Coffee break

For those who love coffee or who want to take a rest while exploring Higashiyama area, 「％Arabica Kyoto」 is recommend.

They are particular about the beans and machines.
And the manager has won "Coffee Fest Latte Art World Championship" last year so you may have a tasty coffee with beautiful latte art.

Their coffee booth is opened temporarily in front of Fujiidaimaru department store facing Shijo Street until June 30th.





％Arabica Kyoto
Place: close to Yasaka Pagoda in Higashiyama area
Open hours: 8:00-18:00

Yasui Konpiragu

While raining days are continuing, we went to Yasui Kompiragu. 

This shrine in Gion district is a famous place among couples. 

In the middle of the shrine there is an “enkiri/enmusubi stone.” People believe that the stone has power to make good relationships stronger and sever bad ones. On a special paper you write your wish, stick it with glue to the stone and crawl through the tunnel in the stone from front to back. If you want to end a relationship, you crawl through from back to front. 

Actually, I found it very helpful to realize what exactly you want to leave in past and what you want to preserve in life!

Himeji

I went to Himeji about 1 month ago (i wanted to say "the other day" but I decided to be honest).

It was a lot better and nicer city than I expected although it was fortunately raining.
Himeji Castle is good and beautiful.

But what I would　like to recommend is Himeji City Museum of Art,
which is about 10 minutes walk from the entrance of the castle.

It's a nice walk with a view of the castle on your left side:)

The building is western style with brown-red bricks has a nice park in front:)
What I love about the museum is it's emptiness!

It was a Marc Chagall's exhibitio, and it it were at somewhere in Kyoto or in another big cities, 
I bed there should be too many people enough to make you feel like you rather come over there to watch people not the paintings.

You could enjoy every piece of Chagall's art taking as much time as you would like to spare:)
Chagall's exhibition is on till the 30th of May so if you every visit Himeji, please visit the museum as well:)

And eat this!!! Akashi Yaki (takoyaki wih broth soup)

On the way to the museum

Special Opening in Ginkakuji

First temple I saw on my first visit to Kyoto was Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion).

It is still one of my favorite places here.

Next week 1-6 May there is Special Opening in Ginkakuji.

That rare chance to see room and garden called the Dojin-sai, which is a cradle of Japanese tea ceremony. It is a small four-and-a-half mat room where shogun Yoshimasa supposedly drank tea.

Time: 10:00am-3:30pm
Admission: JPY1000

Hiking Mt. Daimonji

For someone who likes hiking, now it is one of the best seasons to hike up the Mt. Daimonji.
Mt. Daimonji is just behind Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavilion) so easy to get there.
It takes less than 1 hour to the top of the mountain.

You will feel at peace of sunlight filtering down through the trees.

You will come out in the middle of the “dai” on which fires are burned during the August Gozan-no-Okuribi Fire Festival.
You can see the whole of Kyoto City from the top!

It is good to have a lunch at the top of the mountain. 

You might feel more delicious with a sense of accomplishment and the nice view. 

But be careful! There are some birds always wait for the chance to get your food!

Hiking Mt. Daimonji is popular among many people regardless of age.

Maiko＆Geiko Show in Kyoto

 ＊＊＊Miyako Odori＊＊＊

DAY:　Everyday between　Apr　1　-　30
TIME:　12：30-、14：00-、15：30-、16：50-　(Lasts 1hr)
PLACE: Gion Kobu　Kaburenjo　Theter
TICKET: First class seat with tea ceremony by maiko&geiko \4800
            Second class \4200
            Normal class \2500

https://miyakoodorioverseas.stores.jp/#!/

【2015 Spring】Illuminations in Kyoto City

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 with sakura in Kyoto in Spring!!

■Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺)
   Date: - April 12th
   Time: 18:00-21:00 (Reception closes at 21:00)
   *Admission fee required
   Access: City Bus #100 / #206 "Gojo-zaka" from Kyoto Station

■Seirenin (青蓮院）
　 Date: - April 5th, April 25th-May 6th
   Time: 18:00-22:00 (Reception closes at 21:30)
   *Admission fee required
   Access: City Bus #5 / #100 "Jingu-michi" from Kyoto Station

■Koudaiji (高台寺）
　 Date: - May 6th
   Time: Sunset - 22:00 (Reception closes at 21:30)
   * Admission fees required
   Access: City Bus #100 / #206 "Higashiyama-Yasui" from Kyoto Station

■Maruyama Park (円山公園）
　 Date: - April 12th
   Time: Sunset - 1:00am
   Access: City Bus #100 / #206 "Gion" from Kyoto Station

■Gion-Shirakawa (祇園白川）
   Date: - April 5th
   Time: 18:00 - 22:00
   Access: Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan Line)

■Heianjingu (平安神宮）
　 Date: April 9th - 12th
   Time: 18:15 - 21:00 (Entrance closes at 20:30)
   *Admission for "Shinen (神苑) required
   Access: City Bus #5 / #100 "Okazaki-kouen-mae・Heianjingu-mae" from Kyoto Station

■Kyoto Botanical Garden (京都府立植物園）
   Date: - April 12th
   Time: Sunset - 21:00 (Entrance closes at 20:00)
   *Admission required
   Access: "Kitayama" Station (Subway) / City Bus #4 "Kitayama-eki mae" from Kyoto Station

■Nijo Castle (二条城）
   Date: - April 12th
   Time: 18:30 - 22:00 (Reception closes at 21:30)
   *Admission required
   Access: City Bus #9 / #50 / #101 from Kyoto Station

■Toji Temple　（東寺）
   Date: - April 12th
   Time: 18:30 - 22:00 (Reception closes at 21:30)
   *Admission required
   Access: "Toji" Station (Kintetsu) / City Bus #205 "Toji-michi" from Kyoto Station