Kyoto Ryokan Watazen | News from Watazen
Dear guests, we would like to inform you that in the period from December the 11th till March the 16th our price per room will include the breakfast fee.
※December 31st, January 1st, 2nd and 3rd are not include.
On the winter breakfast menu only, we serve bread, boiled eggs, coffee and tea.
On the request Japanese breakfast is also served. The price per person is 1050JPY.
Please stay at our Ryokan and experience the beauty of Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan.
One day of WATAZEN ~various viewpoint~
2011/12/12
KYOTO ARASHIYAMA HANATOURO 2011
2011/11/23
Illumination hours : 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
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Light and Blossoms Pathway Taking advantage of the nature, waterfront, bamboo forest and historical cultural assets of the Saga Arashiyama region, walkway totaling approximately 5.2 km is rendered from the light of open air lanterns, whose shades and shadows imbue Japanese sentiment, and the blossoms of voluminous flower arrangement pieces. The created effect is a pathway that naturally beckons one to walk. |
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All Bamboo Forest Both sides of walkways will be lit up from Nonomiya-jinjya Shrine to Okouchi Sanso Villa, rendering a fantastical scene. |
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Entire Togetsukyo Bridge Area Illuminated Illuminating Togetsukyo Bridge, foothills and waterfront, a magnificently beautiful natural night scene is rendered. |
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Flower Arrangement Promenade With cooperation from Kyoto Ikebana Association, voluminous flower arrangement pieces will be on display along the light and blossoms pathway. |
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Big student performers gathering Student performers from Kyoto and other university towns will be recruited to give street performances at Nakanoshima Park to provide more color and life to the hanatouro (flower lanes) event. |
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Stamp Rally The Stamp Rally was held last year for the first time, and many participants took part in the event. This year, like last year, the Stamp Rally will be held. Please enjoy getting stamps from each place as you walk around the vicinity. |
Limited service in Summer 2011
2011/07/29
We have special service to the guest who reserved from our homepage.
The content is < WATAZEN VOUCHER >.
You can use this voucher for drinks or souvenir shop.
We have beer, cold sake, wine mini bottle and any soft dorinks at the robby.
Also our souvenir shop has many souvenirs of Kyoto.
Please use it for comfortable stay.
Their names are " Yatsuhashi Chan ".
They are idols in Kyoto.
By the way, Yatsuhashi is a famous dessert of Kyoto.
In addition, we present " WATAZEN original fan " and " Mineral water ( Crystal geyser ) " for guest.
We are waiting for your reservation !!
What is "Tanabata" ?
2011/07/22
Tanabata (七夕, meaning "Evening of the seventh") is a Japanese star festival, originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on July 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August.
Gozan Okuribi 2011 KYOTO
2011/07/22
Gozan okuribi bonfire festival is a well-known summer event in Kyoto. Five large bonfires are lit on the slopes of five mountains which surround Kyoto-city. It's believed that the spirits of ancestors come back to their homes during obon in Japan. Okuribi are fires lit to send the ancestors' spirits back at the end of obon. Gozan Okuribi takes place around 8 p.m. on August 16th every year.
Gozan Okuribi originated hundreds of years ago. The bonfires depict kanji characters (Chinese characters) in three locations and certain designs in two locations. The most famous fire is Daimonji which portrays the kanji dai meaning large. The length of the horizontal line of the kanji is about 88 yards.
Gozan okuribi bonfire festival is a well-known summer event in Kyoto. Five large bonfires are lit on the slopes of five mountains which surround Kyoto-city. It's believed that the spirits of ancestors come back to their homes during obon in Japan. Okuribi are fires lit to send the ancestors' spirits back at the end of obon. Gozan Okuribi takes place around 8 p.m. on August 16th every year.
Gozan Okuribi originated hundreds of years ago. The bonfires depict kanji characters (Chinese characters) in three locations and certain designs in two locations. The most famous fire is Daimonji which portrays the kanji dai meaning large. The length of the horizontal line of the kanji is about 88 yards.
1. Daimonji (Chinese character, dai)
Location: Higashiyama Nyoigatake Mountain in Sakyo-ku
Lighting Time: 8 p.m.
Where to View: Bank of the Kamogawa River / Imadegawa Ohashi Bridge
2. Myo-hou (Chinese characters, myo and hou)
Location: Matsugasaki Nishiyama Mountain (Mantourou yama) and Higashiyama Mountain (Daikokuten yama) in Sakyo-ku
Lighting Time: 8:10 p.m.
Where to View: near the Notre Dame Jogakuin (to view Myo), bank of the Takano river (to view Hou)
3. Funa-gata (a shape of boat)
Location: Funayama Mountain in Kita-ku Nishigamo
Lighting Time: 8:15 p.m.
Where to View: Saihouji Temple, Kita-ku
4. Hidari Daimonji (Chinese character, dai)
Location: Okitayama Mountain in Kita-ku
Lighting Time: 8:15 p.m.
Where to View: northen Nishiojidori street
5. Torii-gata (a shape of torii gate)
Location: Mandorayama Mountain in Ukyo-ku Saga
Lighting Time: 8:20 p.m.
Where to View: Seiryoji Temple in Saga
Kyoto Star Festival
2011/07/13
The Kyoto Star Festival will be held from the 6th-15th of August. During this period there will be various programs at the temples and shrines in the city. On the main location, at Horikawa Kaijo, the visitors can enjoy the exhibition of the art works made by bamboo with the illumination all around the site. Horikawa River will be decorated by floating lanterns, and above the river thousands of lights will make the Milky Way.
Date: August 6th-15th, 2011
Location: Horikawa Kaijo
Entrance: Free
Gion Matsuri
2011/07/05
Gion Matsuri
One of the three most important festivals in Kyoto, starts on the 1st of July and lasts until the end of the month. The peak of the festival is on the 17th of July when 32 decorated floats are paraded on the streets of Kyoto (Yamaboko Junko). Each float is decorated with various tapestries which are all national treasure due to their beauty and rarity. On this day Kyoto becomes the moving museum.
Yoi yama
From the 14th through 16th Yamabokos are built on the streets, so the visitors can see the inside of the Yamaboko.
Main events
July 14th through 16th Yoiyama at Shijo Karasuma Area
17th 9:00~ Yamaboko at Junko Shijo Dori, Kawaramachi Dori, Oike Dori
17th 16:00~ Shinkosai at Yasaka-jinja Shrine
First Koicha
2011/06/26
I still remember the biter taste of my first cup of Matcha tea 5 years ago. I could not take my eyes of the beautiful grass-green color of the tea. That time I could admire only the perfect shape of the Japanese tea and gorgeous green color, the taste was to strong for my European tongue and I was absolute beginner for Japanese culture. I thought it might be the drink of the Gods, which I was still not ready to drink….
The other day, my Japanese friend took me to her favorite tea shop, Kyoto’s famous Ippodo. She said that I must try their Koicha. Koicha is actually matcha tea maid with double amount of green tea powder than regular macha, so it becomes very, very thick. Because of its thickness it is not possible to drink everything from the bowl, so at some point, the waitress adds more water to the remaining tea and it becomes easier to drink it.
This time I could completely enjoy the strong taste of this precious drink without any problem, and I was very happy about that. Somehow I felt like being one small part of Japanese society as I could drink this magical potion.
My Koicha with cute shaped Kashiwa sweet served with the tea.
Ｈｉｎａｍａｔｓｕｒｉ（Doll's Festival）
2011/02/06
March 3rd is Doll's Festival in Japan. This festival is for wishing girls growth and happiness, and is called 「MOMO NO SEKKU」 in Japanese. Most families that have female children display these dolls at home. They are decorated with peach blossoms, grilled bits of rice cake, sweet white liquor called sweet sake and so forth.
The dolls are usually displayed for ten to twenty days before the Doll's Festival. But, once the event is over, we have to immediately put the dolls away.
Why must we put them away so quickly?
The reason is, according to legend, that if the dolls are not put away on the evening of March 3rd, the girl will not marry at the proper time.
Origin of the Doll's Festival
The origin of the Japanese Doll's Festival is in ancient China. At that time, the Chinese transferred their bad thoughts and disasters to dolls, which they then tossed into a river so that they would flow away with the dolls. This custom represents the ritual purification of evil influences.
In Japan, girls have been playing with these dolls and this custom has been celebrated since the Edo era, about 300 years ago.
