Emperor in Kyoto

It's not rare because my office is located in front of the Imperial Palace.

Japanese Emperor and his wife often come to Kyoto, and they usually stay at the Palace.

When they go and be back, I have a chance to see them.

The policeman always come to my office to inform that the Emperor will go through on Marutamahci St. in about 1 hour. Some staffs give the Japanese National flags to the people, and the Kyoto people wait for the emperor's coming.

It's routine among the people who are living around the Palace Grounds.

But, it's fun!

この辺りではいつものことですが、天皇両陛下が京都に来られたようです。

必ず御所に泊まられるので、そこから出たり入ったり、との時は必ずものすごい護衛で、かつ私のオフィスにもいつも到着１時間前には京都府警がやってきて、知らせてくれます。

最近では窓から眺めるぐらい。。そりゃー最初の頃は興奮したものです。東京に住んでたって赤坂あたりに住んでないとこんな事めったにないし。。

決して私は右ではないけれど！、でも美智子様は仏様のような優しくて大きなオーラがありますよ、これホント。大変だなーと思います、出発から到着までずーっと手を振ってなきゃならないのだから。

いつもの事ながら、楽しいイベントでもあります。

Overlooking the HIgashiyama

Can you imagine that I took this photo from the 20m high, of the huge gate building of zen temple in Kyoto? This is the first building to see after entering the Nanzenji zen complex, located in the eastern part of Kyoto city. So, the scene of the photo above is the Higashiyama eastern mountains. Mountains are so close! Here some sub temples of Nanzenji Temple open their sophisticated zen gardens to public. You can spend a refreshing morning feeling like a surrounded by great nature.

ここはどこからの眺めだと思いますか？写真の風景は東山、私が立っているところは南禅寺の山門です。¥500で山門に登れます。ものすごく急な階段を登ると京都市内と雄大な東山を仰ぐ事が出来ます。この写真を撮った数日前、私はこの東山をGreen tour Kyoto の取材で散策？山歩きをしていました。最近本当に自然の近くで過ごす時間が多いです。ここ、南禅寺境内には、天授庵や金地院といった、素晴らしい禅ガーデンを公開しているお寺があります。こんなに贅沢な場所に気軽に来れるところが京都の良いところです。

journal Kyoto Français printemps

Desole pour le retard, le nouveau numero du "Journal Kyoto" vient de sortir. On peut trouver le journal a Paris, a l institut franco-japonais du Kansai, de Tokyo et de Kyushu, et bien sur vous pouvez retrouver le journal au cafe c coquet, n'hesitez pas a venir le chercher.

フランス語版春号が出来上がりました！

今年は、春夏秋、と年に３回発行します。しかも今年は、パリ市内でも配布します。

京都には年々、フランス人旅行者が増えているように思います。英語でいいじゃないか、、ではなく、フランス語でおもてなし！

フランス語レッスンも開催してるのだし。

、、って何よりもまずは、私がフランス語を話せるようにならなければならないです、本当に。

今回の編集も仏語通訳案内士のTadashi や、うちのフランス語講師達が頑張ってくれました。

内容もフランス人に合わせた特徴のあるものになっています。

もちろん京都、日本国内でもたくさん配布します。

皆さん、どうぞお楽しみに！！

Air cabin in Kyoto!

Do you think the photo above is in the first class of the airplane?

This is the room of the new accommodation in Kyoto. The name is "FIRST CABIN" in the heart of downtown. Japanese people have been using a very small type room called capsule hotel for the business trip. It's reasonable and convenient because they're usually located in downtown.

But actually it's not comfortable, so I've never used them before!

FIRST CABIN want to change this bad image, and they established a new and a little gorgeous capsule hotel (like a first class cabin in the airplane).

FIRST CABIN KYOTO has just opened today!

Check out their website!

Enjoy an atmosphere of a first class cabin in Kyoto.

日本ではカプセルホテルと呼ばれるビジネスユースの宿泊施設がビジネス街には多くありますが（もちろん私は泊まった事はない！）、なんと！このカプセルホテルをゴージャスにした、その名も"FIRST CABIN"という飛行機のファーストクラスをイメージしたカプセルホテルが京都にも登場しました。オープン前日の、報道向け内覧会にお邪魔しましたが、まさに機内をイメージする狭さと暗さが私にとってはちょっとノスタルジックで利用してみたいなーと思いました。しかし難点を言えばここは、ホテル扱いではなく、簡易宿泊所？というカテゴリーに属する為、それぞれのお部屋に鍵をかける事が出来ません。それゆえ、館内ではセキュリティーシステムを充実、さらにメンバー制にしてるのです。一緒に行った、Bento&co のトマ君は、でも外国人旅行者でカップルで来たら女性男性で別れなければならないしどうかな〜、、まーでもこういうのはフランスにはないから面白いとは思う、、と微妙なコメントをしていました。時間ユースも出来るらしいので、私はミーティングの間にお昼寝する目的で利用してもいいかなーと思いました。１時間800~900円。（でも２時間から）

Kabuki appreciation Class

Have you ever seen kabuki before?

It 's very difficult to understand the story.

The perfect kabuki for the kabuki beginners is on now at Minamiza Theater located downtown Kyoto.

It is composed 2 parts; the first one is interpretative performance by a traditional comic story teller, the second part is a kabuki drama as a popular and easier kabuki number.

You can enjoy all aspects of kabuki.

Kabuki-kansho-kyoshitsu (歌舞伎鑑賞教室）

2 performances a day.

Feb.10th-14th 11:00~& 14:30~ ¥2000 (all no reserve seat)

Minamiza Theater 075-561-1155

On the corner of Shijo and Kawabata St.

March issue

Spring has really come!

Did you already see the plum blossom?

I'd like to recommend going to the plum tree garden in the west part of the Imperial Palace.

..However the photo of the cover page of this issue is the huge peach tree in Shimogoryo Jinja Shrine, located on 10m south walk from the corner of Teramachi and Marutamachi St.

(Oh~ this is the corner of which our cafe c.coquet was there..)

You can pick up the journal Kyoto at several ryokan, hotels, museums, International community house, Tourist information at Kyoto Stn. and c.coquet.

Snowy day

Oh~too chilly..

This photo is this afternoon's scenery from my office.

looking for coming spring. really hope so..

Setsubun days

What did you do yesterday? Did you enjoy a traditional Japanese ritual on February 3rd. ?

That is called "Setsubun". In olden days, people thought the demons appeared when the season changed. This setubun ceremony is held to drive away the demons and the people's sins.

The photo above is my son wearing the demon's mask of which is sold in a supermarket before the setubun day.

It is said the setsubun day is the start of spring. It is so strange.

Today, really chilly..

journal Kyoto Feb. issue come out!

The photo above is the top cover of journal Kyoto Feb. issue.

This is a winding and rough route to the top of Mt.Kurama, which is famous for the spiritual spot or the birthplace of reiki.

This issue features the mountains surrounding Kyoto. The famous event, Setsubun -drive away demons- is held at some shrines located in the mountains.

Kurama-dera

(Mt. Kurama, north part of Kyoto city)

Feb.3rd 14:00- Setsubun ceremony

Yoshida-jinjya Shrine

(Mt. Yoshida, east next to Kyoto university)

Feb.2nd 18:00- Driving demons ceremony

3rd 23:00- Bonfire festival

You can pick up the journal Kyoto at several ryokan, hotels, museums, International community house, Tourist information at Kyoto Stn. and c.coquet.

Japanese kite

Tako kite sounds like a kind of nostalgia. I remember I've ever become to the champion at the kite flying game in my elementary school.

The long time has passed !

I bought very Japanese style kite with a kabuki face for my son.

We tried to fly it at the Kamogawa river bank. Some other kids were flying their kites. They were flying powerfully in the blue sky. How about ours ?

..Our kabuki kite seemed to be tired or dull. I used to be a champion ! Why..?

We tried to fly it many times, and then kabuki face tore. My 5 year son was upset and cried.

Suddenly the airplane of JAL flew trough my mind.

JAL, this is the company which I spent and flew together for the air crew in my twenties.

The time has passed...

NISHIYAMA RYOKAN

NISHIYAMA RYOKAN offers the Tea ceremony service (free) for foreign visitors.

Next event will be January 22nd and 29th, 19:00-20:00.

For more information, see the blog by NISHIYAMA RYOKAN.

Today's lunch

How do you feel about it ?

This image is appetizing or not ? I know the foreigners don't like eating a whole fish, actually appearing its head.

I chose sanma-teishoku roasted saury lunch because I felt my brain was so tired after the heavy computer works. Sanma contains much DHA, is low calorie, and of course is tasted !

Today's lunch was with vegetable dish, miso soup, rice and pickles. It was 800 yen.

The person who was sitting next me had Oden set lunch. It looked delicious !

I might order it next time.

When you stay in Kyoto city, I recommend Watatsune local restaurant.

The chef can speak English and Spanish, and helps you to enjoy Kyoto.

WAK JAPAN

Today is Wednesday.

I was invited to the party of opening the new office of WAK JAPAN.

WAK JAPAN is the company which provides the Japanese cultural experiences for foreign visitors. They moved very close from my office, located on Takakura St. to the side of the Palace.

They gave away the sake bottles with the photo of their new office to their guests.

Oh~I can drink sake again !

Sake has been necessary for these happy situation in Japan.

Enjoy sake !

Fushimi sake town

This week has started as sake drinking at Open House of Fushimi sake town.

I enjoyed Kiki-zake, freshly brewed sake tasting, and then lost control, so was drunken..

Fresh sake was smooth, sweet and a little carbonic.

If you want to try this taste..

Next Open house of Fushimi sake town :

February 14th 11:00-15:00

(10 min walk from Fushimi-momoyama station on Keihan railway)

Little India in Kyoto

Are you enjoy a Kyoto cuisine during your stay ? Or are you bored with 3 times Japanese meals ? If you would be so, I'd like to introduce one of international cuisine in Kyoto.

AJANTA is the best Indian restaurant in Kyoto. The photo above is the owner and chef of AJANTA and his wife. He used be a 5 star chef in Mumbai, India, and migrated Kyoto about 10 years ago. He imports indian spices and creates a real Indian taste.

AJANTA is located in a very convenient place where is to a little south of Kyoto electronic town.

AJANTA -Teramachi branch-

The south of the corner of Teramachi and Takatsuji St., Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto city

Tel&Fax 075-352-1427

Lunch time : 11:00-14:00 Dinner time : 17:00-22:00 on every day

Aritsugu mind!

I went to Aritsugu, which sells great Japanese knives and kitchen tools in Nishiki food market, to say a happy new year. The photo above is a president and also a craftsman of Aritsugu, Mr. Terakubo, who has been sharpening and maintaining the beautiful edge of knife. His crooked fingers show his long lives with this job.

A lot of people from all over the world visit Aritsugu in Kyoto, and brought the knives back to their homes. Actually I'm wondering they could maintain the edges of knives made in steel, because it's more difficult to maintain their sharp edge than the stainless steel knives.

Pres. Terakubo says " I hope our foreign customers bring not only the knives but also the Japanese mind. This is the mind which appreciates the tools, maintains them with our hands and spends with them for long time. Ecology? Kyoto Protocol? We've been eco-friendly with everything from very old time. This is just usual."

I agree with it. It could be said "Mottainai" mind, which is the Japanese word as taking care of everything.

Share the Japanese tools, share mind !

Aritsugu

10m east from the corner of Gokomachi and Nishiki St. (in Nishiki food market)

Fax : 075-231-1066 Open : 9:00~17:30 everyday

(Their website is under re-construction.)

KYoto Imperial Palace tour

It is so chilly today..

I took Jane and Steve to the English tour of Imperial Palace.

The tour started at 10am. I surprised a lot of tourists(about 70 people) joined the tour in this cold season.

It was the first visit to palace for me, because Japanese people have only two chances to see the palace a year. It is held in spring and autumn, very busy season, so I couldn't come actually.

The architecture, garden and interior of palace are super stylish, and more chic than I expected.

This is Wabi-sabi style.

The culture of Japanese architecture is said to one of the most developed group in the world.

I really think so. (I know that Kyoto downtown has not been maintained to be beauty, Kyoto people seem to forget their senses of beauty.. it's so sad..)

Steve, who is a great writer of journal Kyoto, will write about this tour and palace in the February issue.

I'd like to introduce how to apply the tour ;

1, You apply for the permission at the Imperial Household Agency Kyoto Office.

(located on the northwest side of the palace ground)

2, You present your own original passport or alien registration card. Photocopy will not be accepted.

3, You complete the application form which will be issued at the office.

4, No application fee. No admission charge.

( Your application will be accepted 3 months prior to the expected date of visit.)

5, Office can not accept the application by phone or e-mail.

Tour details ;

Tour schedule : 10:00 & 14:00 on weekdays (English guided), closed from December 28th to January 4th.

Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult (20 years old or above)

A maximum of 9 persons in one group may apply for the permission.

(Office Hours : 8:45~noon, 13:00~17:00 on weekdays, phone:075-211-1215)