Murasaki

Visit the Kujo-ke family’s detached residence, Shusui-tei (Kyoto)

Shusui-tei is a building from the late Edo period.This building is both a detached residence and a tea ceremony room for the Kujo-ke family.The Kujo-ke family is one of Goseke(five families of the Fujiwara clan-Konoe-ke,Kujo-ke,Nijo-ke,Ichijo-ke,and Takatsukasa-ke), and is a family with a great history.

2024.08.03

Kyoto

Visit Ginkaku-ji Temple in the summer (Kyoto)

Ginkakuji (Jishoji) Temple, located at the foot of Mt. Daimonji, does not have buildings covered in shining silver leaf like Kinkaku-ji Temple. Compared to Kinkaku-ji Temple, it is a very simple Zen-style temple.

2024.07.21

Kyoto

Visit the Nijo-jinya (Ogawa-ke Residence) (Kyoto)

Nijo-jinya (Ogawa-ke Residence) is located just a stone's throw from Nijo-jo Castle. It faces the street, but it is so inconspicuous that you can easily walk past it.The Ogawa-ke family were originally samurai, but in the Edo period they became merchants and ran a general store called Yorozuya, dealing in rice, money exchange and medicine.

2024.07.21

Kyoto

Visit the mansion of Fujii Hikoshiro in Gokasyo (Higashi-omi/Shiga)

If you walk a little from the Gokasyo Kondo area, you will come to the Miyasho district, where you will find the grand residence of Fujii Hikoshiro.Hikoshiro was one of the Omi merchants from Gokasyo who achieved success with hand-knitted wool and artificial twisted yarn.

2024.05.11

Shiga

Visit the house of the author Tonomura Shigeru, who is descended from the Omi Merchants (Higashi-omi/Shiga)

The Tonomura Shigeru Residence is the birthplace and childhood home of Tonomura Shigeru.The Japanese-style architecture, with its beautiful garden visible from every room, is a sight to behold.

2024.05.11

Shiga

Visit the Nakae Jungoro Residence, which is part of the Minakai Department Store family (Higashi-omi/Shiga)

The Minakai Department Store chain was extremely prosperous in the Korean Peninsula and mainland China before the war.The four Nakae brothers established the Minakai Shoten store, which later developed into the large department store, Minakai Department Store.This is the main residence of the youngest of the four brothers, Nakae Jungoro, who was one of the Omi Merchants.

2024.05.11

Shiga

Walking in Gokasho of Omi Merchants (Higashi-omi/Shiga)

A walk in the Gokasho Kondo district of Higashiomi, one of the birthplaces of the Omi merchants.Omi merchants of the time would peddle their goods from this area.Their business area was all over the country.The vitality of these merchants was amazing, but even before that, their stamina to travel to distant places was also amazing.

2024.05.11

Shiga

Walking along seven slopes called Osaka Nana-saka (Osaka)

One street east of Matsuyamachi-suji lined with temples runs Tanimachi-suji.There is a large difference in elevation between the two streets.Between the higher Tanimachi-suji and lower Matsuyamachi-suji, there are several slopes: Gensei-zaka, Kuchinawa-zaka, Aizen-zaka, Kiyomizu-zaka, and Tenjin-zaka.All of them are quiet slopes away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

2024.05.04

Osaka

Go to Len in Karahori area (Osaka)

To get to Len, get off at Matsuyamachi Station on the Osaka Metro Subway.It is located at the intersection of Honeyacho-suji Street and Kannonzaka-dori Street.This is a commercial complex of old private houses in the retro atmosphere of the Karahori area.

2024.05.04

Osaka

Visit Yoshiki-en Garden, which has a moss garden (Nara)

If you walk west from the South Big Gate of Todai-ji Temple for about 10 minutes, you will reach Yoshiki-en Garden.From the detached tea house, you can look out over the moss garden, which has a lot of depth.Personally, I think this is the best view of Yoshiki-en Garden.

2024.04.28

Nara

Visiting the former residence of the literary giant Shiga Naoya (Nara)

A wonderful sukiya-style house.That is the former residence of Shiga Naoya.There is a corridor that surrounds the central courtyard.The rooms and windows all face the central courtyard or the outer garden.From the second floor guest room, you can see Mt. Wakakusa and from the first floor dining room, you can see both the central courtyard and the outer garden.

2024.04.28

Nara

Visit the garden of the former Daijo-in Temple, which has a vast garden (Nara)

There is a beautiful garden to the south of the Nara Hotel.There is a pond and greenery in the vast grounds.There is a small island floating in the pond and a red bridge.This is the garden of the former Daijo-in Temple.

2024.04.28

Nara