Guide in Kyoto-Shihoko Hirooka's Private Guide Blog-

 The 7th of July Japan cerebrate the Star Festival.

At home, kindergarden, on the shopping streets,etc. we decorate the bamboo branch with rectangular shaped 5 coloured papers : representing 5 elements of univers which are wood, fire, earth,gold and water and those 5 elements influence one another to move on the universe :

On the papers we write down our wishes by a blush and sumi-ink using the collected dewdrops early morning.

Once upon a time the Lord of Heaven had a beautiful daughter named Vega who was very skillful at weaving,  and there was a handsome young man named Altair who was taking care of cows. Soon they fell in love. The Lord of Heaven permitted them get married, because both of them were working very hard and the Lord liked them.

The newly wedded couple were so happy and spent wonderful days, eventually they became to neglect their jobs.

The Lord of Heaven got angry at the couple and he separated them apart and put them at each side of the Milky Way : only one night a year he let them see each other on the 7th July. A magpie puts Vega and crosses the Milky Way to Altair.

But the weather was not good the magpie can’t fly and the cupple can not get together till nex year.

The wishes such as  May peace prevails all over the world,  Wish for passing the exam to Kyoto university, Wish to loose 5 kilo, etc.

Today is the 7th July and we wish for th

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For you, who would like to travel in Kyoto,
Johnnie Hillwalker’s Kyoto walking tour
Kyoto Private guide, Shihoko Hirooka, Kyoto private guide
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    In the end of June almost all shinto-Srines in Japan prepare a huge wreath made of the grass named “chi” which grows in swamps and very strong, looks like pampas grass.

There is a cer !tain way to go through : walk through the wreath and turn left, then walk through the wreath again and this time turn right : repeat this three times.

What happened to you ?

You get purified and you are completely free from any sickness, you can stay health during coming hot humi summer!

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For you, who would like to travel in Kyoto,
Johnnie Hillwalker’s Kyoto tour
Kyoto Private guide, Shihoko Hirooka, Guide in Kyoto
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Three Buddhist monks started Zojoji-temple in Tokyo on foot and now arriving Chion-in-temple in Kyoto. On the way more and more monks joined to become the size of 300 monks.

Chion-in is the headquarters of Jo-do Buddhism, the first Japanese Buddhism established by a great monk named Honen in the 11th century.

Before Ho-nen they believed in order to be taken by Amitahba ‘s paradise they had to make donations to the temples, they had to read Buddhist Bible, they should have not kill any living things, etc.etc.

But most people then were so poor that they had nothing to offer, no time to go to  temples, could not read, had to kill animals and fish for living. They were thrown into despair.

High ranking people were also afraid that they might not able to be taken to the paradise because they knew they did not follow the teachings of the Buddha.

The monk Honen was the son of a Samurai warrior in Okayama ( local town ) and his father when he died told his son  to become a Buddhist monk to avoid samurai’s fate of killing one another.

Honen became a Buddhist monk and studied, trained himself earnestly at Enryakuji temple on the Mt. Hiei in Kyoto since this Enryakuji temple was like a university for those who wanted to become a monk and this temple could issue the certification of the legal Buddhist monk.

The more he studied the more he suffered : he realized Buddhism then was not to help the ordinary people.

He studied further more and thought really harder, deeper.

Then he realized the very truth : Amitabha,  known as the Buddha who takes us to his Pure Land, does not select the people. He makes a vow himself to take every single life to his Pure Land whatever the person did, who ever the person was.

Going to the Pure Land is not by our effort but by the power of Amitahba, not self power but other’s power ( Amitahba’s power )

We can not enter the Pure Land by ourselves ( self power ) because for living we have to do the things violating Buddha’s ideal life.

Only we can do isto  leave ourselves to the Amitahba’s mercy hand to get into Pure Land.

Only we do is to chant ” Namu Ami-Dabutsu ” which means we  put whole ourselves in the hand of Amitahba.

This is the moment when Japanese Buddhism was established.

All of us can be taken to the Pure Land which is the Buddha’s paradise.

This year is the 800 death anniversary of the great monk Honen.

Chionin temple is the headquarters of this Japanese Buddhism.

Many people visit Chionin temple this year.

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For you, who would like to travel in Kyoto,
Johnnie Hillwalker’s Kyoto tour
Kyoto Private guide, Shihoko Hirooka, Guide in Kyoto
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This time of the year when summer approaching we have a custom to pray for the Shinto Gods and Goddesses.

First, we write down the name and above the name, male or female and the bottom of the name the age.

For example on the paper left, from the top, female, name ( Hirai Mitsue ) and 96 years old.

On the other side of the paper we put on our prayer. For my mother I wrote good health and peace in mind.

Then we give out breath on the paper three times.

Then with donations we leave our papers to the Shinto shrine.

In olden days when they had no refrigerator no air conditioner, no good medicines  etc. for diseases caused by humid summer heat  they should have taken this custom seriously.

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For you, who would like to travel in Kyoto,
Johnnie Hillwalker’s Kyoto tour
Kyoto Private guide, Shihoko Hirooka, Guide in Kyoto
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Rice is not just a stable food here in Japan, but a kind of sacred gift from God.  They used to believe God is in every grain of rice, so children are taught  not to waste even a single grain in the rice bowl.

June is the season farmers plant rice seedlings.

At many Shinto shrines in Japan there held a special ceremony asking the Gods for the protection and big harvest in autumn.

In Kyoto every year on the 10th of June  Fushimi-Inari shrine has this ceremony.

At 1 pm at the main hall Shinto priests in special costumes pray to all Gods and Goddesses for the protection, and Okagura ( special sacred Shinto music and dance ) is offered to the Gods and Goddesses.

Then selected local girls and Shinto priests move to the sacred rice paddy of the Shrine.

Rice seedlings are carried to the fields by two Shinto priests in a special wooden box.

A Shinto- priest purifies the rice field by waving a branch of Sakakitree with pure white paper cut in a zigzag line on which the spirits of Gods are temporarily staying.

Then girls step down into the rice paddy and plant rice seedling one by one carefully.

At the same time on the higher ground where all Shinto-priests attending, Shrine maidens are gracefully dancing acompanied by ancient musics played by Shinto-priests.

In this way we are blessed and given plenty rice in the autumn.

In autumn there is another ceremony to thank the all Gods and Goddesses for the big harvest.

Ideal Japanese lady is used to be like this.

polite, modest, bright, cheerful, careful, sympathetic, witty, taking good care of her husband and her children and employees of the house industry.

I can’t guarantee you can find a woman like her in Kyoto today.
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For you, who would like to travel in Kyoto,
Johnnie Hillwalker’s Kyoto tour
Kyoto Private guide, Shihoko Hirooka, Guide in Kyoto
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Summer here is hot and humid, temperature could be over 35 degrees.

By looking those sweets and also the way of serving them make us feel a little cooler.

Jelly is made of agar or starch made fromkuzu root .

Dark purple colour thing is red bean paste with sugar.

No butter, no milk is used.

With a bowl of macha ( very fine powdered green tea ) we really can be relaxed.
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For you, who would like to travel in Kyoto,
Johnnie Hillwalker’s Kyoto tour
Kyoto Private guide, Shihoko Hirooka, Guide in Kyoto
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I just wonder how many eating spots in Kyoto.

There is one of the main department stores named “Daimaru ” in down town Kyoto, facing Shijo-dori st. which is running middle part of the Kyoto  from the west end to the east end .

I walked west, north and east streets surrounding Daimaru department store out of curiosity. Altogether it is only about 400 meters.  There are so many eating places that I was almost giving up.

When you come to Kyoto just try walk around then you sure find out one of the faces of Kyoto.

The restaurant “Katsukura “, picture on the left, serves pork cutlet, popular among young men who consume lot of energy, cutlet but not taste oily and with plenty fresh vegetables and rice and miso-soup.

On the kind of curtain above says “soba shop named Ikkyu-an”  Like other many restaurants they display sampling menu like a picture on the left, you can easily get the idea of the food and price.

Sign board for Korean style barbecue restaurant named “Kitayama” in Japanease way of reading. The Koreans might have different way of reading  since both countries imported Chinese characters for writing but the  way of reading is entirely different.  Korean style meal is popular as well with their original sauce.

Looking into a blind alley you also notice some signboards of restaurants.

Dining and Bar Kyoto ; you can have a party

“ra-men” Chinese style noodles , on the left.

By the way if you like to use ATM just look for Seven Eleven convenience stores.They are located all over and open 24 hours.

And of course Starbucks all over.

Says veges-pork

Kyoto style menu at “Atomura”. Since Kyoto has been a Emperor’s capital for more than 1000 years they developed a delicate cuisine.

When Japan opened its ports such as Kobe in the latter half of 19th century, foreigners started to come to Japan for business and they brought their foods with them such as coffee. This contributed a lot to expand cuisine in Japan.

“Monja ”  Japanese version of Pizza ? Fast food. ( left )

“  Ippu-do” is another ra-men noodle shop.on the right,  this must serve a tasty ra-men,  because whenever I walk by there, always some people are waiting for their turn.

Another place you can use ATM is postal office. ( picture on the left )   But since they close in the evening and on Sundays, Seven Eleven is much convenient.

Italian restaurants seem more popular among the young generations than Japanese restaurant. Hand written menu changing every day makes it more attractive.

Meal and wine; casual spot.

” Komameya ” serves home made style foods. This kind of eating spots attract young generations whose mothers sometimes don’t know how to cook traditional every day meals.

On just a simple wooden board it says “sushi, Imai”, no price indicated.  I often hesitate to walk in this kind of restaurant. Especially”sushi”can be quite expensive. If it is other kind of restaurant, such as Italian, Chinese or French we can get some idea about the price.

This is a sign of the shop selling home made “bento” ( box lunch ) and home made every day’s foods, take out.

Happy Hour

plenty sake & foods at Darts Bar.

So far it is about half of my pictures and I need a rest. ( you know, I am not a native English speaker and just starting blogging about a couple month ago.)

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For you, who would like to travel in Kyoto,
Johnnie Hillwalker’s Kyoto tour
Kyoto Private guide, Shihoko Hirooka, Guide in Kyoto
———————————————————————————————————

” Ho-jo-e ” 放生会　is a Buddhist ceremony., releasing fish into the water.

This one I happened to come across is held at Tatumi-bridge in Gion

This is to remind us  not to kill any living things.

Fish is conveniently symbolizing all living things.

We sometimes come across this ceremony at several Buddhist temples.

Not only this ceremony but  Kyoto offers a lot of chance to encounter very traditional customs still observed .

Why don’t you come to Kyoto and explore for a few days !

There must be a deep philosophical meaning behind the garden ?

During the middle of the 11th century the first book on how to create the garden for the mansion of the aristocracy named “Sakuteiki” was written and even now this book is observed as a very important for getting the idea of the gardens.

Typical Japanese garden is consisted of three things : water, rocks, pine trees.

They are arranged in the perfect balance.

If you add just one more tree, or if you take out one small rock, you might completely spoil the garden.

Also mountains can be seen behind the garden make an important role : we can feel the garden expands unlimitedly to the nature.

In this sense Kyoto surrounded by the mountains three sides is very ideal place for creating the gardens.

I guess that is one of the important reasons there is a regulation on the height of the buildings here.

Kinkaku-ji garden ( garden of Golden Pavilion ) is worth visiting.

This is designed to be appreciated by strolling around the pond which ocupies most part of the garden.

From the every step you make you can find more and different beautiful view.

By the water there stands a three storied elegant buildeing of which two top stories are covered with 22 karat of gold leaf.

On the top of the roof alighted a bird named ” ho-o” which is said to be seen only when the world is peace under the rule by the great saintly virtuous king.

When looking at the Golden Pavilion and the pine trees are reflected on the placid water we sometimes wonder which one is real.

Traditional gardens like this there are some islands arranged.

The main island is named ” Ho-rai” : according to the Chinese legend this island is located far away east ocean and those who live on this island obtained very special magical power of for example never getting aged and of eternal life.

Those who have the power in this life, like Shogun named Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who made this Golden Pavilion as his guest house toward the end of the 14th century, want the life like this continue forever.

With the same idea there are small islands in the pond named “kame-jima” ( turtle island ) and “Tsuru-jima” ( crane island ) : those are used as a symbol of eternal life : turtle is supposed to live 10000 years and bird crane 1000 years !

However those detail explanatins are unnecessaryand actually disturb you.

Only thing I recommend you is just walk in the garden and appreciate this legacy from old Japan..

Zen Buddhism is one of the many things I can not understand at all.

As far as I think now Zen is a way to renounce every bit of things till only the core of self remains, or even this self must be renounced. Then there left unwavering spirit remains in unwavering peace.

In Kyoto there are many so-called Zen Garden, among them the garden of Ryoan-ji must be the most famous : some other zen temples must have different opinions, but I am sure they are not bothered bysuch a trifle argument.

By renouncing every thing from the traditinal typical Japanese gardens there left some stones on the gravels.

Actually 15 pieaces of rocks are arrenged in five groups on a rectangular shaped ground with gravels meticulously lined with a bamboo rake and walled by beautifully aged clay, mixed with vegetable oil.

Some say 5 groups of rock s represent the peaks of 5 famous mountains in China above the cloud symbolized by the lined gravels : others say 5 groups of rocks represents the islands in the ocean which is symbolized by the lined gravels.

Then every guide says to the group ” try to count how many stones on the graveled ground !” Then some nice people eagerly start counting…one, two,three…….None of them can count 15 stones from one spot on the floor, one or two stones are always hidden behind another stone. Then the guide says this is the teaching of Buddha : we have to be contented with what we are given even if it is not perfect like a full moon which is represented by the number 15 in China.

I forget to mention that this garden is laid out in front of the main hall of the temple, and main rooms and the wooden floor are seperated by ” sho-ji”, sliding doors made of paper with wooden flames.

That means you take off your shoes to walk into the main hall and sit on the wooden floor quietly facing the garden.

Please don’t pay any attention to the guide talking, and voice counting one, two …

Just sit on the floor and be relaxed. Sometimes I feel I am happy, sometimes I feel I am really happy.

The approach to the main hall goes through the almost one thousand year old garden once belonged to the Emperor and sorounding mountains are reflected on the calm water, some trees are so old to stand by themselves that gardeners carefully supporting them by wooden pops and give them some injections; might be some vitamins?

Some say ” I prefer this area to the Stone garden” : I start to like them.

The streets in Kyoto are designed grid pattern.

Usually houses are built without any space from the street and facades are rather narrow, but comparatively deep.

Open the door there is a narrow floor through to the end of the main house, then open space where they make gardens.

Tiny but trees are carefully maintained by a professional gardeners.

Behind the garden there often is a warehouse with thick wall made of clay and plastered.

The air can circulate through the house to the garden which can help a lot.

If they have no inner garden they don’t waste even 20 centimeter space in front of the house.

Even a ceramic or stone made water basin can be a garden with only a few flowers.

many plastic pots make naarrow street narower but nobody complains.

She really loves roses

Most apartment houses have veranda.

Mine is mesured 7 meter times 1 meter. I don’t know how many pots in there. So far I had complain 5 times from the neighber living one floor down from my place. Like berries drop, leaves drop, water drop, soil drop….. I am sure she has a right to do so. I feel very sorry for her.

Every body really likes gardens all over the world.

———————————————————————————————————
For you, who would like to travel in Kyoto,
Johnnie Hillwalker’s Kyoto tour
Kyoto Private guide, Shihoko Hirooka, Guide in Kyoto
———————————————————————————————————