From CE 800 up until the Meiji Restoration in 1868 Kyoto was the capital of Japan. It then moved East to Tokyo (interestingly an anagram of the old capital). Kyoto famous for its numerous Classical Buddhist Temples, as well as gardens, Imperial Palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden buildings. It is here where you are most likely to see people dressed in the traditional clothing. Appropriately enough we rented a small traditional home to live in whilst we are here. Welcome to Casa Saka.
This is upstairs with our futons out ready for bed. Notice the old family trinkets and the reed tatami mats on the floor. You don't walk on these with shoes on, they come off at the front door and slippers are worn around house except for the bathroom and toilet where special slippers are needed. We found the futons tricky to get up from and hard on the floor. They are easily lifted and stored away during daytime giving a bedroom more use than just sleeping in. The Japanese are keen to use space as efficiently as possible.
All doors are sliding and most are wood frames with silk stretched around them. It is also very easy to reconfigure the spaces. This shot of the upstairs gives a good flavour of the place.
Downstairs now and this is the front door and porch area. Outdoor shoes go no further than the tiles, slippers and worn once you go up the step. You can see the slippers lined up ready for use. Notice the copious supply of umbrellas in the red stand.
Hirotomo who was born here, now lets it out on Airbnb. The location is in Otsu a few kilometres outside Kyoto, two short commuter trains to Kyoto Central Station door to door.
First day we decided to explore our immediate surroundings so we went out for a walk. We headed about 200 ms along the canal constructed in the late C19 till we reached the shore of Lake Biwa. This is Japan's largest and deepest lake by a long chalk. Not only that, it is also classified as one of only a dozen of the world's Ancient Lakes. This puts it in the same bracket as Lake Baikal and the Caspian Sea. Such a noble body of water cries out to be cruised on.
What better ship than the sternwheeler Michigan. We had a two hour triangular cruise. In case you are wondering what a sternwheeler is, it is one of these.
Otsu as well as being home to our accommodation and the pier head for this ship also has some bold modern architecture.
As well as some historic buildings. This is a Shinto Shrine that seems to be devoted to rabbits as they are portrayed all over the place. Maybe this is the place to come to if you're after starting or extending the family.
Today we are planning to go into Kyoto for the day, so do come with us. Firstly trains to Kyoto station, a fine monument to travel in the C21. Thoughtfully a grand piano is left for passengers who fancy it to have a tinkel and we enjoyed some really proficient little performances.
From here we got the subway to visit the Imperial Palace. Next are a couple of shots of the subway. Note the safety measures to prevent passengers getting close to a moving train, also there is virtually no gap to mind.
Inside, as you would expect things are clean and orderly but this is not to say that they don't get crowded.
Which got us to the Imperial Palace. The old grounds were now a public park and you have to pass through another walled enclosure to gain access to the Palace and gardens. First there was the usual security checks but then a first for me and, I think the future being revealed.
We were able to download an app by using a QR code. GPS allowed the app to know exactly where you were and only give you information relevant to your location. Additionally you could see pictures of objects inside or details of what you were looking at. Brilliant really and you could could change your language at the touch of a button. This is the west gate and the entrance which guests and petitioners would enter the palace. Japan's ancient heritage buildings are being restored, or rather pre-built with the same enthusiasm that the ambitious civil engineering projects are, all around the country. This is the reason why the construction crane appears in the picture.
You don't actually get inside the Imperial Palace. You get to walk round between the inner fortifications and the palace which includes what were the private gardens. The re-building is however strictly adhering to traditional construction techniques and materials if not tools. The building below is the largest in the complex and is the throne room. Notice the raked gravel in front of the building, this was the two make a special dry garden.
This is upstairs with our futons out ready for bed. Notice the old family trinkets and the reed tatami mats on the floor. You don't walk on these with shoes on, they come off at the front door and slippers are worn around house except for the bathroom and toilet where special slippers are needed. We found the futons tricky to get up from and hard on the floor. They are easily lifted and stored away during daytime giving a bedroom more use than just sleeping in. The Japanese are keen to use space as efficiently as possible.
All doors are sliding and most are wood frames with silk stretched around them. It is also very easy to reconfigure the spaces. This shot of the upstairs gives a good flavour of the place.
Downstairs now and this is the front door and porch area. Outdoor shoes go no further than the tiles, slippers and worn once you go up the step. You can see the slippers lined up ready for use. Notice the copious supply of umbrellas in the red stand.
Hirotomo who was born here, now lets it out on Airbnb. The location is in Otsu a few kilometres outside Kyoto, two short commuter trains to Kyoto Central Station door to door.
First day we decided to explore our immediate surroundings so we went out for a walk. We headed about 200 ms along the canal constructed in the late C19 till we reached the shore of Lake Biwa. This is Japan's largest and deepest lake by a long chalk. Not only that, it is also classified as one of only a dozen of the world's Ancient Lakes. This puts it in the same bracket as Lake Baikal and the Caspian Sea. Such a noble body of water cries out to be cruised on.
What better ship than the sternwheeler Michigan. We had a two hour triangular cruise. In case you are wondering what a sternwheeler is, it is one of these.
Otsu as well as being home to our accommodation and the pier head for this ship also has some bold modern architecture.
As well as some historic buildings. This is a Shinto Shrine that seems to be devoted to rabbits as they are portrayed all over the place. Maybe this is the place to come to if you're after starting or extending the family.
Today we are planning to go into Kyoto for the day, so do come with us. Firstly trains to Kyoto station, a fine monument to travel in the C21. Thoughtfully a grand piano is left for passengers who fancy it to have a tinkel and we enjoyed some really proficient little performances.
From here we got the subway to visit the Imperial Palace. Next are a couple of shots of the subway. Note the safety measures to prevent passengers getting close to a moving train, also there is virtually no gap to mind.
Inside, as you would expect things are clean and orderly but this is not to say that they don't get crowded.
Which got us to the Imperial Palace. The old grounds were now a public park and you have to pass through another walled enclosure to gain access to the Palace and gardens. First there was the usual security checks but then a first for me and, I think the future being revealed.
We were able to download an app by using a QR code. GPS allowed the app to know exactly where you were and only give you information relevant to your location. Additionally you could see pictures of objects inside or details of what you were looking at. Brilliant really and you could could change your language at the touch of a button. This is the west gate and the entrance which guests and petitioners would enter the palace. Japan's ancient heritage buildings are being restored, or rather pre-built with the same enthusiasm that the ambitious civil engineering projects are, all around the country. This is the reason why the construction crane appears in the picture.
You don't actually get inside the Imperial Palace. You get to walk round between the inner fortifications and the palace which includes what were the private gardens. The re-building is however strictly adhering to traditional construction techniques and materials if not tools. The building below is the largest in the complex and is the throne room. Notice the raked gravel in front of the building, this was the two make a special dry garden.
Now a couple of shots of the private gardens which really impressive.
The heron looks to be completely designed into the garden. It is in fact a living bird and I don't think its feet are glued to the rock but it won't be the same without it.
This is a picture of a picture. Spot the ball! To understand what is going on read the explanatory notice below.
Nothing new in the world, and its always the Chinese that got there first. I thought it was called "keepy upy" and the world champions were the Croatians from Split.
On a last note I have a quiz question with Cam in mind. Anyone can however answer in the comments box below. Which rugby club did both Dr.Watson and his friend Mr Robert Ferguson play for ?
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