Leaf peeping !!!

Day by day, it is getting cooler and cooler here so leaves start turning yellow or red.

Kyoto is now telling us the best season of the year is just around the corner :)


On this season, some temples in Gion area open even after sunset so you can enjoy illuminated Japanese maples not only daytime.

If you are not sure what to do night time in Kyoto, these may be tips of your leaf peeping :)

*Kodaiji Temple : until December 11th, sunset - 9:30 pm, 600 JPY for entrance

*Entokuin Temple : until December 11th, sunset - 9:30 pm (Except December 9 & 10th), 500 JPY for entrance

 

*Chionin Temple : until December 4th, 5:30 pm - 9 pm, 800 JPY for entrance

 

*Shorenin Temple : until December 4th, 6 pm - 9:30 pm, 800 JPY for entrance

 

*Kiyomizu Temple : until December 4th, 6 pm - 9 pm, 400 JPY for entrance

Alright People ! now are you ready for leaf peeping !?

LET'S SEE THE LOCAL FESTIVALS TOGETHER!

Cecilia, Our Funky Sexy Staff will take you to see the local festivals!
We do not charge anything. Please just pay for train. (If you have JR pass, it is almost free.)
Please sign up at the reception as soon as possible  :-)

NOV 11th (Sat)
KISHIWADA DANJIRI & LOCAL OSAKA

11am Lobby --> JR train to Kishiwada --> See the festival for few hours --> Go to Shin Imamiya to have onsen or beer! ---> Back to Kyoto 
990yen/one way train







NOV 15th (Wed)
HIMEJI CASTEL AND FIGHTING FESTIVAL

9am Lobby ---> JR train to Himeji --> See the castle for few hours --> Sanyo train --> See the festival for few hours --> Back to Kyoto
2100yen/one way train

Kyoto illumination events in fall and winter 2014

In Kyoto city, we have many historical places for sightseeing here such as shrines and temples.

We feel quite difficult to visit more than 4 places a day because most of them close around 16.00 - 17.00.

However, we have some illumination events for some special limited seasons.

During the limited periods, you can visit some historical places at night!

Here is some information about the illumination events in Kyoto in autumn and winder!

■ Kodaiji Temple: October 24th - December 14th Sunset - 21:30 (600yen)
　 Access: City Bus #206 Higashiyama-Yasui
■ Shorenin Temple:October 24th - December 23rd 18:00 - 21.30 (600yen)
　 Access: City Bus #5 Jingumichi
■ Chioin Temple:November 1st - November 30th 17.30 - 21:00 (800yen)
　 Access: City Bus #206 Chioinmae
■ Eikando Temple: November 8th - December 7th 18.30 - 20:00 (600yen)
   Access: City Bus #5 Nanzenji/Eikando-michi
■ Kiyomizudera Temple: November 14th - December 7th 18.30 - 21.30 (400yen)
   Access: City Bus #206 Kiyomizu-michi

** Admission fees required respectively.

In autumn, we have some special events to see colored leaves in the city as well!

Manpukuji Art Festival -EN-

Date: Nov 19th(sat)-Nov 2oth(sun)
Time: 12:00 - 19:00
Ticket: Advance 700yen/one day 1300yen/two days
Door 800yen/one day 1500yen/two days

At: Manpukuji temple
Access: JR Kyoto sta. →　JR Obaku sta. （21min, 230yen)

We used to have a fair stall in every village quite often. Nowadays those stalls are getting less and less throughout Japan.
The students from Kyoto and the artists gathered to exhibit their performance for the public. Usually they perform different places each other. You may be meeting up someone special by a curious turn of fate on this day.

Let's ZAZEN!

Our neighborhood temple, Tofukuji temple has a monthly Zazen practice.
It will be held on Oct 23rd (Sun) this month.



---Sunday Zazen Practice---
Date: Oct 23rd
Time: 8:00 - 9:00
Place: Zen hall at Tofuku ji temple
Free to join

There are the learner monks. They sit with you and some of them hit you if you ask.
It will be a bit chilly in the hall, please bring extra jacket with you.

Fire Festival in Kurama

Usually Oct 22nd is the day of `Jidai Matsuri Festival' among people in Kyoto.
'Jidai Matsuri Festival' ;http://www.kyotojoho.co.jp/english/event/2011/10/index.html

However there is another festival on the same day at just a bit north of Kyoto, Kurama.
It is called as `Hi Matsuri (Fire Festival)'.
Ans it is known as unusual festival...

---Fire Festival in Kurama---
DATE: Oct 22nd (sat)
TIME: 18:00~midnight
PLACE: Yuki Jinja Shrine
Access: from J-Hoppers Kyoto, Keihan train 'Tofukuji'sta. - 'Demachiyanagi'sta.
transfer to
Eiden train 'Demachiyanagi'sta. - 'Kurama'

* The festival will be finished at midnight, please check your last train in advance.



Long row of torches planted on both sides of the street leading to Yuki Shrine are lit at 6pm.
Children in festival dress march to the Shrine carrying small torches, followed by adults with bigger torches.

the Harvest Moon Festival

It is a night of full moon - Sep 12th.
This month's full moon is special for us. It is believed that brings rich harvest.
There are several festivals in Kyoto on that night.

---the Harvest Moon Festival at Shimogamo shrine---

Date: Sep 12th (mon)
Time: 17:30-21:00
Access: Train Keihan line from 'Tofukuji' station to 'Demachi yanagi' station.
Free entrance (1000yen for the tea ceremony)

There will be various orchestral music concert. You will see the players putting traditional costume on.

Kibune Momiji Tourou 2010

The other day, I went to Kibune to see autumn leaves lit up.
(Until 12th-30th in Nov. Lighitng is an a sunset -9:00p.m.)



Access from J-Hoppers Kyoto to Kibune.
　 Take Keihan private line Tofukuji sta⇒Demachiyanagi sta(15min, 26oyen)
⇒Take Eizan private line Demachiyanagi sta⇒Kibune sta(30min, 410yen)

The peak of Kibune's autumn leaves are getting red and yellow in day by day.
In particular, Kibune riverside displays a beautiful color gradations from green to red.

The Eizan Line has very nice seasonable tunnel between Ninose sta. and Ichihara sta.




Sorry but this movie is not so nice. You should... You must see the tunnel with your own eyes

15th～17th Sep. Seiryu-e(Blue Dragon Dance)

15th (wed) - 17th(Fri) September from 14:00pm～
at KIYOMIZU Temple

Seiryu, a dragon, is said to drink the waterfall in Kiyomizu Temple.

Colorful parade of the blue dragon with people in traditional costume at 2:00PM

Admission ¥300

This performance is very traditional in Autumn at Kiyomizu Temple.

Access : City Bus No.206 "Kiyomizumichi"