Author: Ella

Among other things (like gold leaf and fu buns, snow crab and sea bream sushi), Kanazawa boasts production of the finest sake made with premo water straight from the mountain and locally grown rice. Our apartment host (Bill Smith…anyone think that’s not an alias?) prides himself on local sake knowledge so I asked “where can…

What I didn’t know (thanks for the tip David) is that Kanazawa is noted for gold leaf production.   Want to try your hand? For a price you can apply a sheet of gold leaf to a trinket and take home your handiwork. Or have a soft serve ice cream with a strip of edible gold…

Today calls for an “all layer” day for me. Inner to outer = turtleneck + blouse + light sweater + thinsulate jacket + rain jacket / wind breaker.  Grubb’s layers = long-sleeved tshirt + rain jacket. No surprise to anyone who knows him, he has two modes of dress: jacket on / jacket off.  Grubb…

When we left our Kyoto apartment this morning, it was drizzling and we felt too lazy to navigate the subway to get to Kyoto Station. I tried out Go Taxi. Worked like a champ.  Within 5 minutes, a taxi pulled up, the driver rolled down his window and asked for our order number. “007” I replied….

We are leaving Kyoto this morning, heading to Kanazawa so I thought I’d share some random last photos of Kyoto. Below: Upscale vending machines Hot sand or hot dog anyone? Below: Shop devoted to anime…or is that manga? Below: Kyoto streets Below: Our local supermarket Below: Snack break, egg toast and yuzu float Below: Okonomiyaki…

We’ve seen very few stop signs anywhere here. Drivers and cyclists keep to the left, pedestrians keep to the right. There are lots of small one lane roads – really just one lane shared by two way traffic. No stop signs or traffic lights at intersections on these small streets. Whoever gets to the intersection…

These two signs embedded in the sidewalk were right across the street from each other.

I was so enthralled with the Netsuke, I thought I’d add a few of my photos (be sure to read Grubb’s post first “Sculpture that fits into your hand”). A little more info

My navigation skills took a hit today. If there is one thing I am good at (just like Grubb prides himself on distinguishing sweets from soap) it’s being able to get us where we need to go.  Unfortunately today, instead of arriving at Byodo-in Temple expecting to see a fabulous Amida Buddha, carved gold phoenixes on the…

For something new and different, we attended the Miyako Odori yesterday at the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo (theater) in the famous Gion district of Kyoto.  The Miyako Odori is a performance, maybe one could call dance, or maybe stylized choreographed movements. A traditional spring occurrence, specifically April, every year since 1872. The very first performance was…

Did I mention Kyoto Prefecture (kind of like a state) gets 75 million visitors a year and 50 million of those come to the city of Kyoto.

Lots of reminders about the rules.

I am fascinated by the Japanese love of cartoon representations rather than boring old stick figures. That last photo brings up another subject. Japanese cleanliness and fastidiousness. Every car shines like new. No dents or dings. No side view mirrors duct taped on or cardboard-taped broken windows. In museums, if one touches a glass case,…

After exploring Eikan-do temple yesterday we needed refreshment. I mean I just had my whole concept of the structure of Buddhism exploded (sure, sure…maybe I’m being a little dramatic).  Just outside the entrance to the temple was a place advertising coffee. You know who (and it wasn’t me) made a beeline. On the menu was…