Thursday, January 31, 2008

The edge of tile roof at Nanzenji Temple, in Kyoto

The edge of tile roof at Nanzenji Temple, in Kyoto, Japan

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

A wooden house near a pond at Gingakuji Temple, in Kyoto

A wooden house near a pond at Gingakuji Temple, in Kyoto

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Stepping stones in mosses and raked gravels, at Zuiho-in Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

Stepping stones in mosses and raked gravels, at Zuiho-in Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

Monday, January 28, 2008

Shoji, a thin-papered door for coming in the sun light, at Koto-in Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

Shoji, a thin-papered door for coming in the sun light, at Koto-in Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

Sunday, January 27, 2008

The zoom-in of roof shingled by thin wooden plates, at Gingakuji Temple, in Kyoto

The zoom-in of roof shingled by thin wooden plates, at Gingakuji Temple, in Kyoto, Japan
This is the zoom-in of the section of a neatly-shingled roof and the plates seems to be arranged neater than necessary.

The section in the photo is a part of the roof of the upper building, which looks very simple, seen from a distance.

The excessive neatness.

This is what the simplicity, or the elegance, is based on...

Friday, January 25, 2008

The roofs shingled by the bark of Japanese cypress, hinoki(檜) in Japanese, at Gingakuji Temple, in Kyoto

The roofs shingled by the bark of Japanese cypress, hinoki(檜) in Japanese, at Gingakuji Temple, in Kyoto

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Tamami mats and decorative papered sliding doors at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto

Tamami mats and decorative papered sliding doors at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto, Japan

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Kato-mado, a kind of window mainly used at Zen temples, at Nanzenji Temple, in Kyoto

Kato-mado, a kind of window mainly used at Zen temples, at Nanzenji Temple, in Kyoto

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Noren, a cloth hung on at the entrance of shop

Noren, cloth hung on at the entrance of shop, Kyoto
This is Noren, cloth hung on at the entrance of shops or restaurants and the letter on the cloth shows a tea shop. The cloth says the bigger word, Cha(茶), meaning tea in Japanese, and below the word are the name of the shop, Ippodo(一保堂), written. I don't have any business relation with the shop but this is one of the best tea shops in Kyoto.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Classical neons at the entrance of a Japanese restaurant in Kyoto

Classical neons at the entrance of a Japanese restaurant in Kyoto

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Baked mochi, rice cake, with a little sugar-added soy sauce

Baked mochi, rice cake, with a little sugar-added soy sauce, Kyoto

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Small birds on the blind in Kyoto

Small birds on the blind in Kyoto, Japan
This is sudare or misu in Japanese, blinds made of a kind of straws. It doesn't allows the sun light to go inside the house but allows the breeze to come inside.

By the way, the straws have the joints like bamboos because the inside is void. The photo shows that only the slight displacement of their joints draws the flying birds on it. The bird is flying on the blind, sometimes flapping driven by the breeze.

Have a nice weekend!

Friday, January 18, 2008

Many stone status at Adashino-Nenbutsuji Temple in Kyoto

Many stone status at Adashino-Nenbutsuji Temple in Kyoto
These are small tombs for miscarried babies and those who had no relatives. Some of them were carved with buddha image on the surface and the other carved with guardian deity of children, called Jizo in Japanese, though it is hard to recognize because of the long-exposure to the air and totally the worn-out surfaces.

By the way, we call babies aka-chan. Aka means red and chan is something of a title for babies or children or cute girls in Japanese. The color, red, means baby in this case, so the red apron is hung on the status.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Mosses on the strawy roof in Kyoto

Mosses on the strawy roof in Kyoto

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Gradation at Kozanji Temple, in Kyoto

Gradation at Kozanji Temple, in Kyoto
I took this photo in November but posted it because I would like to share it.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Wooden forms of dried sweets, part 2

Wooden forms of dried sweets, part 2, Kyoto
Here is the zoom-in picture and its explanation of dried sweets.

Monday, January 14, 2008

A peaceful statue part 2 at Otaginenbutsu-Ji temple, in Kyoto

 A peaceful statue part 2 at Otaginenbutsu-Ji temple, in Kyoto

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Straw bandage against the cold, at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto

Straw bandage against the cold, at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto, Japan
People are covering plants with straws, which are King Sago Palm, to protect them against Kyoto's winter's cold. Because the plants are originally from southern Japan and rather sensitive to the cold so they are protected by something of straws.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

An delicious ice cream in Kyoto

An delicious ice cream in Kyoto
Perhaps as you know, Kyoto is the paradise of sweets, partly because Kyoto is the capital of green tea and the bitter taste of the tea goes well with the sweetness.

By the way, there is also an ice cream shop, named KyoKinana, in Gion, the center of Maiko and Geiko. It serves some kinds of incredibly delicious ice cream. If you are sweet lover and once you will eat them, you cannot leave Kyoto!!

Have a nice sweet weekend!!

Friday, January 11, 2008

The traditional style of a shop, selling soy sauce

The traditional style of a shop, selling soy sauce, in Kyoto, Japan

Thursday, January 10, 2008

A peaceful statue at Otaginenbutsu-Ji temple, in Kyoto

A peaceful statue at Otaginenbutsu-Ji temple, in Kyoto

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

A small Buddhist statue at Atago-Nenbutsuji Temple, in Kyoto

A small Buddhist statue at Atago-Nenbutsuji Temple, in Kyoto

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Otsukemono, pickled vegetables, Kyoto


Here is another post of Japanese pickled vegetables with the explanation of them.

Monday, January 07, 2008

The edge of wooden roof, at Ginkakuji Temple, in Kyoto

The edge of wooden roof, at Ginkakuji Temple, in Kyoto
This is the edge of wooden roof and is elaborately made. The finess of the roof is one of the points of views in Japanese wooden architecture.

By the way, this post is the 1000th of my own photo blogs, Tokyo Daily Photo and Kyoto Daily Photo!

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Kagami-mocchi, rice cake with some decorations

Kagami-mochi, Kyoto
This is called Kagami-mochi in Japanese and one of New Year's decorations. It is decorated at Tokonoma, the main alcove of houses, to welcome gods and keep the evil spirits away from them. The mochi is put to hope the long life because the food is very stretchable when being eaten. The nature of stretch means long life. But the irony is that some senior adults unfortunately happen to choke on to passing away every year after eating the food to hope the long life.

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Tenpura Soba noodle

Tenpura Soba noodle, Kyoto
Tempura is one of the most popular toppings for soba.

By the way, this is not real but fake! This looks more real than the real!

Have a nice weekend!

Friday, January 04, 2008

Surume, dried squid

Surume, dried squid, Kyoto, Japan

These dried squids are called surume in Japanese and one of the typical appetizer for drinking, especially going well with beers. We usually eat them with a little mayonnaise and powdered red pepper after roasted lightly and torn up in long and thin.

This is a little hard and many bites are needed to swallow down, but the more bite, the more tasty, unlike chewing gam.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Shimekazari

Shimekazari in Kyoto
Shimekazari, one of New Year's decorations, as well as Kadomatsu and Shimenawa, is hang on the top of the entrance to keep the evil away and welcome the gods. It consists of propitious decorations, like a orange, kelp, a prawn, fern, folding fan and so on.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Kadomatsu, a decoration mainly consisted of bamboo and pine


Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu!!(A happy new year!!)

The decoration, put on both side of the entrance gate, is called Kadomatsu and one of our customs in New Year Holiday. This is for inviting gods to us to protect houses or buildings.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

The theme day, "My best photograph from last year"

My best photograph from last year, Kyoto

A happy new year from Kyoto, Japan!!

I selected this photo because the autumn is one of the most popular seasons to enjoy Kyoto.

I wish you a lot of happiness and joy in 2008!

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118 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st January theme, "My best photograph from last year", please use the links to below to visit them.

Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.
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