Wednesday 27 February 2013

Kyoto's Geisha Districts




 
京都には色んな歴史的な歓楽街がある。祇園は京都の一番有名な花街。でも、先斗町の方が好き。散歩だけしても、雰囲気は分かる。道は割と狭くて長い。車がない。もし夕方に先斗町で散歩をしたら、たくさん綺麗で珍しい店 を見られる。もし運が良かったら、舞妓と芸妓が見られる。

Kyoto has a variety of historical entertainment districts. Gion is the most famous Hanamachi (Geiko and Maiko district, Kyoto words for Geisha and apprentice Geisha). But I prefer Pontocho, you just have to take a walk along Pontocho to feel the atmosphere. It is relatively narrow and long, and there are no cars. If you take a walk along Pontocho at night, you can see a lot of beautiful and unusual shops and restaurants. If you are lucky you might even see a Maiko or Geiko.




Restaurant in Gion
 

Gion

Gion



Restaurant on Pontocho


Restaurant on Pontocho



Shop window in Gion
Pontocho

Pontocho

Pontocho

Pontocho

Pontocho

Geiko in Gion




Wednesday 13 February 2013

A nice cup of Cha


Green Tea
僕はイギリス人だけど、イギリスに住んでいた時紅茶はあまり飲まなかった。大抵、イギリス人は紅茶が好き、例えばお母さんは毎日たくさん紅茶を飲んでいた。時々お母さんのために紅茶を作っていた。でも、僕はその紅茶を飲まなかった。大抵、イギリス人は紅茶に牛乳を入れる。その味はあまり好きじゃない。日本に来た時お茶を始めて飲んだ。その時からお茶をよく飲んでいる。大抵、コンビニでお茶を一本買って飲む。いろんな種類が好き、例えばお茶、紅茶、鳥龍茶とか麦茶は美味しい。最近新しい種類を見つけた、祇園心茶、すごく美味しくて飲みやすい。日本のお茶文化が好き。


Oolongcha, Namacha & Koucha

I am British, but when I lived in England, I did not drink a lot of tea.  Usually British people love tea, for example my Mother used to drink gallons of tea everyday. Sometimes I would make it for her, but I never drank that tea. Usually British people put milk in tea, but I don't like the taste. When I came to Japan, I drank green tea for the first time. From then I have been drinking a lot of green tea, I love the refreshing taste. Usually I buy bottles at convenience stores. Now I like a variety of different teas, for example: green tea, oolong cha, koucha and mugicha, they are all tasty in their own ways. Recently I have found a new kind of tea, Gion Kokorocha, it is really tasty and easy to drink. I really like Japan's tea culture.

Gion Kokorocha