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Fishing along the Asanogawa (浅野川) in Kanazawa
Four Japanese boys fish Kanazawa‘s Asanogawa River
The Tower Gate (Ro Mon or 楼門)
Kamo Shrine (賀茂神社) gate
I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again, but some things are best experienced alone, at a time when the tourists are gone. Such was the case on this evening in Kyoto. Other than myself, there was no one around except a high school couple (probably waiting for me to leave so they could make out). There were also crows, and they were the ultimate reason I left. Japanese crows don’t like me. I have been attacked by them before.
Moments after I took this photo, a thunder cracked so loud that when I glanced at the young couple, they looked at me as if to say, “the three of us aren’t long for this world.” I smiled and headed for my bike. That’s when the crows started doing their thing, and I split before the rain came down in buckets.
Fall colors near Tokyo
Mt. Mitake in Autumn
The fall colors (紅葉) aren’t ripe on Mt. Mitake, near Tokyo, yet, but if you are in or near Tokyo, be sure to head up the mountain in about a month (November 15-30 time frame) for some of nature’s beauty.
Halloween in Japan
Japanese bumble bee Halloween costumes @ the annual parade in Kawasaki
If you happen to be in Japan for Halloween this year (or any year), and you are in or near Tokyo, you may want to check out the festivities in Kawasaki just south of Tokyo. Here is a schedule of this year’s events (most happening on the Saturday night and Sunday before Halloween). There isn’t much besides decorations outside of these events in Kawasaki with regard to Halloween in Japan. No trick or treating and the costume parties are few and far between.
Kyo Machiya Guest House Makuya (inexpensive lodgings in Kyoto)
京町屋ゲストハウス まくや Makuya (Kyoto, Japan)
cheap ryokan
While in Kyoto this past August, I spent a couple nights at a very inexpensive minshuku in the middle of the city. While Makuya isn’t walking distance to any sights, it is biking distance to everything. The bikes are free to use while you stay there. I rode all over town, including trips to Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, Shugakuin Villa, Gion, and closer places like Nijo Castle and the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
The facilities are nice for the price. The place looks almost new. Normally when you go budget pricing in Japan you end up at a place that is old and run down. Not so at Makuya. The owner is super nice and helpful too.
They don’t really have a site in English yet, but you can probably get by with Google translate and their Japanese site here.