Kyoto way
 |
Description
Book Introduction
Discover! Kyoto's urban story hidden throughout the streets.
“There are scenes that travelers don’t see because they don’t know about them, and that locals take for granted and pass by.
In fact, such small landscapes and elements come together to form huge and vague concepts like 'city' or 'culture'.
Kyoto is a historical city, so there are more clues everywhere.
The author finds and organizes these clues to show us Kyoto's unique way and the uniqueness of Japanese culture.
“I think this book will be useful to both those visiting Kyoto for the first time and those who have been there a hundred times.” Park Chan-yong (Editor, Columnist)
Kyoto is a city with many faces, but there is a unique way of life that runs through it like a main stream.
Once you discover that way, your trip to Kyoto will become much more enjoyable.
This book is a kind of Kyoto guidebook written by the author, a geographer, based on his experiences traveling around every nook and cranny of Kyoto for a year.
We will tell you how to get to know Kyoto in a variety of fun ways without missing the small signs and signals that the city shows.
“There are scenes that travelers don’t see because they don’t know about them, and that locals take for granted and pass by.
In fact, such small landscapes and elements come together to form huge and vague concepts like 'city' or 'culture'.
Kyoto is a historical city, so there are more clues everywhere.
The author finds and organizes these clues to show us Kyoto's unique way and the uniqueness of Japanese culture.
“I think this book will be useful to both those visiting Kyoto for the first time and those who have been there a hundred times.” Park Chan-yong (Editor, Columnist)
Kyoto is a city with many faces, but there is a unique way of life that runs through it like a main stream.
Once you discover that way, your trip to Kyoto will become much more enjoyable.
This book is a kind of Kyoto guidebook written by the author, a geographer, based on his experiences traveling around every nook and cranny of Kyoto for a year.
We will tell you how to get to know Kyoto in a variety of fun ways without missing the small signs and signals that the city shows.
- You can preview some of the book's contents.
Preview
index
introduction
Chapter 1 The Kyoto Way
New Year's Eve (sticking bubble wrap on the windows...) | The Kyoto Way | Bicycle Parking Violations | Even if It's a Little Slow | Did the Two Poets See Ducks? [Doshisha University's Monument to Yun Dong-ju and Jeong Ji-yong] | March Snow [Ginkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)] | Squatting and Caring for Moss [Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)]
Chapter 2: Functionality and Artistry of Old Cities
Observer of the Street | The Stones Laid as Gate Foundations Are Unusual | Machiya, Traditional Urban Houses | The Language of Machiya | Cities and Alleyways | The Face of a Shop, Noren | Don't Carelessly Discard Even Small Things | Discover! Ikezuishi | In a Quiet and Neat Town [Shakecho]
Chapter 3: A very general, somewhat personal account of the garden.
Until You Gain the Wisdom of Kannon [Jisen Garden] | Interpretations of the Stones Differ [Karesansui Garden] | Before Drinking Tea [Roji Garden] | The Product of Daily Cleaning | A Visit to Katsura Imperial Villa! [Katsura Imperial Villa] | 20th-Century Garden [Tofukuji Temple]
Chapter 4: Between Daily Life and Festival
Wearing an aoi leaf on your head [Aoi Matsuri] | If you still have to go in the summer [Gion Matsuri] | Hurry to get a good seat [Jidai Matsuri] | Festivals resemble the city
Chapter 5: How to Enjoy the Things I Love in Kyoto
If you stay away from baseball, you'll probably live longer, but [Koshien] | Since we're talking about beer | Ice cream and sake [Fushimi] | With warm coffee beans in your heart
Chapter 6: Kyoto Remembering the Seasons
Pausing for a moment on the path | When the bonfire is set, summer arrives | The Sasakazari of July | Burning red
Reference book
Reviews
Chapter 1 The Kyoto Way
New Year's Eve (sticking bubble wrap on the windows...) | The Kyoto Way | Bicycle Parking Violations | Even if It's a Little Slow | Did the Two Poets See Ducks? [Doshisha University's Monument to Yun Dong-ju and Jeong Ji-yong] | March Snow [Ginkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)] | Squatting and Caring for Moss [Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)]
Chapter 2: Functionality and Artistry of Old Cities
Observer of the Street | The Stones Laid as Gate Foundations Are Unusual | Machiya, Traditional Urban Houses | The Language of Machiya | Cities and Alleyways | The Face of a Shop, Noren | Don't Carelessly Discard Even Small Things | Discover! Ikezuishi | In a Quiet and Neat Town [Shakecho]
Chapter 3: A very general, somewhat personal account of the garden.
Until You Gain the Wisdom of Kannon [Jisen Garden] | Interpretations of the Stones Differ [Karesansui Garden] | Before Drinking Tea [Roji Garden] | The Product of Daily Cleaning | A Visit to Katsura Imperial Villa! [Katsura Imperial Villa] | 20th-Century Garden [Tofukuji Temple]
Chapter 4: Between Daily Life and Festival
Wearing an aoi leaf on your head [Aoi Matsuri] | If you still have to go in the summer [Gion Matsuri] | Hurry to get a good seat [Jidai Matsuri] | Festivals resemble the city
Chapter 5: How to Enjoy the Things I Love in Kyoto
If you stay away from baseball, you'll probably live longer, but [Koshien] | Since we're talking about beer | Ice cream and sake [Fushimi] | With warm coffee beans in your heart
Chapter 6: Kyoto Remembering the Seasons
Pausing for a moment on the path | When the bonfire is set, summer arrives | The Sasakazari of July | Burning red
Reference book
Reviews
Detailed image
Into the book
There is a small stone(?) that I found in the school flower bed after passing by it without paying attention every day for almost a month.
This is a monument to Professor Kenichi Fukui, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1981.
He was the first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on frontier molecular orbital theory.
Kyoto University has produced eight Nobel Prize winners so far, including Professor Hideki Yukawa, the first Japanese to receive the Nobel Prize in 1949.
While it is enviable to have so many winners, I was even more envious of the Nobel Prize being celebrated on such a modest scale and in such a way.
--- p.16, from “The Kyoto Way”
Looking at them now, many of them seem crude and out of place, but they are a visual expression of the Western image that the Japanese had in mind at the time, and they are also monuments that show the vitality of the streets entering a new era.
As someone who has a special interest in old buildings, the sign architecture was a great sight for me.
Recently, many signboard buildings have disappeared, and some have been designated as cultural properties.
--- p.77, from “The Language of Machiya”
The first thing you meet when you go to the Lodge Garden is Logimon.
The log cabin is made of wood and has a roof made of strips, giving it a simple feel.
Once through, the tobiishi guides guests to the tea room, where these stones prevent clothes and shoes from getting dirty from rainwater or dirt, and also help with walking.
It is rare for the dobiishi to be placed in a straight line, and they are placed with an appropriate rhythm from left to right to allow pedestrians to walk naturally, taking into account their line of sight and stride.
Not only the form in which the stones are laid out, but also the material, shape, and color of the stones are varied, showing that aesthetic considerations were also taken into account when laying the stones.
--- p.128, from “Before Drinking Tea (Rosie Garden)”
As soon as the tour began, we came across a straight road called Miyukimichi.
It is a path paved with stones on a flat surface using a technique called 'ararekoboshi', that is, it looks like 'snow has been sprinkled'.
I was amazed by the 44-meter-long blue-black pebbles brought from the Kamogawa River in Kyoto.
It is said that it takes one craftsman a day to lay stones 50 centimeters square using the Ararekoboshi method.
--- p.158, from "A Visit to Katsura Imperial Villa! (Katsura Imperial Villa)"
In Korea, traditional events that embody the unique local character of local residents have almost disappeared, and instead, similar festivals created by local governments are held with little to no connection to local residents.
In contrast, traditional events are still maintained in each neighborhood in Japan.
In Japan, local communities are strong, residents have a strong attachment to their local communities, and there is active interaction between neighbors.
We need to compare these differences between us and Japan and the factors that led to them to find something we can learn from.
This is a monument to Professor Kenichi Fukui, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1981.
He was the first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on frontier molecular orbital theory.
Kyoto University has produced eight Nobel Prize winners so far, including Professor Hideki Yukawa, the first Japanese to receive the Nobel Prize in 1949.
While it is enviable to have so many winners, I was even more envious of the Nobel Prize being celebrated on such a modest scale and in such a way.
--- p.16, from “The Kyoto Way”
Looking at them now, many of them seem crude and out of place, but they are a visual expression of the Western image that the Japanese had in mind at the time, and they are also monuments that show the vitality of the streets entering a new era.
As someone who has a special interest in old buildings, the sign architecture was a great sight for me.
Recently, many signboard buildings have disappeared, and some have been designated as cultural properties.
--- p.77, from “The Language of Machiya”
The first thing you meet when you go to the Lodge Garden is Logimon.
The log cabin is made of wood and has a roof made of strips, giving it a simple feel.
Once through, the tobiishi guides guests to the tea room, where these stones prevent clothes and shoes from getting dirty from rainwater or dirt, and also help with walking.
It is rare for the dobiishi to be placed in a straight line, and they are placed with an appropriate rhythm from left to right to allow pedestrians to walk naturally, taking into account their line of sight and stride.
Not only the form in which the stones are laid out, but also the material, shape, and color of the stones are varied, showing that aesthetic considerations were also taken into account when laying the stones.
--- p.128, from “Before Drinking Tea (Rosie Garden)”
As soon as the tour began, we came across a straight road called Miyukimichi.
It is a path paved with stones on a flat surface using a technique called 'ararekoboshi', that is, it looks like 'snow has been sprinkled'.
I was amazed by the 44-meter-long blue-black pebbles brought from the Kamogawa River in Kyoto.
It is said that it takes one craftsman a day to lay stones 50 centimeters square using the Ararekoboshi method.
--- p.158, from "A Visit to Katsura Imperial Villa! (Katsura Imperial Villa)"
In Korea, traditional events that embody the unique local character of local residents have almost disappeared, and instead, similar festivals created by local governments are held with little to no connection to local residents.
In contrast, traditional events are still maintained in each neighborhood in Japan.
In Japan, local communities are strong, residents have a strong attachment to their local communities, and there is active interaction between neighbors.
We need to compare these differences between us and Japan and the factors that led to them to find something we can learn from.
--- p.199, from “If You Still Have to Go in the Summer (Gion Matsuri)”
Publisher's Review
A city where old and new are mixed
Where does heritage begin and where does modern life begin? In Kyoto, it's particularly difficult to distinguish between past and present.
Because the entire city is well preserved in its old form.
Walking around Kyoto is like walking on ruins.
On the one hand, Kyoto is constantly busy reinventing itself, cheerfully commercial, and bustling with excitement.
Preserving old culture and always being open to new things—is it possible for these two things to coexist?
“Kyoto is an innovative city that has modernized faster than the capital, Tokyo, while preserving traditional culture and art.
Kyoto truly practices the spirit of ‘respecting the past and creating new things’, that is, learning from the past and creating new things.” - From the ‘Preface’
Like a snobby, snobby dandy accustomed to being praised by others, Kyoto's truly fascinating stories lie hidden throughout the city, waiting to be discovered by discerning travelers.
If you go without prior knowledge, there is a high chance that you will miss the clues to this story.
Geographer Jeong Chi-yeong calmly shares information about Kyoto that would be useful for those planning a trip there, based on his experiences living in the city for a year.
The greatest feature of this book is that it discovers and explains in an easy-to-understand way the history, culture, and way of life of people in places that travelers might pass by without noticing.
For travelers seeking to discover the humanities hidden beneath the city's facade, this book will be an invaluable tool.
Do you know 'Ikezuishi'?
On the streets of Kyoto, there are stones called 'Ikezuishi' scattered here and there.
It may seem like a strange and insignificant, knee-high stone, but it is a symbol of the streets, clearly showing the peculiar temperament of the Kyoto people who try to avoid conflict or conflict with their neighbors.
What is even more unusual is that the people of Kyoto still do not get rid of this stone, which seems to have nothing to do with efficiency or aesthetics.
When I see the rocks lying on the street in their original shapes, I feel like they have managed to survive until the 21st century in a street with square buildings.
Machiya, a traditional urban house, also remains in great numbers in Kyoto.
Kyoto people do not tear down old, traditional houses, but instead use them as cafes, restaurants, and luxury stores.
Seeing these old things still functioning without losing their original function, it feels like the very thing that doesn't change is how Kyoto changes.
Just as people in the past built shrines and created gardens, people living in Kyoto today look after and cultivate the small shrines around them and the gardens of their own homes.
The author cites the daily 'cleaning' as the reason why Kyoto's gardens are beautiful.
This is because the people living in Kyoto diligently sweep, clean, and tidy the gardens of this old shrine throughout the four seasons, even as the world has changed so much. This is also connected to the daily life of tending and looking after the gardens in front of one's house.
The sight of someone carefully picking up fallen leaves from a moss field with a small wooden broom is a symbolic scene that shows Kyoto's garden culture.
Readers who have already been to Kyoto will recall the solid scenery of Kyoto that they had briefly seen.
The scenery, which was so slow, simple, and humane that it was frustrating, comes to mind more vividly to those who live busy lives.
Kyoto Stories from a Geographer
The book consists of six chapters.
Chapter 1, “The Kyoto Way,” tells of Kyoto’s slow-paced urban life and simple celebrations.
Chapter 2, “Functionality and Artistry of the Old City,” discusses Kyoto’s ancient yet functional lifestyle.
The main characters are traditional machiya houses, uniquely shaped door signs, noren that serve as the face of the store, and old signposts that stand proudly among the gleaming buildings.
Chapter 3, “A Very General, Some Personal Notes on Gardens,” shows how to enjoy gardens that showcase Japan’s sophisticated aesthetics in a fun and engaging way.
The tobiishi and shikiishi, stones set into the ground in exquisite shapes designed to accommodate the pedestrian's stride, and the tsukubai, a water bowl for washing hands and rinsing the mouth, are all unique in each garden.
Just looking around and discovering these elements makes the garden experience even more enjoyable.
Chapter 4, ‘Between Daily Life and Festival’, depicts a festival scene that resembles a city.
You can also see what efforts Kyoto people make to preserve traditional festivals.
Chapter 5, "How to Enjoy the Things I Love in Kyoto," discusses things we love, including high school baseball culture, alcohol, and coffee, against the backdrop of Kyoto.
Chapter 6, “Kyoto Remembering the Seasons,” takes a look at everyday life in Kyoto, where traditional customs are enjoyed in each season.
You will be able to see how earnestly the Japanese, known as workaholics, enjoy the small joys of the season.
All 375 photos in the book were taken by the author himself, and they vividly support the stories told in the book.
Just browsing through the photos and captions is a fun way to pass the time.
Kyoto Adagio
The beauty of this book is that it broadens the variety of ways you travel and broadens your perspective on cities.
Therefore, it would be a good idea to refer to this book when traveling to cities other than Kyoto.
“Kyoto, the capital of Japan for over a thousand years, is a prime example of how the old and the new can coexist.” - From the ‘Preface’
Kyoto is a city that doesn't change easily, but there are also cities that erase their past too quickly.
It is difficult to say whether it is better to change or not to change.
However, by experiencing Kyoto's Adagio, we may be able to slowly find our own appropriate way of life, at our own pace.
I hope that readers of this book will be able to experience Kyoto's way of playing life and prepare for an enjoyable trip.
Where does heritage begin and where does modern life begin? In Kyoto, it's particularly difficult to distinguish between past and present.
Because the entire city is well preserved in its old form.
Walking around Kyoto is like walking on ruins.
On the one hand, Kyoto is constantly busy reinventing itself, cheerfully commercial, and bustling with excitement.
Preserving old culture and always being open to new things—is it possible for these two things to coexist?
“Kyoto is an innovative city that has modernized faster than the capital, Tokyo, while preserving traditional culture and art.
Kyoto truly practices the spirit of ‘respecting the past and creating new things’, that is, learning from the past and creating new things.” - From the ‘Preface’
Like a snobby, snobby dandy accustomed to being praised by others, Kyoto's truly fascinating stories lie hidden throughout the city, waiting to be discovered by discerning travelers.
If you go without prior knowledge, there is a high chance that you will miss the clues to this story.
Geographer Jeong Chi-yeong calmly shares information about Kyoto that would be useful for those planning a trip there, based on his experiences living in the city for a year.
The greatest feature of this book is that it discovers and explains in an easy-to-understand way the history, culture, and way of life of people in places that travelers might pass by without noticing.
For travelers seeking to discover the humanities hidden beneath the city's facade, this book will be an invaluable tool.
Do you know 'Ikezuishi'?
On the streets of Kyoto, there are stones called 'Ikezuishi' scattered here and there.
It may seem like a strange and insignificant, knee-high stone, but it is a symbol of the streets, clearly showing the peculiar temperament of the Kyoto people who try to avoid conflict or conflict with their neighbors.
What is even more unusual is that the people of Kyoto still do not get rid of this stone, which seems to have nothing to do with efficiency or aesthetics.
When I see the rocks lying on the street in their original shapes, I feel like they have managed to survive until the 21st century in a street with square buildings.
Machiya, a traditional urban house, also remains in great numbers in Kyoto.
Kyoto people do not tear down old, traditional houses, but instead use them as cafes, restaurants, and luxury stores.
Seeing these old things still functioning without losing their original function, it feels like the very thing that doesn't change is how Kyoto changes.
Just as people in the past built shrines and created gardens, people living in Kyoto today look after and cultivate the small shrines around them and the gardens of their own homes.
The author cites the daily 'cleaning' as the reason why Kyoto's gardens are beautiful.
This is because the people living in Kyoto diligently sweep, clean, and tidy the gardens of this old shrine throughout the four seasons, even as the world has changed so much. This is also connected to the daily life of tending and looking after the gardens in front of one's house.
The sight of someone carefully picking up fallen leaves from a moss field with a small wooden broom is a symbolic scene that shows Kyoto's garden culture.
Readers who have already been to Kyoto will recall the solid scenery of Kyoto that they had briefly seen.
The scenery, which was so slow, simple, and humane that it was frustrating, comes to mind more vividly to those who live busy lives.
Kyoto Stories from a Geographer
The book consists of six chapters.
Chapter 1, “The Kyoto Way,” tells of Kyoto’s slow-paced urban life and simple celebrations.
Chapter 2, “Functionality and Artistry of the Old City,” discusses Kyoto’s ancient yet functional lifestyle.
The main characters are traditional machiya houses, uniquely shaped door signs, noren that serve as the face of the store, and old signposts that stand proudly among the gleaming buildings.
Chapter 3, “A Very General, Some Personal Notes on Gardens,” shows how to enjoy gardens that showcase Japan’s sophisticated aesthetics in a fun and engaging way.
The tobiishi and shikiishi, stones set into the ground in exquisite shapes designed to accommodate the pedestrian's stride, and the tsukubai, a water bowl for washing hands and rinsing the mouth, are all unique in each garden.
Just looking around and discovering these elements makes the garden experience even more enjoyable.
Chapter 4, ‘Between Daily Life and Festival’, depicts a festival scene that resembles a city.
You can also see what efforts Kyoto people make to preserve traditional festivals.
Chapter 5, "How to Enjoy the Things I Love in Kyoto," discusses things we love, including high school baseball culture, alcohol, and coffee, against the backdrop of Kyoto.
Chapter 6, “Kyoto Remembering the Seasons,” takes a look at everyday life in Kyoto, where traditional customs are enjoyed in each season.
You will be able to see how earnestly the Japanese, known as workaholics, enjoy the small joys of the season.
All 375 photos in the book were taken by the author himself, and they vividly support the stories told in the book.
Just browsing through the photos and captions is a fun way to pass the time.
Kyoto Adagio
The beauty of this book is that it broadens the variety of ways you travel and broadens your perspective on cities.
Therefore, it would be a good idea to refer to this book when traveling to cities other than Kyoto.
“Kyoto, the capital of Japan for over a thousand years, is a prime example of how the old and the new can coexist.” - From the ‘Preface’
Kyoto is a city that doesn't change easily, but there are also cities that erase their past too quickly.
It is difficult to say whether it is better to change or not to change.
However, by experiencing Kyoto's Adagio, we may be able to slowly find our own appropriate way of life, at our own pace.
I hope that readers of this book will be able to experience Kyoto's way of playing life and prepare for an enjoyable trip.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: May 30, 2025
- Page count, weight, size: 280 pages | 380g | 140*210*23mm
- ISBN13: 9791199241206
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