Term archive
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Kikyo Kiln
Kikyo Kiln is an old-style ""anagama"" kiln, made by digging a hole in the side of a hill. It was built in 2010 by the pottery artisan Emu Nakai, born and raised in Kameoka, who cleared the cypress forest near her childhood home and stacked the bricks to make the kiln herself.
Nakai fell in love with and trained in yakishime, a traditional technique of making unglazed pottery in a wood kiln that exploits the natural qualities of the clay.In contrast to conventional yakishime pieces which are typically rustic and heavy, Nakai’s are finer and more dainty-looking. They feel surprisingly light to hold and her expert potting and shaving skills are apparent in every detail.
“The beauty of yakishime items is that the more you use them, the more the gloss and color develop, and the more the feel improves. Because the clay is porous, you get a great layer of foam on beer and water tastes smoother. In a yakishime flower vase, the water will last longer too,” says Nakai.
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Exploring the fire culture of Woodland Kyoto
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What’s on? A Calendar of Traditional Events in Kyoto Prefecture
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Follow the Historic Sasayama Kaido Road into Kyoto’s Countryside
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Fukuchiyama on Two Wheels: E-bike Adventures in a Castle Town
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Discover your own KYOTO
投稿タイプ:sightseeing
Ikimi Tenmangu Shrine
Dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, famous as a deity of learning, Ikimi Tenmangu Shrine is the oldest of the Tenmangu shrines in Japan, built during Sugawara Michizane's lifetime. This shrine is said to have found its origins when Takebe Genzo, a figure in the famous kabuki play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami," enshrined Michizane as a living deity to pray for his safe return when he was demoted to a minor post in Dazaifu, in modern-day Kyushu. The tranquil shrine grounds include 15 shrines, including Itsukushima Shrine, dedicated to the goddess of beauty, and Akiba Atago Shrine, which enshrines the god of fire.
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Nurtured by Nature: Life and Art in Kyotamba
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Crafts Made by Nature in Woodland Kyoto
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Visiting Oeyama, the Land of Oni Legend
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Takematsu Udon
This restaurant is about a 20 minute drive away from downtown Ayabe.
Here, the udon noodles, which are made purely by hand with traditional techniques acquired in Sanuki, are boiled in the prized wood-fired kiln, and the soup stock is prepared naturally without additives.
At the restaurant, you can also enjoy the peaceful woodland scenery to the fullest.
投稿タイプ:sightseeing
Mt. Kimino-o
Mt. Kimino-o is a mountain with an elevation of 582 meters, located in the Kanbayashi area northeast of Ayabe. If you climb Mt. Kimino-o in autumn or winter, you can see the mountains of the Tamba area shrouded in mist, their peaks resembling islands in a sea of clouds.
Halfway up the mountain, you'll also find plenty of natural sights and culture with sites like Komyo-ji Temple, famous for its Nio-mon Gate.
*The "sea of clouds" (or "unkai") can be seen from autumn to winter.
