Kitano Tenmangu Plum Blossom Festival

The sure sign that spring is on its way in Japan is the blooming of the plum blossoms. Each February the beautiful pink, purple and white flowers start to appear. On every February 25, Kitano Tenmangu hosts a special tea ceremony called Baikasai, under 2,000 plum blossom trees. The ceremony is performed by maiko and geiko of the nearby Kamishichiken geisha district. 

This year CHIC hosted a day trip to the temple and tea ceremony. There were thousands of people there so we had to wait in line for almost an hour for our turn to attend the Baikasai. The wait was well worth it, as when do you ever get a chance to be served by real maikos and geikos? What an amazing experience. 

You can see more pictures here.

Fushimi Inari -- Kyoto

Last Friday Matt had off work, so we decided to take advantage of the day and go to the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. So many people have told us it is a "must see" while living here, so we decided to check it out for ourselves.

The Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the god of rice, sake, and prosperity. This shrine has 10,000 small torii gates that arch over a long path up the hill behind the shrine. Some people call it the "fox shrine" as there are many fox statues around. These fox are supposed to be the "messengers" to Inari. 

This shrine draws almost 3 million worshipers over a three day period in the Japanese New Year. So if anyone comes to visit me during the holidays, sorry, but there is no way in he-double-hockey stick I will be taking you to this shrine. Instead we can rent Memoirs of a Geisha and I will point out the scenes that were shot at Fushimi Inari.

As we say in Japan, the torii gates were sugoi (cool). There were small ones, big ones, old ones, new ones. (Maybe Dr. Seuss needs to visit this shrine!) We even got to see a few of them being replaced and painted while we were there.

Throughout the shrine grounds there were cemetery's, fox statues, prayer walls, Udon shops and fountains.

The scenery all around was beautiful, especially with the changing of the leaves.

I just love Kyoto. It is one place I could visit over and over and always find something new to see. If you ever plan on going to Japan, Kyoto is a MUST on the list.

Pottery Making in Kyoto

Japan is very famous for its pottery. So I was more than excited when I heard that CHIC would be offering a day trip to Kyoto to make your own pottery.

I didn't quite know what to expect, as things never wind up being what you expected them to be here. There was nine of us in our group. We took a train, then a bus, then walked to the studio. Outside there was a sample of sizes and colors that we could choose from. You could make any shape really, the cost more depended on the final size of the piece.

Once inside there were seven potter's wheels and finished and unfinished (ready to be fired) pottery everywhere.

 

There were three potters there, two of which spoke very good English. They first explained to us how to work the wheel and clay and then they let us have a turn at making our own piece.

 

 

First the clay is shaped into a small ball with an indent on the top.

 

Next you wet your hands and start shaping the clay. There are different techniques you use to make the shape and form of your piece.
 

 

Now I was very nervous about doing this. I do not have an artistic bone in my body. However I am very proud to say that not only did my piece turn out darn good, but the guy praised me several times and said he was surprised this was my first time making anything on a potters wheel. Yes, I am being a bit self-righteous and braggy here, but considering my past history of trying anything artistic I think I have a right to be. Just ask those who have attended tea box classes with me or my good friend Keri. Matt, however, was not as thrilled about my bowl as I was. I think he is afraid this may become an expensive liking.

 

  

I choose a dark brown with a speckled color on the top for the glazing. I cannot wait to see what it looks like finished.  I should get it in about two weeks.

Next we went to lunch at a cute little tempura and noodle shop. Very yummy.

After lunch, the real adventure began. But that will be saved for my next entry. After all, I need something to make sure my readers come back.

Kyoto - Ryoanji & Kinkakuyi Temples

Over Golden Week we went to visit the Ryoanji & Kinkakuji Temples in Kyoto with our neighbor's Paul & Beth. Kyoto is one of those places where I think you could go 10 times and still not see everything.

While both places were nice, I really liked Ryoanji. The gardens were beautiful and it was so peaceful.

Ryoanji








This is part of the rock garden at Ryoanji. It was said to be built during the 1400s. The garden consists of raked gravel and 15 moss-covered boulders, which are placed so that, when looking at the garden from any angle (other than from above) only 14 of the boulders are visible at one time. It is traditionally said that only through attaining enlightenment would one be able to view the 15th boulder. Needless to say I only saw 14.


Kinkakuyi



People would throw coin and try to get them in the pot.

You can buy a "temple" book and have them "signed" at various temples throughout Japan. I decided to try and get each temple that I visit signed as something cultural to take home with me when our experience here is over.

There are many more pictures here.