Category: Silently in Japan

Leaving Kyoto under a cloudy sky this morning, we nailed all of our train connections and made it to a rainy Kanazawa around noon.  After unpacking and checking out the kitchen in our apartment, we went up the street to Aptiva which, when you enter, is laid out like a department store and then, if you…

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…

Walking around Kyoto isn’t half-bad and it’s really quite nice if you take a route through the back streets away from the six-lane avenues.  I like the rusty contrast to the shiny downtown glass. And the way the Japanese have of making their garbage look packaged.  (As opposed to what they have on exhibit at…

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…

I’ve always been fascinated with the tiny Japanese sculpture they call Netsuke. Carved out of a single piece of wood or stone, they have a unique rounded shape and are small enough to fit in one’s hand. Today we went to the Kyoto Seishu Netsuke Art Museum.  At 5000, it has the largest collection of netsuke…

Before we went to see Miyako Odori yesterday, we soldiered up Hanamikoji Street towards the large Yasaka Shrine.  Hanamikoji Street is the main drag through Gion, Kyoto’s historic geisha district.  Its long covered walk and hanging paper lanterns advertise shop after shop.  Foreign fascination with geishas means it is the most visited spot in Kyoto.  Doing the bump and…

We felt a bit of a culture shock watching Miyako Odori.  The mimed story (with chorus narration) was universal.  (Fisherman nets a ghostly spirit who leaves him with a child he presents to an emperor.  The child grows to fight an enemy and both die.  Behind this tale the stage design goes from spring to spring.)  But the twanging whine…

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.

When we left the Zenran-ji Temple we stopped for coffee and cake (Ella will describe).  Then we walked through neighborhoods of more upscale houses towards the center of town.  We passed a zoo.  Stopped for a crab roll at a market. After about forty-minutes we ended up at the Museum of Kyoto.  The museum had exhibits explaining the…

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,…