Here is the third video showing scenes from our book, Deep Kyoto: Walks. In this short movie, John Ashburne takes us on a tour of "Kyoto's kitchen" --- Nishiki Market. A hat tip to film-makers Roger Walch and Ted Taylor for putting this series together. https://youtu.be/z9upUjhjDGM Deep Kyoto: Walks is now available as a print on demand paperback and Kindle e-book. Here … [Read more...] about “Gods, Monks, Secrets, Fish” – A Deep Kyoto: Walks Movie with John Ashburne
Deep Kyoto Walks Movie: Kamogawa Musing with John Dougill
Here is the second video showing scenes from our book, Deep Kyoto: Walks. In this short film John Dougill guides us down the Kamogawa River which runs through the heart of Kyoto. A hat tip to film-makers Roger Walch and Ted Taylor for putting this series together. https://youtu.be/KnO6fQdqces Deep Kyoto: Walks is now available as a print on demand paperback and Kindle … [Read more...] about Deep Kyoto Walks Movie: Kamogawa Musing with John Dougill
A Look Inside “Kyoto: A Literary Guide”
Our book Kyoto: A Literary Guide received a very fine review from Stephen Mansfield in the Japan Times last month. However, for the most part, the book can only be bought online, which means uncertain shoppers don't really know what they are getting before they make that purchase. To remedy this problem, I have made (with the assistance of Mewby) a short video which presents a … [Read more...] about A Look Inside “Kyoto: A Literary Guide”
Deep Kyoto Walks Movie: “Not Sure Which Way to Go” with Robert Yellin
Local film-makers Roger Walch and Ted Taylor have put together a series of short movies showing scenes from our book - Deep Kyoto: Walks. Here is the first video which features autumnal scenes from Kyoto's Path of Philosophy and Robert Yellin reading from his piece, "Not Sure Which Way to Go". Deep Kyoto: Walks is now available as a print on demand paperback and Kindle … [Read more...] about Deep Kyoto Walks Movie: “Not Sure Which Way to Go” with Robert Yellin
The Gion Festival – Exploring Its Mysteries by Catherine Pawasarat
Links on this page are affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Gion Matsuri, Kyoto’s most famous festival, is held each summer in the month of July. It features gorgeously decorated floats, parades and processions, purification rituals, traditional music, displays of family heirlooms, and a giant street … [Read more...] about The Gion Festival – Exploring Its Mysteries by Catherine Pawasarat
Deep Kyoto: Walks Paperback Edition Now Available
This is a delightful collection of essays written by a diverse group of writers who share an obvious and contagious affection for Kyoto. – Matthew Stavros (Author: “Kyoto: An Urban History of Japan’s Premodern Capital ”) I am delighted to annouce the release of Deep Kyoto: Walks as a paperback edition. This is a print on demand (POD) edition and has been independently … [Read more...] about Deep Kyoto: Walks Paperback Edition Now Available
Byodo-in Without the Crowds
In August I was in Uji one day and took the opportunity to visit the Byodo-in temple. As the pandemic has drastically reduced the number of tourists in Kyoto, I thought it was a good opportunity to view the famous Phoenix Hall minus the hordes of visitors that were there on my last visit - a good five years ago. Although this time there were a fair number of domestic tourists … [Read more...] about Byodo-in Without the Crowds
Kyoto: A Literary Guide – New Translations from Twelve Centuries of Japanese Literature
Today I am very happy to share news of a brand new publication, Kyoto: A Literary Guide, which was launched this month by Camphor Press. This book was born from the shared efforts of the Kyo-centrics: a long-standing poetry in translation discussion group - of which I happen to be a member. In addition to myself, the six Kyo-centrics who collated, translated and edited this … [Read more...] about Kyoto: A Literary Guide – New Translations from Twelve Centuries of Japanese Literature
Komatsu South – New Machiya Serviced Accommodation in Kyoto’s Gion District
Komatsu South is a new machiya-style residence offering fully serviced vacation accommodation in the heart of Kyoto’s Gion district. Each of the building’s four apartments have their own self-catering and laundry facilities and guests are also provided with daily housekeeping and an e-concierge service. This is the perfect holiday location for independent travelers who want a … [Read more...] about Komatsu South – New Machiya Serviced Accommodation in Kyoto’s Gion District
Crafting Tatami in 21st Century Kyoto: An Interview with Mitsuru Yokoyama
Today we have a special guest post from our old friend, Lisa Y. Allen. Traditional Japanese Craftsmanship: Tatami in the 21st Century An interview with award-winning tatami craftsman, Mitsuru Yokoyama Tatami is a rush-covered straw mat used for flooring and dates back to the Nara Period when the word, tatami, first appeared in the Kojiki, the oldest Japanese book written … [Read more...] about Crafting Tatami in 21st Century Kyoto: An Interview with Mitsuru Yokoyama
The Benten Residences; Machiya House Accommodation in Kyoto’s Higashiyama District
The Benten Residences are two beautifully restored traditional machiya townhouses sitting side-by-side in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto. Shimaya Stays, the Singapore-based company responsible for their restoration, recently invited us to stay in the Benten West house for a couple of nights, so we could see for ourselves what good work they have been doing. We also had the … [Read more...] about The Benten Residences; Machiya House Accommodation in Kyoto’s Higashiyama District
