Grain for design, Eikando Temple, Kyoto

This photo is the outer wall of a main building in a temple. The grain woody texture of the wall goes well with the one of the pillar. In this way, the grain pattern often is used as an element of the design in Japanese wooden architecture and skillful eyes and technique are needed to choose materials, cut them out of logs and come out the beautiful grain. The grain is, I think, one of better points of view, when we see Japanese traditional architecture.

Paper lanterns at Yasaka Shrine, near Gion, Kyoto

Powdered green tea, Matcha in Japanese

This is green powdered tea, Matcha in Japanese. It is very bitter and we take it without sugar partly because the added sweet with the tea is rather sweet. The tea has rich caffein and was used for making Zen monks awake during meditation training. The tea is also full of Vitamin and very healthy. By the way, the best volume for a person at a time is said to be three and half sip though I don't know why. And we take it while it is hot since the colder it is, the worst it tastes. But we enjoy cold green tea, not powdered one.

Some of people in Kyoto take the powdered tea every morning and I wish I could take it every day...

Deer, one of holy animals in Shinto religion, near Kasuga Shrine, Nara

These deers are living in the park near Kasuga shrine, Nara. Around the park and the shrine are many deers because deers are thought to be one of divine messengers and holy animals in this shrine. By the way, a shrine is a house of Gods of Shinto religion, something of Japanese native religion. The kind of holy animal changes up to shrines. Some shrines honor rabbit, or monkey, or mouse, or fox, cattle and more. If we go to shrines in Japan, we can see some animal's statues there.

A leaf on the stepping stone, Katsura Imperial Villa

I prefer the little beauty, made with the small natural elements around us.

A news

I just would like to let you know that I was interviewd by a web site, the travel cooler

Here is my interview.

I think that thanks to Eric and other members, kindly allowing me to join in your wonderful community, I was interviewed.

Thank you again!

Rustic gate, Katsura Imperial Villa

A paved path with tiny pebbles surrounded with fresh green, Katsura Imperial Villa

Tenugui, Japanese traditional handkerchief, shop

These are Tenugui, Japanese traditional handkerchief. I am sometimes surprised at the difference of the handkerchief between Japan and the Western.

We dry our hands and wipe away the sweat with it, and blew our nose with tissue paper. On the other and, I sometimes happen to see the Western people blew their nose with handkerchief. I'm wondering, don't they have a custom of using tissue so much?

Temporary floor above a river

This is a temporary floor above a river and used only in summer. People have a lunch there to get cool breeze. In those days, there are no air conditioner and only the water was able to make the hot summer cool.

The details on the roof, Toji Temple

On the corner of the roof in a temple are put some decorative tiles. These have been said to be put to keep evil spirits away from temples. That is why the design of the tiles are designed, based on some Japanese devil.

Hydrangea in season

Now hydrangea, Ajisai in Japanese, is in season and this flower reminds most of Japanese people of rainy season in June and snails on the leaves.

Old mask, the mask of Noh

This is the mask of Noh. Noh, combining drama, dance and both instrumental and vocal music, is Japan's oldest theather and the origin of all Japan's performing arts.

By the way, the facial expression changes up to the position where you will see. If you see this mask from below, like this photo, the mask looks smiling slightly. On the other hand, if from above, this looks a little sad. The mask may seem to have little expression but seeing it from various angles will show you that it has many kinds of expression.

By the way, Here is the article about Modern mask.

Japanese sword, Katana in Japanese

This is a part of Japanese sword for Samurai, a warrior, and made some hundreds ago. Being put on the silky cloth makes the sword look more sharp. Now such a sword is not used for original purpose anymore and is only displayed at Tokonoma, an alcove of the guest room, to appreciate its beauty.

Shadow shaped by the sunrays through leaves

Fresh green

An old wooden house, about to go down

The rainy season

The rainy season, tsuyu(梅雨) in Japanese, reportedly started in Kyoto some days ago this year. The season usually last about for a mouth and it doesn't rain all during the season. But it rains very frequently. I don't like the season so much, but the rain changes streets, full of neon at night, into artworks. The rain at night makes the surface of asphalt and pavement full of gems, together with modest light of incandescent lamp. So I prefer wandering around the street at night in the gentle rain, just appreciating the free gems of luminous lights put on the mirror of wet surface, after drinking.

Maiko 4, dancing with decorative paper fans

a velvety carpet of mosses, Saihoji Temple

Paper lanterns at a Kabuki Theater

Spotted azaleas on the round trimmed vegetation, Shisendo Temple, Kyoto

The fish for love, called "kiss"

I love this fish, called "kiss" in Japanese though the word has no meaning of "kiss" in English. I don't know why it is called in this way.

The fish is white flesh and he tempura of this fish is really delicious and I love to kiss "kiss".

At a glance of trimmed vegetation in the garden, Shisendo Temple

A quiet and peaceful path, Shisendo, Kyoto

Roof, Sento Gosho, Kyoto

Golden folding screen, Daikakuji Temple

Regent's Park in London

I came back from London just now and it had been perfectly sunny in London during my staying.

Excuse me because this photo of rose is not taken in Kyoto but in London. I would like to share the beauty of rose in the Regent's Park and so I uploaded this photo in this blog.

a narrow path in Kyoto

Modest light at the entrance of a house, Kyoto

Theme Day for the month of 1, June: A view from my bedroom

Actually it is not a view from my bedroom because I live in Tokyo now. But it is typically a view from traditional house in Kyoto. The bamboo curtain allows modest wind to go into the room and keep away the sun light from it. This curtain tend to be in use during summer season.

PS. I cannot reply to your comments because I am now in the beautiful country of roses. I'll be back in Tokyo and read them on 5th June.

Many other city daily photo blogs participate in this theme day today, why don't you pay them a visit? Remember, due to time difference they might not all be ready when you visit them.

Seattle (WA), USA - Manila, Philippines - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Toruń, Poland - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Seoul, Korea - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Vantaa, Finland - Madison (WI), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Omaha (NE), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Stockholm, Sweden - Grenoble, France - Lubbock (TX), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Arradon, France - Hyde, UK - Joplin (MO), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Kansas City (MO), USA - Naples (FL), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Manila, Philippines - Sydney, Australia - Stavanger, Norway - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - London, UK - Chandler (AZ), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Singapore, Singapore - Hamburg, Germany - Sydney, Australia - Tenerife, Spain - Moscow, Russia - Lyon, France - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Anderson (SC), USA - Oslo, Norway - Evry, France - Hayle, UK - Mumbai, India - Kitakami, Japan - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Los Angeles (CA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - La Antigua, Guatemala - Paderborn, Germany - San Diego (CA), USA - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Madrid, Spain - Lyon, France - Selma (AL), USA - Shanghai, China - Baziège, France - Cologne (NRW), Germany - North Bay (ON), Canada - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Stayton (OR), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Hong Kong, China - Trier, Germany - Joensuu, Finland - Paris, France - Greenville (SC), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Cork, Ireland - Bastia, France