My little secret places in Kyoto

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Cafe la siesta is a fun place where you can play arcade games and feel nostalgic. It is a sacred place for Chiptune. All the original cocktails inspired by the games are lovely and delicious, and I feel the urge to conquer them. They are selling some cute original products as well. I sometimes find events that I want to join or just go to play games and drink.

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The bar locates at the end of an alley just across the street of Kyasa and Kyabar. Better to ask someone for a direction when it's hard to find. The bar has only table seats. It has large selections of Japanese sake, and you can order from a half-sized bottle (80ml). The bar for a heavy sake drinker...! There is also a food menu, and I like to see the daily recommendations. I find myself here quite ofte.

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A Japanese style standing bar. I usually come here in the middle of bar hopping. The second floor is a sister bar of Xenon called "Christie" where you can sit down and drink. I find my friends drinking either of the bars anytime I go.

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When I was little, I sneaked into the back of the Yamazumi Shrine to make a secret base. Looking back, I was doing something that God would punish me. I wonder what the secret base is like now. Maybe some local kids are making a new secret base.

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(Photo available) A bakery just a short walk from the Iwakura station! It has a large variety of bread, and they are delicious! The lady who works at the bakery is pleased and energetic. My absolute recommendations are the Marshmallow Chocolate, the Pondequejo, and the Yoriyori.

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When I was a kid, I used to play in this shrine. At first glance, it seems there’s nothing special because you don’t find the building of a typical shrine, but the god enshrined in the old-fashioned style. It‘s also the Iwakura Shrine’s resting place during the ritual procession, such as the festival in October.

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Iwakura Shrine is the god protecting the land of Iwakura. Legend has it that the god had already settled the place around 880 (Heian period), and people named the area “Iwakura” after him. If you look at the alter, you will find the god of Iwakura Myojin. You will also find other gods sitting next to him, such as Shinra-myojin, Yahatano-kami, Sanno-gongen, Kasuga-no-kami, Sumiyoshi-sanshin, Matsuo-taisha, Kamo-no-ookami (Kamo shrine), Ise-jingu, Hirano-shrine, Kibune-shrine, Inari-no-kami, and Hitokoto-nushi(a god who grants only one-word wish). This shrine’s highlight is the "Iwakura Fire Festival" held on the closest Saturday to October 23 every year. The beginning of this fire festival is a little unique. A long time ago, a large snake lived in this Iwakura area, and it was annoying the residents by messing up the fields and attacking people. When the troubled landowner consulted with the god, he said, “Exterminate with a torch.” The residents made two torches with a length of 13m and 2m in circumference and burned them in front of the god. After that, the giant snake never shows his appearance again. People have continued to celebrate the festival with appreciation to god for 300 years since then. It’s now registered as an intangible folk cultural property of Kyoto City. I rarely see tourists at this festival because the torches start burning at 3:00 am and go out around 5 am. Then, the Mikoshi, divine palanquin, departs from there. It takes a long time! It's slower and longer than a night club event, so you need to be prepared. When I was a kid, my parents didn’t get angry even if I stayed up late on this fire festival day, so I was looking forward to it every year. The festival’s other charm is that all the rituals are done only by the locals, and they carefully inherit the spirit. Midnight rituals are incredibly mysterious yet powerful. Unfortunately, the festival has been canceled due to the influence of the COVID-19 this year of 2020. Still, if there is an opportunity in the future, I’d recommend anyone to go.

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(Photo available) It’s a bakery located just in front of the mountain, deep in Nagatanicho. The specialty seems to be the french toast. It was very delicious. Because I got lost from the station, when I arrived at the store, I was delighted

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(Photo available) If you go further, about 5 minutes from BRUGGE, an agricultural reservoir will appear. If you go in the daytime on a sunny day, the water surface reflects the surrounding trees, and it’s stunning. You will find a stream and a path leading to Hyotankuzureyama (such a weird name) if you go more. It’s a fascinating forest.

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(Photo available) Even though I had lived in Iwakura for 15 years, I recently found this shrine for the first time. It’s an intimate small shrine at the foot of the mountain. On October 10th, the Shinko-sai Festival is held. Drums, flags, Kosakaki(a small sacred tree), boards, offerings, Oosakaki(a big sacred tree), floats, portable shrines, priests, horses, and carriages parade in a line. I would love to see it!

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It takes about 20 minutes to get Iwakura station if you take the Eizan railway from Demachiyanagi station. The Eizan railway has two interesting special trains, as I show in the pictures. One is KIRARA that has large windows and some seats fixed to enjoy the panoramic view. The second one is named HIEI. Its unique exterior and interior give an impression of a neo-futuristic atmosphere. Many stations between Demachiyanagi station and Iwakura station are worth visiting. I will introduce them the next time.

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The temple is a famous place to visit in spring and autumn. There is a room with a black floor that reflects the leaves of the maples behind it, so you get to see a red floor in autumn and a green floor in spring.

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Since it was the closest river to my parents' house, I enjoyed playing in many different parts of the river when I was a kid. Many kinds of fish and insects, such as brown-headed thrush, crayfish, water striders, goby, dark chub, and fireflies, live here.

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(Photo available) Because I used to go to an elementary school right in front of this park, I often played in this park when I was a kid. It is a relatively large park with swings, sandboxes, slides, jungle gyms, and rest areas. Playing hide-and-seek or tag requires a lot of physical strength. I didn’t find public restrooms here, but It may be a nice place to take a break at the rest areas.

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I used to come to the library almost every day when I was little. The children's book section and the manga section have a wide variety of books. I read all Tezuka Osamu's works at this library.

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(Photo available) I have never encountered but wild bears live in this area. Make sure to have a bell in your hand when you enter the mountain. In addition to bears, wild boars, pheasants, Japanese monkeys, deer, and raccoon dogs also inhabit. When I was little, monkeys attacked me twice. .. Never make eye contact.