From 794, Tokyo was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years.
Today, Kyoto is still the cultural center of Japan, with its abundant traditional cultural industries.

Kyoto Dolls

Kiyomizu Ware (Kiyomizu-yaki)

Shopping Guide: Top 10 Best Souvenirs Of Kyoto

1. Kiyomizu Ware (Kiyomizu-yaki)
As a typical ware of Kyoto, Kiyomizu-yaki already has over 1,200 years history. Kiyomizu-yaki are made with special process and high grade techniques. They are glorified by the people all over the world but produced only in small quantities. You can hardly buy it outside Kyoto!

2. Nishijin Fabric
Nishijin is the area of Kyoto that produces the best kimono fabrics in Japan. Nishijin textiles is famous for its high grade fabrics throughout world. You can even study weave in traditional methods at Nishijin Textile Center. (You can visit: Kyoto Nishijin Textile Center Travel Guide to know more)

3. Tango Crepe
Since the years of the Edo era, Tango area (the northern part of Kyoto) has become famous for the Tango Crepe. A man called Kinu-ya Saheiji who knew the secret methods of Kyoto Nishijin, improved the method and used it on Tango Crepe, which are the most popular material of the beautiful Hurisode and Komon Kimonos.

4. Hand-painted Yuzen
Hand-painted Yuzen originated in the 8th century. It developed as a method of decorating kimono fabrics with seasonal and traditional patterns. All work is done by hand. Yuzen decorates is very complex, and used on kimono silks,handkerchiefs, blouses and shirts, and all manner of accessories.

5. Kurodani Japanese Paper
Japanese paper has been produced in Kurodani district for a long time. The traditional Tesuki Japanese paper technique is still preserved in Kurodani, So Kyoto is one of the few place which remaining genuine Tesuki Japanese paper produces. Paper craft objects are also manufactured here.

6. Kyoto folding fans (Kyo Sensu)
The flat fan already in use in Japan in the 7th century, the portable fold-away sensu is a homegrown traditional handcrafted item and rapidly grew in Kyoto. Today, artisans apply their creativity to devise new designs. They make the folding fan a practical device with beauty of both form and function.

7.Japanese Umbrellas
Traditional umbrellas are made from waxed paper. They are an essential accessory for geisha on a rainy day and larger versions offer cooling shade under which to take part in the tea ceremony.

8. Kyoto Dolls
Only Kyoto dolls are dressed in the finery of Nishijin kimono silk. That make Kyoto dolls is famous nationwide.

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Kiyomizu-dera (Pure Water Temple) is one of oldest Buddhist temples in Japan. The temple is the UNESCO World Heritage site as part of ancient Kyoto.
But it also one of famous suicide spots of Japan. “To jump off the stage at Kiyomizu” is a Japanese slang to express “to take the plunge”. Why?

Kiyomizu-dera locates at a strategic spot on a steep hill in eastern Kyoto

You need clean yourself here before enter the temple

The famous Main Hall is supported by 139 giant pillars, offers a wonderful view of the Kyoto.

three-story pagoda of Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera locates at a strategic spot on a cliff in eastern Kyoto. It’s named as the waterfall of nearby hills. Kiyomizu means pure water.

Kiyomizu-dera was built at 798 AD by Enchin, a student of Xuanzang (a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator of the early Tang period). So Kiyomizudera’s architecture has been influenced by the architecture of Tang Dynasty and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Though its present buildings were rebuilt in 1633.

What to see at Kiyomizu-dera?

main hall:
The main hall, which supported by 139 giant pillars without a single nail, is designated as a National Treasure. It locates at  a top of cliff and offers a wonderful view of the Kyoto.

What to do at Kiyomizu-dera?

* Find the reason why they should ”jump off the stage at Kiyomizu”:
During the Edo period, there is a saying that if somebody could survive from a 13 m jump from the stage, his/her wish would be granted. 234 jumps were recorded during the Edo period and 85.4% survived. Thus became the popular expression “to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu” , which means “to take the plunge” today in Japan. Of course, This kind of crazy jump is now prohibited.

* Drink some water of waterfall:
Beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall, where three channels of water drop into a pond. The water is believed to have therapeutic functions. It is said that the three streams of water confers wisdom, health, and longevity. But you can only choose two — Or you are consided as a greedy person by god.
There were too many people standing in a long line for the magic water, I had to leave without a try.

* Find love at love stones:
The temple includes a  Jishu Shrine, dedicated to Ōkuninushi, a god of love and “good matches”. Jishu Shrine possesses a pair of “love stones” which placed 18 meters apart. If you succeed to walk between from one stone to anther with your eyes closed. That means you will find love soon.

* Buy something interesting:
The Kiyomizu-dera also offers various talismans, incense, and omikuji (paper fortunes). Many traditional holiday foodstuffs will be also sold here during festivals (especially New Year’s and obon in the summer).

Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera(Pure Water Temple) Travel Guide:

Address:
1 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

Fee:
300 yen

Open time:
Daily 6:00 to 18:00 (regular hours)

How to get there:
Kiyomizudera can be reached from Kyoto Station in about 15 minutes by bus. Take bus number 100 or 206 and get off at Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka. From there it is a 10-15 minute uphill walk to the temple.

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Golden Pavilion Temple(Kinkaku-ji) is the informal name of Deer Garden Temple(Rokuon-ji), As the important part of the old Kyoto city, It’s designated as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
It was not a fine day when I visited Golden Pavilion Temple, And it’s still not the right red leaves season, But it still looks so beautiful.

The Golden Pavilion

The famous Pine land boat was planted by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

Golden Pavilion Temple was originally built in 1397 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. I knew this Ashikaga Yoshimitsu when I was a little child from a famous cartoon about Ikkyū, an iconic Japanese Zen Buddhist priest and poet.

Rokuon-ji (Deer Garden) was taken from the first two characters of Yoshimitsu’s posthumous name. His son converted the building into a Zen temple according to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu’s will after he was dead.

The Golden Pavilion is a three-story building on the grounds of the temple. The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf. That’s the reason why the Deer Garden Temple also called Golden Pavilion Temple. The pavilion is the holy place housing relics of the Buddha.

Golden Pavilion Temple was also the center of the so-called “Kitayama culture,” which was central in importing various aspects of Ming-dynasty Chinese culture into Japanese society.

In 1950, the pavilion was burned down by a monk, who then attempted suicide on the Daimon-ji hill behind the building. The statue of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was burned. The present structure rebuilt from 1955, and the roof was restored in 2003.

If you are interesting in this event, you can also read a fictionalized novel named The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, written by Mishima Yukio in 1956.

Kyoto Golden Pavilion Temple Travel Guide:

Address :
1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto City

How to get there
Golden Pavilion Temple (Kinkaku-ji) is best reached by bus. There are 2 stops at proximity, Kinkakuji-mae and Kinkakuji-michi, deserved by bus 12, 50, 59, 204 and 205).

Open Time:
The temple is open everyday from 9:00am to 17:00pm

Fee:
General: 400 yen ; Elementary and Junior High School Students: 300 yen

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We all know that Kyoto is the former capital of Japan. But did you know what’s the reason they choosed Kyoto as the capital at about 1300 years ago?
Kyoto Nishijin Textile Center is a place to tell you this special history.

Kimono Fashion Show at Kyoto Nishijin Textile Center

You can study weave in traditional methods on this kind of mini loom

Kyoto Nishijin Textile Center & Kimono Fashion Show Travel Guide

The history of Nishijin silk weaving began with the history of Kyoto in 794. A branch of Hata clan moved to Kyoto. They brought knowledge of silkworms and fabric skills. The economy of Kyoto became so strong since they came, and emperor Kanmu decided to move the capital to Kyoto. There were about 5000 weaving factories in the Nishijin District during the Edo Period. Nishijin district remain the home of Japan’s largest handmade weaving industries.

Nishijin Textile Center was a museum about Nishijin Textile history. It hosts demonstrations of ancient weaving techniques, presents fashion shows and local textile exhibitions. And of course, you can buy Kimono there too, But that’s too expensive to me.

The most attractive thing to me is the Kimono Fashion Show. It’ s held or six or seven times daily at the Nishijin Textile Center. The showcases kimono changes with the seasons. The show was performed by professional geishas.

Address:
Horikawa- Imadegawa Minami-iru Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto JAPAN 602

Open hours:
open everyday from 9:00am to 17:00pm
The textile center is closed from August 13th to 15th and December 29th to January 15th.

How to get there:
It is located in central Kyoto and you could take a number of buses such as 9, 51, 59 or 101 to Horikawa and Imadegawa to reach the place.

fee:
no admission charges to the textile center

What can I experience?
*You can study weave in traditional methods on a mini loom, And you can take your woven products home with you. The fee charged is 1800 Yen or $15 (adult fee).

*You can also study dressing a maiko known as a Maiko or geiko, Or 12-layered Kimono of the imperial court. This kind of professional entertain cost about 10,000 Yen each, and avialiable from 9:00am to 15:30pm.

Kimono Fashion Show:
Spring (April 01 to June 30) & Autumn (September 01 to November 30): 7 times a day:
10:00am; 10:50am; 11:45am; 13:00pm(13:15pm on Saturday and Sunday); 14:00pm; 15:15pm; 16:00pm

Summer(July 01 to August 31) & Winter (December 01 to March 31): 6 times a day:
10:30am; 11:30am; 13:00pm(13:15pm on Saturday and Sunday); 14:00pm; 15:15pm; 16:00pm

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I had a short business trip to Japan last week. Nishijin Textile Center was my first destination when I visited Kyoto. It has produced elegant textiles for the imperial family and nobility for centuries.
Kimono Fashion Show at Nishijin Textile Center is a famous perform, That’s part of Kyoto culture.

Here is a short video I took:

If you want know more about Kyoto Nishijin Textile Center, Just visit: Kyoto Nishijin Textile Center & Kimono Fashion Show Travel Guide.

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The Potala Palace is the highest palace in the word. It is the headquarters of the Dalai Lama, and a treasure house of traditional Tibetan culture. Yeah, It’s the first must-visit highlight of Tibet.

Notice About the ticket information at the entrance of The Potala Palace.

Looking for the same angle as the 50 Yuan RMB is a good game at Lhasa.

The Potala Palace Travel Guide (Tibet, China)

What to See:

* Red Palace:
The central section of the Potala in a deep red color is called the Red Palace. The Red Palace is home to sacred gold stupas (the tombs of Dalai Lamas), the monks’ assembly hall, numerous chapels and shrines, and libraries for the important Buddhist scriptures. It’s completely devoted to religious study and Buddhist prayer.

* White Palace:
The White Palace was the living quarters of the Dalai Lama. The first White Palace was built under the fifth Dalai Lama in the 1650s and extended to its present by the thirteenth Dalai Lama in the early 20th century. The White Palace was for secular uses only and contained living quarters, offices, the seminary and the printing house.

* The Great West Hall
The Great West Hall which consists of four great chapels that proclaim the glory of the Fifth Dalai Lama, who rebuilt the palace. The hall is famous for its fine murals reminiscent of Persian miniatures, describe the fifth Dalai Lama’s whole life. Don’t miss the most famous scene at the east wall outside the entrance, Which describes the Fifth Dalai Lama and Emperor Shun Zhi ’s interview in Beijing.

Address:
On the Moburi (Red) Mountain, the northern part of Lhasa, Tibet. (the palace is located in the centre of Lhasa)

Admission Fee:
CNY 100 (Nov. 1-Apr. 30) CNY 200 (May 1-Oct.31) including the visit of Zhol City (Snow City)

Opening Hours:
09:00am - 19:00pm

Recommended Time for a Visit:
Two and a Half Hours

Tibet Tourism Bureau
Address:Yuanlin Road, Lhasa, Tibet 85001, People’s Republic of China
Tel: (0891) 633 5472 or 683 4315

The Potala Palace Travel Tips:
* It is not easy to climb to the top building at 3700 meters above sea level, So I don’t recommended you visit the Potala Palace at the first day you arrive Lhasa, You should give yourself somedays to acclimatize the altitude.

* Potala Palace only allow 2300 tourists and pilgrims to enter each day. So you should purchase tickets at least one day ahead (12:00pm the previous day). You should show your ID card or passport when buying your tickets (one person can take several) .

* Queues at the Potala Palace are longer on Monday, Wednesday and Friday when pilgrims are admitted free of charge.

* Because the halls are always chilly; you’d better prepare a warmer cloth while visiting.

* Reserve two and half an hours for this place, one and half an hour for climb up and down the steps, and one hour for visit the inside building.

* According to the local custom, you have to tour clockwise around;

* Don’t step on the doorsill; don’t smoke in the halls;

* Photography is not allowed inside the chapels.

* If you have enough time in Lhasa, You can take many photos of Potala Palace in different angles and different time.  You can also climb up to Yao Wang Shan (药王山 in chinese) which just stand opposite the Potala Palace to get a great view. But Yao Wang Shan is only open to visitors at around 10 am.

* Another one of the best angle to take photo of Potala Palace is though the  prayer wheels on the roof of  The Jokhang Temple . But it doesn’t allow to climb any more. But You can still get a great view of Potala Palace from Jokhang Temple rooftop, as the photos in my post: The Jokhang Temple, the Spiritual Center Of Tibet

Potala Palace Photo blog: The Potala Palace, The First Must-Visit Place Of TiBet

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Visiting the Potala Palace need some physical force. It was built on Red Mountain in the centre of Lhasa Valley (3,700m above sea level),And you need climb up about 170 meters’ steps to visit it.

The Potala Palace

The Potala Palace (布达拉宫 in Chinese) was originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in 637. It’s a gift for King Songtsen Gampo’s bride, Princess Wen Cheng of the Tang Dynasty of China. It had been rebuilt by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1645. Since then, Potala Palace has become the seat of Dalai Lamas and also the political center of Tibet.

The Potala Palace is famous for its grand architecture and splendid artworks. A lot of precious sculptures, murals, scripture, buddha figures, and antiques are treasured here. it was confirmed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

For More information, Visit: The Potala Palace on Wikipedia

For The Potala Palace Travel Guide: Potala Palace Travel Guide (Tibet, China)

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We cost 2 days from Everest Base Camp(5200m above sea level) back to Lhasa（3650m above sea level).
The landscape along this road is specially wonderful and diverse. That’s the part of charm of Qingzang Altiplano, the Roof of the World.

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When I was waiting for the admittance at Everest TuoLong Core Zone Administrative Station, Somebody asked me:” Do you want the sea creatures fossils of Himalayas?”
Sea creatures fossils? They could be sold as normal merchandise?

I had ever seen some reports about marine fossils which were found at the Himalayas. I also had seen some pictures of these ammonite fossils (coiled marine cephalopods), Big and small, which were found in limestone beds of Himalayas. That’s one of the proofs of that the Himalayas were indeed once under sea water.

But I also knew that local people who had faith in the Hindu religion, would believe that ammonite was one of the many forms of their Lord Vishnu. So ammonite fossils would be holy to them. Even not, they were very important resource to scientist, weren’t they?

So I was very astonished to know they were sold as normal merchandise, And I could get a big ammonite fossils for only 500 RMB, and a smaller for 300 RMB.

But they said it’s popular at Tingri area, Tibet. Children were eager to dig these fossils to gain money for their family.

But there must be something wrong I couldn’t sure. At least, This kind of unscientific exploitation must be harmful to entironment.

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We reached the Everest Base Camp by cross country vehicle. But I didn’t want my trip over like this. Maybe I could climb up more higher?
Together with two members of our team, I started out!

No cretures no plants, But the landscape above the Everest Base Camp is magnificent.

The landscape above the Everest Base Camp(2)

The landscape above the Everest Base Camp(3)

A group of professional climbers were climbing.

The team of Chinese Mountaineering Expedition, They wanted to arrive No.1 attack camp before the weather getting bad.

Two climbers on their way back to Base Camp. They were doing their acclimatization trainning before formal Climbing.

Ice rock ?

It’s ice line ahead.

The weather already went to the bad on our way back. But we still met some supply teams. Supplies were carried to the higher attack camp by sherpas, with help of animals on this trekking routes.

Climbing Everest, Up To Highest Altitude Of My Record

Before we started out, Our team members designedly put an interphone and some chocolate in our knapsack.

We walked very slowly,But I still felt hard to breath. The landscape above the Base Camp was so wonderful, That encouraged me a lot.

Soon I knew a bad news from interphone: two members of our team encounted bad emphysema. “They must be send back to Lhasa as soon as possible.” I heard they discussed.

I already encounted very bad altitude sickness that moment too. I knew what happened around me, And I could answer any questions of my team members clearly, But I always felt I was sleeping. I couldn’t remember what happened just now. Oh, Just like Jon Krakauer’s feeling in his book Into Thin Air. The different was Jon Krakauer has such feeling at the peak of the Everest. But I was only at 5200+.

No, I didn’t want back this time. So I kept walking.

On the farther way we walked, we met the team of Chinese Mountaineering Expedition, They walked much faster than us and quickly disappeared. And a team from weather bureau, We gave all the chocolate we had to them.

Then I hear the interphone called us: the weather would get bad, You must walk back right away!

We had to stop this short exploration.

When we back to the Base Camp, they told me we walked for about three hours in total.

And I still felt walking in dream until the next morning.

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