Kyoto, which was the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years, is one of those cities that looks beautiful no matter what time of the year it is. But out of all the seasons, autumn is by far the most popular time to visit, and now that the leaves are beginning to change people are also starting to plan trips to catch a glimpse of Kyoto’s gorgeous fall scenery.
If you happen to be one of those tourists, we have just the book for you, a unique insight into city by foreigners who now call Kyoto their home, called Amazing Kyoto.
Amazing Kyoto is a collection of information from posts and uploads gleaned from the Facebook page Kyoto Fan and YouTube channel Discover Kyoto, all under one cover.
One common gripe among non-Japanese is that even after year of living in the country, you might still find yourself being grilled by Japanese on Japan 101 basics like how to use chopsticks or the country’s four distinct seasons, but this book features many interesting topics written from a foreigner’s perspective that even many Japanese might not be able to explain in detail off-hand, like the differences between a maiko and a geisha, different types of good luck charms, or mysterious characters you’re likely to encounter at a festival.
Not only that, but there are numerous pages dedicated to year-round Kyoto festivities and Kyoto’s must-try eats like seasonal fruits and Japanese sweets dipped in a chocolate sauce mixed with Uji green tea powder called Gion Fondue, or the healthy-but-delicious green tea acai bowl.
Anyone interested in checking out some of the best things Kyoto has to offer while getting a little Nihongo studying in (the book is in both Japanese and English) should definitely check it out. Amazing Kyoto was released domestically on October 1, and while currently only available in Japan, those interested overseas can order a copy from Amazon Japan.
Top/feature image: Amazon Japan, edited by RocketNews24
Insert images: Amazon Japan, Shogakukan
[ Read in Japanese ]