Nishijin Kyoto - History of Kyoto remains in town -

This is Kyoto on the morning of February 1, 2015.
In Kyoto, It was snowy landscap since New Years this year.

I will describe the history of Nishijin in more detail.

【Nishijin has long history】

Nishijin is the birthplace of Nishijin Textile.
Even now, there is the area where work related to the textile gather.

Position of Nishijin is red part on this map.

【The northern end of the Heian period Japan's imperial palace】

The capital was moved to Kyoto and imperial palace was built in 794.
Here was the northern end of the imperial palace.

Ichijo-dori Street that was introduced in video was in the same location since the Heian Period.
Road width of the time was 30 meters!



Road width has become much narrower than the Heian period.

【The encampment of the western army at the time of the Onin War】

In June 1467, the Onin War began in Kyoto City.
Oni War was civil war. The cause was a succession race generalsin the shogun family of Ashikaga.

Kyoto was the main battlefield of the Onin War.
As a result, Kyoto was destroyed almost entire area, and was devastated.

Nishijin was the encampment of the western army at the time of the Onin War
This is the origin of the name of "Nishijin".
(Nishi=western, Jin=encampment)

【Hideyoshi Toyotomi built Jurakutei】

Kyoto was redeveloped by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's urban planning in 1587.
Around the Nishijin, Jurakutei was built.

Hideyoshi Toyotomi is the person who unify the whole Japan in the Sengoku period.




This is the Nakadachiuri-dori Street.
There is stone monuments of "Former Jurakutei site" in the elementary on the right.

Jurakutei was government office and residence of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.
It was supposedly luxurious castle. For example, roof was covered with golden leaf.

However, It is not well understood for more information because Jurakutei was thoroughly destroyed by the order of Hideyoshi Toyotomi in 1595.

This is the stone monuments of "Former Jurakutei site" in the street intersection of Omiya-Nakadachiuri.
When a large-scale construction, remains of Jurakutei is often found in this area.

【The residence of a SAMURAI family】

Around the Jurakutei, There were many residences of Hideyoshi's relatives and vassal.

I will introduce the stone monuments in the area that appeared to this video.




This is the stone monuments of "Former Josui Kuroda's residence site" on the Ichijo-dori Street.
Kuroda Josui is the famous close adviser of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.




There is a stone monument at the back of this scene in the video. Distance is 300 meters.




This is the stone monuments of "Former Kagekatsu Uesugi's residence site" on the Kuromon-dori Street.
Kagekatsu Uesugi was a vassal of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.




This is the stone monuments of "Former SEN no Rikyu's residence site" on the Yoshiyamachi-dori Street.
SEN no Rikyu served Hideyoshi as a master of the tea ceremony.


During the rule of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, there were a lot of feudal lord's residences in this area.
There is a place where feudal lord's name is the origin of the town name.



The name of the town is written on the red box. It is Hidadono-cho.
The origin of the town name is Ujisato Gamo who is the close adviser of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.
His common name was Hidanokami.

There are many towns named associated with feudal lord's who served under Hideyoshi around this area.

【Old atmosphere remains in the streets】

IKEZU-Stone

Ikezu means spite.
When stone is placed on the corner of the house, it is difficult to enter people and cars.
This is the wisdom to avoid trouble beforehand.

Unagi no nedoko (bed of eels)

In Kyoto, the house sits width is small and the depth is large.
Because of this, House in Kyoto sometimes called "eel of bed".

Almost One‐way traffic

In Kyoto, There are many many street which vehicular traffic is allowed to move in only one direction.
In the case of the car, it is struggling to get to the destination if you are unfamiliar.

Public bathhouses

There were many house that does not have a bath until a few decades ago in Kyoto.
Because of that, There are a lot of public bathhouses.

Towns and street named "Moto(from the first) --"

The name of the town is written on the red box. It is Moto-Myorenji-cho.
"Moto" means "from the first".

From the first, there was temple that called Myoren-ji Temple here. But Myoren-ji Temple was relocated for Jurakudai construction by the order of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.
This is the origin of the town name.

And, this street called Moto-Seiganji-dori Street because here is street that was Seigan-ji  Temple from the first.
Seigan-ji  Temple was also relocated by the order of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.



Kyoto is the town that mix "new things" and "unchanging thing more than a thousand year".

In Kyoto, There are a lot of landscape like this.

If you visit Kyoto, would you like to try to enjoy streets that remain atmosphere of history?

Snow Kyoto Gyoen National Garden Japan 4K SONY FDR-AX100

It is Kyoto Gyoen National Garden morning of January 3, 2015.

The first avenue is Karasuma-dori Street.
It is unusual for heavy traffic road is so white.

When Passing through the gates, pure white snow is illuminated in the morning sun, it was shining as far as the eye can see.

This snow was record snowfall.
It might be quite ahead to see this scene to the next chance.

Snow melts in the morning sun, I felt regret.

Snow Kyoto Imperial Palace Japan 4K SONY FDR-AX100

It is Kyoto Kyoto Imperial Palace morning of January 3, 2015.

The snow fall and melt is sparkling illuminated in morning sun, It was very beautiful.

I had a talk with just older person who had come for a walk.
She was also said, "I have never seen piled so many snow".

But, in the afternoon, many of the snow had melted away.
I can be visited here in the morning, I'm really lucky.




It is Mt. Daimonji-yama to the east.
There is the Daimonji at the white triangle of mountain surface.

Hatsumode Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine Snow Kyoto Japan 4K SONY FDR-AX100

I went to Hatsumode to Kyoto Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine.

Hatsumode means to the first visit to a shrine or temple for the year.
Many Japanese people visit a shrine or temple during the first three days of January, pray that the year will be happy.

I visited there in the afternoon of the next day when snow fell, but was still snow.
Snow piled up on the branches looked like a flower.

So beautiful!

Kyoto Nijo Castle Snow Drive Japan 4K SONY FDR-AX100

I went to the first shrine visit of the New Year so It is New Year's Day today.
Snow has been falling on the way home.

At that time, I was just passing through the neighborhood of Nijo Castle, and tried to shoot the drive video.

Nijo Castle is a place hedge and green of pine is beautiful, but was gray scenery just like ink painting today.

Round of Nijo Castle is about 1.8km.
Here is a great jogging and walking course.