Nara is about an hour by train from Kyoto. The train traveled throguh busy towns and fields of rice. The land seems to be constantly changing from rual to urban. Houses and shops fill impossible spaces.
Nara was once the capital of Japan. Before Kyoto and before Tokyo it held the power of the Emperor.
Todaiji is a part of many temples and shrines to cover an enormous area. The Kasuga shrine is only one of those shrines. Each has its own history and cultrual importance.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Everyone's Here
Everyone arrived safely and in good shape.
First day here was spent visiting sites. Part of the group went to Movieland and Osaka Pokemon, the rest of the group went to 6:00 service at the Honzan, Rokkakudo, Nishiki Market and then was joined by others for a trip to Fushimi Inari.
Yesterday was our visit to Honzan, audience with Gomonshu sama and our performance at the Mombokaikan. The performance was great. Well received. There was even a request for an encore. The choir obliged with "Ondokusan" and asked the audience to join in. There was a reported from the Hongwanji News and an article had already been prepared for publication in the Buddhist Music Newsletter.
The photos are not caption yet. Will add captions as soon as possible.
Today is the big trip to Nara. Will have more pictures to share.
First day here was spent visiting sites. Part of the group went to Movieland and Osaka Pokemon, the rest of the group went to 6:00 service at the Honzan, Rokkakudo, Nishiki Market and then was joined by others for a trip to Fushimi Inari.
Yesterday was our visit to Honzan, audience with Gomonshu sama and our performance at the Mombokaikan. The performance was great. Well received. There was even a request for an encore. The choir obliged with "Ondokusan" and asked the audience to join in. There was a reported from the Hongwanji News and an article had already been prepared for publication in the Buddhist Music Newsletter.
The photos are not caption yet. Will add captions as soon as possible.
Today is the big trip to Nara. Will have more pictures to share.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Starting with a bang
Of all things to happen, the plane suffered mechanical failure. Nobody was late. No one was missing. Everyone was on the plane and the plane was in the air when a loud bang change all that. Some thing with the landing gears was not working right and the plane returned to San Francisco where it circled for nearly an hour.
Fortunately, the plane landed safely. However there were no parts to repair what was broken and so every one had a free night’s lodging. The Choir was put up in rooms near the airport.
The YBA conference recital was canceled. They would arrive too late to perform. And Sunday is too hectic to perform. So much work went into singing. Too bad the YBA won’t have a chance to hear them sing.
They arrive tonight. Tomorrow’s a full free day. We have to make some adjustments to the schedule then we ready to go.
Spoke to Sugimoto san this morning, she’s our contact while we’re in Kyoto. Monday morning will be a full day at Honzan. We’ll tour the Honzan, visit with Gomonshu and sing at the Mombo Kaikan.
It’s really hot and humid here. But everyone takes it in stride. Cicada are heard everywhere. Sugimoto san says that as the seasons change to sound of the cicada changes.
Rode to the end of the subway line today. The Kyoto International Conference Center is located there. The center sits in a park with a lake. Park is open to anyone.
On the way back when I tried to use the ticket that I purchased at Kyoto station, the machine refused to accept it, so I went over to the station agent. What I thought was a price for one way or two way turned out to be adult and child prices. But in talking with him I found out there are several types of one day passes. The two that were of particle interest were the one day pass to Nara and the local one pass. The Nara pass include the local pass. When we go to Nara it maybe a good idea to buy the pass for Nara. All busses in Nara are also included.
On the way back I got off at Karasuma and Oike. This was the original plan for today. Near Oike in the Ikenobo school of flower arrangement. This is the school my mother belonged to. Behind the Ikenobo School is Rokkakudo. When she came to visit me in Kyoto in the 70’s we were given a special tour of the temple. Although, rather small, seeing it close up was a real treat. The temple was founded by Shotoku taishi and played an important role in Shinran’s life.
From Rokkakudo I went looking for Nishiki ichiba. Along the way, passing through small, narrow streets, pedestrians, bicyclists, cars and trucks all shared the road. Suddenly, I came upon the ichiba. Probably a mile long its lined with venders selling tsukemono, fresh fish, vegetables, nuts and beans. Nishiki has been here for nearly 400 years and is called the kitchen of Kyoto.
Fortunately, the plane landed safely. However there were no parts to repair what was broken and so every one had a free night’s lodging. The Choir was put up in rooms near the airport.
The YBA conference recital was canceled. They would arrive too late to perform. And Sunday is too hectic to perform. So much work went into singing. Too bad the YBA won’t have a chance to hear them sing.
They arrive tonight. Tomorrow’s a full free day. We have to make some adjustments to the schedule then we ready to go.
Spoke to Sugimoto san this morning, she’s our contact while we’re in Kyoto. Monday morning will be a full day at Honzan. We’ll tour the Honzan, visit with Gomonshu and sing at the Mombo Kaikan.
It’s really hot and humid here. But everyone takes it in stride. Cicada are heard everywhere. Sugimoto san says that as the seasons change to sound of the cicada changes.
Rode to the end of the subway line today. The Kyoto International Conference Center is located there. The center sits in a park with a lake. Park is open to anyone.
On the way back when I tried to use the ticket that I purchased at Kyoto station, the machine refused to accept it, so I went over to the station agent. What I thought was a price for one way or two way turned out to be adult and child prices. But in talking with him I found out there are several types of one day passes. The two that were of particle interest were the one day pass to Nara and the local one pass. The Nara pass include the local pass. When we go to Nara it maybe a good idea to buy the pass for Nara. All busses in Nara are also included.
On the way back I got off at Karasuma and Oike. This was the original plan for today. Near Oike in the Ikenobo school of flower arrangement. This is the school my mother belonged to. Behind the Ikenobo School is Rokkakudo. When she came to visit me in Kyoto in the 70’s we were given a special tour of the temple. Although, rather small, seeing it close up was a real treat. The temple was founded by Shotoku taishi and played an important role in Shinran’s life.
From Rokkakudo I went looking for Nishiki ichiba. Along the way, passing through small, narrow streets, pedestrians, bicyclists, cars and trucks all shared the road. Suddenly, I came upon the ichiba. Probably a mile long its lined with venders selling tsukemono, fresh fish, vegetables, nuts and beans. Nishiki has been here for nearly 400 years and is called the kitchen of Kyoto.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tomorrow
All the planning and rehearsals will be put to the test tomorrow. Be sure to be on time in the morning. Bus leaves at 9:00.
Don't forget your passport, any medications but most of all your sense of humor. If anything is going to go wrong may as well have fun. Nothing is so difficult it can't be worked out together.
Ready or not here we come.
Don't forget your passport, any medications but most of all your sense of humor. If anything is going to go wrong may as well have fun. Nothing is so difficult it can't be worked out together.
Ready or not here we come.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Fun Photos
Added Smiles to the list on the right.
Invite your family and friends to come along, if only virtually, and see where we are and places we've been.
Invite your family and friends to come along, if only virtually, and see where we are and places we've been.
Ghibli Museum
ALERT: You will not have enough time to visit the Museum. Darn!! Next time....
Mas has provided a couple of links for the Ghibli Museum. Tickets must be purchased before hand. If you plan to visit the museum, which looks like fun, be sure to have your tickets ready.
Here are the ticketing sites:
Ghibli Museum
JTBUsa
Here's some more sites:
Suvivors Guide
Where's Totoro?
Looks like great fun.
Mas has provided a couple of links for the Ghibli Museum. Tickets must be purchased before hand. If you plan to visit the museum, which looks like fun, be sure to have your tickets ready.
Here are the ticketing sites:
Ghibli Museum
JTBUsa
Here's some more sites:
Suvivors Guide
Where's Totoro?
Looks like great fun.
Friday, July 13, 2007
More Places to Explore
Kyoto City Guide
Thanks, Curtis for this site.
Take a look at the Cucumber service. Don't have a cucumber handy use a kabocha.
On the 27th thru 29th the Kiyomizu pottery fair takes place. The street leading up to Kiyomizu, Chawan zaka, was once lined with shop and kilns that produce the famous pottery. Today, the kilns have moved but the shops remain.
Lots of other interesting sights to see.
Thanks, Curtis for this site.
Take a look at the Cucumber service. Don't have a cucumber handy use a kabocha.
On the 27th thru 29th the Kiyomizu pottery fair takes place. The street leading up to Kiyomizu, Chawan zaka, was once lined with shop and kilns that produce the famous pottery. Today, the kilns have moved but the shops remain.
Lots of other interesting sights to see.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Two Weeks to Go
Passports, check.
Walking shoes, check.
Curiosity and a sense of adventure, check...
There's lots of places to visit and see in Kyoto. It will be a great place to get comfortable in Japan. If you're you looking for some place that doesn't require going very far, try the train station.
Built in 1997, it has an observation deck on the 15th floor. A good place to get an overview of Kyoto. On the seventh floor on the east side of the station ride the escalator the a walkway on the 11th floor.
There's food courts and department stores. And its probably air conditioned.
Across the street from the station is Kyoto Tower. There are many izakaya (Japanese pubs) in the area.
From the station take the subway that goes straight up Karasuma Dori and exit Shijo Karasuma. This is downtown Kyoto. There are multi-storied department stores with specialty foods in the basement and playgrounds on the roofs. Some stores still have elevator operators the greet you with "Irrashaimase".
Om-rice is something I want to find in Kyoto. Its fried rice, wrapped in an egg omelet, covered with a demiglace sauce. Its common, its cheap. Its good.
I'm getting hungry thinking about it.
Walking shoes, check.
Curiosity and a sense of adventure, check...
There's lots of places to visit and see in Kyoto. It will be a great place to get comfortable in Japan. If you're you looking for some place that doesn't require going very far, try the train station.
Built in 1997, it has an observation deck on the 15th floor. A good place to get an overview of Kyoto. On the seventh floor on the east side of the station ride the escalator the a walkway on the 11th floor.
There's food courts and department stores. And its probably air conditioned.
Across the street from the station is Kyoto Tower. There are many izakaya (Japanese pubs) in the area.
From the station take the subway that goes straight up Karasuma Dori and exit Shijo Karasuma. This is downtown Kyoto. There are multi-storied department stores with specialty foods in the basement and playgrounds on the roofs. Some stores still have elevator operators the greet you with "Irrashaimase".
Om-rice is something I want to find in Kyoto. Its fried rice, wrapped in an egg omelet, covered with a demiglace sauce. Its common, its cheap. Its good.
I'm getting hungry thinking about it.
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