Oideyasu! Please take off your shoes.
Update: more kibune photos and video in November 2004.
Click for 1024 X 768 desktop background of the lantern-flanked steps at Kibune Jinja.
I finally got around to scanning this old photo at a bigger size. Kibune, way up north, is the symbolic source of water for Kyoto.
From the end of the Keihan line at Demachiyanagi, take the little Eizan train to Kibune-guchi, or go all the way to Kurama and hike over the mountain temple route. Kurama-yama, Kurama-dera temple (actually a long series of sites) and Kurama onsen are great reasons to get outside the city proper, and when you get over the top to to Kibune there are elegant ryokan and restaurants where you can dine on tatami platforms (yuka) spanning the little Kibune River, still one of the best experiences I've had in Kyoto. Kibune is also a place to enjoy nagashi somen, one of the more bizarre Japanese culinary delights. You have to catch noodles sliding down a bamboo chute in icewater. See the Super Deluxe blog for a video of nagashi somen.
Thanks! My work desktop looks a lot better now.
Posted by: Clarissa on September 5, 2003 02:07 AMI have almost the exact same photo in my webshots screensaver :)
Posted by: Rahvin on September 5, 2003 05:30 AMThis is a faily standard shot, but I was lucky to be able to shoot it just after the rain, when the stones look their best. I should go up there with the digicam (I keep saying).
Posted by: nils on September 5, 2003 09:52 AMAhhh Kibune/Kurama
My friend and I were just up there last week visiting trying to escape the heat and mugginess of the city (think I have a slightly different version of that shot in my photos section too hahaha). We got more mugginess unfortunately but also some great relaxing forest hiking/temple viewing. Highly recommended (and the train ride there rawks, forest/quaint Japanese "hamlets" whipping past in cars with panoramic windows).
Ack...back to being bored in the States...
Posted by: brent on September 6, 2003 12:55 AMI live in Brazil, my grandfather, Yassuiti Kibune, came here from Hiroshima-ken. I didn't now any more person of my family in japan.
I have a question: Kibune is a district of Kyoto or a name?
Abracao, Pedro,
Yes, Kibune is the name of a village in the northern mountains of Kyoto with beautiful inns and restaurants along the Kibune River. The origin of the name is unknown, as the shrine is older than the city of Kyoto (794). In a legend about Japan's ancient gods, Kibune comes from ki (yellow) and fune (boat), and the mother of the first emperor went up Kyoto's Kamo River to the source in a yellow boat, and made the village called Kibune.
Posted by: nils on November 5, 2003 06:07 PMHi
My son has recently started work teaching in Shikoku. My husband and I are going out to see him for Christmas. He has suggested that we visit Kibune whilst we are there for a treck up the mountains!
It sounds beautiful but can anybody tell me what to expect weather wise? I know it will be cold but would it be ok to visit Kibune in the winter and what about accomodation?
Any advice or tips will be gratefully recieved.
Thanks Janis Meeks
I don't know what cold is to you, but Kibune is in the mountains; Not very high ( I can go there by bicycle) but certainly colder than downtown and a greater chance of snow in December. The little Eizan Railway goes up there, where there are several ryokan if you want to stay overnight, but most people just make a day trip from downtown Kyoto. Kurama Hot Springs is nearby.
Posted by: nils on October 6, 2004 11:27 AM
