Today is Deep Kyoto's birthday! On June 8th 2007 I sat down and wrote in my very first blog post: ...there are many “British-style” pubs and Starbuckses aplenty if you need to retreat back to your comfort zone, and no blame to you if you do. But if you want to challenge yourself a bit further, dust off that phrasebook and encounter the average people who make up modern Kyoto, … [Read more...] about Deep Kyoto at Four
Two Views from Yasaka Shrine
Here are two views from Yasaka Shrine separated by time. Both images give us a "bronze lion's eye view" down Shijo as seen from the entrance to Yasaka Shrine. The first is a recent image painted by my hopelessly romantic friend Ichsan. Do please visit his Facebook page to see more of his wonderful paintings. This is the image of Gion with which we are familiar today. And … [Read more...] about Two Views from Yasaka Shrine
John Dougill enjoys a seasonal stroll from Tambabashi to Fushimi
John Dougill writes... A pleasant walk through woods and 1100 years of history? In Kyoto? Yes, it’s possible on the south-eastern edge if you walk between Tambabashi and Fushimi-Momoyama. It takes two hours and along the way are imperial tombs, Shinto shrines and an Edo-era escapade. Start from any of three Tambabashi stations (JR, Keihan or Kintetsu). Walk uphill for … [Read more...] about John Dougill enjoys a seasonal stroll from Tambabashi to Fushimi
The Photographs of Jane Lawson
Last year on Deep Kyoto we posted a short series of Kyoto-based photographer profiles. Each photographer was challenged to choose just five of their own favorite pictures from Kyoto and tell us a little bit about why they chose them. It's time to reboot that series! This month I've asked Australian foodie Jane Lawson to accept the challenge. Though Jane is not technically … [Read more...] about The Photographs of Jane Lawson
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...] about Yet Another Gorgeous Day in Kyoto
The Artist Brian Williams
Last week I visited the artist Brian Williams at his studio, sat down for a chat and had a sneak preview of his upcoming exhibition at Kiyomizu Temple. Brian is due to have a special one night exhibit of his parabolic paintings this Saturday evening (May 14th) - the first time ever in 1200 years that any art has been exhibited on the famous Kiyomizu balcony. Brian is famous … [Read more...] about The Artist Brian Williams
Kyoto Kanban: Unique Shop Signboards in the Old City
Ian Ropke writes, Japan’s ingenious and eye-catching signboards known as kanban are unique. The earliest examples avoided the use of words, presumably because they couldn't have been read by an illiterate public, and often focused on the shape of the product, or the form of the container in which it was sold. Larger than life carvings of objects such as geta, candles, … [Read more...] about Kyoto Kanban: Unique Shop Signboards in the Old City
The Hojoki
Visions of a Torn World To understand the world of today, hold it up to the world of long ago. - Kamo-no-Chomei The Hojoki The recent tragedy in northern Japan has brought to the forefront of all our minds just how vulnerable these islands are to natural disaster. Here in western Japan, even as we assure our friends and families overseas that we are safe, we know … [Read more...] about The Hojoki
Clearing up the Mountain
Lovely view, isn't it? Sadly, right below where I stood to take this picture there are piles of rubbish that people have illegally tipped down the wooded slopes of Mount Ogura. A lot of the discarded trash is domestic; buckets, bicycles, old refrigerators, motorbikes... But in this case a building company seems to have dumped some unwanted bags of cement. … [Read more...] about Clearing up the Mountain
Goya
Asian Chample Foods Goya is an Okinawan/Asian style eatery recommended to me quite some time ago by Barbara Stein. I went there yesterday and fell in love with the place. The atmosphere of cheery colorful comfort, the super friendly staff, and the great tasting food combined to make me very happy indeed. Barbara swears by the salads there, but it was the Nasi Chample … [Read more...] about Goya
Ginko-no-renga in Iwakura
On March 12th I joined the Hailstone Haiku Circle for their Ginko-no-renga event (a poetry composition stroll), on this occasion in Iwakura. Originally the linked verse, or renga, was meant to begin with a hokku (starting verse) that Buson had written in Iwakura. 遅き日や雉の下り居る橋の上 The days grow longer - A pheasant has fluttered down Onto the bridge. However, the Tohoku … [Read more...] about Ginko-no-renga in Iwakura
