Mapping Kyoto Streets - 2012/06/13 - Senbon-dori

Jun. 13, Wed.
Senbon-dori

Map

Senbon-dori is a 17-kilometer street running north-south. This thoroughfare was constructed over the Heiankyo capital's main street, known as Suzaku-oji, 1,200 years ago. But that is not all that makes this street special. It has a public bath, popular temples, a soy sauce manufacturer and ordinary spots that fascinate visitors and locals.

Let's map Senbon-dori with its everyday atmosphere that still bears cultural weight.

Presenter
Randall V. Channell (Soei)
Master of Tea

Channell arrived in Japan from Canada in 1984 to study Japanese martial arts and has lived in Kyoto for about 20 years.
He began studying the Urasenki way of tea to learn the spirit of both the literary and martial arts. Channell was bestowed the tea name, Soei. His busy schedule includes teaching tea and owning a café on Sanjo-dori.
Presenter

MAPPING Senbon-dori

Map

Rajomon commemorative stone
Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum
Sumiya Banquet Culture Museum
Mibu-dera
Daiichi
Orinasukan
Guesthouse Kingyoya
Kuginuki Jizo (Shakuzoji)
Senbon Yenmado (Injoji)
Funaoka Onsen
Sarasa Nishijin
Matsuno Shoyu
Joshoji

Rajomon commemorative stone
The ancient capital of Japan, Heiankyo, was built in 794. Rajomon - an enormous, 21-meter high, 36-meter wide wooden gate in the south - was the entrance to the capital. Today, only a commemorative stone marks its location.

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Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum
This museum opened in 1972 to commemorate the centennial of the railway in Japan and to house the steam locomotive - an important transport cultural property - for prosperity. The most popular attraction is the fully operating steam locomotive. Visitors can enjoy the 10-minute, 1-kilometer ride, three times daily.

http://www.mtm.or.jp/uslm/eng/

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Sumiya Banquet Culture Museum
During the Edo Period, Shimabara flourished as an entertainment district, where geiko entertained parties with song and dance. Sumiya began operating as an ageya - a place of cultural entertainment - when Shimabara opened. It is the last ageya building in Japan. Sumiya is a national important cultural property and is now open to the public as a cultural art museum.

http://www16.ocn.ne.jp/~sumiyaho/page/english.html

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Mibu-dera
The locals revere the jizo - bodhisattva - statue at this temple, established in 991. Its popular Mibu-kyogen, performed three times a year, uses gestures to impart Buddhist teachings.

http://www.mibudera.com/eng/index.html

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Daiichi
Founded 300 years ago, during the Edo Period, Daiichi specializes in soft-shell turtle cuisine. The only item on their menu is suppon hotpot, made using simple ingredients: soft-shell turtle, soy sauce and sake. The owner is particular about each ingredient and the utensils used - undoubtedly the reason for Daiichi's popularity over the centuries.

http://www.suppon-daiichi.com/

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Orinasukan
Senbon-dori runs through the Nishijin area, famous for its textiles. Orinasukan introduces visitors to Kyoto's traditional textile, Nishijin-ori. Not only can see you the craftsmen create their masterpieces but you can tour the workshops and even experience weaving Nishijin-ori, yourself.

http://orinasukan.skr.jp/

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Guesthouse Kingyoya
This guesthouse is a renovated, traditional Kyoto machiya-style house. The rice served at breakfast is grown by the owners, who want guests to experience Kyoto life, firsthand.

http://kingyoya-kyoto.com/english/index.html

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Kuginuki Jizo (Shakuzoji)
The main statue at this temple is a jizo statue, commonly known to locals as Kuginuki Jizo. According to the temple's tradition, votive plaques each bearing a real nail and pincer are hung on the outer wall of the main hall by worshippers wanting release from their hardships.

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Senbon Yenmado (Injoji)
The main statue at Injoji, commonly known as Senbon Yenmado, is of Enma - the god of death who judges if people go to heaven or hell when they die. Worshippers pray at this temple to Enma for passage to heaven.

http://yenmado.jp/

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Funaoka Onsen
Nearby Funaoka-yama is a public bath with an everyday atmosphere. The building was originally a ryokan inn, and the changing room is decorated with many carvings. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the jet bath, the whirlpool bath, the open-air bath and other baths.

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Sarasa Nishijin
Enjoy a snack or drink at this café that was once a sento public bath. The renovated interior still bears traces of its sento past and has a retro feel.

http://sarasan2.exblog.jp/

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Matsuno Shoyu
At Takagamine - the northern tip of Senbon-dori - is a 200-year-old soy-sauce manufacturer who has used the same method since its establishment in the Edo Period. The wooden barrels have been handed down over the generations to preserve its traditional flavor.

http://www.matsunoshouyu.co.jp/

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Joshoji
Kyoto's legendary tayu - elite geiko - Yoshino Dayu, had deep ties with this temple. A devote Buddhist, she lived in the early 1600s and excelled in song and dance. Her grave and the gate she donated remain, today. The Hanakuyo memorial procession is held every April in memory of Yoshino Dayu by Shimabara's current tayus in praise her great achievements.

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