Obon in the Old Days
Obon, the Japanese Buddhist custom for honoring ancestral spirits, has become spontaneous holidays where shops and restaurants choose to close, and families gather or embark on travel for a few days …
Kyoto Calendar - Summer
It is said that Kyoto has very distinct seasons. But it is tricky when it comes to the transition between spring and summer. June, the first month of summer, is the rainy season. It lasts the whole month and considerably…
Kyoto Calendar - Spring
We talked about a "hanatouro" illumination event in Arashiyama in December in our Winter blog. That was unfortunately the last such event to be held in that location.If you missed it, however, there is still one…
You Guys Are Gonna Looove Japan!
My partner and I are Paris-based fashion designers in "experimental luxury", the branch of high fashion that pushes the boundaries of "normal" or "conventional". It is a movement that started in Japan…
When in Kyoto, Kappo or Kaiseki?
What is the difference between Kaiseki (懐石) and Kappo (割烹)? This is one of the most frequently asked questions about Japanese cuisine. Not much is written about this subject…
Kyoto Calendar - Winter
We are at the tail-end of the momiji foliage. Major temples like Kiyomizudera and Kodaiji may have light ups for a few more days. From around Dec 10, for 10 days, there will be a spectacular illumination event, called "hanatouro", in Arashiyama…
Kyoto Calendar - Autumn
With September comes autumn, but Kyoto's summer is not over until Hassaku Matsuri, the final summer festival has taken its course. Held each year on the first Sunday of September at Matsuo Taisha shrine in Arashiyama, this is the event of the sumo matches and the lion dances…
Kyoto Calendar - Intro to the Seasons
Why are there so many parades, floats, geisha dances and temple light-ups in Kyoto? It seems Japanese people just love celebrations, commemorations and giving thanks year round…