NISHIYAMA RYOKAN Established in 1953

We are fully booked by high school students for national election of Ekiden for a week. there are 3 school students stayed with us one is NASUTAKUYO high school come from Tochigi ,OOITANISHI high school from Oita and ISAHAYA high school from Nagasaki. they come to Kyoto for practice and try to run the route for a week. They control their meal for their weight. I went to watch the race. This is my first time to go to watch the race. It was so excitting and I was in tough because I know they practice hard everyday and run a lot everyday. The Nasutakuyo high school took 7th place!!!!

I went to small trip to FUKUI prefecture last weekend. for Fukui I leave Kyoto at 11am I arrive there about 2pm by car. I have never been there before this is my first time. I live in kyoto city so I do not have so many chance to watch sea so I really enjoy driving the sea front . Fukui is very famous for sea food and hot spring. The weather is very cold when I was there so hot spring was really nice to keep me warm after the hot spring I had seafood. on the way hope I still feel warm because of the hot spring . I could really enjoy and relax on this small trip. From Kyoto station to Fukui station is 1hour and half by Shinkansen.

Autumn is almost finished and all red leaves are gone and winter is Coming in Kyoto now . We have one big christmas tree at kyoto station. when you arrive at kyoto station please go to see them its very beautiful. There are many Night time illuminations for Christmas in kyoto now. I wanna go to visit the light up at the Botanical garden . When Christmas is coming I feel really excitting and feel very happy even I can not get any present from my parents like when I was small. Tomorrow I gonna go to travel for FUKUI to eat sea food and for hot spring. If I can take some photos at Fukui I will post here. have a nice weekend!!!! This photo is kyoto station christmas tree , Illuminations at ROME companey and charch at front of our hotel.

do you know how many temples in kyoto? I did not know that but there are so many temples in kyoto in everywhere. there are about 2000temples in Kyoto include small one. i do not how many temples i have ever been but I start to interest to visit temples in kyoto because when I working here many guests ask me about the temples and I can not explain to our guest because I have never been there ..... I went to the ohara sanzenin yesterday. I only knew the name and I was not sure where is that but there are very far from down town i could not believe there are still in kyoto city the wether is much cool than down town and the view is looks like very countryside but very beautiful. and the temples garden is really nice and big so I really enjoy being there and looking the garden makes me relax. there are bus from down town to the temple . I think you will enjoy there.

Every autumn when the Ancient Capital of kyoto is ablaze with the bright reds of the maple leaves( kouyou )at their finest,a number of temples artistically light up their beautiful gardens . To see the maple leaves in a night time setting is indeed a wonderful sight. I go to the temple light up at KIYOMIZU temple every year. The Temple is one of my favorite temple when I visit there I can feel real Kyoto. if you have any chance visit kyoto during middle of Nnovember to middle of december please check the temple light up!!

Last week we had a big group of guests come to stay with us. and they had dinner at our hall. they requested the Maiko during they are having dinner . We do not have so many chance to see real Geisha even we live here long time. So I was so excited could see them and talk to them. about 19:00 One Maiko come to our hotel. and she talked to me beore the show start. she told me she is only 16years old. she was really beautiful but when I talk to her I could know she is 16years old girl. She speaks really beautiful Kyoto Japanese and her KIMONO is very beautiful. When she start to dance front of many guests I felt she is not looks like 16years old. Nowadays there are not many girls would like to be Maiko because their life is very strict. they stat to come to Kyoto when they are about 15years old . they start to live with many Geisha in teachers home with many another geisha. but they said about half new geisha give up and go home before to be Geisha. it is very difficult to be Geisha. whe...

Sometimes on Friday nights at our Hotel Lobby we have japanese traditional music concert. In August we had a shakuhachi concert. the player is American man . Shakuhachi is very difficult to play even Japanese but his sound is very beautiful and all guests enjoy his music. October and November we have Koto and Shamisen Concert. The player play music in Kimono. The charge is free and everyone can come and join the concert. The concert is not every friday night so please ask at the recetion. we hope many people enjoy japanese traditional music in Japan.