Hotel Anteroom Kyoto

Facade of the hotel

Inner lobby

Hotels should have characters and it was mostly why I tried this hotel and in fact staying here was one of the major purposes of my travel this time. There were a few glitches like wi-fi was slow for some reason - could have been due to poor performance of modem or very snowy weather ? - but the staff were helpful, polite and friendly. And as a whole the hotel was artistic and clean. It had characters. Let me share a few pics.

Breakfast venue with artworks.

 

Everyday they serve different types of smoothies. Healthy and refershing way to start your day.

Okunoshima itinerary model

Here is an example of an okunoshima tour itinerary for your reference. I wanted to respond back to a comment from a visitor to this blog but could not due to system complications. I am out of reach to my PC for the time being. Let me try submitting an article for her reference.

Okunoshima access (ferry &train table)

http://www.qkamura.or.jp/ohkuno/access/images/jikokuhyo.pdf

There should be a JR train arriving at TADANOUMI Stn from MIHARA at 9:52 (this could be updated in the middle of March by JR).

Leave TADANOUMI Port by ship at 10:05;

Arrive on the island at 10:17;

Leave the island at 12:45;

Arrive at the port at 12:57;

Leave TADANOUMI Stn for MIHARA at 13:15;

Transfer at MIHARA and go to HIROSHIMA.

Enjoy your journey.

Peace Park on a snowy day

snow silently falling in Peace Park

It was a tour with snow but at the start of the tour, major part of the talks was given in the Rest House where tourist information is housed, benches are available and it is warm. It was one snowy, quiet day and I could not resist taking a few pictures while giving a tour. This is one of them: the main wing of the peace memorial museum completed in 1955. Lifted by stilts, the building serves as the gate to the park and symbolizes the resilience of people standing up once again. By raising the structure, TANGE secured his axis of vista that he laid on the ground: the impressive alignment of the A-bomb Dome, Flame of Peace, Cenotaph, and the original wing of the museum that is at right angle with the Peace Boulevard.

Ocean view from naoshima

one winter afternoon

This pic was taken from Chichu Cafe, Chichu Museum where I can't resist taking photos every time I go. 

Ritsurin Garden from the boat on the pond

Sengi rock formation in the pond

a bit of the boat is seen at the bottom of the pic

The pics were taken from an occasion of boat riding on the waters of Ritsurin Garden. This boat ride needs reservation and seats are limited. Quite popular.

Full moon rises above this stretching pine tree

new artworks from 2013 @ Inujima

The year 2013 celebrated the 2nd International Setouchi Art Festival followed by the one in 2010. The triennale attracted lots of attention and visitors. Visitors to Inujima saw new installations in the Art House project area and the same artist did the following two. The galleries were designed by SEJIMA Kazuyo, one of the SANAA architects. What you see looks different through contact lenses and the flowers look like floating in the water, being reflected there. The title is wisely conceived of: reflectwo.

And the big doggy. This is done by a local artist commissioned by the community and indifferent to Benesse art but simply cute and and good. The dog will stay as part of the island.

contact lens

looking at the dog-shaped sacred rock on the nearest island

one day in winter @ naoshima

Isn't this an artistic piece of cloud in the sky??

Seen on the hill are the oval wing of Benesse House (higher) and Chichu Museum (closer to the clouds). The gate keeper's office designed by ANDO is also seen.