Sakezo's Bar!

Sake fan's long-waited event "SAKEZO'S BAR" is open now!  

Please taste this year's sake of 17 sake brewers from Fushimi (Kyoto's famous sake-brewing district).  You can order food to go with sake as well.

Period: October 1 (Monday) ~ December 9 (Sunday); 17:00 ~ 22:00 (Sundays and holidays:  15:00 ~ 20:00) 

Place:   COCON Karasuma 1F Atrium 

Lego Block Station Kyoto

"Lego Block Station Kyoto" is being held in Kyoto Station Building.  The event is to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Kyoto Station Building.

Time:  November 3 (Saturday) to November 11 (Sunday)/11AM to 5PM

Place (5 areas):  7F/East Square, 4F/South Square, 2F/In front of Information Center, Hotel Granvia Kyoto 2F Lobby, Kyoto Theatre 3F Lobby

There are events and play areas where children can participate, and of course adults can enjoy also!

What I want to see in particular is the 5 meter long Kyoto Station, built with 300,000 pieces of Lego blocks, which is exhibited on the 7th floor, East Square.

Izakaya Ran in Uji City

Ran is a Japanese style pub "Izakaya" and it is 5 minute walk away from Uji Station. 

It is a very popular lunchtime spot as well.

Their lunch menu is mainly fish.

And I chose "Three kinds of baked fish," which were snapper, pacific saury, and salmon.

I especially liked the perfectly grilled salmon with fantastic ponzu citrus soy sauce!!

Lunch:  11:30~14:00

Dinner:  17:00~23:00

Close on Wednesday

Tel. 0774-21-2275

Byodoin and Ujikami Shrine of Uji City

I visited Byodoin and Ujikami Shrine to pray for a success of my art exhibition from the 20th. Unfortunately, the Phoenix Hall of Byodoin was under construction from last month. 

This is a photograph I took before the construction.

 The construction is scheduled to be completed at the end of March, 2014.

Through scaffolding, I was able to peek the rooftop phoenix, and it made me happy.

Even a telephone booth in front of Uji Station has phoenixes on the roof.

Ujikami Shrine is located on the other side of Uji River.

Green tea soft ice cream to cool me down first, before visiting Ujikami Shrine. Yum!

And relaxing scenery.

Ujikami Shrine is also World Heritage.

I liked the Shrine's purifying basin with a lovely rabbit!

Good luck charm "Omikuji" is a rabbit, too.  Sooo cute!

In the precinct of the shrine, there are two large sand cones called "Tatesuna," where god is believed to descend upon.

Although Ujikami Shrine is not very big, it is a great place to visit and learn about the ancient Japanese shrine architecture.

I received a greeting from this beautiful praying mantis after I finished praying!!

DECO Choco of Tirol

My artwork exhibition is coming up soon and I am getting very excited.  Tirol's DIY chocolate kit "DECO Choco" also arrived safely.

And I'm having fun to create my own chocolates, which will be Thank you gifts for people who come visit my exhibition.

Date:  October 20 (Saturday) to 25 (Thursday)
Time:  10AM to 6PM (5PM on the 25th)
Place:  be-Kyoto

Event Information

"Kujo Negi" bunching onion is one of traditional vegetables in Kyoto.  

On October 20 and 21, Kujo Negi Festival will be held in Umekoji Park.  One of the main events is Ramen Contest, where very famous ramen noodle shops will compete to be crowned the Ramen Champion. 

And on October 22, "Jidai Matsuri" will be held.  The procession will start at 12 noon from Kyoto Imperial Palace.

This year's poster shows Tomoe Gozen, a very famous female samurai warrior.

Gift from Maeniiya Guest House

As small gifts from Maeniiya Guest House, I prepared pin badges for our guests.

 

I hope to add more Japanese designs/patterns later, such as sumo wrestlers, origami, etc. etc.  

Stipee!

I received a surprise gift package from a friend today.  It was "Stipee" of Tensai Bakabon characters! I LOVE them!!

“Stipee” are clear and re-usable sticky bookmarks made of plastic.

Miss Rim (Fuchiko-san) of my tea cup

Miss Rim (Fuchiko-san) likes to hang around wherever the rim is. 

My latest favorite item "Fuchiko-san" is a series of Gachapon toys, produced by Mr. Katsuki Tanaka. 

Gion Kaburenjo Theatre

I went to Gion Kaburenjo Theatre to watch Nihon Buyo (Japanese classical dance) last week.

It was about a 7 hour long (!) gorgeous show of the dance school "Fujinami-kai."

Very cool members of "ohayashi (traditional orchestra)."

Lovely ceiling lamps.

The lobby is decorated with a few Nihonga (Japanese style paintings).

Nice restroom sign!

The evening sky in front of the theatre.  It looks like the autumn is around the corner...

And, my dinner set (1,500 yen) at a soba noodle restaurant near the theatre.  Both my heart and belly were very satisfied!

Old vs New

Here are my folkcrafts that have become "flat" along with the TV!  

Incidentally, these are postcard sized "flat folkcrafts."

Hashitate's monthly changing lunch

"Hashitate" is a subsidiary of a very historic Japanese restaurant "Wakuden" and is located on the 3rd floor of SUVACO Isetan in JR Kyoto.  I tried their monthly changing lunch of 1,680 yen.

Somen noodle with yuba (tofu skin), shiso (perilla) and sesame.  "Aemono (dressed food)" of chicken and wakame seaweed.  Salted cucumber with kombu seaweed.

Extra sticky steamed rice called "okowa" with hamo fish, pumpkin and soybean, wrapped in a bamboo sheath.

Dessert after a meal is a jelly-like lotus root rice cake.

Nice location, reasonable price, and great taste!

Jizo Bon Festival

I participated in a neighborhood "Jizo Bon Festival" in Yasaka Pagoda last week. Jizo Bon festivals are very unique neighborhood block parties in Kyoto.  Everyone in the neighborhood get together for the day to pray for the health and happiness of children. (Jizo is a gardian for children.)

There were lots of events scheduled for the children all day, and one of them was "Juzu Mawashi (turning the rosary)."  All of us sit in a large circle and pass around a very long string of prayer beads (for 108 times!) to the beat of a gong by the priest.

Bento lunch boxes and drinks were served to everyone, and children received lots of goodies.  After lunch, children enjoyed the spray of open fire hydrants!  

A very traditional Japanese game called "Suika-wari" was also fun.

Jizo Bon is a great tradition which reminds children that they are very much loved and protected.