End of Rainy Season

The rainy season in Kyoto is officially over, and it's "Kakigori" season!

Kakigori is a Japanese shaved ice dessert. If you see this flag in front of restaurants/shops, it means they serve Kakigori. The flag says Kakigori, of course.

Man in charge of Gion Matsuri

These elderly men in kimono are so-called "higher ranking" people of the Festival.

Gion Matsuri (Festival)

Kyoto is enjoying the Gion Matsuri from July 1: festival ends on July 31. The highlight of the festival is "Yamahoko-junko" which takes place on the 17th of July. It is the procession of colorful floats through downtown Kyoto.


Groups of people started to build Yamahoko today. A total of 32 Yamahoko floats are presented in the festival. The 25 meter tall, 10 ton floats are made from wood and rope without using a single nail or piece of iron. (Yamahoko is the holy place for devine spirits.)

Rainy Season

Japan is currently in rainy season. After many rainy days in Kyoto, it's clear sky today and here is the beautiful evening glow.

Ayu (=Sweetfish) Fishing Season

Kamo river ayu fishing season opened on May 31. Ayu is one of the leading delicacies in Japanese cuisine.

Restaurant "Nakau"

Nakau is a Japanese fast food restaurant chain which has become extremely popular recently, and there are many Nakau restaurants in Kyoto.

They specialize in gyudon (bowl of rice topped with beef), oyako donburi (bowl of rice topped with chicken and egg), and Japanese noodles. Not only the food is served fast, but it's cheap and tasty!

Photo: Prawn and vegetable tenpura on rice (340 yen) and cold plum noodle (390 yen)

Swallows

I've been back in my hometown Shimane and swallows are back to the nest in my parents house again this year! There are six babies and it's so fun to observe them grow every day. Having swallows (=bluebird) back in the house is the "symbol of happiness"!

Best Starbucks in Kyoto

From this Starbucks cafe, you can see the Rokkakudo Temple!!!
It's raining today...

Gion Festival

Gion festival is one of the biggest festivals in Japan which begins on July 1st and ends on July 31st. The Gion Festival started in 869 AD when a real bad plague spread in Kyoto area. The plague soon ended after the festival, and Gion festival became extremely popular! Yes, Gion Festival began, to stop plagues!!

Shin-cha Season

Shin-cha means New Tea. May is the month of "tea picking." New leaves are like jewels of green tea that you get only for two weeks of the year. Tea fields of Uji City in Kyoto are full of fresh green tea fragrance!