Jizobon Nijo Area

地蔵盆二条城三条会

Kyoto is dotted with mini-temples, often tucked into space between buildings.

The structures house Jizo-san, a bodhisattva worshipped in East Asian Buddhism.

The Jizo is usually depicted as a Buddhist monk, and is believed to protect children.

The small statues are found throughout Japan.

In Kyoto, in particular, these statues are ubiquitous. Following the annual Bon Festival - which celebrates the once a year return of one's departed ancestors in August - Kyoto neighborhoods come alive with Jizobon festivals.

These festival are for children. Games and gifts mix with song and religious undertones.

The Jizo pictured here will be taken out of the temple on that day and set up on a temporary altar that will be the centerpiece of a two-day festival. Once finished, the Jizo is returned to the temple for another year.

What caught our eye were the tiles on the outside of the structure, giving it the feel of the interior of a public bath.

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Chagetsu Sushi Delivery Bicycle Kyoto

茶月寿司配達自転車

Along the Sanjokai shopping arcade, a sushi delivery bike stood at the ready.

A simple sturdy black mama chari bike with no gears, the bike sports a large carry case.

The contrast of the bulky white carry case was striking.

With the distinctive 茶月 (chagetsu = tea moon) company logo on the side, the delivery vehicle cuts a dashing figure as it makes its rounds.

Online and phone-in orders are both possible.


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Bicycle Museum Cycle Center Sakai

自転車博物館サイクルセンター

Due south of Osaka, hugging the coast of Osaka Bay, is Sakai.

In places, it is grim: an intensely industrial port town.

However, it has lots of history and more than enough to see to merit a visit.

The city flourished in the past primarily because of its location. Among other industries, ship building, armaments, cutlery, and bicycle manufacturing have been based in Sakai. (Ironically, bicycle manufacturing in Sakai has its roots in gun production.)

Japan's Shimano company - yes, that Shimano (think derailleurs and other high quality parts) - is from Sakai.

Shimano has financed and built an interesting museum in its hometown dedicated to the bicycle.

The Bicycle Museum Cycle Center has three floors of bikes, bikes, and more bikes.

The basement, 1F, has a storehouse of many bicycles and an auditorium where videos can be watched. The second floor documents the history of the bicycle - from 19th century models to a racer used in the Beijing Olympics. The third floor is dedicated to the environmental benefits of the bicycle.

The Museum is close to the Tomb of the Emperor Nintoku and the Sakai City Museum, all of which can be visited in a day.

Details

18-2 Daisen Nakamachi, Sakai City, Osaka
Tel: 072 243 3196
Open 10 - 4:30 pm (last admittance 4 pm)
300 yen for adults

Access

JR Hanwa LIne from Tennoji Station. The local train takes about 20 minutes to Mozu Station. From there it is a ten-minute walk.

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Very Small Funky Kyoto Bicycle

小さくてお洒落な京都自転車

Around the corner from Kyoto Daimaru department store - and more or less at the entrance to Nishiki food market - was this tiny bicycle.

We believe it is a folding bike.

We also believe it is ridable, and not merely an ornament placed in front of the boutique.

Check out the kickstand, which must have been manufactured in Lilliput.

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Blimp Over Kyoto

京都上空の気球

Last week a blimp advertising an insurance company huffed and puffed over western Kyoto.

Near Ryoanji Temple, the blimp flailed against winds, going in tight circles above gawking tourists.

The insurance giant Alico's name is pasted on the side of the blimp.


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Bicycle Towing Warning Sticker Osaka

自転車撤去ビラ大阪

The dreaded towing sticker.

Fear not illegally parked bike blocking the way for children, older people, and the handicapped.

This is just a formality, a warning.

The bike oji-sans - middle aged guys hired by the city - stick these labels on bicycles parked where they should not be. However, the bike is not likely to be towed anytime soon.

In Kyoto (this photo was taken in the Minami Horie area of Osaka), this would merely symbolize irritation on the part of officialdom. Actual towing takes place on pre-determined dates, and those dates are announced - with yet another type of flyer.

As long as an A4 poster with the date boldly noted is not found nearby, you are ok.

Please feel free to leave the bike for weeks, in the rain, taking up half of the sidewalk.

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Kyomachiya Townhouse Coffee Kobo Teramachi

京町家珈琲工房てらまち

Kyoto's signature pre-War home building style is the "machiya," or town home.

A typical Kyoto machiya is a long and narrow home that stretches deep into the city block (taxes were in the past assessed based on the width of a property). These structures often contain courtyard gardens.

The front of the home or business often served as space for a shop, with a noren curtain and sliding shutters.

Many remain - unlike all other major Japanese cities, Kyoto was spared US Air Force bombing during the War - but from the 1950s onward they came to be perceived of as dark, dank, cold, passe.

As a result, many were torn down and replaced by faux western-style homes - and the cityscape of Kyoto was rendered in most areas ugly and banal.

Roughly 28,000 of the buildings remain, and a bit of a rethinking of the importance and liveablility of the buildings is under way.

This fabulous coffee ship is located on Sanjo Shotenkai (shopping arcade). In addition to serving really, really good coffee, Coffee Kobo Teramachi is housed in a building that is wonderful. Built in the early 1900s, it is warm and inviting.

Both photos were taken from the second floor.

Telephone: 075 821 6323

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