirt.
When i see the cool T-shirt, i want to feel buying one.

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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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Global artist has been enjoying in Japan

She is our guest from Wales.
She is an artist and belongs to The Llanarth Group(England).
She came to Japan to have a workshop with Japanese theatrical company "Gekidan AMI".
The Llanarth Group is an association of theater artists dedicated to producing international theater of the highest quality through in-depth psycho-physical training of actors from all cultures.
She explained me about what she does, but what i only understood was she does contemporary dance. I have to study about theater artists more.......

Well, after she finished workshop in Tokyo, she traveled around Japan and she was impressed by Japanese artists and constructions such as temple, Japanese garden.
I think she will bring the impressed things back to her group and put them to good account.
If i have a chance to go to England, i would like to see her performance.

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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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Our guest has been travelling with Koala

He is our guest from Australia.
Look at his bag!!

Cute Koala with wearing hat is showing his body.

Our guest said he normally stays in his pocket.
But when he saw our small koalas of the above photo at A-yado, he was showing his body from the pocket.
I think he was surprised that other koalas were in Japan.
Our guests has been travelling with this koala in more than 25 countries.This koala was given to him by his friend when he left in Australia.
Nice friend, isn't it?
He will go back to Australia after Japan.so when he goes back home, he will tell her about nice trip with koala. Also the koala will tell his fiends that he met other koalas at A-yado.

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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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"JR RAIL PASS" is very convenient to travel in Japan

When you travel in Japan, i think you will buy  "JR RAIL PASS".
It's really convenient to travel in Japan.
It costs 57700 yen for 21days. You can use any JR line included Shinkansen(新幹線） and JR buses.
If you take Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo, it costs 12710 yen. so if you use it 5 times from Kyoto to Tokyo, it will pay.
I really envy travelers. Because Japanese people can't buy it.

Our guest from USA has been using this pass many times.
He said he used it about 15 times for 2 weeks.
Also he moves long distance for 1 day with this pass.
He came to our hostel from Yakushima(屋久島） today.
Yakushima is located on the south of Japan. It is very far away from Kyoto.
I can't believe that he moved this distance for 1 day without airplane.
If i were him, i would stay in Hiroshima today.
Every time, i think travelers are very tough.
I hope he will enjoy in Japan with "JR RAIL PASS".

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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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The reason our guest comes to Japan this season every year

He is our guest from Australia.
He comes to Japan this season every year.
Do you know why?
Do you think that he comes to Japan to see the beautiful colored leaves every year?
No, no, no................he comes to Japan to work.
He is going to work at restaurant as a chef in Niseko(ニセコ） in Hokkaido(北海道） from 1st Dec.
Hokkaido is a really nice place. There are many snow and you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding.
Anyway, before he starts working, he is going to buy a Japanese knife in Sakai(堺） in Osaka(大阪）. Sakai is famous for Japanese knife.
Even though Japanese knife from Sakai have a only 7% market share in Japanese knife industry, 80% of professional chef use it.
I hope he will serve nice food to the customers with new Japanese knife in Niseko.
Also i'll go to eat his cooking some day!!

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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

International Souvenirs

He is our guest from France.
He is holding a small figure of the Eiffel Tower with a koala and  an American flag.
He found it funny that the Eiffel Tower from France is with an Australian animal and American flag.


All of three are souvenirs from guests who stayed in A-yado before.
We have got lots of souvenirs from our guests from all over the world.
In A-yado you can find many foreign things.


This photo is a good example showing that A-yado is an international place.
The guest in the photo also enjoyed this atmosphere.


Also around A-yado there are some bars and clubs where you can enjoy international exchange.

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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

Kansai Dialect on T-Shirt

He is our guest from Canada.
On his T-shirts there is a Japanese word written.
The word is　"nandeyanen( なんでやねん)".
It is a dialect in Kansai Area,which Kyoto belongs to.


The direct translation of "nandeyanen" is "What(?)"
We use nandeyanen when somebody jokes.
Nandeyanen is a very casual word so we can say it only to somebody who is close to us such as friends.
We never say nandeyanen to our bosses so please be careful when you use it.


Strangely he bought this T-shirt in Kyusyu Area, which is far from Kansai Area.


Anyway This T-shirt looks funny for Japanese people especially those who are from Kansai Area.
Wearing this T-shirt is a kind of joke so we feel like to say "Nandeyanen!?" to this guest.
Asking about this T-shirt must be a good start of conversation and making new friends.

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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

Donation from our guest

At night when I was cleaning the lounge, I found them.
they were donated from our guest.


One of the book is an English-Japanese dictionary, and the other one is a text book about Japanese conversation.


The guest was leaving for Korea so he did not need it any more.
He left them for other guests.
Most of our foreign guests do not speak Japanese, so I am sure those books are handy for them.

 What do you think the left one is?

This is a moneybox in the shape of a pin of bowling game.
He got this money at a bowling alley for free.


He wanted to take this home as souvenir but there was no space for this in his bag.
This is how he gave this to us.


I have this moneybox at home.
I will save money with this moneybox for next traveling.


We always welcome donations.

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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

Our guest's brother will be mediator between Australia and Japan

He is our guest from Australia.

He went to his brother's wedding in Kinosaki(城崎）in Hyogo prefecture(兵庫県） the day before he stayed at A-yado. Because his brother got married with Japanese girl.
They live in Australia. But he said they wanted to have a wedding party in Japan.
That's why they had a wedding party at Japanese shrine.
Kinosaki(城崎）where they had a wedding party is nice place located near the sea. You can have fresh seafood there. Also they have Onsen(温泉：hot spring).
Actually, it is one of my recommended place in Japan.
If you have a chance to come to Japan, try to go there. You will definitely enjoy.

Well,when out guest was at wedding party, he played the guitar and celebrated them.
So it must have been nice wedding.

I hope his brother and wife will be a mediator between Australia and Japan.

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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

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween!!

Today is Halloween, isn't it?
Are you going to the Halloween party with nice costume?

When i check our blog of last year, i found the article about Halloween which our staff wrote.
When i saw the photo of it, it looked very fun.
Everyone was wearing several kinds of costume like Jason, Santa Claus, green body tights....

Nowadays Halloween is getting famous in Japan.
There are many Halloween party everywhere and everyone enjoy it.

Our guests of above photo went to the Halloween party tonight.
Actually they checked in this evening and went to the party soon.
Every time i think our guests are very tough.
I hope they will enjoy the party and meet the people wearing nice costume.
Also when they come back, i look forward to hearing the funny story about the party.

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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

Travel for the Fine Art! --Impressed by Things in a Travel--

Always travel gives you so nice inspirations. We meet a lot of artists under their travels. They are sometimes looking for something good like the inspiration and materials. 


She is smiling and she shows her great work in her phone. She comes to Japan for some exhibitions and meeting friends. And she was looking for a good materials for her fine arts.


This is her great work! It's SUPER!!

I said "Wow! What's the material of your work?".
"It's made from ceramics, you see?"
"Yeah, I watched it carefully. It's really beautiful"
"Thank you. Actually I'm looking for a material in Japan. I've heard about Origami artist. Is there something special to fold Origami?"
"I think so. Why don't you try Wa-shi, which is Japanese paper"
"Oh, I know some. But what's the good Japanese paper? I really want it"

And I've searched the information about so many types of Japanese papers. There looks some good ones for her works.

I let know her them. 

"Thanks! I will try. Oh, but this year, maybe, I won't have enough time. So next year!!"
"Yeah, when you come back to Japan"
"Definitely I will!"

Nice meeting with materials, and nice conversation! 

Thank you for letting me see your great work!! 
We hope your travel in Japan goes well! Of course, hope you will complete your SUPER great works!!

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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

Don't Need to Taking Shoes Off!!

It is the photo of the entrance of the lounge in A-yado.
In Japan we usually take off our shoes at entrance hall.
In some hostels you are required to take off you shoes, too.

However at A-yado you do not have to take off your shoes.
You may wear your shoes inside.


I guess somebody misunderstood the rule and took off his/her shoes.
Then others followed it.

They are the owners of the shoes.


I told them that you did not need to take off your shoes.
They answered that they felt at home without shoes inside and they did not wear their shoes finally.
I also feel better without shoes at home.


They are enjoying Japanese way at A-yado.

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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

Do you know what is the most number of question from Japanese people at Helsinki airport?

They are our guests from Finland.
The guy on the right side on the photo has been working at Helsinki airport in Finland and give many infomation to the Japanese tourists.
So i asked him "What is the most number of question from Japanese people?" and he said "That is about Moomin".
Actually i didn't expect this answer. I thought the most number of question from Japanese people is an aurora.
But of course, we love Moomin. Because when we are child, we used to watch the anime of Moomin. So Moomin is one of the famous character in Japan.
He also said there is a theme park and museum of Moomin in Finland.
After i've heard of it, i really wanted to feel going there.
I think the theme park of Moomin is a dreamworld for Japanese people.
When i go to Helsinki airport, i'll definitely find him and ask more information about Moomin.

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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

Funny T-Shirt of Pikachu

They are guests from the USA and Australia.
They are studying at a university in Japan.


I found one of their T-shirts interesting.


This is the one.

There is a picture of Pikachu from Pokemon.
Pokemon is a Japanese cartoon and popular all over the world.


However this is not a normal picture of Pikachu but it is a anatomical drawing.
Though they are written in Japanese but some parts of Pikachu are described.
For example, condenser, rubber stomach, electric wire and so on.


He told me that he bought this shirt at an online store.


If you see a person in a funny shirt, you cannot help talking to him/her.
It is a good way to make new friends to wear an outstanding T-shirt.

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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

Commenorative photo in our living rom

When i went to our living room yesterday, i saw the different sight as usual.
Because there is aprofessional photographer and taking photos of Kimono ladies.
Of course, Kimono ladies are our guest.
After they were walking around Gion area with Kimono, they came back to our hostel to take photos with other guests.
Look at their face!!
Umm, you can't see properly??
Sorry, my photo is bit blurrred. Because i got nervous to take a photo in front of the professinal photographer. Hahaha......
But they all have good smile!!
Other guest on the photo were also pleased at takng photos with Japanese wearing Kimono.
If you stay at A-yado, you might have a experience like taking photos with Japanese wearing Kimono.

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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

Fruits Sandwich in Kyoto

Do you like a quiz? I have just one quiz, which is difficult.
What's this?


I give you 5 seconds to think. It's too difficult maybe. 
A hint: Sort of sweets.




Taking 5 seconds. Here's the answer.


This is fruits sandwich of Yaoiso(ヤオイソ). Yaoiso is a famous sweets shop in Kyoto.

Our guest gave it to us! Thank you!!




The melon inside there. Looks very tasty. 


If you read Japanese, you understand what it means. It says MUST TO EAT TODAY.
Sure, it's very fresh. Of course it's better to eat today.


Thank you very much! ITADAKIMASU!

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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

Orange and Nice Cheese ~Smart Girl from USA~

"Do you like an orange?"
Somebody said it to me in Japanese.
"Wow, can I take one?"
"Sure, it's a bit sour but very tasty"
"Thank you!"

We talked about so many things in Japanese. She speaks almost perfect and fluent Japanese. And also she understand Hindi language. Her mother language is English. It's special to Japanese. When you live in, for example, countries in Europe, speaking three languages is not very special. BUT, thinking about HOW HARD to LEARN Japanese, it should be sort of special. 



Cheese with Oranges. I take one of them. Thank you! Her name is Sanaa. Really smart and friendly girl from USA.

She is a sophomore of an university, supposed to stay in Japan. She is studied myths and folklore. I'm surprised with the knowledge of her also about Japanese ones. She knows about history of Kyoto very well.

I hope she will experience so many good things in this city. Because Kyoto is sort of historical and academic cites having a lot of mysteries. Please enjoy everything in the city! Thank you for your nice cheese and orange!

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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

Happy honeymoon!!

They are our guests from Canada.
They got married recently and came to Japan for their honeymoon.
After climbing Mt.Fuji, they came to Kyoto and staying our hostel
We are really glad that they are spending their honeymoon at A-yado.
Because our hostel might be impressed on their memory.

When i talked to them, they met at high school and has been together for 9 years.
It's so long, isn't it?
Also they had a wedding party on the boat recently and many people beatified them.
They are really nice couple.
I understand that everyone wants them to be happy. Of course me,too.

They are going to Okinoshima(大久野島） which is a small island located in Hiroshima Prefecture(広島県）later.
Okinoshima is also called "Usagi Jima(ウサギ島）".
Because the numerous wild rabbits roam the island.
So i think many rabbits will beatify them as well when they arrive 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

A bamboo sward for practice

He is our guest from Finland.
Do you know what he is holding on his hand?
It's a bamboo sword for Kendo(剣道）.
Have you ever tried to do Kendo before?
Actually, he also hasn't done Kendo before.
But he bought it at second-hand shop. Because he has been learning "Bolognese Swardman ship" in his country.
Bolognese Swordmanship is a kind of Fencing from Bologna in Italy.
When the play it, they use an iron sword. But if it hits, he said that it is really painful.
That's why he bought a bamboo sword for practice. A bamboo sward is much softer than an iron sword as you know.
I think he won't hurt any more.
Also if you would like to start learning Kendo, try to go to the second-hand shop like him.
You might find a nice bamboo sward.

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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

Family Emblem T-shirt Designed by Our Guest

Yesterday another staff member wrote an article about "Makie sticker" on cell phone.

Actually the symbol is a family emblem of Japanese famous samurai. We, all Japanese, have the family emblems. It's still used on kimono, grave, and so on. But, younger generations don't know about the emblem. Emblems are sometimes sort of important for elder people.

Oh, this is another story about the T-shirt in the following picture.

It's the original T-shirt, which you can buy in A-yado GION. A staff member, Yo make it.Yeah, I'm the Yo. Kanji are written on the T-shirt. 覇王 is one of the styles of kings. If you do something merciful as a king, you are a great king. If the period is so chaotic, and you do something unmerciful regardless it's your will or not, you could be a "覇王(Ha-ou, はおう)".

And here's the emblem. Our guest made the design. And I drew it. After checking the quality of my drawing by the guest, I used a print paper for T-shirt. Now it's on the T-shirt.

This angle is much nice. I like his design.

We are a team of a hostel in Kyoto. But, somehow this time I made a family emblem T-shirt. It could be weird. I love drawing and, of course, I love welcoming you to stay in Kyoto! We, staff, love it!!

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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