Japanese Kanji & Kana A Complete Guide to the Japanese Writing System Authors: Wolfgang Hadamitzky & Mark Spahn Paperback: 424 pages Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; Revised edition (April 10, 2012) Price: $24.95 Order direct from Amazon.com here. This book is designed to help students of Japanese learn the first 92 basic kana characters and the 2,136 standard … [Read more...] about Japanese Kanji & Kana – A Review
Old School Gaijin Kyoto – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto Walks by Chris Rowthorn
In Old School Gaijin Kyoto, Chris Rowthorn takes us on a hilarious tour of the bars and eateries of Kiyamachi as he revisits the haunts of his reckless youth with the ironic eye of experience. From "Old School Gaijin Kyoto" by Chris Rowthorn I first arrived in Japan in January 1992. I was a kid of 26. Green as a sapling. I had graduated from college a few years … [Read more...] about Old School Gaijin Kyoto – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto Walks by Chris Rowthorn
Yak & Yeti – Nepalese Curry in Kyoto
Yak and Yeti is a restaurant we go back to time and time again for two reasons. One is the super friendly staff who never fail to put a smile on our faces. And the other is their legendary Vegetable Phuraula, Nepali style spicy vegetable tempura. It's amazing. This restaurant is super popular with vegetarians for the range of tasty vegan options they have on their menu but you … [Read more...] about Yak & Yeti – Nepalese Curry in Kyoto
Honke Owariya with Sean Lotman
On Sunday Mewby and I had the pleasure of lunch with writer/photographer Sean Lotman. Sean's wife manages the Honke Owariya soba noodle business, a family company which is pretty famous in Kyoto. The business actually dates from 1465, though they "only" started making noodles Sean told me about 300 or 400 years ago, as they were originally a confectionary business. They still … [Read more...] about Honke Owariya with Sean Lotman
Blue Sky – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto Walks
Today I am posting another in a series of short excerpts from our ebook Deep Kyoto: Walks. In Blue Sky, the poet Stephen Henry Gill acts as a guide to the Saga & Arashiyama area for a young visitor who has come to learn more about the conservation NPO, People Together for Mt. Ogura. Stephen whimsically names his visitor Blue Sky, because that was the first thing he saw that … [Read more...] about Blue Sky – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto Walks
Ghosts, Monkeys & Other Neighbours – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto: Walks
Today I am posting a short excerpt from our ebook Deep Kyoto: Walks. In Ghosts, Monkeys & Other Neighbours, Bridget Scott meditates on her personal connection to her neighborhood on a well-worn stroll from Shisen-dō to Manshu-in… In Kyoto, the act of walking itself has taken on a new meaning for me. This awareness began over twenty years ago with my first butoh class: … [Read more...] about Ghosts, Monkeys & Other Neighbours – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto: Walks
To Boldly Go – TEDxKyoto x George Takei & Patrick Linehan
Once again I have to congratulate Jay Klaphake and his TEDxKyoto team of volunteers for organizing a splendid event at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies today! It was a delight to see Patrick Linehan speak here again, this time on the effect his last speech at TEDxKyoto has had on his life and also on the lives of others. In September he told us to embrace the qualities … [Read more...] about To Boldly Go – TEDxKyoto x George Takei & Patrick Linehan
Falafel Garden
A couple of weeks ago we went to check out the new location for Falafel Garden. A short walk north of Demachiyanagi on Kawabata, this new shop opened on April 28th. The old Falafel Garden was always a popular spot, but I think I like this new one even more. It's bigger, more comfortable, they have a nice big garden out the back and if you are lucky you can snag a balcony seat … [Read more...] about Falafel Garden
Camellia Tea Ceremony
Authentic tea ceremony in a beautiful 100-year-old traditional Geisha ryokan near Kiyomizu Temple A special guest post for Deep Kyoto today by Atsuko Mori of Camellia Tea Ceremony... The tea ceremony (sado) is a quintessential part of Japanese culture and is considered the height of sophistication. What do you first think of when you hear ‘tea ceremony’? Japanese … [Read more...] about Camellia Tea Ceremony
Wisteria at Sandai Shrine, Shiga
Sandai Shrine (三大神社) is a small shrine near Kusatsu in Shiga Prefecture, with a very impressive garden of trailing wisteria. If you want to see them for yourself then you had better go soon. They were pretty much peaking when we went a couple of days ago. To get there, take a JR train from Kyoto Station to Kusatsu (410 yen for a 20 minute journey - see Jorudan for … [Read more...] about Wisteria at Sandai Shrine, Shiga
On Foot in the Ancient Capital by Judith Clancy ~ An Exclusive Excerpt from Deep Kyoto: Walks
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links from which the owner of this website may earn a commission. Kyoto Journal have posted an an interesting interview with Judith Clancy in which she reflects on her life here in Kyoto and the many books she has written about this city. Kyoto city is an affair of the heart for me. I love the history, the art, design … [Read more...] about On Foot in the Ancient Capital by Judith Clancy ~ An Exclusive Excerpt from Deep Kyoto: Walks
