Autumn-leaf viewing in Kyoto

 I recently visited Eikando in Kyoto where very famous of it's beautiful autumn leaves. Unfortunately it was raining but I could enjoy autumn-leaf viewing there more than my expectation.

Rain made the color of autumn leaves more intensive than in the dry atomosphere.

A hidden door to the spiritual world

 Most  foreign  tourists visit only famous or popular tourist spots one after another, where always packed by tourists.   However there are many good places for tourists besides ,but they are unfortunately unknown.  

We recommend Shigisan especially to individual tourists who want to experience a spiritual and peaceful atmosphere in near Osaka. Shigisan is easily accessible from Osaka and Nara because located in the mountain between them.  There are also different types of accommodation such as hotel,ryokan and temple lodging.  From Shigisan it is easy to make a half or day trip to Osaka and Nara.

Tourists can enjoy autumn-leaf-viewing in Shigisan now.

Ninja appeared in the center of Osaka

 On Saturday last week I visited the Tenmangu shrine located in the center of Osaka.  This shrine is well known for the summer festival called Tenjinmatsuri   which is held in July every year.

Luckily for me,I could see a Ninja show there in its gounds but played just as an entertainment.
There is no more real Ninja in Japan but still believed by foreigners there is.

By this shrine there is a longest arcaded shoppiong strret "Tenjinbashisuji Shotengai 2.6Km" in Japan,  There are about 1,000 shops and restaurants along and nearby this shopping street.
Among many restaurants there are very popular sushi restaurants for local people which you can find easily because in front of them ther is a long queue.  You can eat fresh and tasty sushi at reasonable price.  You can enjoy feeling of real downtown Osaka.

                                   

Fushimi Inari Taisha

 Fushimi Inari Taisha is a very popular tourist spot in Japan located southern Kyoto where easily access from my house. Fushimi Inri Taisha is famous for tousands of torii gate, most of them are donated by worshipper whose name you can find at each small torii gate.
In Japan red color is believed to have a gurding power against evil sprits that!s why torii gates are colored red.

Fushimi Inari Taisha is  the head of all of Japan's Inari shrines, dedicated to the deity of a good harvest and success in business.
The seemingly endless path of red torii gates leading up Mt.Inari makes for an impressive setting and is one of the famous images of Japan.

I advise you to put on walking shoes if you wanto to walk up Mt.Inari.

                                   

Fireworks display on the beach

Fireworks are a Japanese summer feature held everywhere in Japan.  On 11th August I enjoyed fireworks on the beach in Fukui prefecture located about 200km northeast of Osaka.
About 10,000 fireworks were set off and its special attracktion of this fireworks display is called Suichuka(flower in the water).  Fireworks are not set off toward the sky but into the sea.

                                

Hanami"Cherry Blossom Viewing" at Osaka castle

 Osaka castle is very popular place of Hanami"Cherry Blossom Viewing" and today ist the best day for it.  Many people enjoy eating,drinking,singing and playing musical instruments under the trees .
This is one of the most cheerful and enjoyable events in Japan.

Cherry blossoms in full bloom now

 Today I took some good pictures of the cherry blooms in full bloom near my house.  We like to have parties with our family or co-workers under the blossoms and enjoy cherry blossom viewing at the same time.  It is the best time to come to Japan now.

Snowy winter but can enjoy it

 Most of Japan has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons,but  the weather in the winter there is a difference between the area along the Sea of Japan and that on the Pacific Ocean side which is caused by mountain ranges located between the two regions.  In winter, the mountains block the cold, wet wind blowing from the northwest, which causes heavy snow to fall on the Japan Sea side.  On the contrary Pacific side is dry and sunny in the winter.

Tourists can enjoy a beautiful snow covered landscape and hot springs in the snow.

Autumn leaf viewing in Kyoto

 It is  a very fine day,so I drcided to visit one of the most famous autumn-leaf-viewing spots in Kyoto.  Fortunately I live in a city located near Kyoto,namely between Osaka and Kyoto.  It takes about 50 minutes  to get to my destination EIKANDO ZENRIN-JI TEMPLE,which is an esoteric Buddhist temple and has over 1,000 years history.

 Many tourists are enjoying a beautiful autumn-leaf-viewing  there.

Osaka Castle

 Yesterday I visited Osaka Castle to enjoy one of autumnal events held there.  Fortunately I could get a seat in front of the stage and it was free of charge.  Autumn is the best season for tourists to travel in Japan,because weather is very pleasant and many traditional and cultural events are held every where in Japan.  You can also enjoy autumn leaf viewing besides events.  

A mysterious monk in Kyoto

 A mendicant monk can be seen very seldom in Japan besides Kyoto,whose face is completely covered with a woven straw hat,is called komuso.

Komuso are a groupe of Japanese medeicant monks of one school of Zen Buddhism,who go to the town about asking for alms while playing a vertical bamboo flute called shakuhachi.  Nowadays it is very difficult to encounter them but in Kyoto there is a temple of their school,so you could see them by chance there.

Zen meditation in Kyoto

 Zen meditation was very popular discipline for samurai in order to keep the calm.  In Kyoto there are many temples of zen sect where tourists can also try to experience zen sitting meditation as a trial participant.

 You can find a temple from this website where you can ecperience zen sitting meditation in Kyoto.
http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/activities/cultural/zazen/

Spring is just around the corner in Kyoto

  I visited Kyoto three days ago and found a cherry tree in full bloom but other cherry threes are just in bud.  We must wait one week at least for cherry blossom viewing and it is the best time  for foreign tourists to come to Japan.

 Many people all over japan go out to admire the cherry blossoms in full bloom.  They spread mats on the ground under the blossoms and have parties with their family,friends or co-workers.  Foreing tourists are welcome to join them.

Winter in Japan

 Japan has four distinct seasons and each season has its own characteristic,for example cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall.  These two seasons attract most tourists to Japan,but  other two seasons summer and winter have also many attractions.

 It is midwinter in Japan now.  On the Japan sea side fall heavy snow and some snowy areas are covered 1 - 2 meters high snow,but we can enjoy various winter sports wsuch like skiing or snow boarding.  There are also many special foods in winter which tourists can eat everywhere in Japan.

 

Shogatstu and Hatsumode in Japan

 Shogatsu is the celebration of the New Year and is the most important holiday in Japan,comparable to Christmas in Western countries.  Entrance of houses and buildings are decorated with a set of pine branches and bamboo called Kadomatsu,but Shimekazari is more popular as a decoration which is a twisted straw rope with fern leaves,an orange,and other items of good fortune.  It is placed over the entrance of a house during the New Year holidays.

 Hatsumode is the first visit paid on the New Year holidays to a shrine or temple.  People pray for a long life and happiness for the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flea market at the oldest temple in Osaka

 On the 21st and 22nd of every month a flea market is opened at the oldest temple "Shitennoji" in Osaka.  About 300 shops join the flea market here,including antique shops and local food stands.

 If you are a serendipity,then this flea market is worth visiting.  Normally prices are fixed in Japan but at the flea market it is negotiable.  Many foreign tourists are also looking for souvenirs here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn leaf viewing in Kyoto 2016

 My Indonesian friends came to Osaka on 20.Nov and stay one week here.  Autumn leaves are very beautiful now,so I took them to Kyoto yesterday for autumn leaf viewing.  Kyoto city is surrounded by mountains except the southern side and  most famous viewing spots are located at the foot of mountains.  We didn't have enough time for visiting far viewing spots or overcrowded places such as Eikando or Kinkakuji. We hired a tourist taxi for two hours,becuae my Indonesian friends are not young and cannot walk long time.so I should have chosen an accessible and flat place in the city.

 Finally I chose Kitanotenmagu where located near in the center of Kyoto city,but I have never been there before,therefore I was quite doubtful whether we could really enjoy autumn leaf viewing in the such location of the central city,but my choice was right.  Traffic jam in Kyoto is terrible during the time of autumn leaf viewing.  I recommend to use publick transportation for visiting famous tourist spots in Kyoto.

 

Best Guest House in Osaka newly opened

 Last month a new guest house opened in Osaka  which is highly recommended for backpackers.
Its location is very convinient for sightseeing,eating and shopping you can make all within 800 meters.

Tennoji park and zoo,municipal museum,japanese garden,temple,shrine,highest building in Japan and real Berlin Wall are existed nearby.  You can enjoy both traditional and modern Osaka in this area.

On 21st and 22nd every month a big flea market is held in the famous temple Shitennoji.
Many antique shops are parcitipated in this flea market,so you can enjoy your serendipity.

Website of Kintetsu Friendly Hostel  http://www.friendlyhostel.osaka/en/