'Machya Boom'

Things to see and do in Modern day Kyoto -- and some

cultural aspects to explore to make our trip a more interesting

I'm currently spending the last part of November editing the trip itinerary and logistics for my client and I hope to have it done by this Friday, so he can have the most recent material to up date his web site and be ready to market it to his clients during the month of December.  Hopefully we can get enough customers to make the tour happen and also get my comrade over to Japan in the first place. He really wants to experience Japan first hand. Also I hope to make this an entree point for me to do more photo tours in other parts of Asia as well. Below are a few contemporary subjects about modern day Kyoto that I wish to research and blog about.  Hopefully, by fully-understanding these nuances of being in Kyoto today, I can be prepared to deliver a tour which explores the antiquity of Old Japan, and explores the newness of changing trends in Japan. That's what makes Japan such a fascinating place, whether your in Tokyo or Kyoto.

update --

I would like this trip to Kyoto to be a good mixture of things, classic Japan, to new things, experiencing the spring cherry blossoms, to going to a remote Japanese Island setting, to enjoying a Japanese hot spring, all the while learning about photography and how to get the best shot by Future Light Digital's capable instructors

Be lead around Japan's cultural capital where you will see...

-- doing a little light research on Kyoto and study of basic Japanese to stay in shape for the trip coming up in the Spring

if you really want to get close to a Geisha they can be contracted through a high-end agency or hotel -- for a photo shoot or something like that

-- for more on the Geisha check pg 166 Lonely Planet guide book

'Machya Boom' happening in Kyoto

  -- this is the trend that tea shops have become a cool form of relaxed entertainment or atmosphere to enjoy modern Kyoto 

-- would like to do more research on the internet about this to create our own experience when we are in Kyoto

 Cool Japan in Kyoto

Nishijin District
Kyoto's weaving district. Nishijin is home to the thickest concentration of Machiya (traditional town-houses)


Temples and Shrines of Kyoto
-- the most popular temples and shrines of Kyoto are A, B & C
-- but these more remote places I've heard would be fun to visit to, as told to me by Tomoaki, for example

update --

Temples & Shrines
  Nanzen-Ji is a world of Zen temples and sub temples scattered amid the trees, Ginkaku-ji, the famous 'Silver Pavilion boasts one of Kyoto's finest gardens, Honen-in, a secluded retreat from the crowds of Ginkaku-ji, Kinkaku-ji, the golden temple that looks like a post card when you arrive there


Cherry Blossom Festival or O-hanami
-- best time to experience the cherry blossoms is last March or early April although there are plenty of mini-blossom periods spread through out the Spring


Gardens
Ryoan-ji, Japan's most famous Zen garden.  Tofuku-ji, is an abstract expressionist garden like no other in Kyoto, and happens to be one of Kyoto's most beautiful. Heian-jingu, the gardens behind the shinto shrine are worth the trip -- especially to see when the cherries bloom in April

*had better spend some time researching the gardens section, because these might give way to some of the better places to view cheery blossoms

Kyoto Botanical Gardens,The cherries are stunning in bloom here as well. Ginkaku-ji , the gardens at the 'Silver Pavilion' had it all; luxuriant moss, bamboo forest, waterfalls, ponds and maples turn crimson in November. Sento Gosho, while Katsura Rikyu gets most of the attention, the rolling greenery of this walled paradise is nice too.

Kasura Rikyu Imperial Villa
The garden at this detached palace is sublime. For fans of Japanese gardens, a pilgrimage here is a must. *

Murin-an
Charming little pocket-type garden is quite quaint.

Okochi-sanso Villa
Wander the paths and admire the views over the city, the maple leads and the wonderful hidden contemplative corners of the Arashiyama villa.

Saijo-ji
'Koke-dera' means 'Moss Temple' and this place more than lives up to its name.

Japanese Theater
Minami-Za
 (Kabuki) is a visual spectacle like none other, and Minami-za, Kyoto's main kabuki theater, is the place to see it.

Miyado Odori,
Held in April, this is the grandest of all Kyoto Geisha dances. If you're in town, ensure that you do not miss it.

Kyo Odori
The Miyagawa-cho geisha district holds their dance in April and it's also a must-see affair.

Kitano Odori
Held up north in the Kamishicken  geisha district every April, this a quaint and touching dance.

Gion Odori
The only major geisha dance held in the autumn (November), this is put on by the Gion Higashi geisha district

*these were the most important, or must see's of Japanese theatre and dance events or districts with mentioning --

Museums
Kyoto National Museum, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto International Manga Museum

*main Kyoto museums worth consideration, if that is what anyone wants to do.  When I took my last client, Algis to Tokyo, the last thing he wanted to do was spend his travel time walking through a big dark museum, (even though something like spending a little time, an afternoon, say in the Edo Museum can place the place your visiting into a proper historic context), getting guided by middle aged women who weren't having sex, as he put it. We opted for seeing and doing, rather than going to museums.

The same thing could be said about spending too much time in the Churches of Europe, or the Temples and Shrines of Japan, but it's hard to get away from the beauty and necessity of experiencing the grandeur of what Kyoto has to offer in this area, and since, Kyoto is considered the religious and spiritual capital of Japan, (although nature is highly regard by the Japanese, and a cultural value is to place the natural beauty of Japan, over man-made monuments), in order to experience the true essence of Kyoto, one needs to spend some time in the Temples, Shrines and Gardens of that place. Nature is often intricately intertwined into the architecture and some of the best photographs are going to come from spending some time in the places.

One special bonus, is that this tour is happening during one of the most spectacular time of the Cherry Blossom season -- (more on this later)

Food & Drink
 something something about the importance of noodles to this culture, Haute cuisine in Kaiseki speciality, cold soba noodles with Tempura in a quaint little shack in Gion, Japanese style gyoza at Ippudo, going to the Nishi night Market, which is considered the 'Kitchen of Kyoto' or Kyoto Daidokoro, where you get to see all the wild and wonderful things that go into Kyoto cuisine, and there ever-present sushi that one can experience in a very fun a and affordable way at Kaiten Zushi places, that are abound in both Tokyo & Kyoto

Markets
Nishiki Market, Kyoto's main downtown food market, is a must see attraction, there are plenty of souvenir  shops scattered amongst the food shops. Tenji-san, held on the 25th of each month at the Kitano Tenmangu, there are always treasures hidden amount the bric-a-brac, Kobo-san, held on the 21st of each month at To-ji, is a good market for used kimono and antiques, Chion-ji Tezukuri-ichi, Tezukuri means 'handmade' and that's what you'll find on the 15th of every month

Scenic Strolls
Daimonji-yama
There is no finer walk in the city than the 30-minute climb to the viewpoint above Ginkaku-ji in Northern Higashiyama

Kuruma
The climb to the mountain temple of Kurama-dera is a classic (continue to Kibune if possible)

Fushimi-Inari Taisha
Paths  lined with torii (Shinto shrine gates) criss-cross this mountain shrine in Southeast Kyoto. The walking here is great.

Kyoto Imperial Palace Park
If you prefer your strolling  on the flash, the broad arcades of Kyoto's Central Park are just the ticket.

Kamo-gawa Riverbank
Make like a local and take your morning or evening constitutional on the banks of Kyoto's main river.

Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku-no-Michi)
We've saved the best for last: the stroll along this canal in Northern Higashiyama is beautiful in any season.

Traditional Architecture 
Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa
Connoisseurs often rank this as the finest example of Japanese traditional architecture. Join a tour and judge for yourself

*check into specific Kyoto tours such as a Japanese Architecture tour, or a general city walking tour, neighborhood by neighborhood, etc.

Okochi-sanso Villa
Perched on a hillside overlooking Arashiyama and Kyoto, this traditional house is the stuff of dreams. The yards are spectacular.

Byodo-in
One of the few extant temples of Heian Era architecture, Byodo-in will make you wish that a lot more survived.

Gion District
Head to the preserved streets of this entertainment district: Hanami-Koji and Shimbashi. Both are lined with lovely traditional wooden buildings.

Nishijin District
Kyoto's weaving district. Nishijin is home to the thickest concentration of Machiya (traditional town-houses)

Every day life kind of stuff
"insider experience' to Japanese life