Two of the most rewarding activities I have been involved in during my time in Kyoto, are the events organized by the Hailstone Haiku Circle, and the conservation activities of People Together for Mt. Ogura (PTO). Stephen Gill is a primary organizer of both organizations, and so some of their activites tend to merge. So it was that on October 26th Mewby and I took part in a … [Read more...]
Not Sure Which Way to Go – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto Walks by Robert Yellin
In this extract from Deep Kyoto: Walks, Robert Yellin encourages us to seek chance and adventure along the Path of Philosophy… Not Sure Which Way to Go Let’s Get Lost on the Philosopher’s Path! ROBERT YELLIN One autumn twilight moment I was standing on a small bridge overlooking the Philosopher’s Path’s canal and saw a young couple staring at a map, eyes flittering … [Read more...]
Time Travelling on Gojō – An Extract from Deep Kyoto Walks by Jennifer Louise Teeter
Gojō Pottery Fair, in which pottery stalls line Gojō street all the way between Kawabata and Higashioji, begins August 7th and continues to August 10th. Simultaneously, in nearby Rokudo-san temple, is Kyoto's very own festival of the dead, the Rokudo Mairi spirit welcoming festival. Jen Teeter explores both of these events and more in her DKW essay "Time Travelling on Gojō", so … [Read more...]
Hiking Mount Atago – An Extract from Deep Kyoto Walks by Sanborn Brown
As the annual Sennichi Tsuyasai pilgrimage to the top of Mount Atago takes place this Thursday (July 31st), I thought I would post an extract from Hiking Mount Atago by Sanborn Brown. In this excerpt from our book Deep Kyoto: Walks, Sanborn describes his ascent with an eccentric tea ceremony master, and other pilgrims, to the top of Mount Atago, during this very special … [Read more...]
Into the Tumult – An Extract from Deep Kyoto Walks by Pico Iyer on BBC Travel!
This weeks extract from Deep Kyoto: Walks is brought to you by the BBC! We are all very pleased that BBC Travel have used a version of Pico Iyer's article "Into the Tumult", to launch their new Words & Wanderlust site. The version published on the BBC site differs mainly in the second half, though there are numerous small changes throughout. To read the original, download … [Read more...]
Gods, Monks, Secrets, Fish – An Extract from Deep Kyoto Walks by John Ashburne
Today John Ashburne takes us on a mouth-watering tour of Nishikikōji market and along the way adds a sprinkling of zen spice from the Buddhist teacher Dōgen Zenji... Maintain an attitude that tries to build great temples from ordinary greens, that expounds the buddhadharma through the most trivial activity, handle even a single leaf of a green in such a way that it … [Read more...]
Kamogawa Musing – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto Walks by John Dougill
In this extract from Deep Kyoto: Walks, John Dougill walking by the Kamo River, the nature reserve that cuts through the heart of Kyoto, muses on history and literature… “The flow of the river is ceaseless and its water is never the same. The bubbles that float in the pools, now vanishing, now forming, are not of long duration. So in the world are man and his dwellings.” … [Read more...]
The 2nd Kyoto Bloggers Meeting @ Kyoto’s Impact HUB
Impact Hub Kyoto strives to be a place where people with a strong desire to change society and the world can gather, learn from each other and find new solutions. We believe, however, that in order for sustainable change to come about, we must first embrace change in ourselves... -Impact HUB Kyoto Last Wednesday (June 18th) we held our second Kyoto Bloggers Meeting at a new … [Read more...]
What is Deep Kyoto: Walks?
This from the Foreword may give you some idea: Though there is much to learn about Kyoto in the pages that follow, this is not a typical guidebook, with a simple set of directions to sites of historical or architectural import. It is an anthology of meditative walks that expresses each writer’s deeper relationship to the area in which they live. All of the writers in this book … [Read more...]
Deep Kyoto: Walks ~ Released on Amazon!
Deep Kyoto: Walks Publisher: Deep Kyoto; 1st edition (May 18, 2014) Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. ASIN: B00KFM2J0C URL: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KFM2J0C Price: $7.99 (811 yen) Editors: Michael Lambe & Ted Taylor Authors: Jennifer Louise Teeter, Bridget Scott, Miki Matsumoto, Robert Yellin, Pico Iyer, Chris Rowthorn, John Dougill, John Ashburne, … [Read more...]
Strolling down Kyoto’s Nishiki Food Market
Nishiki Market is an essential sight-seeing spot for food lovers visiting Kyoto. This 400 year-old market extends for 400 meters between Teramachi and Takakura and has the reputation of being a place where you can find anything! Almost everything here is locally produced and reasonably priced. Filled with all kinds of colorful sights, unusual smells and the cries of the market … [Read more...]
Hiking & Haiku on the Uminobe-no-Michi Trail
For the last 3 years or so I have been joining the Hailstone Haiku Circle on their annual autumn hike. Always good outings, in previous years we have gone further afield to Mount Daisen in Tottori, and Tateyama in Toyama, but this year's hike was closer to home： along the Lakeside Way (湖ノ辺の道 Uminobe-no-michi), in Northern Shiga. These are haiku composition hikes, so we take … [Read more...]
Climbing Mount Daimonji with Robert Yellin & the Ricoh Theta
When you write a blog, and a reasonable number of people follow it, sometimes you get stuff for free. Probably this is the best thing I ever got for free: Pretty, isn't it? This is the RICOH THETA - the first camera that can take 360 degree panoramic images in one shot. And as it isn't on sale yet, I'm the very first person in Kyoto who gets to give it a go! Soon after it … [Read more...]
Yet Another Gorgeous Day in Kyoto
Cities of Green Leaves 青葉の都市 - Ginko no Kukai Last Saturday I joined the Hailstone Haiku Circle's latest ginko no kukai; an international poetry and nature walk being held across the world in solidarity with the city of Sendai. The event was planned to coincide with Sendai's Aoba Matsuri or Green Leaf Festival. This festival with its parade and famous sparrow dance is held … [Read more...]
