Kinki, Japan Overview
No visit to Japan is complete without a trip to the old political, economic and cultural heartland of Kinki, also known as Kansai.
Situated in the middle of the western dogleg of Japan, Kinki is home to the famous cities of Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Nara.
Although each of these are geographically close their atmosphere and lifestyles are far apart.
For instance, Kyoto, the old Imperial capital, is full of ancient temples, an imperial heritage in the form of the amazing Emperor’s palace, the old Geisha town of Gion, and a cultural background said to include the most refined manners and language in all Japan.
Osaka, on the other hand, just seven minutes away by bullet train, is widely decried as Japan’s uncouth relative. Down to earth, direct and in turns hilarious and offensive to Japanese sensibilities, Osakans spawn Japan’s comedians, maintian its economic engine, and feed you some of the best cooking around.
Kobe, scene of the worst earthquake in living memory, has rebuilt and revitalised to form one of the most delightful and peaceful cities you can wish to visit.
Historically the interface to the outside world due to its port, Kobe has a long history of foreign contact which has imbued its people with a very global outlook and attitude.
This is expressed nowhere more clearly than in its old foreign sector where houses built in European style still stand for crowds to visit, adjacent to the charming herb gardens planted on the side of a mountain.
Finally Nara, the home of the world’s biggest free standing wooden structure (and today’s is smaller than previous buildings!), shelters a massive statue of Buddha which looks out serenely onto a large park filled with hungry deer and brings a spiritual calm to an ancient city.
Latest Posts
Urban sakura
Even amongst the concrete wilderness of the city our beloved cherry bosoms can be found in full boom.
Hang on a sec, isn’t there some kind of spellcheck error going on there?
Hard-boiled
Don’cha just love kaiten sushi? I mean, where else could you get every permeatation of wackiness on rice? In a country where California rolls are frowned upon and advacado isn’t advocated, the likes of Wieners and hamburger strips can only be condoned. Nothing like a contradiction in terms. Just like this hard-boiled shebang. Is eggy […]
Glamour lost to grammer
There’s nothing I like better than a bit of glamour, and I think you’ll agree.
Last weekend, however, I found myself in Nipponbashi. Which, by all accounts, has to be the sleaziest part of Osaka ever. To the point where it even makes our beloved Juso look like Beverly Hills. Not that we’d ever fancy a […]
Springing into action
First winds of spring blowing through Kyoto at the Imperial Palace.
Hurry before they sell out. First come, first served.
Steamy
Mushi mushi! Are you with me?
No, nothing to do with answering the dog ‘n’ bone, but everything to do with all things steamy! And everyone appreciates a nice bitof steaminess on the side once in a while.
Yes, all steamed yumminess served up in a bamboo basket. How about that for a gimmick to end all […]
Peace of mind: special meditation event in Osaka
For anyone interested in meditation and Buddhism, a well-respected British monk is giving a free workshop (English plus Japanese translation) at a yummy macrobiotic cafe in Suita on Monday, 26th January from 7-9pm, only a 5-minute walk from the north/south exit at JR Suita. Click here and scroll down for directions.
Hello sweetie, darling
If we were to translate a ridiculous phrase such as ‘Big circle’ into Japanese we would get something like ‘Daimaru‘. Which is exactly the name of my favourite departo in Kyoto.
As the name ‘department store’ suggests, indeed the store boasts many departments, hence the name’department store’. What that has to do with big circles is […]
A site to behold
Builder’s bum is a most ghastly site. Sight beholds us sometimes in a, yes, most ghastly manner. No manners at all.
Not in Japan, though. No, no.
Meandering past a J-building site, you’d be hard pushed for a bacon sarnie, let alone a wolf whistle. Phew-phew (in both senses).
So how about this for an antithesis? Construction in […]
Swing Jazz Dancing Osaka
If you’ve ever fancied swinging your thing to the masters of dance Jazz but have two left feet then some lessons may be in order.
Fortunately there are Swing Jazz dance lessons every Wednesday at Shinsaibashi’s Sam and Dave club in Osaka.
Start is 7pm until about 10.30pm - just turn up and join in. Some of […]
Take the bull by the horns: Year of the Ox here we come!
Dressed to the nine(s), good heavens, it’s 2009!
Maybe we should make that an unequivocal あけ・おめ こと・よろ type of thing between friends.
To the sacreligious, a slight cringe if you want to be sacked from sticking religiously to J-culture too much. Just a mere abbreviation of 「あけましておめでとうございます」and「今年も宜しくお願いします」, it’s so deliciously tempting to let rip with the 「あけ・おめ こと・よろ」thing just […]
