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!