"Ice Cream Once a Year" by Robbin LLoyd

Today, I picked up a copy of "Ice Cream Once a Year" (1年に1度のアイスクリーム) by Kyoto-resident Robbin LLoyd (with pictures by Gaku Nakagawa). The book is an incredibly uplifting collection of pictures and poems that make you happy you're alive. The book is written in English and Japanese and it would be a great present for a kid or anyone with kids. You can get it at Junkudo bookstore here in Kyoto on the 8th floor, or online at Amazon Japan here.

Snow in Kurama January 2011

When it snows here in Kyoto, I like to head up to the town of Kurama in the Kitayama Mountains to really enjoy it. There's always much more snow up in Kurama. Yesterday, we woke to a few centimeters of snow here in Kyoto, so I did my work in the morning then I jumped on the Eizan line to Kurama to enjoy the winter scenery.

Here's a shot from inside the Eizan line train. Many of the train cars have these special view cars with seats aligned to let you enjoy the scenery, as this family was doing:


Here's the main gate of Kurama-dera Temple:


After hiking uphill through the snow for about 25 minutes, I got to the main hall:


I crossed the summit of Mt Kurama and headed down through about 25 centimeters of snow toward Kibune. On the way, I passed Okuno-in Maoden hall:


Here's a nice ryokan (Fujiya) in the village of Kibune. I chatted with the old lady out front who complained that the snow had caused a blackout:


Here are the steps up to Kibune-jinja Shrine:

Coming of Age Day in Kyoto

January 10th is Coming of Age Day (Seijin no Hi) in Japan. Every city and town holds a ceremony for all their 20-year-olds to signal their entry into society. All the girls wear kimono and a surprising number of boys do too. If you want to see a lot of bright kimonos, this is your day. The ceremony is held around noon at the Kyoto Kaikan in Okazaki.

Here are some of the colorful young ladies of Kyoto in their best kimonos (and, of course, it wouldn't be Japan without cell phones):


One thing I just can't understand is why the Japanese allow themselves to be victimized by appalling levels of noise pollution. Every year on Coming of Age Day, the various political parties pull up their buses outside the Kyoto Kaikan and proceed to beleaguer the kids, all of whom, I'm sure, would much rather be able to talk to their friends and families. The noise level is truly amazing - you can't hear yourself think (let alone talk on a cell phone):

Ringing in the New Year at Shinyodo Temple

On New Year's Eve, Kieran and Hiroe went to bed early, so I walked up alone to Shinyodo Temple for the annual bell ringing. I have never seen the place look so magical: under 15cm of snow, with fires burning and lanterns lit, it was like something out of Narnia. The monks were serving warm herbal tea, supposed to help us get through the winter without catching colds. Eventually, two friends turned up. We went over to the temple bell. The monks chanted while standing under the bell. Then, they took turns ringing the bell. Finally, the allowed us to ring the bell. This is one of those traditions that make you glad you live in Kyoto.

Here are the steps leading up to the temple. You can see the orange-robed monks heading up to the bell.


Here's a lantern in the temple grounds:


Here are the monks ringing the bell: