Toei Kyoto Studio Park To Go Cool This Summer

太秦映画村クールに変身　水が飛ぶ時代劇ショーなど企画

Toei Kyoto Studio Park is going to get a lot cooler from July 13 until September 8.

In addition to its usual attractions and shows, the Park is going to add a show with water. Water will spray visitors during a popular samurai show.

To recreate the Edo Period (1603 - 1868) - in which there were no air conditioners - the Park is going to be incorporating all kinds of old-school methods of staying cool without using electricity.

They include "kakigori" shaved ice topped with namahachi (sweet cinnamon buns).

The "Chanbara" sword fighting show will include a "water platoon." You were warned.

Information

Kyoto Studio Park
10 Uzumasa-Higashi hachigaokacho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-8586
075 841 3381

Hours: March-November 9:00 am - 5;00 pm; December-February 9:30 am - 4:00 pm; Closed December 27-31, 2010

Entrance Fee: 2,200 yen adults; 1,300 for junior and senior high school students; 1,100 yen for children older than 4.

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Ino Tadataka Map Exhibit Otani University Kyoto

「伊能忠敬の日本図」

For map geeks - among whose ranks we count ourself - there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see several of Ino Tadataka's charts.

Ino (1745 - 1817), who is more familiarly known as Chukei, was a legendary surveyor, map maker, and virtual man of steel who is now a national hero in Japan.

At age 49 - at a time when the average lifespan was 50 - he quit his day job and became an apprentice to the leading astronomer of the period.

Following five years of intense study and training, he set out in his mid-50s on ten journeys to map the coast of Japan.

After almost 17 years of mind-boggling determination, adventure, and endurance, he accomplished this.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Kyoto's Otani University Museum will display charts completed 200 years ago by Ino in 1813. These charts were discovered in France in 1970. They were returned to Japan, restored by Kyoto-based Nissha Printing company, and then donated to Otani University.

For those on a bike, it is a twenty-minute ride due north of central Kyoto. The easiest way is to go straight up Karasuma. The Otani Museum.

Information

Dates: June 11 - August 5 (Closed Sundays & Mondays)
Hours: 10 am - 5 pm (Fridays until 7 pm)
Fees: 500 yen
Tel: 075 411 8483

The Museum is accessed via Kitaoji Dori. Enter the north gate. It is on the first floor of the Koryukan Building.


Otani University Cycling Map


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Deer Eating the Flowers in Ishiyama Temple Shiga

シカ食害「花の寺」危機　石山寺　殺生できず苦慮

Bambi has gone a bit wild in nearby Otsu, Shiga Prefecture.

At one of western Japan's best-known temples, Ishiyama Temple, deer have munched over 1000 hydrangea plants. Those flowers are associated with the rainy season in Japan, and a major draw for visitors to the temple.

The deer also feasted on iris and bush clover.

Damage from deer became pronounced about ten years ago. As the temple is close to the mountains that separate Kyoto and Shiga, deer are frequent visitors. Moreover, because of human-induced changes in the eco-system - post-war Japan tore out much of its deciduous forests and planted more lucrative (at the time) stands of cedar - the deer have little to eat in the forests. Thus, they and monkeys and boar are coming farther and farther into suburban and urban areas in search of food.

Hunting is banned in the area around the temple, and Buddhists are of course prohibited from the taking of life. Thus, the monks are in a quandary.

Nets have been placed around the temple, but they have not deterred the deer.

Ishiyama Temple is not far from the Lake Biwa route and close enough to Kyoto to visit on a day-trip.

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World Cycling News 16 June 2013

今週のサイクリング２０１３年０６月１６日

What’s All the Fuss About Bikes? New York Times

Hannah Barnes says demotion to second for celebrating is crazy BBC

Cyclists rant: London’s potholes London Cyclist

Sur La Route Verte Vélo Québec

Edwardian stunt bikers – in pictures Guardian

Borrachera de bicicleta El Pais

Tour de Suisse Stage 7
昨年度の優勝はフロックじゃない！途中の思わぬアクシデントもなんのその、コスタが逆襲のステージ勝利！大会連覇を目指し総合2位にジャンプアップ　Cycling Time

Going Dutch on cycling ‘could cut £1.6bn a year from health budget’ The Times of London

Spain hopes new anti-doping law will help Olympic bid Yahoo

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Kyoto Bicycle Theft Prevention

京都自転車泥棒対策

The men in blue were out in force in western Kyoto yesterday.

In front of a large supermarket they were passing out leaflets and other goodies about how to avoid having your bike stolen.

Along with the flyer at right, the packet I received included a packet of tissues (for crying when the bike is ripped off), a net for the basket (to prevent a guy on a scooter from pulling up beside a bike and grabbing a purse or wallet - it happens), and another flyer on locks and home burglary prevention.

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Hydrangea at Fujinomori Shrine Kyoto

自転車で藤森神社

The entire Fujinomori Shrine is filled with colorful hydrangea flowers.

For those cycling in the vicinity of Fushimi Inari Shrine or, farther south, all the way to Fushimi, this is a very pleasant stop.

Information

300 yen entrance fee.

Access: A five-minute walk from JR Fujinomori Stn. or Keihan Sumizome Stations.

Tel: 075-641-1045

The shrine is south of Fushimi Inari, about 20 minutes on bike from Kyoto Station (see map below), just in front of Kyoto Kyoiku University.

Continental Grand Prix 4000 Folding Road Bike Tyre
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Rainy Season Kyoto Uji Hydrangea Mimurotoji Temple

アジサイ　雨待ち遠し　三室戸寺、試験点灯 印刷用画面を開く

In spite of high summer-like weather - highs are expected to hit 35 (96 F) in Kyoto today - it is rainy season.

That means hydrangeas.

In Uji, Mimurotoji Temple is as good a spot as any to enjoy the flowers.

The temple, which is in the northern hills of Uji, was founded roughly 1200 years ago. It is famed for its flowers, and is a good spot any time of year.

From June 15 - 30, the flowers will be illuminated every night from 7 - 9 pm.

Access on public transportation

Bus number 43 runs between JR Uji Station, Keihan Uji Station, and Mimurotoji Temple. It takes 20 minutes from JR Uji Station to Mimurotoji Temple and costs 220 yen. For those willing to brave the heat, it will take about 15 minutes to walk there from Keihan Mimuroto Station or about 20 minutes from Keihan Uji Station or Uji Bridge.

Cycling

It is 90 minutes to Uji from central Kyoto. Follow the map below.


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