We found another great curry place! Mewby and I stumbled across Chakra last night while out for an evening stroll, and although we hadn't intended to eat out, we were tempted in at the thought of Bengal curry goodness... There are a lot of choices on the menu, and everything seems pretty reasonably priced. There are also a lot of vegetarian/vegan options: 8 different … [Read more...] about Chakra Indian Restaurant
Kyoto by the Sea Part #2: Kumihama in Winter
This is the second of two pieces on Tango, the northern seacoast of Kyoto prefecture. In the Part #1 I recounted last year's trip to the beach at Kotobikihama and our fortuitous view of a fireworks display at Amanohashidate. In this post: a winter trip to Kumihama, climbing a holy mountain and all the crab you can eat! In the first week of the New Year Mewby and I joined … [Read more...] about Kyoto by the Sea Part #2: Kumihama in Winter
Papa Jon’s Honten
On Saturday we took a stroll up to the Shimpukan, intending to grab a bite to eat at Papa Jon's Eatery.* Unfortunately for us, they were hosting a wedding party. However, very fortunately for us, we bumped into Charles Roche (the owner) on his way out, and he offered us a lift up to the 本店. Nice chap, isn't he? I'd noticed this place on the way to events at Impact Hub but … [Read more...] about Papa Jon’s Honten
Kyoto by the Sea Part #1: Kotobikihama & Amanohashidate
This is the first of two pieces on Tango, the northern seacoast of Kyoto prefecture. In this post: a summer trip to Kotobikihama and fireworks in Amanohashidate. Tango in the north of Kyoto Prefecture is recently being marketed as "Kyoto by the Sea", and certainly there is a lot to recommend a trip up there besides the well known scenic beauty of Amanohashidate … [Read more...] about Kyoto by the Sea Part #1: Kotobikihama & Amanohashidate
“Tone Poems” Exhibition: Joel Stewart’s Continuing Artistic Odyssey
A special review today by our good friend Richard Donovan Taking photos in Joel Stewart’s painting studio in North Kyoto, I struggle to contain his upcoming exhibition’s signature artwork, Odyssey, within the frame. A horizontal painting comprised of six separate 40-centimeter-square images painted on both paper and canvas, all mounted onto wooden panels and joined together. … [Read more...] about “Tone Poems” Exhibition: Joel Stewart’s Continuing Artistic Odyssey
A Trip to Inuyama
Here are some pictures from Inuyama in Aichi prefecture, which we visited last month. Inuyama Castle is supposed to be the oldest castle in Japan: the original fort was built in 1440, and the current structure was completed in 1537. However as you can see from the scaffolding in the picture above, it still needs a bit of maintenance from time to time. Despite the metal … [Read more...] about A Trip to Inuyama
Zuishin-in ~ A Refuge in Ono
As I posted a piece on the autumn leaves at Daigo-ji last week, I thought I might post some pictures I took earlier this year at the nearby Zuishin-in. These pictures were taken in June; the season for irises and azaleas. I think this temple would be good to visit in any season though. It has a very special atmosphere. You can see a slideshow of the gardens through the seasons … [Read more...] about Zuishin-in ~ A Refuge in Ono
Kawai Kanjiro’s House
This is the house of Kawai Kanjiro, a legendary potter and a key figure in the mingei or Japanese folk art movement. His beautiful wooden townhouse has been preserved as a memorial run by his family. The building itself and the garden are wonderful, but you can also see here many of his works: ceramics, sculptures, and woodcarvings. His kilns are preserved at the back of the … [Read more...] about Kawai Kanjiro’s House
Craft Beer in Japan: The Essential Guide by Mark Meli
This is an excellent little book, packed with useful information for beer lovers here in Japan and a handy portable size for carrying around to all those bars. Personally, I enjoy drinking craft beers, but I am very far away from being an expert, and far too lazy to study the variety of beers available in a systematic way. Fortunately, Mark Meli has done my homework for me. … [Read more...] about Craft Beer in Japan: The Essential Guide by Mark Meli
A Trip into the Past at Meiji Mura
In 2011 McKinsey & Company commissioned 80 writers and thinkers to contribute to an anthology rather grandly titled Reimagining Japan: The Quest for a Future that Works. I bought my own copy after browsing through it at Kansai Aiport and reading Alex Kerr's piece "Japan after People". His contribution was a wry form of dystopian projection that took various current trends, … [Read more...] about A Trip into the Past at Meiji Mura
Illuminated Autumn Leaves at Daigo-ji Temple
The ancient temple of Daigo-ji in the Fushimi ward of Kyoto, is currently opening at night to show off it's illuminated autumn colours. Though the leaves hadn't quite reached their peak when we visited at the weekend, they weren't far off and we were glad to get there before it got too crowded. Here are some pictures from our … [Read more...] about Illuminated Autumn Leaves at Daigo-ji Temple
