Geisha Spring Dance Performances Kyoto 2013

京都芸者麻衣子の春舞台

Spring in Kyoto means many things: cherry blossoms, the "new" year (schools and business all begin on or around April 1), and of course the spring dance performances by the city's famed geisha.

At the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theatre the annual Miyako Odori runs from April 1-30.

Gion Kobu is the largest of the city's geisha theaters.

Tickets are 4,500 yen with matcha green tea service, 4,000 yen without tea, 2,000 yen (non-reserved seats).

Performances are held at 12:30, 14:00, 15:30, 16:50

Tel: 075 541 3391

Gion Kobu Site

At the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Theatre, which is a bit south of Gion Kobu and closer to the Kamo River, the 64th Kyo Odori runs from April 6-21.

The Kyo Odori is an annual dance performance by maiko and geiko basede in the Miyagawacho district.

Tickets are 4,500 yen with matcha green tea, 4,000 yen without tea.

Performances are held at 12:30, 14:30 & 16:30

Tel: 075 561 1151

Miyagawacho Site

For those cycling to either of the above, parking is an issue, especially at Gion Kobu. Side streets are a possibility but the best option may be to park along Oike (free for two hours), and then walk.

Map of Kyoto Geisha Theaters

View Kyoto Geisha Theaters (Gion Kobu, Miyagawacho, Pontocho, Kamishichiken) in a larger map


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World Cycling News 7 April 2013

今週のサイクリング２０１３年０４月０７日

Disappointed Armstrong Stopped From Competing in Swimming New York Times

Mark Cavendish denied fourth Scheldeprijs by Marcel Kittel BBC

Secondary bike locks: 4 of the best London Cyclist

Nos forfaits de cyclotourisme - Espagne Vélo Québec

Why the London Cycling Campaign designed a bike-friendly lorry Guardian

Asilo diplomático para ciclistas amenazados　El Pais

2強に苦難の時！パリ〜ルーベを前にカンチェは2日続けて落車、ディフェンディングチャンピオンのボーネンはやはり骨折で欠場！混戦必至の石畳頂上決戦勝利の女神は一体誰に微笑む？　Cycling Time

Britons spend record £1.5bn on bicycles in switch to pedal power The Times of London

UCI blames Rasmussen pull-out on team errors Yahoo

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Kyoto Tourist Sign Senbon Imadegawa Streets

京都千本今出川看板

Attractive multilingual signs have been popping around Kyoto.

In a city famous for difficult to read place names - Japanese from Tokyo sometimes cannot read the signs - and full of tourists, this is welcome.

Most of the signs are smaller, but this larger model includes a handy map.

The sites noted are not particularly famous, but the sign is elegant and helpful.

This sign is a few blocks east of the Kamishichiken geisha area and Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.

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Kyoto Sanga Struggling Early in 2013 Season

京都サンガ２０１３年

We grew up following the Philadelphia Phillies, so in spite of their World Series win in 1980 and the glory years of the aughts, we still have a strongly cynical native-born sense that doom is just around the corner, that the Phils will lose somehow, that they will screw up at the least opportune moment.

Now, many years later, that sense of doom has expanded from the Phils - whom we follow online from afar - to include the local soccer club, Kyoto Sanga.

For a city of 1.5 million people that has just one big-time pro sports franchise, is blessed with major industry with deep pockets (Nintendo, Kyocera, Wacoal, Murata, Omron, Rohm, Nidec, KBS, Sagawa Express, and Shimadzu are all based in Kyoto), and a loyal and expanding fan base, Kyoto Sanga sucks!

Apologies but that is how a true Philadelphian would sum it up, and alas it is true.

How is that Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kobe, Sendai, and Sapporo - all cities about the same size as Kyoto - can support multiple sports teams at the top level with fewer major corporations?

Now in ninth place in the J2 table after six matches, things don't look good. But they never do.

We will keep you, the faithful, the suffering, the disappointed, updated throughout the season as Sanga attempts to gain promotion to the first division of the J.League.

Cycling is a flat 20 minutes from central Kyoto and parking is free.


View Cycling to Kyoto Nishi Kyogoku Stadium in a larger map

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A Late Night Stroll Through the Kyoto Imperial Palace

京都御所の夜桜

Following an early spring "nomikai" (night at the pub, or to be more exact izakaya), we rode back home to the Ninnaji Temple area from downtown via the Imperial Palace.

It was cold but the cherry trees in all their ephemeral glory were worth getting off the bike.

Few were in the park. A few solitary walkers and the usual police car that does a huge circumference of the huge park were visible. Otherwise, we had the park to ourselves.

Today is a perfect spring day, which will start the draw the curtain on what has been a perfect cherry blossom season.

The blossoms will start to fall, creating a "cherry blossom blizzard" around the photo buffs, those out for a stroll, and picnickers.

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Cycling Lake Biwa Would Be Even Better...

自転車で琵琶湖一周をより快適にしよう

The circuit of Lake Biwa is one of Japan's great bicycle rides.

It features all types of landscapes:

heavy industry near Otsu
agriculture and dairy farming
historical sites and castles
beautiful villages
pristine nature, especially in the far north
and, of course, the lake views

Better still, roughly 80% of the ride is either on cycling lanes or rural sidewalks on which nary a pedestrian can be found.

Cars are an issue mainly on Route 8 in the north, and then on the stretch from Wani to Otsu (or, if you go the other way, Otsu to Wani) on Route 161. We rode counter-clockwise, so the final stretch into Otsu was grim.

It was a hard two days - one night in Nagahama - but satisfying in so many ways.

However, the ride could be improved in several ways.

The biggest problem is the route signs. There are signs specifically for the cycling route. However, they disappear for long stretches only to pop up in an odd - and easily missed - location. Even with several maps and the ability to read Japanese, we were befuddled on more than one occasion and had to ask for directions.

Second, the detour off of Route 161 - as depressing as that is - and under the Omi Ohashi Bridge is confusing.

Third, please someone somehow turn off the winds. In the Omihachiman area we were buffeted by in-your-face gusts. It was a rough two hours.

Still, the ride is a great, great experience. We hope to do it again - over three days - and see more of the sites.


Photo © Joe Banerjee


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Kyoto Cherry Blossom Season

京都開花さくら

The cherries are out!

Today may be the peak as rain is predicted for tomorrow.

The someiyoshi trees are in all their glory.

Thanks to continued cool temperatures and little rain, the city is awash in pink-white blossoms.

Popular spots are the Kamo River, the Imperial Palace, and near many of the city's famed temples.

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