Snow in Kyoto

Today, it is just news from the traditional Japanese city of Kyoto.

This winter has been warmer than average years that I am not aware as it is the first winter for me to spend in Kyoto. But snow fall hit Tokyo earlier this week with huge travel chaos, and finally here in Kyoto, I saw snow falling yesterday and blanketed on the ground in the morning today.

Nijo Castle with White Presents from the Sky

Traditional Japanese Garden Enjoying Nature in Winter?

As a person originally from Sapporo, northern Japan where the winter is very long and so freezing with a lot of snow, it is not bad for me. Just I cannot believe I rode a bike yesterday afternoon and a few hours later it started snowing (the amount was very small and snowing did not last so long at the time).

On the other day, I rode a bike for exercise and found numbers of tourists were much smaller than spring to autumn. It could be a good opportunity to visit Kyoto if you do not like long queues at tourist attractions, shops and bus stops, especially if you do not mind visiting in the winter. I reckon it would be okay for skiers and snowboarders to see traditional Japanese cultural stuffs here after hitting mountains in the famous ski resorts such as Niseko, Furano and Rusutsu in Hokkaido and Hakuba in Nagano.

That is all from Kyoto today. Have a good week!!

Cycling in Kyoto – Part 1: Arashiyama

Hi royal Kyoto loving folks!

I hope you enjoy reading my posts on Kyo Sensational Blog and you can make a way to here.

Cycling is a good way to explore around Kyoto because almost all of roads are flat. Also in my personal perception, riding a bike is much better than catching crowded and slow buses (many buses are packed with a horse of tourists in busy peak seasons). Indeed I enjoy riding a bike here in Kyoto.

Also it is a good exercise and you can stop at any time wherever you want. For example, if you see some nice flowers and birds on the way, you can stop and see what they are doing. It cannot happen if you are travelling on the bus.

Today, I show you descriptions of cycling from/to Arashiyama, the popular tourist destination in the western suburb.

* Please note that following sentences are part of the article originally publsihed on Footy Almanac on 10 December 2015.

Soon after I landed in the new and unfamiliar city, I thought only one road took us to Arashiyama by paddling on Marutamachi Street.

The road is wide and the best way to get to Arashiyama after chlling out at the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It is about nine kilometres between two places.

The Author at the Imperial Palace

From the Palace, it might be hard to ride fast due to a bit traffic congestion. But over the big road called Senbon Street, traffic is smooth so it is easy to paddle.

Then you will enter a quite big suburb called Enmachi with shops and a railway station. You can stop for refreshment and meals. However you need a parking fee for even a bike around Enmachi Station.

Railway Tracks (top) close to Marutamachi Street (bottom)

Riding close to the railway tracks, you might find a bit hard (harsh for some people) to ride a bike as the road is moderated steep. But you will feel relieved at the small summit and then you will see downhill.

Turning left towards the town centre, you may have to squeeze a horse of tourists. But it would not be bad.

For me, travelling time is between 30 and 35 minutes between the Imperial Palace and Arashiyama.

Great combination of red leaves and bamboos in Arashiyama

Another street called Sanjo Street can be the alternative route for between two places mentioned above, and the fastest route if you park a bike at the north end of Teramachi, the arcade shopping mall in the downtown.

From the City Hall where you can bike for shopping at Teramachi, actually it is better to go through Oike Street at first due to wide road and to avoid many pedestrians at the Sanjokai Shopping Mall (covered).

Then you will merge into Sanjo Street at Uzumasa Tenjingawa (the west end of Tozai Subway Line). Over there the road is shared with the Randen Tram tracks.

Once you say goodbye to the tracks until saying hello again at Arashiyama, riding can be hard because of the narrow street. Buses are passing on this street, but they have to squeeze when two buses are running from two opposite sides. Passion over stopped buses is quite hard. If you do not get used to ride a bike on a big street, I would not recommend you take Sanjo Street to enjoy riding a bike.

Narrow Sanjo Street

The third option is paddling through Shijo Street. It sounds the easiest way from downtown; however bikes are banned on this downtown(s Main Street between the east end and Karasuma Street (the main street between Kyoto Station and downtown) from 8 am to 9 pm. How pity it is.

But you will go through Shijo Street if you are staying around Kyoto Station. From Kyoto Station, small street called Nishi no Toin Street is the best to get to Shijo Street.

At first riding can be hard on Shijo Street because of many buses are running on the street. But it is just for 5 to 10 minutes depending on where you enter into the road. Over Shijo Omiya where the tram mentioned above departs., it turns easy to ride thanks to wide and flat road.

Level Crossing on Shijo Street (crossing the tram tracks)

With my travelling time (I seem to ride a bike between 20 to 25 kph) with 15 to 20 minutes from Shijo Omiya, Katsura River awaits cyclists and then you can stopover at a shrine called Matsuo Taisha.

From there, you will enjoy the nature by paddling alongside the river. The Bike Way welcomes you and you do not need to share the road with motor vehicles.

Bike Way alongside Katsura River

At last you will enter Arashiyama. A hot spring house is located at the end of the Bike Way. You can treat yourself by having a bath there.

Bike hiring is offered at various rental bike shops throughout the city as well as some accommodation. Our inns offer hiring bikes too; however only Japanese standard city ride ones with basket in front. Sport bikes can be hired at some shops. I would be happy to help you organising your bike if you would like to ride a bike here in Kyoto.

I hope you enjoy a sensational bike riding in Kyoto.

P.S. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would love to stay at our traditional Kyoto Townhouse Inn. You can find more details at www.shouan.jp and www.sanjojuku.com.

Why not having Japanese Experience at Accommodation?

As having written in my second blog entitled Uniqueness of Kyoto, traditional Kyoto Townhouses (Kyoto Machiya in Japanese) and modern buildings are shared in the historical Japanese city.

Do you think you can stay night(s) at a Kyoto Townhouse as a tourist?

Positively the answer is there are Kyoto Machiya accommodation, so yes you can stay!!

If you are interested in our culture, then why not having unique Japanese experience by staying at a Kyoto Machiya Townhouse? You may feel it is your second home in Japan after your stay.

The Entrance at Machiya

Actually you will have to obey house rules including those applied in the old days (in the ways how residents behaved when the accommodation was a residence house), but it would be your unique experience in your life and you would not experience anywhere else in the world. Indeed hotels in Kyoto would not offer you such great experiences.

Wearing Geta (Japanese Shoes) in Machiya

No matter which room you are staying, you will go through Toriniwa, the old corridor with geta. The corridor was designed as a path to shops in the townhouse in the old days when the building was a residence house where residents opened their business. You will feel as if you are on a time trip.

The Corridor at Machiya

Then a traditional Japanese room is awaiting you. It is floored with tatami, Japanese mat that creates warm Japanese atmosphere. Sleeping in a Japanese futon is another unique experience. Basically guests are encouraged to place futon by themselves to experience Japanese life style, but staff members will help you if you are not sure how to do. Don't worry!!

Traditional Japanese Guest Room

Also if you are lucky, you will be able to see a traditional Japanese garden in your room that will comfort you to stay.

Viewing Traditional Japanese Garden

Warm and Comfortable Guest Room

Only visiting temples and shrines is not enough for your unique trip in Japan? Then come to a traditional Kyoto Machiya! We need nice guests in January and February.

For more information, you can visit
www.sanjojuku.com
www.shouan.jp

And please do not hesitate to contact me at yoshi.imagawa.shouan@gmail.com. If you contact me through Kyo Sensational Blog's Facebook page, please inform me your email address to quote room rates.

It would be much appreciated if you share this blog on social media and by emails. Please make big circles.

We look forward to seeing you at a Kyoto Machiya Inn.

Thank you and have a happy trip plan to visit Kyoto.

Happy New Year from Kyoto

Happy New Year, my great Kyoto Sensational Blog followers!

I wish you all the best in 2016 and hope you can achieve your goals and absolutely hope to see you here in Kyoto.

Unlikely to Christmas, New Year is the biggest family occasion for Japanese people. Authentic Japanese New Year Meals are served at family occasions.

Having been stuck into the work, I was unable to go around to see what happened on New Year's Eve in Kyoto. I am sad not to see around on my first Kyoto's NYE and sorry for not being able to report this time.

As I have lived in New Zealand for four years, I understand fireworks are displayed at night on New Year's Eve. But it is unlikely to happen here in Japan. Japanese people go to Shrines to listen to ringing bells for the New Year. Big queues are formed in major Shrines nationwide. After midnight when the new year arrives, people can go inside the Shrine to pray for their New Year wishes. Coins and notes are thrown into wooden boxes and then people bow and put both bands together to ask their wishes to become reality. Also people can write their wishes in wooden boards called Ema and hang in the line.

Hatsumode, the New Year Shrine visit can be done by 7th January. I am not usually a Shrine goer, but on Sunday visited some Shrines to see what was going on.

Early in the morning, I rode a bike to Heian Shrine located in Higashiyama, Eastern suburb. But it was quiet, so left once for coffee and went back again over 10.00 am. As normally the Shrine attracts Western tourists, I was surprised to see only Japanese people there. It may not be known well amongst Western tourists?

The Main Gate at Heian Shrine on 3rd January

While walking around the Shrine, I found some food stalls. Some stands do not show their food prices that made me sad and doubt they are not good. Also monthly flee market was held nearby. A French bakery stall got my attention. They sold muffins. As a person having lived in New Zealand, I love muffin so indeed bought the cranberry one even if the price is a bit expensive. But it was so delicious!!

Monthly Okazaki Flee Market

Delicious Cranberry Muffin (Oops! Sorry for My Hand!)

After having my favourite breakfast food, I was on the road again heading south to Fushimi Inari. The shrine is very famous amongst tourists and attracts most foreign tourists in Kyoto. Also it has most visitors for the New Year Shrine visit in Kyoto.

Just off the main street, I saw a horse of people at level crossing. Security guards told us to keep right and I had to get off the bike to pull. And then unexpected situation occurred. I was told that I was unable to park a bike at a bike park. It was closed during the New Year. The security guard advised me where to park a bike, but I decided to leave there to avoid long queue again. I am sorry for not reporting what happened in this famous shrine.

Fushimi Inari Shrine: Taken in December 2015

Going back on the same street and bike way by the river bank, I was heading to another shrine called Yasaka Shrine located close in Gion District, famous for Ryotei (top-end Japanese cuisine restaurants) and Geisha.

Parked my bike at Maruyama Park adjoining the Shrine, once again I saw many food stalls that surprised me. I asked myself if situating so many food stalls is a real Hatsumode or not. Seeing around stands, I found prices were quite expensive, but much better than those around Fushimi Inari. A lady selling salutatory pancake filled with cabbage tried very hard to sell her foods. I replied her that I was thinking, and then as it looked good and healthy, so I bought it. She was the winner.

Food Stalls at Yasaka Shrine

Entering into the Shrine, I saw loads of people as I had expected. Unlikely at Heian Shrine, I saw some Western people visiting the shrine. It was good to talk to some of them indeed.

Yasaka Shrine

Following our custom, I throw a coin towards the wooden box and prayed for my wishes for the brand new year.

Going back to the park, I found a man wearing Samurai clothes playing a Japanese flute and patting his dog. It was interesting and many visitors saw him playing and took pictures.

Samurai Playing Japanese Flute

I hope you find interesting to see Japanese New Year.

See you next time!

Christmas in Kyoto

Belated Merry Christmas my loyal friends and readers!

I wish you have a wonderful Christmas!!

Christmas in Japan is totally different to the Western world. It is not a public holiday here and people just work as usual unless it falls Saturday or Sunday. 25th December is an ordinary day in Japan.

But do we have no Christmas?

The answer is... See the picture below.

Christmas Lights up at a former Primary School

Yes we do have Christmas stuffs, but things are different to the Western countries.

Families with young children celebrate Christmas at their homes until approximately kids finish Primary School. They tend to have chickens and Christmas cakes. Fathers go to KFC, supermarkets and convenience stores to pick up chickens after work. Also cakes are taken home by these fathers. Celebrations are done on Christmas EVE. Kids go to bed on that night hanging Christmas socks by the bed wishing to get presents from Santa while sleeping.

Packs of Chickens Sold at a Hamburger Shop

Trends for couples on Christmas Eve have been dining at top-end restaurants and spending night at hotels, for decades here in Japan. And indeed they exchange Christmas presents.

How we spend Christmas are unlikely big family occasions that Western people do. Instead of Christmas, Japanese people do at New Year.

By the way, you can find mixture of the cultures by seeing below picture.

Christmas Lights up by a Temple

Also on the 23rd, there was a Christmas Parade at the Arcade Shopping Street near Nijo Castle and Nijo Station (JR Sagano Line). Santa Clauses were marching on the street with singing songs. Then I realised one of them from tuning. It was "When the Saints Go Marching in". But I know only lyrics for St Kilda Saints (a Melbourne based Australian Rules Football club) theme song. So I sang the mighty Saints song instead the original one.

The Original One (part of the song):
Oh when the Saints Go Marching in
When the Saints Go Marching in
O Lord, I want to be in that number
When the Saints Go Marching in

St Kilda Football Club Song
Oh when the Saints go marching in
Oh when the Saints go marching in
Oh how I want to be with St Kilda
When the Saints Go Marching in

As bing curious to know, I asked the Santa if they played "When the Saints Go Marching in" or not, but she (a western lady) had no idea...



I hope you had a nice Christmas.

Thank you for reading and Happy holidays.

Uniqueness of Kyoto

Welcome back to Kyo Sensational Blog!

In my second blog, let me to write about uniqueness of Kyoto.

Born and grown up in Sapporo, Northern Japan, I learned that Kyoto was a historical city. The destination of school trip at high school was where I live currently (indeed Kyoto!). At the time, I felt this beautiful city was traditional and historical. Foods were authentic!

As I tried to get a tourist marketing job overseas before, I took a free online course in tourism even I had already worked for New Zealand hotels. What I learned in the course was that Kyoto was a popular destination because of mixture of traditional and modern surroundings. It makes sense. The city is attractive for tourists from other countries who are interested in different cultures.

Struggling with finding a job where my English skills are used and contribute to a potential employer in Sapporo, my Western friend suggested me to get a job in the mainland. Searching accommodation on website of the world bestseller's travel guide, I contacted places day by day. Eventually I got a job opportunity from a traditional Japanese inn here in Kyoto. Then I made a big move from Sapporo to Kyoto in March 2015.

Once I stepped in the new city, I felt what I learned in the online course was true. I gained new sense and new views of many things. While many traditional buildings and cultures are left positively, new buildings have been established and modern technology has been developed. Even free wifi is available for the inn guests.

Around my workplaces, the traditional Kyoto Machiya townhouses are situated alongside new apartments. While many commercial buildings are situated on main streets, we can see traditional townhouses on the nearby small streets. And this kind of scene is not unnatural at all. They are all mixed and create warm atmosphere of Kyoto. Indeed beauty of Kyoto comes from the mixture of traditional and modern buildings. Then it is unique for you, I am sure because I sense as a person originally from other part of Japan.

Traditional Townhouse and Modern Apartment Situated Close in the Western Suburb

While I was going to places to seek pictures which will tell you mixture of buildings in different years, a sign grabbed my attention. An English language school is in a traditional Kyoto Machiya house. What a mixture of the tradition of Kyoto and the different culture and language. I am impressed and surprised. Western travellers who were passing by must have been surprised too.

An English Language School at Kyoto Machiya

These days Machiya houses have been renovated as accommodation, cafes and shops, like this English school. I am writing more about Machiya in another blog soon.

Gion is a famous suburb for tourists as a great spot to see Geisha. One day I have seen traditional buildings over there and they are situated as luxury Kyoto cuisine restaurants (called Ryotei in the Japanese language). I went there today to take great shots for this blog. As finding a good spot, I completed the mission. And then I walked on the street going back to the main street, I saw only modern buildings beyond the main street. I was shocked to see such difference just between behind and beyond the main street.

Gion District Famous for Geisha

Opposite Side from Shijo Street, the Main Street

As a historical city and former capital city, many temples and shrines are located throughout the city. These places are likely to attract tourists from other parts of the world. There is no city like Kyoto. I have lived several cities in my life as well as visited more places, indeed Kyoto is Kyoto and never been copied from any place in the world. And no other place has been established as a copy of Kyoto. Some cities can be called Little something, for example, Sapporo is called Little Tokyo, but nothing applies to Kyoto.

Yasaka Shrine Situated East of Gion

And you will have many choices for foods. Many traditional Japanese foods are available, of course. But Italian and French meals are served in traditional Machiya buildings. It is another good example of mixture in Kyoto. Ponto-cho has various kinds of restaurants where you can sit by tables stood on the outside wooden floors and enjoy seeing Kamogawa River. Dining at Ponto-cho will be your great Japanese experience.

Thank you for reading and I hope your wish to visit Kyoto is building up.

See you and Merry Christmas!

Introduction

Hi there,

Welcome to the Kyo Sensational Blog.

I am Yoshi, a Japanese bloke who has lived in New Zealand for four years, am passionate of writing in English, and love travelling and meeting new people. Also cycling and watching rugby and Australian Rules Football (AFL) add my interests.

After I had had to leave New Zealand in 2008 because of lack of job offer and visa situations, I had less job opportunity and have not had enough opportunities to speak English over in Sapporo where I am originally from. Then my Western friends advised me to seek a job where my English skills will contribute well in the mainland of Japan. Luckily I got a job offer early in 2015 from a Kyoto based organisation and made a move to Kyoto in the end of February that year.

Currently working for small traditional Kyoto Townhouse inns, we are dependent on online booking sites to get more bookings. But these sites are suited on big hotels where guests will be served 24/7 (as we are small accommodation, we do not open 24/7). Because of this reason, some guests are not satisfied with our services and we have issues on being requested late check in (being asked to do check in outside our business hours).

To get more bookings other than through online booking sites, I had been seeking to contribute writing to attract tourists who are interested in visiting Japan. Then I have decided to establish a blog to feature not only the inns but also Kyoto.

Why I named "Kyo Sensational" for my blogs are...

Kyo means today in Japanese. I would like to provide you today's topic(s) to talk about with your family and friends. The action can be from having fun and showing interests in our culture, to discuss about your future trip plans for Kyoto. Another meaning of Kyo is a shorter word of Kyoto. The word of Kyo is often used in slogans for local organisations. It is kind of the nickname of the city. Hopefully it makes easier to remember the name of the blog for you.

The Author at Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto, Japan

Sensational comes from my wishes to provide interesting and exciting stories for you and to show my passionate of writing in the English language. It is like writing sports stories for The Footy Almanac, the Melbourne based sport community site.

I hope to see you in the beautiful historical and traditional city, here in Kyoto soon.

Enjoy reading!