Tag: kyoto
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History of Kamogawa Nouryou Yuka Verandas
One of the famous features of Kyoto is the summertime “Nouryou Yuka” verandas at restaurants and bars along the Kamo River. There is nothing particularly ornate about most of the wooden platforms, and it IS still hot out there despite the breeze, but there is something civilized and genteel, a sense of refinement, about dining…
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Why is Kyoto’s Left Ward on the right, and Right Ward on the left?
Kyoto is divided into districts called “ku”, usually translated as “ward”. So, in addition to having a city hall, there are ward offices, which is where we go to handle national health insurance and various other clerical matters. Experience Kyoto’s office is in “Sakyo-ku”, with the “Sa” part of the name meaning “left”, as in…
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Mamoru Ichimura -Traditional Wood Block Printer
Just outside the southern gate of Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple, Kenninji, you may have come upon a small “museum” selling replicas of classic, old woodblock prints by the masters. However, it is not the traditional old houses that first grabs your attention but the sign with bold, black lettering in English advertising his business hours.…
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A True Samurai Experience
The sword wielding samurai as seen in the many Akira Kurosawa movies is a one of the most prominent images of Japan. Although the days of these great warriors have long gone, the sprint of the sword has not and the practice of “Iaido” (the art of drawing, cutting and sheathing of the sword) is…
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Restaurant Review: Oicho – charcoal grilled yakitori
Oicho is a fun, reasonably-priced upscale yakitori restaurant where you grill it yourself over a charcoal brazier at your table. The location is good, just west of the Matsubara Bridge over the Kamo River. Going with your friends to a hole-in-the-wall yakitori restaurant with red lanterns and no elbow room and grease coating everything can…