The Jidai Matsuri event is taking place again right now in Kyoto. The weather seems to have dipped a bit and is providing some rain today. Not too bad but a lot of umbrellas were on show. Always nice to see these festivals and events from a long...
Culture
I was asked recently whether I would like to introduce a book detailing the history of Japanese photography from the period 1853-1912. The book is a recent...
On August 16th each year the traditional Gozan no Okuribi 五山送り火 bonfires are lit on the mountain side around Kyoto. This is part of the obon festival. There...
Cycling around Lake Biwa over Golden Week, I got to see some great countryside. This was one of the standout views. Shirahige Jinja with its Torii Gate in the...
These children were enjoying themselves at the local temple. On a warm spring day it looks like a great place to play and pray.
Some very nice plum blossoms our in Kyoto ahead of the more famous sakura season to follow
I visited a number of Temples and Shrines on New Years Day just to have a walk around and see the crowds. I started in the center of Kyoto and walked to Yasaka...
Kiyomizudera crowded on New Years Day today.
In a modern city it is always interesting to see how the older style architecture and culture is incorporated into new plans. Looking at this scene reminded me...
There is a special Kyoto Tanabata festival being held on the Horikawa and Kamogawa rivers. I went for an evening walk at the Horikawa river event.
One of the most important festivals of the year, and one that takes over the city of Kyoto for almost a month as the town comes together to prepare and take...
Summer along the Kamogawa river in Kyoto is always busy. The Gion festival with its various preparations takes place during the rainy season and tourist...
Yesterday I visited Kinkakuji after the rain from the typhoon. The pond was a bit murky, but the gold was glittering.
The Aoi Matsuri is one of the three main festivals held in Kyoto each year in addition to the Festival of the Ages (Jidai Matsuri) and Gion Festival. The...
A leisurely walk past the Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所) inside the Kyoto Gyoen.
I visited Kyoto recently and dropped in on Kyokaori Company where they have been very creative and turned some kimono obi’s into brilliantly colorful and...
Today was the annual Hoshi Matsuri at the Agon Shu Temple in Kyoto. I was surprised to see it being broadcast on so many different television stations live...
The month of February used to be called Kisaragi in Japan. February was the second month of winter under the lunar calendar, which Japan used before the Heian...
It is very cold in Japan at the moment with snow falling heavily in many parts of the country. Back in summer when I visited Arashiyama, it was all blue skies...
I watched the NHK drama series, Ryomaden 龍馬伝, in 2010 and also the Jin drama on TBS last year, which both focused on the story of Sakamoto Ryoma, 坂本龍馬. I...
