Time trip to Showa period

                                                   
 Do you know how to time trip?
   - Just go to the Matsuyu public bath!


Public bath is a communal bath house where customers pay for entrance. 
Since the second half of the 20th century, these communal bath houses have been decreasing in numbers as more and more Japanese residences now have baths. 
Some Japanese find social importance in going to public baths and others go there because they live in a small housing facility without a private bath or to enjoy bathing in a spacious room and to relax in saunas or jet baths.


Matsuyu public baths is only 3 minutes walk from J-Hoppers Kyoto Guest House.
(At the reception desk you can get a discount ticket for \390)
They have some baths and a small sauna in retro atmosphere of the Showa era*.
You will be able to enjoy communicating with local people there!
It is arrowed if you have tattoo.




*The Showa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito from December 25, 1926, through January 7, 1989.





                                                                                                                                         

Maiko Experience -四季 Shiki-

Wanna be a Maiko?

At 四季（Shiki）, the studio where you could experience Maiko make up and dress up, you could be a perfect Maiko:)

This is near from Kiyomizu temple, just in front of the bus stop "Kiyomizu Michi".

Why don't you be a Maiko for one day?

For more details:  http://www.maiko-henshin.com/english/


京都ではんなり舞妓体験などいかがでしょうか？

四季という舞妓変身スダジオがあるようなのですが
こちらからゲストが行かれたのですが、大満足で帰ってこられましたよ～。

３１周年記念だとかで格安プランもある模様です。

詳細はこちらで： http://www.maiko-henshin.com/

舞妓姿で街ゆく人々を魅了してみては？

The naked festival

The naked festival, aka Hadaka Matsuri is the type of Japanese festival held in dozens of places throughout Japan every year.

If you are interested in watching (almost) naked Japanese men dancing around at a temple, this is the event for you.

Every winter, a traditional naked festival is held at Hokai-ji Temple in Kyoto.

The dancing will start from about 7:00pm, which means the men who are participating in this festival have to be naked in the frigid environment...!
Even worse, they need to "purify" their bodies by pouring cold water over their heads before they start dancing. After the ceremony, they start dancing like crazy shouting the word"Chorai" (means prayer) repeatedly.


Kids Hadaka Odori...

 Adult Hadaka Odori...

This event is so heroic that the naked guys could blow off the coldness of the chilly nigh!
As a special favor, the local people serve you a tasty traditional soup at the temple.


Date: Jan. 14th 19:00～
Place: Hokai-ji Temple
Entrance Fee: Adult 500yen Child 200yen
Access: 20 min walk from"Ishida station" (Kyoto city subway Tozai Line )
           or take JR Nara Line and get off at "Rokujizou station". Take Keihan Bus from there and get off at "Hino Yakushi". just a few min walk

Japanese Tipical New Year's Eve

J-Hoppers Kyoto Guest house will have a New Year's Eve Party!
Here is our plan :

 7:00PM-         Having　"Toshikoshi Soba" together in the J-Hoppers Kyoto
 7:15PM-　       Watching "Kohaku Uta　Gassen" on TV

10:00PM          Walking to the Tofukuji-Temple to get a ticket to numbered ticket
11:50PM　        Ringing  "Joya no Kane" of the Tofukuji-Temple
 0:15AM　　　　  Walking to the Fushimi-Inari Shrine
 0:35AM           Praying for having a happy new year in the Fushimi-Inari Shirine
 1:30AM           Going back to the J-Hoppers Kyoto Guest house by train

*We might change the plan depends on weather.


Toshikoshi Soba
Japanese pray for longevity by eating long thin buckwheat noodles, hoping for the health of the whole family in the coming year.



Kohaku Uta Gassen
The annual contest between male and female popular singers on New Year's Eve. The show ends shortly before midnight. The honor of performing on the contest is strictly by invitation, so only the most successful singing acts in the Japanese entertainment industry can perform.
In addition to the actual music performances, the costumes, hair-styles, makeup, dancing, and lighting are important.



Joya no Kane
Buddhist temples start ringing their bells late on New Year's Eve and continue into the early hours of New Year's Day -108 times in all. The figure symbolizes the casting away of 108 earthly desires.



A Happy New Year!!!

an exhibition; photographer Ihei Kimura

When Robert Capa was shooting the people and soldiers in Vietnam, Ihei Kimura worked on the streets to cut the ordinary lives out in Japan.
Ihei Kimura (12 December 1901 – 31 May 1974) was one of the most celebrated Japanese photographers of the twentieth century, particularly known for his portrayal of Tokyo and Akita prefecture.

Now his exhibition is held at Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art named 'Kahitsukan'.

Dec 1st - Feb 17th
10:00 - 18:00
entrance: 1000 yen
access from J-Hoppers Kyoto: city bus No. 202 from Oishibashi to Gion bus stop, walk 3 minutes toward West
http://www.kahitsukan.or.jp/frame_e.html

more information about Ihei Kimura, please refer the below;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ihei_Kimura

Autumn Color Report 2012

Tons of people, either Japanese and foreigners come to Kyoto to enjoy the autumn leaves.
I found an useful site to know up-to-date information for it.

japan-guide.com
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo12/

Why don't you post your report for others?

Roku (small shop of folk handicraft)

Roku is on a busy street called 'Marutamachi dori' however it is easy to miss.
I think that's because not only the entrance is on the second flour but also the shop itself has a 'we do not want to bother' atmosphere in a good way.

Roku means tidy, standard and plain in Japanese.
There are potteries, kitchen tools, clothes and stationary.
I bought a basket made in Burkina Faso the other day. ummm interesting!

[ roku ]
075-756-4436
11:00 - 19:00
closed on Wednesday
access: from city bus stop 'Kumano Jinjya mae' walk one minutes

HP: http://www.rokunamono.com/
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/%E3%83%AD%E3%82%AF/112899465490912