Winter beauty: KYOTO
Rated the number one Asian destination by the online travel information website Trip Advisor, Kyoto is a major international destination. Following the significant success and the unexpected responses from visitors, the city of Kyoto is running the Kyoto Winter Special 2009. This campaign invites visitors who are interested in thoroughly experiencing Kyoto during the less busy season between the fall foliage and spring cherry blossom times.
For true Kyoto lovers, wintertime is as important as the rest of the year, because the elements of winter such as snow, crisp cold air and calmness display the ancient capital in a distinctive seasonal beauty. Kyoto is famous (or infamous) for very cold and crisp wind that chills to the bone, but this is one of the core elements of Kyoto’s traditional lifestyle. The surprisingly severe winter weather in Kyoto gave birth to a particular part of Japanese tradition such as Machiya (townhouse) style architecture, seasonal cuisine and events.
Kyoto is also the home of Japanese tofu dishes, and the warmed tofu dish, yu-dofu, is something special in winter time. With the highest quality of Kyoto’s tofu, the winter campaign consists of culinary offers and events in Kyoto.
TIME-LIMITED SPECIAL ADMISSIONS
During the Winter Special campaign weeks, Kyoto city exclusively displays several very historic landmarks that are usually closed to public viewing. One of the must-see places is the iconic five-story Pagoda of the Toji Temple. This pagoda is the tallest in the country, and the very original pagoda was built in the 9th century. After a few fire incidents, the current tower was built in the mid 17th century. Since the tower was contructed of wood and is too fragile for regular public visits, the special admission inside the pagoda is a significant opportunity for visitors.
Tearoom is one of Japan’s cultural attractions, and the special tearoom is open to the public during this year’s Kyoto winter campaign. The tearoom of Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine was bestowed upon the priest of this shrine from the Emperor Gomizunoo in 1641. This tearoom is accompanied by a circular garden on the east side, and the garden’s view from the room has been unchanged for centuries. This tearoom is a good example of the tearoom layout and architectural style that many ancient Japanese noblemen preferred. From this exclusive traditional tearoom, enjoy the quiet beauty of Kyoto’s winter.
This winter is one of the very rare opportunities to see the magnificent screen partition from the 17th century in a modest low-key quiet temple in Kyoto. The Myokoji Temple was built in 1285, and inherited the Tawaraya Sotatsu’s powerful drawing of “the Wind and Thunder Gods” on the folding partition. This drawing is considered to form the common images of wind and thunder that remain in today’s society, and it is famous for the rare materials used for dimensional expressions for the space and dark clouds. Since the artist was hired by a very affluent merchant of Kyoto who wanted to provide a fabulous art piece at this temple’s completion, there was no signature of the artist, yet the mysterious human imagination of the space is expressed in two-dimensional and decorative formats on the extravagant golden leaf base on the partition.
OTHER SPECIAL ADMISSIONS
Anrakujuin Temple
Kodaiji Temple
Ninnaji Temple Golden Hall, Sacred Texts Room
Kanchiin Temple of Toji Temple
Shorinji Temple of Tofukuji Temple
Taikoan of the Tofukuji Temple
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine Tearoom
Hogon-in Temple of Tenryuji Temple
Kobai-in Temple of Myoshinji Temple
The Sanmon (Three Gates) of Myoshinji Temple
HANATOURO – THE ILLUMINATION NIGHTS IN KYOTO
or a limited time only, one of the highlights is the special presentation of the city’s major landmarks: Literally meaning flower lanterns in Japanese, Hanatouro lights up Kyoto’s historic landmarks with lanterns and ikebana flower arrangements, one of the Japanese traditional arts established and developed in Kyoto and now worldly appreciated. The Hanatouro will take place in two major parts of the city, Arashiyama from December 12 to 21, and Higashiyama from March 13 to 22.
Also pay attention to the different materials employed to the lanterns: Kyo-mei-chiku bamboo has been raised in Kyoto over centuries for decorative bamboo materials, and it is also able to withstand the fluctuating gap in temperature and humidity between summer and winter times in Kyoto. Also with the natural sheen and strong yet flexible nature of the branches, Kyo-mei-chiku became a necessary material for Kyoto architecture. Hanatouro brings this material to some of the lanterns for the event that would assimilate into Kyoto’s streets.
Another wooden material is Kitayama Maruta, Kyoto’s indigenous cedar trees that became a common architectural material around the 14th century. This type of cedar is carefully processed for its unique pale color, which allegedly doesn’t get weathered or crack. Find the beauty of Kitayama Maruta cedar on the lanterns.
The ceramic lantern is made of Kyoyaki ceramic: Kyoyaki literally means Kyoto ceramic, which is the generic term for all ceramic crafts made in Kyoto. Ceramic is the base of the tea culture development in Kyoto since the 17th century when they started manufacturing tea pots and cups with colorful paintings. In Hanatouro, the combination of solid ceramic and warm light from inside creates a mystic lantern presentation.
Stone is a common material used particularly in Japanese gardens, and Hanatouro features this material in the lanterns. Kyoto stonework is another major contribution to the tea ceremony culture, when attendees go to the tea ceremony, they will enjoy a garden view, along with a calmness that the reflective stones project from nature. Beautifully cut square stone pieces form lanterns and the light coming through the stone has a calming effect.
The lacquerware lantern has a modern appearance: The clear sheen and traditional color match a sharp and streamlined lacquer decoration on the lantern.
Once you’ve found all the materials on the street side lanterns, you will have walked through Kyoto’s highlighted landmarks.
Find more offers and events of the Kyoto Winter Special 2009 and Hanatouro, go to www.kyotowinterspecial.com and www.hanatouro.jp/e/index.html.
*All photo images courtesy of Kyoto Winter Special 2009
——– Nori Akashi: Public Relations Manager at the New York Office of JNTO
Japan National Tourist Organization
New York Office
One Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250, New York, NY 10020
TEL: 212-757-5640 www.japantravelinfo.com
