Walking around the Ginkaku-ji temple

I walked around the Ginkaku-ji temple.


"Road for philosophers" is a famous alley in Kyoto.
I love to walk along the road and the river.

But before the stroll, I went a small restaurant.

"Issen-Yoshoku"
This is an original form of Japanese pizza "Okonomi-yaki".
Put mouse cursol on this photo for the larger image.


...Continued to original entry (translated by Google)

Very old temple (500 years old!)

At the short stay in Kyoto, I visited the Ginkaku-ji temple.
It was first time for me, although I have climbed the mountain
behind the temple. (The mountain is famous as "Daimonji Yaki".)



The Ginkakku-ji temple. It was originaly a cottage for the Japanese
general, Yoshimasa Ashikaga (1449-1473).


The main building ("Kannon-den"). It looks quite old!


Sand garden. It looks solid and is quite different from the another
famous Kyoto sand garden in the Ryoan-ji temple.


...Continued to original entry (translated by Google)

Old house in Kyoto

I had a chance to stay an old townhouse in Kyoto.
The house is located at the northern side of the Kyoto imperial garden.


The house is called as "Shokoku-An".
Let's go inside.


Small garden with a wooden terrace.


Traditional low table ("Chabudai") in the living room.
It is so quiet. Although the recent concrete houses was sealed up and keep for quiet,
The house was surrounded by the natural quietness in Kyoto.
Actually, I got up in the next morning due to a light sound of drizzle.

...Continued to original entry (translated by Google)

Go to the underground world

This day, I went a special exibition of the underground world
held at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
(Miraikan), Tokyo.

"Special Exhibition "UNDERGROUND
- Adventure in the darkness created by Imagination and Science"
http://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/e/event/2007/0922_plan_01.html

I enjoyed it. It was a kind of collaboration between art and science.


I arrived the museum in the morning.
I found Mt Fuji behind the buildings.
Note that the front-left mountain is a monument, not Mt. Fuji.


This is a symbol for Miraikan, named "Geo Cosmos",
a large spherical screen.


Inside the special exibition of underground world.
It is like a white labyrinth.


...Continued to original entry (translated by Google)

Happy new year!

Happy new year!

I had busy year-end and have quiet new year.
Many japanese people send new-year celebration cards
(called as "Nenga-jo") to their family and friends.
Normally, the cards should be posted until Dec 25, but I finished
them on Dec 31. ...Sorry for the late arrival of my cards.

Then, I ate the year-end noodle ("Toshikoshi-soba").
It is a Japanese traditional dinner at the year-end day.
Eating the long noodle, we thank and pray the long peaceful life.




This is my new-year card.
Cheerful cat at a tea saloon in Kyoto.


...Continued to original entry (translated by Google)