NISHIYAMA RYOKAN Established in 1953

thank you for looking at our brog. this is our lobby decoration. We generally celebrate May 5 as "Children's day", which is one of Japanese national holidays. The another name of "Children's day" is "Boy's festival". "children's day" based on "the day for the prevention of cruelty to children" was established in 1948. The purpose of "Children's day" was to celebrate children's happiness and to respect their individual. In addition,the day was established as a "Thanks day" for their mother. Boy's parents display "colorful carp banners" or "helmet". Many people eat some famous sweets to celebrate the special day. "colorful carp banners" and "helmet" are famous symbol to celebrate "Children's day". Many parents display them hoping that children will grow up with courage and wisdom. "Kashiwa-mochi", rice c...

Every year at the end of June, many shrines hold an ancient Japanese purification rite called ''Nagoshi no Harae''. There is a small shrine very close from our Ryokan. They held this ceremony on that day, so we took some guests to see it. In this ceremony people atone for their sins in the first half of the year and then pray for their health by walking through a tall Chinowa wreath (made of a kind of rush called chigaya). We hope they had a good experience of Japanese culture.

The rainy season has started in Japan. It was sticky today. Everything seems to be damp:( We can enjoy to see some seasonal animals and plants. This is the picture of it. Yes, it is hydrangeas. They need lots of water to grow up. Sometimes, we see a picture that was drawn with snails like below. Snails like damp place, in short, this picture make us to imagine the rainy season. However, it is hard to see them in the same time. Because there is a toxin in hydrangea's leaves. It harms them. Moreover, snails stick on the concrete to get calcium from them. I just heard from TV show though...

I went to the Japanese Mint in Osaka few days ago. There are various kinds of flowering cherry trees within the premises of Japanese Mint. And every year during cherry blossom season, they are opened to the public for cherry blossom viewing. It is called ''Sakura-no-toorinuke''. It has enjoyed popularity as one of Osaka's best-loved spring tradition. We Japanese really love to view them. You can check more information about this event through the website of Japanese Mint. http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/index.html

In Japan, we celebrate "Setsubun" in every Feburary 3rd . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsubun Setasubun means seasonal division and from past it was believed that during the change of season there are evil spirits appears. To drive out these spirits there are many festivals and rituals held in all over Japan. Most popular ritual is called Mamemaki, where throw roasted Soy Beans and call out "Oni ha Soto, Fuku ha Uchi!!" (Demons out! Luck in!). It was believed that Japanise demons (Oni) brings evil sprits. There are also rituals that literally exsorcise Oni. It's called Tsuinashiki and it was believed it started from Yoshida shrine in Kyoto. The festival in Yoshida shrine are held during 2nd to 4th of Feburary, and in 2nd Feb night this ritual are held. This is whats it looks like There are 3 Oni (people dressed up as) and one Oni looks like person called "Housoushi", but he is not evil he is the man with justice and exterminates Oni. At the end the a...

For the guests staying New Year and reserved breakfast, there will be special breakfast in the morning of 2011/01/01 These are called Osechi Ryouri, which eaten to celebrate New Year. We are sure there are many things that you never seen or eaten before, but please try once, to experience what Japanese people eat. "Breakfast of New Year 2011/01/01" Kuromame kinpaku..........Sweet black beans with gold leaf Kazunoko………..Herring roe Katsuobushi………..Dried Bonito flake First Box Kouhaku kamaboko..........Red and white fish paste Datemaki ..........Sweet rolled omelette with fish paste Tazukuri.......... Dried sardines cooked in soy sauce Hatsuki Kinkan........... Qumquat Glacé Habutae bousyo...........Habutae silk rice cake Tukubane........... Tsukubane plant (for ornament only) Kurikanroni.......... Chestnut Glacé Ayu kobumaki.........Sweetfish rolled kelp Ebi saikyou yaki..........Miso marinated grilled shrimp Gyuu Yawata Maki........... Burdock root rolled with beef Boudara......

Last SUNDAY, there were EKIDEN road relay high school championship held in Kyoto. We have three high schools as guests of our ryokan who perticipate in this relay. Unfortunately none of these three schools won the championship. However they all did their bests and enjoyed the race. The part of cource for Boy's class are very close to our Ryokan. These are pictures of them. Across the Marutamachi St. Getting throught Kawaramachi Marutamachi intersection. The car is showing thier total time from the starting point. There are Police motorcycles lead and follows the runners.

Daitokuji is the famous temple complex. Koutouin is famous place for the autumnal leaf coloration. It is famous in Japan by train company ads that features Kyoto. Right now is the very good time to visit here, why don't you come to Kyoto? View Larger Map

We now have schedule for our New Year event! "New Year Calligraphy" 2010 January 2nd Demonstration: 19:00~ Calligraphy Lesson: 19:15~ Also called KAKIZOME in Japanese. Firstly performance by professional Caligrapher, and then you will experience how to write Japanese Caligraphy. This is whats it looks like last year. http://nishiyamahotel.blogspot.com/2010/01/kakizome-and-tea-ceremony.html "New Year Tea ceremony (Hatsugama) and regular Tea ceremony" Hatsugama means the first Tea Ceremony of the year. The Tea Ceremony held in very first time of the New Year is very important. It started as the gathering of the whole Tea School. To start the new year, everyone dress up gorgeously to do the ceremony. In NISHIYAMA RYOKAN, you do not need to dress up, we just hold the Tea Ceremony as the start of New Year. ＊Charge: Free charge ＊Date: NOVEMBER 6th, 13th, 19th, 27th DECEMBER 3th, 28th JANUARY 8th(Hatsugama), 22nd FEBURUARY 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th MARCH 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th ...

End of this week, the Jidai Matsuri festival will be held. It is a parade which people wear traditional consumtes from different time periods. These pictures are from last year. We are hoping to take some pictures this year too! For details: http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/info_required/traditional/kyoto_city/04/parade

Last Monday, the 16th of AUGUST, there were Daimonji held in Kyoto. We had many guests at rooftop of our Ryokan to see the Daimonji. We only took good photo of Daimonji and Myou mountains, so we upload the photos here!! ^^

Coming August 16th, there will be a five giant bonfires lit on mountains surrounding Kyoto. It is called "Gozan no Okuribi" the festival held annually from long time ago. During the mid summer, it is said the spirits of deceased family members visit this world. It is called the O-bon and the dates are different in different regions in Japan. The fire is lit to send them back to the spiritual world. There are five Kanji characters shaped in five mountains which are -Daimonji (大文字), the character meaning "large" or "great:" on Daimonji-Yama/Higashi-Yama, Nyoigatake at 8:00PM -Myō/Hō (妙・法), the characters meaning "wondrous dharma" (referring to Buddhist teachings): on Matsugasaki, Nishi-Yama/Higashi-Yama at 8:10PM -Funagata (舟形), the shape of a boat: on Nishigamo, Funa-Yama at 8:15PM -Hidari Daimonji (左大文字), again, the character meaning "large:" on Daihoku-San, Hidaridaimonji-San at 8:15PM -Toriigata (鳥居形), the shape of a torii or shrine g...

The Gion Festival is getting towards its Climax. However from beginning of this week, West Japan is under very very heavy rain. There are displays of Yama-hoko on the streets as well as food stands from 14th night until tomorrow. However due to the rain, not many people visit compared to usual year. According to the forecast rain season should end by this Friday so the parade of floats held on Saturday should be sunny. We are having Tea Ceremony in following dates at the lobby of NISHIYAMA RYOKAN. It is for free so please join us! The Japanese tea ceremony is one of the quintessential expressions of Japanese esthetics. It is a comprehensive art encompassing not just the serving and drinking of tea, but the protocol of tea preparation, tea implements, the decoration of the tea room with objects of beauty, and more. The tea ceremony is a discipline for sharing time with one’s guest and fostering communication with one’s own soul. ＊Charge Free charge 　 ＊Date 7th, 14th, 20th 30th of AUGUST...

Coming July, The Gion Matsuri (Festival) will be held in centre of Kyoto. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gion_Matsuri There will be a portable shrine called "Yama Hoko" will be displayed in the streets of central area. These will parade around the city in JULY 17th. Couple days before that, the streets will be blocked and have lots of street shops. During this season many many people come and see this festival. Our booking is getting full as well so be quick for the reservation!!

Konnichiwa!!, we are students from Shugakuin Junior High School. Ishi Natsuho, Yoneda Miyu, Takahara Haruka. We are here for the challenge experience program of our school. Us students go and experience many different kind of work in Kyoto city. We are helping NISHIYAMA RYOKAN from last week Wednesdady until tomorrow. We are enjoying work at NISHIYAMA RYOKAN ^^

Tomorrow, there will be a festival called Shimogoryou Festival will be held in Teramachi Street, between Nijo St and Marutamachi St. The Mikoshi (portable shrine) used in this festival is said to be the biggest in Kyoto festivals. There are only set up of foods and play stands today. It will be filled with full of ppl tomorrow.

Every Spring and Autumn time, the society for the preservation of Kyoto historic culture helds exhibition of nondisclosure cultural property in Kyoto. Reizei family is the descendent of aristocrat from Heian period AD794-1185/1192. Their house itself is cultural property of Kyoto as well as they keep many important cultural property. The entrance. Sacred Kitchen. Nowdays it's used to steam rice to make rice cake in the New Year. There are nice gardens in the house too. There are displays for Children's Day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children ) There are nice gardens too.

The day before yesterday it was very hot. During the day I can just walk with a shirt and jeans. But yesterday and today, it's back to winter and needs winter jacket and muffler to go outside... According to the weather forecast, the golden week (the long holiday in Japan) will be very unstable weather :( Well, at least tempretures finally become "2digits" in the morning... http://www.accuweather.com/world-index-forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&locCode=ASIJPJA022KYOTO&metric=1 Hope Spring comes soon!! >

In Japan, we celebrate "Setsubun" in every Feburary 3rd . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsubun Setasubun means seasonal division and from past it was believed that during the change of season there are evil spirits appears. To drive out these spirits there are many festivals and rituals held in all over Japan. Most popular ritual is called Mamemaki, where throw roasted Soy Beans and call out "Oni ha Soto, Fuku ha Uchi!!" (Demons out! Luck in!). It was believed that Japanise demons (Oni) brings evil sprits. So, there are also rituals that literally exsorcise Oni. It's called Tsuinashiki and it was believed it started from Yoshida shrine in Kyoto. The festival in Yoshida shrine are held during 2nd to 4th of Feburary, and in 2nd Feb night this ritual are held. We found good video describing this ritual. http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/kp/movie/player.php?id=20060202setsubun There are 3 Oni (people dressed up as) and one Oni looks like person called "Housoushi"...