Koubousan and Tenjinsan, 2 big flea markets in Kyoto

There are 2 big flea markets in Kyoto. One is named Koubousan, another Tenjinsan.

弘法さんKoubousan flea market is held on 21th every month at 東寺Toji temple .

https://goo.gl/QdemmS

Toji temple was founded in AD 796 by Kukai who was a high-ranking monk of Buddhism. This old temple is famous for Goju-no-toh(5-Story Pagoda) and mandala(Buddhist visual schema of the enlightened mind) and the other many cultural properties. Toji temple is designated as a world culture heritage.

http://www.toji.or.jp/en/index.html

The other flea market in Kyoto is 天神さんTenjinsan flea market which is held in Kitano-tenmangu shrine on 25 every month.  

https://goo.gl/PZneCj

Kitano-tenmangu shrine is dedicated to SUGAWARA Michizane who was born in AD 845 in Heian era and was a noble, politician, scholar and a poet. He was defeated in a political fight and transported as a criminal to death. Kitano shrine was founded to quiet his soul.

http://kitanotenmangu.or.jp/top_en.php

Koubousan is a nickname of Kukai and Tenjinsan is that of Michizane. So the name of the flea markets is from 2 great historical person.

The orange-colored objects in front of the shrine are Umeboshi, salting ume(Japanese apricot).

Kitano shrine is famous for blossoms of ume trees.The air in the shrine is filled with sour smell. 

Praying parent and children. SUGAWARA Michizane as the god of thunder is also the god of study. So many examinees come and pray for exam pass.  To pray to the god, you should at first throw a coin, and then ring the bell, bow twice, clap your hands twice and bow once again. (At temples of Buddhism you should only  pray with your hands together and your eyes close).

 

 

Tako-yaki ball, soul food of Kansai area

Takoyaki ball is made from wheat flour and eggs. In the milldle of it enters a scrap of a octopus foot. So it is called tako(octopus)-yaki.

Takoyaki is baked on an iron plate having round holes. It requires right expert technique. We can learn how to bake tako-yaki from this video. It's really great.

http://bit.ly/1BYb9HM

Tako-yaki is dressed with special sauce. It is sweet-salty and creamy. Moreover we pour Katsuobushi (dried bonito) and Aonori(dried powdered seaweed), and sometimes mayonnaise.

Katuobushi is the center of Japanese typical taste seasoning along with Kombu(seaweed defferent from Aonori). Katsuobushi is made from bonito. It is originally like a stiff stick. But now katsuobushi flake is sold in shops, so we use it when cooking.

http://bit.ly/1T80SNJ

Katsuobushi is not only dried, but also boiled, smoked, molded and aged in a chamber. Foto, a factory in Kagoshima prefecture.

There are many many tako-yaki shops in Kyoto city. My favorite is Suzuya. The price is 400yen for a dish whose foto is on the top of this article. You will see the tako-yaki baking 'show' at Suzuya.

https://goo.gl/maps/7O2HV

 

Saba(mackerel)-zushi, soul food of Kyoto people

 

Saba(mackerel)-zushi is a soul food of Kyoto peolpe, real traditional dish of Kyoto. Kyoto people in both of urban and rural area have a custom to eat it at the time of celebration.

The body of the mackerel is thick in comparison with the other nigiri-zushi. It is soaked in vinegar, not raw. And the top of it is covered with thinly sliced Konbu(seaweed). 

 

You can eat Saba-zushi in kaiten-zushi restaurant. But the genuine Saba-zushi is quite different. Genuine one is thick, heavy and a little bit expensive. You can buy it at Depa-chika(bottom floor of department store) or supermarket. But it's better to eat it at Non-kaiten sushi restaurant. 

 

I introduce restaurant Hanaore(花折) near Shimogamo shrine. Hanaore serves Saba-zushi only. Fotos are the saba-zushi of Hanaore. Set meal with 3 pieces of Saba-zushi was 1830 yen. I think it expensive, but very satisfied.

 

 

Hanaore's location is here, https://goo.gl/maps/fmvRV

 

 

 

Children's wish upon stars in Tanabata festival

 

Tanabata七夕 matsuri祭（festival） held in July 7 has a romantic story based on the legend spread in the East Asia including China and Japan.

Once a year Kengyu(Altair) and Orihime(Vega), industrious lovers of stars, can meet across the Milky Way.  

Towards the Tanabata night, children write their wish on Tanzaku短冊(strip paper) and tie them to bamboo grass.

 

In many places of Japan Tanabata decoration is displayed.

Foto is  the Demachi mall.　 https://goo.gl/maps/rjdRG

Hamo-no-otoshi 鱧の落とし

One of the most famous summer food of Kyoto is Hamo-no-otoshi.

鱧Hamo is a pike conger. Hamo has many small bones. So 板前itamae cook cuts a bone not to cut skin and put it into boiling water. So it becomes like a flower.   

We Kyoto people eat Hamo-no-otoshi with 3 type of sauce. Bainiku(plum pulp paste),sumiso(vinegared miso), wasabi-shoyu(soy sauce). Benitade(sprout of water pepper) and Shiso-no-hana(flower of perilla) is garnish.　

You can eat Hamo-no-otoshi at Japanese restaurant. It's a little bit expensive. But you can buy it at Depa-chika. Depa-chika means basement floor of a department store, where delicatessen sections are. If you interested in Japanese contemporary foods, you should go to depa-chika.

Or it's good to visit Nishiki mall. https://goo.gl/OmEe7z

Nishiki mall is called Kyoto people's kitchen where really various foods are sold. It's a food wonderland worth visiting. Nishiki mall is near 四条烏丸shijo-karasuma, and near Daimaru department store. So you should visit Daimaru depa-chika in passing.

2 small but old shrines in Kyoto

上御霊Kamigoryo-jinja shrine, established in 863, Heian era.

In those days the contagious disease occurred at the capital of Kyoto, and it was thought that the cause was a curse of the dead souls. It is said that this shrine was built to quiet cursing souls. 御霊Goryo means cursing souls.

So It's a little bit frightening name but one of my favorite place because I was born near by the shrine. It's very small but old, downtown but quiet, refreshing place for me.

 

Flea market is held on 18th every month from 9:00.
https://goo.gl/maps/ub6Wq

 

Another shrine is 今宮Imamiya-jinja shrine. The photo is the shrine with chochin(lanterns) lighted in the evening. It's very fantastic!
https://goo.gl/maps/PZZRw

If you go to Imamiya shrine,why don't you eat あぶり餅Aburimochi(toasted rice cake coated with soybean flour)?
https://goo.gl/ZDSkj3

Nearby Imamiya shrine is 大徳寺Daitokuji temple. Why don't you visit Daitokuji? From hear you enter Daitokuji.
https://goo.gl/maps/QKY6Y

Kyo-yasai(vegetables)

This is Kamonasu eggplant, typical summer vegetable of Kyoto. It is very big eggplant. Its diameter is about 10cm.

We cut it into round about 2cm wide, fry it by oil and eat with miso paste. The name of the dish is 加茂茄子の田楽Kamonasu-no-Dengaku. It is a typical summer cuisine of Kyoto. Photo of the dish is to be seen in this site, http://bit.ly/1GA80dZ

Kyoto original vegetables are called 京野菜Kyo-yasai(vegetable), say kamonasu, 万願寺唐辛子manganji-togarashi(green pepper), 九条葱kujo-negi(green onion). 

If you want to see or buy these vegetables, you should visit 八百一本館Yaoichi-honkan greengrocery shop. Yoichi-honkan has various kinds of Kyo-yasai.
https://goo.gl/maps/x9wOa

Interestingly he has a vegetable garden which produce vegetables at his housetop. You can eat Kyo-yasai cuisine which uses vegetables produced in the garden, seeing the garden at French  restaurant Savory. Why don't you enjoy Kyo-yasai?
http://bit.ly/1GTTvnD

Savory's menu is here, http://www.kyotoyaoichihonkan.com/restaurant02_menu.html

Ojizo-san at the street corner

Ojizo-san is the guardian Buddha of children. There are many Ojizo-san statues at the street corners in #Kyoto.

Foto is a Ojizo-san in Iwakura area. It is a hand made and pretty one.

https://goo.gl/maps/y390K

卍(manji) mark of foto is the symbol of Buddhism. In Japan the map symbol of Buddhist temple is 卍. 

https://goo.gl/maps/XPwtt

In many places downtown of Kyoto city, around Aug. 24, Jizo-bon fest is held for children. Children enjoy games and songs and presents. But the origin of Jizo-bon comes from Buddhism. I found the video in youtube. Please see it. It is very interesting that the children turn a big rosary.

http://bit.ly/1Ft0bVE

West and East Honganji temple

Because there are many temples in Kyoto city, there are also many buddhist altar fittings shops and canonical robe shops. Especially around Nishi(west)-Honganji and Higashi(east)-honganji temple there are lots of shops.

Foto is a buddhist altar fittings shop near Higashi-Honganji temple. Big Buddha statues are put in front of the shop. But I think they are not for sale.  https://goo.gl/maps/Ksujz

Nishi-Honganji and Higashi-Honganji are the head temples of a Buddhist sect of the Jodo- Shinshu that is biggest sect in Japanese Buddhism. It's a pity that Higashi-Honganji is now under restoration. But Nishi-honganji is seen as a whole.

 

Food sample

Do you think this dish is real food? No. This is a sample made by resin. So you cannot eat it. But does it seem to be delicious? Especially cucumber seems to be realer than genuine one.

Ramen Iicho shop, I recommend

Ramen is very popular food especially in Kyoto. This is IIcho Ramen. Delicious!

https://goo.gl/faZbmD

Iicho ramen shop is open from 11:00 and 17:30 but on Thu.

Ramen-Nami(regular size)is 650yen.

There are many ramen restaurants in Kyoto. Especially Ichijoji is a ramen street.

You can eat variou kinds of ramen around Ichijoji.

http://goo.gl/ZanGBW

https://goo.gl/maps/UGCuh

When you eat ramen, it's good to slurp ramen making sound like "ZUZUZU". So you will feel more delicious. 

Don't be shy. Learn how to slurp ramen by this video.

There will be a new world of taste.

 

http://bit.ly/1TJy4fK

In some shops you can order "Negi oome"(more green onion topping) or "Men katame"(noodle al dente). 

Why don't you try it.

Small Tenjin-san and family crest

There are many famous temples and shrines in Kyoto City. But I found a small shrine at the street corner.

https://goo.gl/maps/qrVLy

This is a small Tenjin-san shrine dedicated to SUGAWARA Michizane, AD 845-903, a noble in Heian era. Tenjin-san means the god of thunder and the god is Michizane. But he is also famous for the god of study.

This mark, http://bit.ly/1LkAo7a, named 梅鉢Umebachi is a family crest of Michizane. This seal models a plum flower. Ume means Japanese plum.

There are many family crest, named kamon in Japanese, like http://bit.ly/1TyZQLK . By the way, my family crest is umebachi same as Tenjin-san.

Green tea and the field

Foto is green tea fields in Minamiyamashiro village. There are many tea plantations in the southern part of Kyoto pref. 

Tea fields are usually in the mountainous area and have very interesting and beautiful shaping.
 
https://goo.gl/maps/L1R8E

Pillars seen in the field are fans for protection against frost. They protect the tea from damage of frost.

Ippodo tea shop 

If you like to drink Japanese green tea, I recommend you to go to Ippodo tea shop at Teramachi Nijo. You can buy and drink tea there.

shop site: http://bit.ly/1fiKGdO

Ippodo is a very old tea leaf shop in Kyoto. We, Kyoto people often buy Ippodo tea as a gift for someone so that Ippodo has a brand name.

Ippodo's location: https://goo.gl/maps/3ixm9

5 min on foot from Kyoto Shiyakushomae sta. of the subway.

The Japanese garden

The Japanse garden of  the Nishimuras in Kamigamo district. 

https://goo.gl/lbv6LO

The Nishimuras has been the shinto preast family of Kamigamo shrine.Kamigamo shrine is one of the oldest shrine in Kyoto. It  is the world culture heritage.

http://www.kamigamojinja.jp/english/index.html

The area around the Nishimuras garden has been selected as the Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings. Myojin brook and the earthen wall of Japanese houses match very well.

 

Takaragaike Park

Takaragaike Park, in Kyoto City.

The Building beyond the pond is Kyoto international conference center.

High mountain behind is Mt.Hiei which is the highest in Kyoto pref.

If you stay at Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto, why do not you try to go? The park is very near the hotel.

https://goo.gl/maps/Ydt6Y

The view of Kyoto city from the top of Mt.Matsugasaki in Takaragaike Park.  
https://goo.gl/maps/y2yx9


You can see the green bonfire stand. Matsugasaki is famous for Daimonji Okuribi (the Great Bonfire Event held on August 16). 

Daimonji Okuribi is the folk event which is the farewell ceremony to send back the ancestral spirits who came back to this world during the Bon Festival to the next world once again.

https://goo.gl/LboK6x

There are many deers in Mt. Matsugasaki. He or she looked at me and ran away into the forest.

 

Torikotoya, slow food restaurant

Torikotoya, slow food restaurant, Nantan-city,Kyoto pref.

https://goo.gl/maps/Puhuv

It is run by a couple. Simple dishes such as local farm products and deer meat are served.


shop site http://www.kyoto.zaq.jp/toricotoya/99_blank004.html

Namafu are on the center dish. Namafu is a traditional Japanese food made from wheat gluten, soft and elastic.

If you like to buy Namafu or Namafu Manju(Cake), you should go to Fuka shop,  https://goo.gl/maps/6J1ab near Marutamachi station of subway.

The Fuka shop has value just to look at the building of traditional Machiya(old merchant's house)

Check out the google street view from the link above.

Kita village

Kita village in Nantan City, Kyoto prefecture. Japanese traditional rural house whose roof is made of thatch.

Kita village is designated as the Preservation District for Groups of Historic Building. 　 

https://goo.gl/maps/Rxxve

If you visit Kita village, you should go to The Little Indigo Museum. You can see the traditional house from inside. The owner is Mr Shindo, who is an artist of Indigo dyeing.

The museum site, http://shindo-shindigo.com/

You can see the four seasons in Kita village from the museum site. Please click the link above.

I was born and live in Kyoto city. Profession is Univ. lecturer. I introduce you foods Kyoto residents usually eat and Kyoto deep spots including rural areas tourists do not go too much.