A color palette of KYOTO

Monday, October 28, 2013

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Flea market at Toji on 21st!

On the 21st of every month, there is a huge flea market held at Toji temple. It is called "Kobo-san." There are not only antiques, but also hand-made crafts, food, sword, Kimono etc, basically anything you can think of!

Here are Kimonos! Please see this post if you like to know more about Kimono.

http://color-palette-of-kyoto.blogspot.jp/2013/01/where-to-buy-kimono.html

I guess you can see potteries the most...

Bamboo cutleries.

Japanese swords.

Oden!!

Dried sea-foods

Japanese traditional toys

Since it is held at Toji temple, you can do shopping with this beautiful scenery as a background. Isn't it gorgeous?

Those of you who love knitting, sewing, hand-crafts, there are Kimono cloth...

Netsuke?

More potteries.

You can buy Ukiyoe, old wood block prints, vintage postcards, photos, illustrations, drawing, paintings etc

Here are wooden Bento-box and wooden cutlery!

A Lacquer(ed) ware tea cup.

Where to buy Kimono in Kyoto?

Happy New Year everyone! This is me wearing Furisode. We wear Furisode/Kimono for any formal and happy occasion such as New Years day. I am often asked where to buy these Japanese traditional clothes. Some of you might already know that I wear Kimono at Capsule Ryokan reception sometimes. So here are some of my suggestion.

Mimuro

There are English speaking staffs and they usually have Yukata all year around. Yukata is a summer wear, thus it is one layer, and thin. I think Yukata is the best choice for your souvenir because it is simple to wear, and doesn't take much space in your suitcase!

For more info : http://www.mimuro.net/english/

Itoiteya (Pictures will be uploaded soon...)

This store is on Shijo street, and is quite small. But this is the shop where I bought all the other items for Kimono. Wearing Kimono is not simply a robe and a belt. You need an inner layer robe, a special pair of shoes and socks, and special buckles(optional,) and special rope and so on... I bought all those accessories at this shop.

For more info : http://itoiteya.web.fc2.com/index.html

Chicago (Pictures will be uploaded soon...)

Buying Kimono could be very expensive, because Kimono is not a chap shopping. But if you buy Kimonos in second-hand shops, it is not expensive at all! There are many secondhand Kimono shops in Kyoto!

Chicago is one of the second-hand shops in Teramachi shopping arcade. They have many antique Kimonos!

For more info : http://www.chicago.co.jp/store_kyt.htm

But my most recommended place to buy Kimono is actually at a flea market. There are many flea markets held in Kyoto, and you can buy Kimonos in surprising price(from 500yen~). But please make sure that you check the condition of the Kimono you are buying. There could be stain or holes sometimes...

For more info : See my blog post

http://color-palette-of-kyoto.blogspot.jp/2013/01/flea-market-at-toji-on-21st.html

I love these lovely patterns and vivid colors!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Snow White Pink - Pholosopher's path Kyoto

Kyoto's Pholosopher's Path(Philosopher's Walk)! I know it is not the Sakura(Cherry bloosam) season right now; these are taken in the last spring. Aren't they utterly gorgeous? Philosopher's path is, as you can guess, named after a Japanese influential philosopher who used to walk this path for his meditation/thinking. This path is located in between Nanzenji to Ginkakuji(Silver temple). This time I started to walk from Silver temple.

This cherry-tree-lined-canel is follows all the way to Nanzenji(or Silver Temple if you start walking the other way around) You can enjoy this heavenly tunnel for 1-2 hours. It's quite long.

We are already having many reservations for this time of the year.

This is a park near Nanzenji temple.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Japanese Hair Pins Kanzashi - Ikuokaya -

You might have seen pretty hairpins on Maiko girls. This shop has been making Maiko's ornamental hairpins since 1862! Maiko girls' hairpins are mostly seasonal. They wear seasonal flower hairpins etc. They told me the owner can speak English and German! So if you have questions about Japanese hairpins, why not visit them?

Ikuokaya website >> http://www.ikuokaya.com/