It was a cold wet day in Kyoto yesterday, but if you look hard enough you can always find some brightness, whether in a friendly smile or happy tune. Mewby and I braved the weather to attend a wonderful show at Eiun-in, a lovely little sub-temple deep in Kurodani. As we arrived the rain stopped and we could enjoy the scent of fresh autumnal air coming in off the garden. Irish … [Read more...] about Brilliant Irish Music on a Rainy Day at Eiun-in
World Heritage Kyoto by John Dougill
Our good friend, John Dougill, recently published a wonderful (and beautifully illustrated) book on Japan's World Heritage Sites. Today he has been good enough to write a guest post on the many World Heritage properties of Kyoto, with some excellent personal recommendations. To research my book on Japan's World Heritage Sites, I travelled the length of Japan from … [Read more...] about World Heritage Kyoto by John Dougill
William Merrell Vories – A 50th Anniversary Memorial Tour in Ōmi Hachiman
William Merrell Vories was a brilliant and prolific architect who was active throughout the Kansai region in the early 20th century. He is said to have built up to 1600 buildings over a 35 year career, all while leading an active life as an educator, entrepreneur and Christian missionary. Many of the buildings he designed are still standing today, including quite a few in … [Read more...] about William Merrell Vories – A 50th Anniversary Memorial Tour in Ōmi Hachiman
Pictures from the “Hall of New Knowledge” – The New Wing of Kyoto National Museum
I have a guest article on Chris Rowthorn's Inside Kyoto today, all about the new Heisei Chishinkan wing of Kyoto National Museum. This new wing presents a thought provoking contrast to the main building, the Meiji Kotokan. The latter was built in the late 19th century, when designing public buildings in a European style was seen as modern and progressive, and it has an ornate … [Read more...] about Pictures from the “Hall of New Knowledge” – The New Wing of Kyoto National Museum
English Speaking Doctors in Kyoto – Recommended by Local Residents
Should you fall sick while visiting Kyoto, it will give you much peace of mind to know that your doctor is both reputable and can speak your language! Here is a list of English Speaking Doctors recommended by local residents. This list is not exhaustive of course so please add your own recommendations in the comments: Kyoto Furitsu Medical University Hospital have English … [Read more...] about English Speaking Doctors in Kyoto – Recommended by Local Residents
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...] about Not Sure Which Way to Go – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto Walks by Robert Yellin
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...] about Time Travelling on Gojō – An Extract from Deep Kyoto Walks by Jennifer Louise Teeter
Hiking Mount Atago – An Extract from Deep Kyoto Walks by Sanborn Brown
Today's post is an extract from Hiking Mount Atago by Sanborn Brown in which he details his participation in the annual Sennichi Tsuyasai pilgrimage to the top of Mount Atago which takes place each year on July 31st. 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, … [Read more...] about Hiking Mount Atago – An Extract from Deep Kyoto Walks by Sanborn Brown
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, buy our … [Read more...] about Into the Tumult – An Extract from Deep Kyoto Walks by Pico Iyer on BBC Travel!
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...] about Gods, Monks, Secrets, Fish – An Extract from Deep Kyoto Walks by John Ashburne
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...] about Kamogawa Musing – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto Walks by John Dougill
