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 Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:07 pm
Ever since I was very young I've been obsessed with Japanese culture. I fully intend to move there one day. For now, I am going to have to settle with learning the language. lol But here's some information I've put together about my favorite part of Japan. Kyoto!
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:10 pm
The Basics Kyoto is the heart of traditional Japan. Here you can rest in the shade of Buddhist temples that have stood for over a thousand years or peruse the offerings of ultramodern department stores. You can join in the time-honored tea ceremony or unwind with a cup of coffee at a fashionable cafe.
Only in Kyoto is it possible to cross paths with a real geisha as you stop for a snack at a convenient store. You can take a deep breath of the crisp mountain air as you stroll leisurely through a bamboo thicket. Or you can savor the sight of cherry blossoms overhead as you picnic with the locals on the banks of the Kamogawa River.
When you’re done seeing the old, a new city that’s taken pains to be convenient for visitors from overseas awaits. At just a little over an hour from Kansai International Airport, Kyoto is close enough for anyone.
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:14 pm
The Places Kyoto, which has a thousand-plus temples and shrines, is a fascinating city. Most sightseeing spots are contained within a compact area at the base of the mountains.
Each area has an enough sites worth visiting to justify a one day trip.The central area features entertainment and shopping; the east Kiyomizu-dera Temple, with stone-paved paths lined with shops, the west, strolling paths in thick bamboo groves, the north, Kamigamo-jinja and Shimogamo-jinja Shrines upstream of the Kamo-gawa River and the south, Fushimi-inari Taisha Shrine famous for its 1000-plus "torii" gates and its long steep, lava formed steps. On the outskirt sits Uji which features Byodo-in and Ujigami-jinja Shrines (World Heritage sites).
Uji is well known for its local brand green tea cultivation. Still further into the remoter areas are temples scattered around rice fields. You can also enjoy walking in the Ohara-yama mountains and valleys in the areas known as Takao and Ohara-no.
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:19 pm
What to Do Spring Light Up
About 220 beautiful cherry trees and the castle garden are stunningly illuminated, enveloping this UNESCO World Heritage Site in mysterious light. During this event, the outer citadel (which is normally closed to the public) will become the site of an ikebana flower arrangement exhibition and you can also catch a traditional Japanese musical performance. Stands selling sweets and Japanese pickles will be set up by long-standing Kyoto shops, and tea ceremonies will be carried out near a small clear stream so that visitors may enjoy the evening cherry blossoms with a traditional cup of matcha green tea. Weeping Cherry Blossom Concert 2009
This is the 21st annual Heian-jingu shrine Weeping Cherry Blossom Concert, established to celebrate the gorgeous weeping cherry trees in the shrine garden. These beautiful cherry blossoms are even mentioned in selected works of Japanese literature and will be lit up as the highlight of this event. Live music will play as visitors enjoy the illuminated cherry blossom trees reflected in the garden pond. Higashiyama Hanatoro
As the spring tourist season gives way to March, you can experience a special light-up called, "Higashiyama Hanatoro" at Higashiyama, one of Kyoto's most popular sightseeing spots. Here, hundreds of lanterns made of bamboo and ceramic ("andon") line the evening streets and bamboo forest, illuminating your path and creating a magical atmosphere. Nearby temples and shrines also hold their own special light-ups.
Higashiyama Hanatoro features a variety of other events and exhibitions, including an extensive display of Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, a small concert with guitars and the ancient Shaku-hachi flute, and Geisha's classical dance.
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:25 pm
Last but not least... Where to Stay After a day of sightseeing, you’ll want someplace comfortable and convenient to return to. Fortunately, accommodations to meet all tastes are available in Kyoto. You can feast on expertly prepared meals while relaxing in tatami-floored rooms in ryokan (Japanese style inns) and shukubo (temple lodging). Those who prefer something more familiar will be pleased at Kyoto’s range of western-style hotels, while so-called “weekly mansion” apartments are an affordable way to lodge for those who plan on staying in Japan for a bit longer. No matter where you decide to stay, it’s best to make reservations well in advance, particularly when crowds pour into the city to admire the beauty of the blooming cherry blossoms of early spring and the fire-red maple leaves of autumn.RyokanFor those who want to be immersed in a uniquely Japanese atmosphere, ryokan make an ideal choice. A stay at a one of these traditional inns is usually somewhat more expensive than a night in a hotel, but is a refreshing and personal experience worth the extra expense. Two meals are included with each night's stay; dinner the day one checks in and the next day's breakfast. These meals are often local specialties such as Kyoto's own kaiseki ryori, and are served to guests in their rooms by the cordial and highly professional female staff known as nakai. The nakai typically wear kimono, and having them being your meal to you as you relax upon the tatami floor of your room is one of the most memorable aspects of time spent in a traditional inn.
The number of ryokan with private bathing facilities has increased, but common baths are the norm. In some cases the baths are filled with water pumped from a hot spring, or onsen. Yukata, a type of loose cotton kimono, are provided for guests in place of bath robes. Guests are free to wear the yukata throughout the ryokan.
Bedding at ryokan takes the form of a futon, which is a flat, foldable mattress without springs. The nakai will lay out and make the futon in the evening while the guests are out of the room.
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