A cherry blossom of Arashiyama 2011

This winter was very cold and beginning of spring is a little cold too.
Therefore almost of Arashiyama cherry blossoms are still remaining the bud now.
But there is a tree first blooming every year in Arashiyama.

The situation of Kyoto Arashiyama

About our area Kyoto,
Our area Kyoto is west Japan.
It is Touhoku and Kantou area of East Japan to have suffered damage for a big earthquake and tsunami.

And it is Fukushima of Touhoku area that there is a nuclear power plant.

Kyoto of west Japan is away from Tokyo of East Japan over 500km.
Kyoto of west Japan is away from Fukushima of Touhoku area over 700km.
Kyoto of west Japan is away from Touhoku area of East Japan over 800km.

The flower of the plum

The flower of the plum is very good sign in Japan.
It blooms faster than other flower still cold before spring.
That is why, Japanese likes it.

There is a shrine which famous for a plum tree.
This is Kitano-Tenmanguu-shrine.







































This shrine god’s name is Sir. Mitizane Sugawara, he was very very smart parson, Japanese people say “this shrine is god of study.
When the university entrance exam period, so many examinee go to there.

And you can see some statues of cow in shrine, why?
A cow was servant of Sir. Mitizane Sugawara, therefore a believer sent statues of cow.

Past post of Kitano-Tenmanguu-shrine.

Map : Kitano-Tenmanguu-shrine from Togetsutei Ryokan.

大きな地図で見る

Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatouro 2010

Do you know the Arashiyama Hanatouro?
This event is a light up the arashiyama area by Japanese lamps.

Date : December 10th – 19th, 2010.
Time : 17:00 ~ 20:30

Follows is a part of Arashiyama Hanatouro, please check!










Follows picture is a Arashiyama Hanatouro of last year.
http://kyoto-ryokan.blogspot.com/2009/12/arashiyama-hanatouro-2009.html
http://kyoto-ryokan.blogspot.com/2009/12/arashiyama-hanatouro-2009-part2.html
Hanatouro official site.
http://www.hanatouro.jp/e/arashiyama/index.html

Arashiyama of Autumn 2010 part2

It is today’s morning.
The Mt. Arashiyama’s many trees turned red and yellow, day by day.
It looks beautiful!

Arashiyama of Autumn 2010

It is Arashiyama that famous of Autumn, a Trees began to turn red those leaves.
Probably, we think that can be seeing beautiful mountain on middle of November.


↑This is Mt. Ogurayama.


↑The Left side Mt. is Arashiyama, the right side Mt. is Ogurayama.

A traditional summer event on 16 August 2010

This is holy event, “Gozan Okuribi” is called in Japan.
(A Five Mountain Send-off Bonfire is called in English)

There is a BON in Japan.
Ancestral souls return to their home in BON period.
16 August is final day of BON period, and this day people send their ancestral souls for their world.
Gozan Okuribi fire is landmark of soul’s world entrance.
Ancestral souls return to their world from BON fire.

Therefore BON fire is holy fire.
When Japanese people see the BON fire, people match their hands.
Match hands is called “Gaasyou” in Japan.


↑This is DAIMONJI.


↑This is TORIIGATA.

Date : 16 August 2009
Time : 20:00 ~ 20:20
From: Arashiyama