Kayotei Ryokan at Yamanaka Onsen in Ishikawa

Recently, I stayed at Kayotei, a ryokan at Yamanaka Onsen, in Ishikawa-ken, about two hours north of my home in Kyoto. My wife Hiroe, my son Kieran and I went up there with our friends Anthony and Nicole.

Kayotei was absolutely incredible. It is surrounded by greenery and overlooks a lovely river. There are only ten rooms and it is very peaceful and quiet. The staff is attentive, the food is superb and the rooms are beautiful. I highly recommend Kayotei for anyone who wants to try the high-end Japanese ryokan experience. Their website is here.

Here's the entrance of the ryokan:


Here is a picture of the balcony of our room:


Here's the view from the private bath:


Here's a picture of me enjoying the balcony in the morning:


Here's the sashimi course of one of the incredible dinners. This one included sweet shrimp and toro:


Here is the meat course, which was some mind-blowing wagyu (Japanese beef):


Here's a picture of the walking course along the gorge below the ryokan:


Here are Kieran and Hiroe above the gorge:

Kieran's First Ascent of Mt Daimonji

Yesterday, my wife and I took my son up Mt Daimonji for the first time. He seemed to enjoy riding in the backpack. My friend Charlie came along. My wife had already climbed Daimonji that morning (she climbs every morning). It was a nice day.

Here I am with Kieran heading up Shishigatani Valley on the way to the Dai:


Here I am sweaty and tired with Kieran on top of the Dai:


Here are Charlie, Hiroe and Kieran on top of the Dai looking over Kyoto:

Aoi Matsuri

Yesterday, I went to the Aoi Matsuri at Shimogamo-jinja Shrine yesterday with my friend Paul. A friend invited us to sit in the inner enclosure to see the crux of the festival. It was a great day for a festival in Kyoto. Here's a picture of some of the floats that were used in the parade, placed in front of the main gate of the shrine.

Kohseki Sashimono Shop: Japanese Master Carpenters

Yesterday, I visited Kohseki Sashimono Shop and Workshop. This company specializes in traditional "sukiya" architecture, which is used in teahouses and other traditional buildings. They also make some incredible lamps. For more on Kohseki, click here.

Here is a picture of a lamp made from a super-thin piece of wood and Japanese washi paper:


Here are some more of their lamps:


Here is a nice colored lamp:


Here is a master carpenter laying down ink on some wood to be used in the beams of a traditional kaiseki restaurant:


Here is an ink well, or "sumi-tsubo." These are like the chalk lines that Western carpenters use. Each carpenter carves his own sumi-tsubo and they usually have some special personal meaning. This one follows the pattern used by a master carpenter from the Meiji period:

Shusuitei Teahouse

Yesterday, I visited Shusuitei Teahouse, in the Kyoto Gosho. Japanese gardens usually look great in the rain, and this one was no exception:

Announcing: プロが教える現場の英語通訳ガイドスキル

I'm happy to announce the release of a book I wrote with my friend and best guide, Koko Ijuin. The book is called "プロが教える現場の英語通訳ガイドスキル," which roughly translates as "Learn English Guiding Skills From the Experts." It's written half in Japanese and half in English and it's intended to help Japanese guides explain Japan to Western visitors. It's also useful for anyone who wants to explain this unique country to non-Japanese. The book hits Japanese bookstores on May 17.

Wisteria at the Kyoto Metropolitan Museum of Art

My wife, my son and I went to the pond behind the Kyoto Metropolitan Museum of Art today. The wisteria are in full bloom there.

Yabusame: Japanese Horseback Archery

Yesterday, I went to Shimogamo-jinja Shrine here in Kyoto to see the Yabusame (horseback archery festival). It was the perfect day for it: clear skies and warm temperatures. The event in held in Tadasu-no-Mori, an long arcade of broadleaf trees in front of the main hall of the shrine. The sight of those riders tearing through that long green tunnel of trees is quite unforgettable. I'd recommend that anyone in Japan in early May see this festival.

Kieran's First Boy's Day

May 5th is Boy's Day in Japan. Families who have boys put big carp streamers outside their houses and they display samurai armor in their in their tokonomas (sacred alcoves). We bought some very humble carp streamers and a nice little set of armor. The carp are thought to be very strong fish and the armor is supposed to symbolically protect Kieran until he's an adult.

Here are Hiroe and Kieran with the carp streamers (koinobori):


Here is Kieran with his armor (kabuto):