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For most people, Demachi-yanagi is just where you change from the Keihan to the Eizan line when on the way to explore Kurama in northern Kyoto. But if you leave the station you will find that you stand at a very particular spot, where the Takano and Kamo rivers flow together. On the triangle between [...]

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The small temples of Kyoto are great when you happen to stumble upon them, but usually they are not places to seek out on purpose. Meyami Jizo is different to me – I have often visited this small temple on Shijo-dori in Kyoto close to Gion with family and friends, and today I wanted to [...]

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[Kyoto hairdresser - Photo © Ad Blankestijn]
This hairdresser in the Gion area of Kyoto has dressed out her modern hairsalon with a traditional inuyarai, a screen of bamboo strips to protect the lower part of buildings from fouling by animals or people. Somehow, it does not fit… on the other hand, this is something you [...]

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[Photo © Ad Blankestijn]
Saw this advertisement for Iemon green tea from Suntory today on the JR Tozai line in Osaka. It has the form of a noren, a traditional shop curtain, and is indeed made from textile rather than paper. Also the New Year decoration (shimekazari) attached to the curtain is real – including [...]

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Yamashina station on a cold, early winter morning. It is difficult to get out of bed, but the fact that the Starbucks in the station building is already up and running helps…

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In Fushimi today we came across a small temple called Saiganji or more popularly Aburakake Jizo. That means “Jizo covered with oil” and there is of course a story behind it.

[Saiganji, Kyoto - Photo © Ad Blankestijn]
Saiganji was founded in 1590 by Unkai. Once upon a time, an oil merchant from Yamazaki stumbled in [...]

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In case you were still wondering what zodiac animal will be called into service next year, just look at this shop window in the Otesuji Shopping Arcade in Fushimi (Momoyamagoryo St on the Keihan line in Kyoto) with its collection of eto: it is going to be the year of the boar!
Although the animal [...]

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[Namagashi shop Kano in Fushimi - Photo © Ad Blankestijn]
This namagashi shop near the Otesuji Shopping Arcade in Fushimi (Momoyamagoryo St on the Keihan line in Kyoto) is in full swing to produce mochi (glutinous ricecakes) for the New Year festivities.
They are placed on racks in front of the shop to dry and judging by [...]

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Yamashina Station, one day later.

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In Kyoto, you find small temples in the most unexpected nooks and crannies. One of the best is Tako Yakushi (or officially Eifukuji) right in the middle of youth paradise Shinkyogoku, in the center of the city.

[Tako Yakushi Temple in Shinkyogoku street - Photo © Ad Blankestijn]
The temple originally stood in Nijo Muromachi and was [...]

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