Oideyasu! Please take off your shoes.
Click image for 800 X 600 or here for 1024 X 768.
Also known as Heihachi-jaya, a famous old (at least 400 years) ryokan/ kaiseki restaurant/kamaburo sauna by the Takano River in Sakyo-ku. Simply take Kyoto Bus (the brown one, not green City Bus) No. 17 from Kyoto Station or Kawaramachi bound for Ohara to the Heihachiya exit at their front door. This was a point of departure and return to and from Kyoto proper on the road through the mountains past Ohara and on to the Japan Sea for fishermen of bygone ages. A quiet place to get away from downtown if you are so inclined, and a famous clay sauna heated from below by firewood cut in the northern forests. You do know that the finest tokobashira (decorative and sacred pillars in tokonoma alcoves in japanese homes) come from northern Kyoto, right?
More images: Main building and Gate to garden.
Oh, whaddya know, they have a website.
That looks really gorgeous and serene. I hope I can visit it someday.
Posted by: Melissa on August 29, 2003 06:47 AMI love this wallpaper! (and your site) I have been looking for a serene Kyoto garden/temple wallpaper and this is perfect. Thanks!
Posted by: Brian on August 30, 2003 11:36 PMThat's a great picture--is that garden open to the public or do you have to be eating or staying there to see it?
Posted by: Sumisu on August 31, 2003 03:41 AMYou can see some of it from the street, but you should be eating or staying there to go in.
Posted by: nils on August 31, 2003 06:11 AMI will go to Japan in November to write about the meeting between norwegian fish and japanese food culture/tradtion. You mention the road used by fishermen from Japan Sea. I guess that must be connected to the the socalled mackerel road(Saba Kaido). It could be a great(though expensive) idea to me to start in Wakasa bay and end up at the tea inn.But I should find out if they seve mackerel - don't know if that's the style and maybe not season.
Hans Morten Sundnes
Norway
Yes, that's right, the saba kaido comes down from Wakasa through Ohara into Kyoto. it's a very mountainous route. I have a photo book with scenery on the roads to kyoto that is very beautiful.
The website of Heihachi-jaya is linked above. You can ask them about the menu at the time of your visit, and you can perhaps make a request.
Posted by: nils on September 24, 2003 07:57 AMHi
Planning to visit Kyoto for two weeks in February 2005 for my 60th Birthday. Would like to stay in Ryokan and absorb some of the early history as we visit the gardens, temples and palaces. Would appreciate attending a tea ceremony on my birthday.
Life-long vegetarians and definately NOT "tour" people, prefer to travel independently.
Would appreciate any advice??
Regards
David
[Would appreciate any advice]
Hire me as your guide.
One's 60th birthday, kanreki, is very auspicious in Japan. Your 12-year chinese calendar (horse, dragon, monkey, etc.) and your 10-year japanese calendar (fire, earth, water, etc.) finally match up with the year of your birth. Wear a red vest.
Sumiya Ryokan (use the search box on my site) is run by tea ceremony aficionados.
