When in Kyoto..
Kyoto was the capital of Japan for 1000 years. In Kyoto, you can feel the source of Japanese culture that still has a presence as a Japanese old capital city.
When you visit Kyoto, of course you may like to explore famous temples and shrines. But since you are in Kyoto where full of Japanese tradition and culture, we highly recommend try some activities. So today we would like to introduce some of the ‘experiences’ that you can take part in Kyoto.
Ceramic Art Experience
Ceramics is one of the traditional crafts in Japan. “Kiyomizu-yaki” is the pottery representative of Kyoto. If you visit the production area in Kyoto, you should experience the Ceramics art experience performed by the pottery and the workshop. You can create your own ceramic art and learn the traditional way of creating Kiyomizu-yaki.
Calligraphy Experience
Think back in time before people used pencils or ballpoints to write letters and other documents. In Japan using an ink-dipp
brush was the common way to write letters and documents.This is called “Shodo”(calligraphy). This “Shodo” still remains in traditional part of Japanese culture.
Nowadays foreign people are often fascinated with calligraphy feeling an attraction to the design properties of kanji (Chinese characters). Writing kanji characters could feel difficult. But if you approach it as if you were drawing a picture, (since kanji
was originally a set of hieroglyphs) it would be easier. There are lots of calligraphy experience that you can join in Kyoto!
Tea ceremony Experience
The tea ceremony is a traditional style for making tea for the guests. Tourists can experience this tea ceremony in many places in Kyoto.
Tea ceremony is not only about drinking green tea. You will learn a lot about traditional etiquette of the tea ceremony, the way of thinking and how to use the tea utensils with correct manner.
Enjoy the Japanese arts and gardens that you can see in/from the tea room.
And most important thing you can learn is the heart of “Omotenasi”-the quintessentially Japanese hospitality.
Kimono Experience
Kimono is a traditional clothing of Japan. People used to wear on a daily basis. But in these day, we Japanese always wear clothes and Kimono are only worn on a special occasions or life time events.
In Kyoto there are lots of Kimono rental shops that you can wear Kimono. Putting on Kimono is more difficult than it looks.
In all the kimono rental shops, staffs will help you to choose the Kimono that fits you. They will also help you wear Kimono and the hair set. Kimono experience often comes with kimono, accessories, footwear and hair accessories.
If you take a walk through Kyoto in kimono, it will be a great memories that you can experience here! Find a small alley with the old atmosphere and the traditional culture,
Sake Experience
Kyoto is one of the big sake producing area in Japan. In Kyoto there’s lots of sake breweries that you can visit.
At the sake experience you can learn the traditional sake making process that has been running for many years.
In the autumn ～ winter season, you also might be able to see the sight of the sake making process.
Not only learning about the secrets of the sake making process, there are some breweries that you can taste the sakes that are made in the brewery. Why don’t you visit Kyoto’s sake breweries and enjoy sake to the fullest?
If you visit Kyoto, there’s lots of experiences that you can do. Why don’t you join these experience and definitely it will be a great time to spend.
And…
If you have interest in sake experience, or in order to enjoy your trip to Japan more, don’t forget to join our tour Kyoto Insider Sake Experience. You will discover more local sakes and learn differences of categories to find your favourite bottle!
