Gokusaishiki Umeiro Komachi Ezu (極彩色梅匂小町絵図) is the title of a fusuma painting by contemporary painter Daruma Shōten (だるま商店) in 2009. The life of the mysterious poet, Ono no Komachi is depicted in this painting. You can see it in Zuishin-In temple (随心院) in Kyoto. This temple is believed to be related to Ono no Komachi.
Even though most Japanese people are not Christian, Christmas is very popular in Japan. There are lots of special Christmas events all over Japan. Minion Yellow Christmas is the 2018 Christmas event at Universal Studio in Osaka, Japan. It runs until 1/6/19.
The English translation of “fuku musume” would be “fortune girls”. The Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Osaka receives over 3000 applications per year and picks 45 girls who look like they bring us good luck. Five of these are international students. Those chosen will all take part in the shrine’s New Year celebration.
According to OSAKA INFO “Everyone in the merchant city of Osaka knows the Imamiya-Ebisu Jinja Shrine. This shrine, which was founded in 600 by the order of Prince Shotoku, is visited annually by a million people, who pray to Ebessan, a god of business, for commercial prosperity. During the Toka Ebisu Festival, people buy sacred bamboo branches decorated with lucky items in hopes for the success of their businesses. Many visit the shrine during the three days of Jan. 9 through 11, especially on the day of Toka Ebisu (held on the 10th).”
Christmas is just around the corner. This is a photo of Japanese style Christmas dinner from a beautiful hotel in Kyoto. They have French Christmas dinner too. ￥10,000 (approx 88.40 USD) per person.
It’s rainy season in Japan. This is a picture of Kimono Forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto. It’s beautiful in the rain. Many traditional Japanese scenes look lovely in the rain.
A Shinto shrine is the place where we enshrine and worship Shinto God. There is an entrance gate called Torii, and inside of the gate is considered to be Shinto shrine precinct where the Holy Spirit subsides.
Traditional Japanese scenes (shrines, temples, old style houses, streets, gardens etc.) look particularly lovely in the rain. This is good because it rains often in Japan at certain times of year. Tourists typically prefer to visit during the dry and sunny days, but I still enjoy cloudy skies, and the look and sound of rain on the glistening streets and buildings. This photo was taken in Kyoto.
Traditional Japanese scenes (shrines, temples, old style houses, streets, gardens etc.) look particularly lovely in the rain. This is good because it rains often in Japan at certain times of year. Tourists typically prefer to visit during the dry and sunny days, but I still enjoy cloudy skies, and the look and sound of rain on the glistening streets and buildings.
The traditional Japanese tea house or chaya first appeared during the Muromachi period (14th~16th centuries) and was commonly used especially in the Edo period.
Chaya was commonly used as a rest-stop for travelers and as a place for public entertainment. Chaya occasionally appear in Ukiyo-e, or a Japanese genre art of the Edo period. Today in Japan, cafes are called kissaten (きっさてん) and can be found everywhere. On the other hand, chaya most likely only exist now as tourist attractions.
This photo shows the well-preserved Mizutani Chaya (水谷茶屋) located in the city of Nara, Japan.
