Yuki-no-Otani

 

Yuki-no-Otani, which means “Great Valley of Snow.”

We can enjoy a huge snow valley here for 2 months a year between mid-April and mid-June. 

This place is a part of Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which is a mountain route through Japan Alps with 2,000m altitude with various transportations: railways, cable cars, electric busses, highland bus (this photo), ropeway.

Temperature changes 0.6°C per 100m or 0.33°F per 100 feet and it can be increased in a dry condition. This means at 2,000m altitude 12°C colder.

We can enjoy a nice and cool mountain tour in the middle of summer here. It’s a different side of the mountain range from Kamikochi and we can visit both of them at the same time.

The official site of Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: https://www.alpen-route.com/en/

Article by Shintaro Takagi 

Photo by スプププ (Royalty Free Material)

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Kyoto on a rainy day

 

Kyoto on a rainy day.

As a tourist, we might feel we’ve lost a day when it rains during our trip. But don’t be dismayed as Kyoto has some places which can be more beautiful. The contrast of stone pavements and green/autumn leaves is stunningly beautiful with a rain. And moreover, major destinations will be less crowded.

• Higashiyama Area: Sanneizaka, Ninenzaka, Yasaka-no-tou Pagoda (Hokanji Temple), Nene-no-Michi

• Gion Area: Kenninji Temple, Hanamikoji Street, Gion Shirakawa

• Pontocho Street

• Tofukuji Temple and Komyo-in Sub-temple in it

• Sanzen-in Temple

• Arashiyama Area: Togetsukyo Bridge, Jojakkoji Temple, Gioji Temple, Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple

These places are particularly well-known for the beauty in a rain.

These photos are in Higashiyama Area, Gion Area, Pontocho and surrounding areas.

Photos and article by Shintaro Takagi

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Ninomaru Palace in Nijo Castle

Ninomaru Palace in Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan.

In spite of the meaning of this word which means “secondary part,” Ninomaru Palace staged a couple of the biggest incidents in history to be the most important part of the castle. It’s the venue where Tokugawa Shogunate, the last samurai government, was established, and overthrown after 265 years in exactly the same room. 

Photos & article by Shintaro Takagi

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Yasaka Shrine

 Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto, Japan.

Located in the busiest part of Kyoto, this Shinto Shrine is 1 of the most visited shrine in Japan. Its annual summer festival Gion Matsuri, or Gion Festival, was established in 869 and has more than 1,100 years of history.

The shrine itself is said to be established in 656.

The main hall is designated as a national treasure.

Photo & article by Shintaro Takagi 

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Izumo-no-Okuni

 The statue of Izumo-no-Okuni.

She’s the establisher of Kabuki Dance, which is considered 1 of the most important theatrical performances in Japan’s culture.

Her statue is at Shijo-Ohashi Bridge along River Kamo in the center of Kyoto City, where she is said to have performed the dance in the end of 16th century to early 17th century. 

At the peak, 7 kabuki theatres were open in this neighborhood, while only 1 left there in the present time, which is Minamiza Theatre.

It was mainly played by women in the early years, but Tokugawa Shogunate, a samurai government, prohibited women to play it in 1629. Ever since, all the roles including female ones have been played by males in Kabuki theatres.

Photo and article by Shintaro Takagi

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Kiyomizu-sera with snow

 Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto Japan.

This is a bit old photo from my library when this temple was covered with snow. It was stunningly beautiful.

This Buddhism temple has so many ancient staircases that it restricts some parts on a snowy day because of the safety concerns. Please stay safe.

This Kiyomizu-dera is 1 of the most popular spots in Kyoto, which is full of people all time. But it was much less crowded on this day because trains were suspended due to the heavy snow. Probably snowy day is a good chance.

Also, the business hour of this popular temple is 6:00 a.m. - 18:00 p.m. or 18:30 p.m. in June and July. When we visit there at 6 a.m., it’s not as crowded as daytime. 

Early morning walk is nice and useful in Kyoto.

Photo & article by Shintaro Takagi 

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How to avoid crowds

 Fushimi Inari Tasha Shrine, Kyoto, Japan.

This is such an iconic beautiful place that it’s always full of people. 

How can we avoid crowds in Kyoto?

Except for a few, Shinto shrines are open for 24/7. Actually most of them don’t even have a gate to close. This Fushimi Inari is 1 of them. Technically we can visit there literally anytime. And moreover, this shrine has a train station, Inari Station, and the first train leaves Kyoto Station at 5:33, which arrives at Inari at 5:39. So technically we can get there cheaply before 6:00 a.m. It’s pretty empty at that time there.

Btw, most temples open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 4:00-5:00 p.m., except for some, such as Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji. We can couple this shrine with Kiyomizu-dera Temple in our early walk.

Photos & article by Shintaro Takagi

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Kamikochi

Kamikochi opens today!

Please have a good plan when you visit there!

Kamikochi is a famous wildlife preserve in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, which is known for the stunning beauty of nature, the birth place of Japan’s modern trekking culture, and the origin place of the name “Japan Alps.”

Kamikochi is closed in winter. 

Transportation opens on April 17th, mainly for the preparation work. It officially opens to the public on April 27th, its grand opening day, and it’s closed on November 15th. 

This place limits private car access in order to protect the environment. Visitors must leave a car in 1 of the 2 designated car parks, Sawando or Hirayu-Akandana, and take a shuttle bus or a taxi from there. 

Tour buses are also available from some major cities: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Nagano, etc.

This resort is also known to have an Imperial Hotel, which has a dress code. We need to bring and wear something classy inside this hotel.

Please have a good research before you visit there. 

Key attractions 

• Azusa River (this photo)

• Hodaka Mountain Range (this photo)

• 2 ponds: Taisho Pond and Myojin Pond

• 2 wetlands: Tashiro Marsh and Dakesawa Marsh

• Kappa-bashi Bridge

• Walter Weston Memorial Plaque

• Hodaka Jinja Shrine

• Bus Terminal and Information Center 

• 2 Bases with mountain lodges: Tokusawa and Yoko’o

Official Website: https://www.kamikochi.org/

Article by Shintaro Takagi

Photo by akhn (Royalty Free)

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 Sanmon Gate of Chion-in Temple, Kyoto, Japan.

Built in 1621, this gate is considered the biggest and the most important architectural achievement as a Buddhism temple gate before Japan’s modernization. (Actually Goeido Gate in Higashi Honganji Temple near Kyoto Station is the biggest traditional temple gate in Japan of all time, but it was rebuilt in 1911 after Japan’s modernization.)

This gate was donated by Tokugawa Hidetada, the 2nd Shogun of Tokugawa Shogunate.

Originally samurai culture had developed in the deep relationships with Zen Buddhism. 2 of 3 Shogunates in Japan’s history had protected Rinzai Sect of Zen Buddhism.

Unlike 2 predecessors, Tokugawa Shogunate, the last Shogunate, protected Jodo Sect, whose headquarters is this Chion-in Temple, and made massive donations during its 264 year reign. This gate and the main hall of this temple were the biggest donations and both of them are now designated as Japan’s national treasures.

Photo & article by Shintaro Takagi 

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Toji Temple

 Toji Temple, Kyoto, Japan.

Established in 796, Toji Temple had been the most important and the highest ranked amongst all the Buddhism temples in Kyoto. The leaders of this temple had been the leader of all the Buddhists for approximately 1,000 years since 9th century until Meiji Restoration in 1868.

As a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, it owns massive important cultural properties including dozens of Japan’s national treasures though all the buildings were burnt down in 1486 and rebuilt in 16th and 17th century. 

This 5-story pagoda was rebuilt in 1644, while the original one was built in 877. 

Photo and article by Shintaro Takagi 

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Gion Weeping Cherry Tree

 Gion Weeping Cherry Tree.

This huge cherry tree is another icon for Kyoto’s cherry blossom season. It’s lit up in the evening through the blooming season every year. 

The current tree is approximately 90 years old, which was planted here in 1949 when the previous one died at the age of 220 years old. 

Photo & article by Shintaro Takagi 

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