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

Monster Street

Ichijyo street lies on the northern tip of Heian-Kyo (one of the Japanese former capitals), that is, the border between the internal and external. In Heian-kyo, some also said it was the route between the human world and the non-human world.
Rumour has it that on a dark night during Heian period, the old materials and goods dumped by humans transformed into Yōkai (called ‘Kutsumogami’). One after another, a throng of monsters marched into the capital via this Ichijo street.
Moreover, a second-hand market has been held for many years on the 25th day of every month at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, in the vicinity of Ichijo street, because apparently the people in the past started reselling their old belongings before they turned into monsters according to “Onmyo (Yin-yang) Yōkai emaki” written by ARAMATA Hiroshi.

Monster Street on Ichijo street
Oct 20th　（Sat）
Frea Market 16:00-
Monster Parade　18：30-

Kyoto Prefectural Office

Former Kyoto prefectural building was built by Meiji Era, It is the first of the Kyoto important cultural property.

Various work is made in this building still now.

And we can visit there on weekdays (Mon-Fri) between 10:00-17:00.

Some Volunteer will explore with us to show the inside (Free).

* Address: Yabunouchi-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8041

* Tel: 075-451-8111

* Access: 10-minute walk from Marutamachi Station on the Karasuma Subway Line

* Official Website: http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/en/index.html

For further information;

http://www.kyoto.travel/2009/11/kyoto-prefectural-office.html

Kyoto Vegetarian Festival

10th Anniversary Kyoto Vegetarian Festival 2012
September 30th (SUN)
10AM - 5PM
In the Umekoji Park　(20min walk from J-Hoppers Kyoto)
Free Admission

The festival features over 100 booths of special vegetarian food, cosmetic, etc...
Also some performances are going on!


http://www.vegetarianfestival.jp/english.html