Okuni - the immortal
by Pixiekatten
Okuni stands by a bridge crossing Kamogawa - wearing a samurai sword and a fan.
She's also called Izumo No Okuni and was a Japanese dancer who is credited as being the founder of the Kabuki art form. She was a maiko at the Grand Shrine of Izumo where her father worked as a blacksmith, and where several other family members served. As it was a custom of the time to send priests, miko and others to solicit contributions for the shrine, she was sent to Kyoto to perform sacred dances and songs.
It was during her performances in Kyoto that she also became known for her innovation: her nembutsu dance, in honor of the buddha Amida.
Around 1603, Okuni set up a theatre on the dry riverbed of the Shijogawa (now the Kamo river) and formed a troupe of female dancers who gave a highly popular performance of dances and light sketches on a dry riverbed in Kyoto.
Though she required her male actors to play female roles and her female actors to play that of the males, she was known for playing roles of either gender. In particular, she was best known for her roles as samurai and Christian priests. She retired in1610.
In 2003 a statue was erected in her honor, located at the side of the Kamo river in the Pontochō district of Kyoto.
New Year's Tradition
by vic&michael about Any Grocery Store In December!
This is New Year's Mochi. Mochi is rice flour made into sticky paste and it's a favorite Japanese food to eat around New Year's time. You can buy it decorated all fancy...and display it until it is time to cook and eat it. I think they fry it, or boil it with soup... but I was given this in December as a gift, and I still haven't cooked it and now it's April. I'm not much of a cook...but it looked cool displayed on my shelf! Might make a good souvenir / gift to bring home. US$5-10
A great breakfast
by tompt about Doutor coffeeshop
At Doutor you can buy great sandwiches. A coffee and a sandwich makes a great and affordable breakfast!
A Doutor shop can be found in shopping mall Porta under the busstops in front of Kyoto station. Enter Porta in front of New Hankyu hotel and Doutor is one of the first things you will see.
Cross the nightingale floor.
by worldkiwi
Nijo-jo isn't really a castle, it's more of a palace. The highlights of Nijo-jo include the nightingale floor inside the main palace building. The floor is a marvel of engineering and the persistent squeaking really resembles a sound of many birds (I've never heard a nightingale before, so I am not sure if that part is accurate). Also there are some stunning wall murals. No photos are allowed inside, so take your time and enjoy the sights (and sounds).
The gardens of the castle also had the biggest variety of cherry trees that I saw on my brief trip to Japan.
Ninomaru Palace.
by Sharrie
Behind me is the entrance to the Ninomaru Palace. This palace comprising 3300 sq m, was originally built in 1603 by the 1st Tokugawa Shogun Ieyasu & was completed in 1626 by the 3rd Shogun Iemitsu.
The palace consists of 5 buildings, with 33 rooms & 800 Tatami (straw mats) in total. It is almost entirely constructed of Hinoki wood (Japanese cypress).
The paintings on the sliding doors & walls of each room are by great artists of the Kano School.
Nijo Castle is best known for its lavishly decorated interiors with many paintings & the so-called nightingale floors which make bird-like squeaking sounds when walked upon! The purpose? Act as a warning of intrusion.
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Gokonomiya Shrine
Koryuji Temple's Hondo
Nanzen-ji
More stores down the street of Ginkakuji Temple
