Matsuyama Passport Center

Farming Tools

These are the traditional tools used in farming in Japan today.

ANA Hotel Kyoto

ANA Hotels are first class all the way. The ANA hotel in Kyoto is no exception. It is modern and the hotel staff has got to be the most hospitable possible in a most hospitable country known for their hospitality!

A waterfall greets you in the lobby.


Kimono clad ladies take your luggage to your room. No tipping is allowed.

Mural in the lobby


A review of the ANA Hotel along with pictures

Heian-jingu Shrine (Kyoto)

The Heian-jingu Shrine is a Shinto Shrine. The main building, or shaden, is designed to imitate the Kyoto Imperial Palace on a three-fourth scale.

The Heian-jingu was built in 1895 for the 1,100th anniversary of the establishment of Heiankyo (the old name of Kyoto). The shrine is dedicated to the Emperor Kanmu and Emperor Komei. The former moved the capital of Heiankyo, and the latter was the last before Emperor Meiji, who moved the capital to Tokyo.

Heian-jingu's Torii (entrance gate), the largest Torii in Japan. It also marks the end of the Tokaido, the traditional road between Tokyo and Kyoto.


Ceremonial sake drums held on display

Symbol of the Japanese Imperial Family





Garden in Heian-jingu

One of the first street cars in the city


Shinto priests oversee a tree planting ceremony















Official Site in English

Map of the 53 stations of the Tokaido

Murin-an (Scenery Garden) Kyoto

A nice garden, built in 1896 by Ogawa Jihei for Yamagata Aritomo, a leading member of the Meiji government and twice Prime Minister of Japan.

Murin-an is an example of the "borrowed scenery" (Shakkei) in landscape gardens as it has a background view of Higashiyama mountains.

The complex designed garden, with western influence, is in strolling-style and has a lawn, two streams, stones and clipped shrubs.













Murin-an Link

Yamagata Aritomo Wikipedia Entry

Very Famous Restaurant Hyotei (Kyoto)

This 300 year old restaurant first opened its doors as a tea-house to serve pilgrims and visitors on their way to Nanzen-ji Temple. Today it serves expensive Kyo-kaiseki, which originated with the tea ceremony but is now associated with Kyoto cuisine. The kaiseki meals are served in separate tea small tea houses situated around a beautiful garden with a pond, maple trees and bushes.



Restaurant Link (Japanese)

Kyo-kaiseki

Kyoto Station