Kansai Scene #218 July 2018

FREE MONTHLY GUIDE COVERING OSAKA • KYOTO • HYOGO • NARA • WAKAYAMA • SHIGA

JUL 2018 / ISSUE 218

Fiery Festivities It’s the Sizzling Summer Festival Season

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COOL OFF AT SACRED WATERFALLS FISHING SPOTS TO DROP A LINE IN

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KANSAI MATCHA CAFES FIND OUT WHAT’S ON AROUND KANSAI

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Kansai Scene provides monthly English articles, information and listings for visitors and residents of the Kansai area.

Publisher.......................................................Daniel Lee Managing Editor..........................Celia Polkinghorne Editor.........................................................Jason Haidar Production Manager............................... Misa Matsui Production Assistant......................... Miyoko Morita Accounts Manager..................................Michiko Lee Art.........................................................Peggy Holsclaw Cinema.................................................. Miyoko Morita Event & Festival.....................................Tomoko Ishii Live Music.............................................Phillip Jackson Club........................................................Saiko Fujiwara

Contact Kansai Scene General ...........................mailbox@kansaiscene.com Editorial...............................editor@kansaiscene.com Advertising .......................... sales@kansaiscene.com Tel. ............................................................06-6539-1717 Fax. ...........................................................06-7635-4791 Address........................................Osaka-shi, Nishi-ku, ............................................................ Shinmachi 3-5-7, ................................................................... Eiko Bldg. 2F ................................................................ Mojoworks KK Website............................................. kansaiscene.com

Write for Kansai Scene If you would like to write for KS, please contact editor@kansaiscene.com after reviewing our writers guidelines: kansaiscene.com/write-for-us

Summer is also music-festival season, and this month the Kyoto Daisakusen Mission Impossible festival is happening in Uji on July 7 and 8, while further afield, the Fuji Rock festival will take Niigata by storm at the end of the month.

If you re looking for a way to beat the heat, consider a day trip to one of Kansai s many scenic waterfalls (p 4), or head to a lake, river, or the coast for a spot of summer fishing (p 08). We at Kansai Scene have a special announcement for our readers this month (p 35). We ll be releasing a new-look KS magazine this fall meaning there ll be no August 2018 issue, but we ll be back brighter and bigger than ever for our autumn 2018 issue on September 1.

Enjoy the Kansai summer celebrations!

Events & Festivals.......................................................10 Art ........................................................................................... 16 Live Music ......................................................................... 19 Photo: Jason Haidar

About Kansai Scene

Sweltering summer has arrived and with it comes an assortment of sizzling festivals.

One of the most spectacular religious fire-themed events in Japan, the Nachi Fire Festival lights up the area of Nachi Taisha in Wakayama on July 14. Fireworks shows illuminate the skies in nearly all Kansai prefectures this month, and Kyoto and Osaka both celebrate their biggest festivals with Gion Festival taking over Kyoto streets on July 17 and Tenjin Matsuri bringing Osaka to life on July 24 and 25.

Club ........................................................................................24 Cinema.................................................................................26 Classifieds.........................................................................27 Getting Around / Maps............................................29

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ON THE COVER: This month’s cover image of the Nachi Fire Festival was taken by Jason Haidar.

Chasing Waterfalls Take a refreshing dip under a curtain of cascading water at Kansai falls.

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. We take no responsibility for the quality or content of advertisements. Public and private parties appproached by those claiming to work for or on behalf of Kansai Scene should call this office to confirm the truth of any such claim, especially where money may be involved.

FEATURE Text: Matthew Coslett

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Lakes and Fuji Views Venture to the stunning lakeside location of Kawaguchiko.

A BIT OF HISTORY Kansai Scene was founded by Peter Horvath and Nishikawa Keiko in 2000 and published by Jatin Banker between 2003 – 2011.

TRAVEL Text: Ashley Owen

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Gone Fishing!

Grab a rod and head out for a summer fishing adventure.

FEATURE Text: Randy Poehlman

18 Kansai Scene is proudly published and printed by Mojoprint

Foodspotting Charming Kansai cafes for matcha green tea lovers.

FOOD & DRINK Text: Sydney Solis

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FEATURE

Cool Off at Kansai’s Mythical Falls Splash about in sacred spots with fascinating tales.

Text & Images: Matthew Coslett

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dhism. According to local legend, this being appeared before a traveler to the area named En-noOzunu. The visitation so inspired En-no-Ozunu that he would go on to form a religious sect of Japanese mountain asceticism known as Shugen-do.

Visiting the Akame area, it is easy to see why the place would inspire a nature-revering sect like mountain asceticism. Even visitors unfamiliar with the legend can appreciate the multitude of beautiful, cooling falls and natural setting which includes salamanders and plenty of birdlife. The more spiritual-minded, on the other hand, will appreciate the legends and the fact that each waterfall is connected with a vow taken by Bodhisattvas.

Akame is not the only waterfall associated with myths. A similar legend explains the strange name of the Inunaki area and its sacred waterfall in Izumisano, Osaka.

The name Inunaki translates as

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ShipporyuJi Waterfall Purification Shipporyu-ji Temple is known to have strong spiritual qualities and offers a purification ritual designed to cleanse the mind. Visitors can purify themselves under the waterfall Gyoja no Taki inside the temple grounds.

The temple and waterfall are situated on tree-clad Mount Inunaki, which is home to seven waterfalls known as Nanabaku .

The monks that tend to the Inunaki also offer a one-day ascetic training workshop in the more esoteric aspects of their discipline.

inunakisan.jp

Main photo: Nachi Falls - the tallest in Japan at 133m, istockphoto.com/MiriamPolito

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ith another sweltering summer upon us, it is the perfect time to escape to the Kansai countryside. For nature lovers, some of the must-see attractions are the waterfalls that are dotted around the region. In terms of size, beauty, and importance, Kansai is one of the best areas in Japan to see these marvels. However, what many visitors don t realize is that the waterfalls around Kansai are important religiously, too. Thanks to the influence of various sects of Buddhism, they are sacred spots with historical stories.

One of the most famous stories is told about the Akame 48 Waterfalls in Nabari, Mie. At first, the name of these waterfalls might seem strange as the word Akame literally translates as red eyes. In this case, the red eyes in question belong to Fudo Myo, an important entity in esoteric Bud-

Feature

Inunaki Falls - an integral part of the Shugendo buddhist sect

a dog cries, and it comes from an ancient legend of a hunter traveling to the area with his pet dog. While there are different tales (one of which involves the hunter cutting off the dog s head for disturbing his hunt!), the common theme is that the dog alerted the hunter to an attack by a giant snake and then died for its master. As a result, the area has become known as a place where devoted canines can receive their final rest and the small tombs along the way to the mountain are dedicated to their memories.

Similarly to the Akame falls, the Inunaki area is used for religious activities. One big difference is that while you may occasionally see a worshipper at Akame, the waterfalls at Inunaki are still a big part of the observances of the Shugendo sect that is headquartered there. As part of their training in the esoteric religion, devotees undergo physical hardships to prove themselves worthy of insight. It is not uncommon to see

Nunobiki Falls in Hyogo - one of the ‘divine falls of Japan’

disciples climbing the slippery falls as part of their training, standing for prolonged periods in the waterfall s freezing cold waters, or even dangling themselves precariously over the edge to take vows. Occasionally, people not affiliated with the temple are allowed to take part in some of the less-strenuous trials in return for a small donation to the temples.

While Akame and Inunaki are both important places, their importance is dwarfed by Nunobiki Falls in Kobe, which is considered one of the divine falls of Japan alongside Kegon Falls in Tochigi Prefecture and Nachi Falls at Nachi Taisha in Wakayama Prefecture (the site of the Nachi-no-ogi matsuri (Nachi Fire Festival) happening on Saturday, July 14). These three waterfalls are known for being important places for the practitioners of Shugen-do to visit for enlightenment purposes.

A popular story of the spiritual aspects of the area comes from the Tales of Ise. In the story,

Jigoku-dani Falls - it’s rocky outcrops earned it the moniker ‘Hell’s Valley’

the area is so inspiring that the visitors, a guardsman, and a government official, immediately pen verses describing the beauty of the clear cascading gems.

These days, of course, most visitors are more likely to enjoy the cooling spray of these giant attractions than be inspired to write poetry. Even so, on a visit to the falls, one can read the poems on nearby plaques and perhaps become inspired.

While Akame, Inunaki, and Nunobiki are heavenly, according to some, the opposite is true of the falls near the base of Rokko mountain known as Jigoku-dani – Hell s Valley – because of the rocky outcrops that remind people of the legends of what Hell would likely look like.

This may seem strange to lessimaginative visitors as the sublime waterfall which cascades down the mountain and the little shrine there are probably closer to most people s image of Heaven than Hell. KS

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TRAVEL

Kicking it in Kawaguchiko This beautiful lakeside location is more than just a viewing platform for Japan s most iconic mountain.

Text: Ashley Owen • Images: As credited

K

awaguchiko is the largest and most developed of the Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko), which lie just north of Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Popular as a base for climbing Fuji, this beautiful area offers far more than just a view of the mountain or somewhere to pass through on your way to the summit.

Of course, the spectacular view of Mt. Fuji is one of the most striking features of Kawaguchiko. The breathtaking sight of the iconic peak rising above the town is even more impressive than you might expect – as long as it is not shrouded in cloud! Mornings are usually the best time in terms of visibility, so aim for an early start if you want that picture-perfect shot.

One of the best places to admire Fuji is from the observation deck near the summit of Mt. Tenjo. This area offers panoramic views of both the peak and Lake Kawaguchi below. To reach it, you can either hike up

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from the lakeside (which takes about 45–60 minutes) or take the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway if you want to relax and enjoy the view as you ascend.

As you explore Tenjo, you ll notice several colorful statues of a rabbit and a tanuki (Japanese raccoon) dotted around. These are characters from an old Japanese folktale that is thought to be set on this mountain. The critters may look cute, but be warned the story is quite dark – it is a tale of revenge in which the rabbit sets the murderous tanuki on fire before drowning him in a river!

As well as the statues, the tea shop at the top of the ropeway sells special tanuki and usagi (rabbit) mochi. These delicious chewy pounded-rice treats are baked over charcoal and served warm, coated in a sweet sauce – perfect for refueling if you hiked up.

Whether you ascended the mountain on foot or via the ropeway, in order to reach the true summit, you need to take

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the path that runs up behind the observation deck. It only takes five to 10 minutes, and at the top, there is a small shrine.

Keen hikers might also like to continue on from here to the summit of Mt. Mitsutoge (1,786m).

One of Tenjo s other popular landmarks is the Bell of Tenjo, where it is said that your wish will come true if you ring the bell while looking at Fuji through the heart-shaped frame.

It is believed that couples who ring the bell together will have a long and happy relationship.

From this point, you can also spot one of Kawaguchiko s other notable attractions: FujiQ Highland. Boasting several record-breaking roller coasters – including rides with the steepest drop, the fastest acceleration, and the most inversions in the world – it s a must-visit for thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies. The theme park is also home to the world s longest haunted-house-style attraction – aptly named the Super Scary

Feature Photo: Ashley Owen

Photo: Ashley Owen

Kawaguchiko Music Forest

Essentials GETTING THERE

Main photo: Lake Kawaguchi, iStock.com/NithidPhoto

Kawaguchiko is the most accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes. The easiest and cheapest way to get there from Kansai is by bus. Overnight buses leave from Osaka and Kyoto, which will take you all the way to Kawaguchiko station. The journey takes approximately 9-11 hours depending on where you travel from, and costs around ¥15,000 for a return trip.

GETTING AROUND Probably the most convenient way for visitors to travel around Kawaguchiko is by bus. There are three different lines – red, green, and blue – which between them cover most of the tourist attractions in the area. A two-day pass is available for ¥1,500, which gives you unlimited travel on all three lines for two consecutive days.

WHAT TO EAT Kawaguchiko s local specialty is hōtō noodles, which look similar to udon noodles but are even thicker. They are traditionally served in a miso based soup with seasonal vegetables, and you ll find this hearty dish in many of the restaurants in the area.

Photo: Ashley Owen

Ring the Bell of Tenjo and make a wish

Labyrinth of Fear – which at 900 meters long, is certainly not for the faint-hearted!

Those after a slightly tamer – but no less enjoyable – day out could go to some of the many museums dotted around the edge of the lake, including: • Kubota Itchiku Museum: displaying elaborate kimono created by the artist Kubota Itchiku • Yamanashi Gem Museum: showcasing gems, crystals and precious stones from around the world • Kawaguchi Museum of Art: housing a permanent exhibition of artwork featuring Mount Fuji, alongside a number of temporary exhibitions One of the more unusual museums is the Kawaguchiko Music Forest, which is dedicated to automatic musical instruments.

Billed as a musical theme park, it contains a number of halls set within a European-style garden. Musical demonstrations of the automatic instruments,

Explore the caves near Saiko Lake

including the world s largest dance organ, take place in these halls throughout the day.

Within the Fuji Five Lakes area, there are a number of caves that were created by previous eruptions of Mount Fuji.

Located slightly further west of Lake Kawaguchi, near Saiko Lake, are a trio of such caves that are open to the public: Bat Cave, Ice Cave, and Wind Cave.

There s no need for a guide or special equipment (apart from the helmet provided), and children will love exploring the different tunnels and chambers.

Finally, visitors who enjoy sake should be sure to check out Ide Sake Brewery during their stay. The brewery offers tours of their facilities (in English and Japanese) twice a day for just ¥500, which includes a tasting at the end and a souvenir glass. Even if you can t make one of the tours, you can drop in for a sake tasting anytime during their opening hours (9am–6pm) for ¥300. KS

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FEATURE

5 Top Fishing Spots to Drop a Line in this Summer Cast your bait, flies, and lures into Kansai waters and catch yourself a feast.

Text: Randy Poehlman • Images: Uberto Calligarich

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ansai and surrounding prefectures provide a plethora of options for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. If you re looking for a summer adventure or a fun family day out, grab a rod and get out to one of these scenic local fishing spots.

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Hyogo

The easiest and quickest way to get involved in the local fishing scene is to head to Suma in Hyogo prefecture and visit the Suma Marine Fishing Park which operates on a 500-meterlong pier extending out into the ocean. The closest train station is Sumarakoen Station, and the fishing park is a quick walk from there. It opens at 6:00 a.m. daily (closed Tuesdays). The Marine Fishing Park boasts a vari-

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ety of species along the pier and is child-friendly with life jackets available for young fishers. You can rent a fishing rod and tackle for around ¥2,000.

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Shiga

More experienced anglers can head to Lake Biwa in Shiga to try their hand at bass fishing.

There are some guided services available, some of which provide tours in English. One such service is Truth Fishing Guide Services which offers one- or two-day fishing packages starting at ¥55,000 for individuals or pairs. Biwako is dotted with a variety of marinas stocked with well-equipped fishing boats, bass-fishing tackle shops, and plenty of shoreline fishermen who try their luck in Japan s biggest freshwater lake.

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On Biwako, it is best to start early, and according to local guides, summer is the best time for bass fishing. The record largemouth bass pulled from Biwako was an impressive 22 pounds (10 kg) hooked in July of 2009. The closest access point to Lake Biwa from Kyoto is the town of Otsu, only a 10-minute train ride from JR Kyoto Station.

Recommended fishing spots near Otsu include the waterfront near the Prince Hotel, under the Omi Ohashi Bridge and near Zeze Castle Park. Kobayashi Fishing offers equipment and boat rentals and is close to Zeze Castle Park, but service in English may be limited. North of Otsu, Holiday Afternoon also provides customers with fishing equipment rentals, but no boat rentals are available.

Feature Fishing permits and licenses There is no requirement for a recreational fishing license in Japan, but some rivers, stocked ponds, and other popular fishing holes issue permits to fish in these areas. They are usually ¥1,000 or less, and you will be notified should you be required to obtain a permit in these areas.

If you are unsure, ask at a local fishing shop.

Me-cha-ku-cha

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Kyoto

For a small-lake fishing option, the tranquil Sawano-ike in the hills of Kyoto provides a chance to catch small bluegill and some decent-sized bass. Lake Sawano, which is along the Kyoto hiking trail, is reachable in a car via a small single-track service road.

The lake was originally used as an irrigation reservoir for the Sagano district in Kyoto.

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Wakayama

Wakayama waters are a prime option for those hungry for saltwater fishing action, and charters are available from both Shirahama and Tanabe, as well as many other ports along the eastern seaboard. Charters are offered on a half-day or full-day basis and visitwakayama.jp recommends making reservations for weekend and holiday periods. Sea Bream as large as 70 cm and many other types of fish are commonly caught on these charters. The Wakayama coast is popular for shore fishing for those who want to keep boots on dry land.

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Gifu

A stone s throw from Kansai in Gifu Prefecture is home to a quality river-fishing scene. Tenkara fishing – a style of fishing developed around 200 years ago in Japan s mountain rivers and streams – features a very long fishing rod and does not use a reel. The rod, line, and fly are the staples of this fishing system. It is the preferred method of river fishing in various parts of Japan. Tenkara fishing, which is most similar to Western fly fishing, as well as other methods of river fishing in Gifu, require a permit fee of approximately ¥1,500 per day for each angler. Trout and King Fishing Tours is an English guide service that operates in Gifu hosting tours starting from ¥60,000 aimed at catching a variety of trout species.

The ayu fishing on Nagara River one of the top fishing experiences in the area. There are a couple of interesting fishing methods employed to catch the ayu. One is by fly fishing using a fishing trap and a process called ayu-no-tomozuri. This is

a process where an ayu decoy fish swims amongst other ayu and triggers their territorial behaviors, they then attack the live decoy, before fisherman can catch them.

Another is the cormorant fishing method where cormorant birds are trained to catch fish via a technique that employs the birds, boats, and fire in unison to catch ayu during the night.

The Nagara River boasts some of the clearest waters in the country, allowing for a wellestablished cormorant fishing culture. Essentially, master fishermen tie ropes around the bird s body and a ring around its neck to prevents the bird from swallowing the fish. When the bird has caught up to six fish in its mouth, they are pulled back to the boat where the fish are retrieved. The fire on the bow of the boat helps attract fish.

This fishing process can be observed throughout the summer months, and there is a large tourist draw to Nagara to see cormorant fishing up close. KS

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Events  Cultural

The Evening of Star Festival Tanabata in Shitennoji 七夕のゆうべ in 四天王寺 2018

Shitennoji & Surroundings, Osaka • Jul 6–8

Shitennoji temple hosts one of many national Tanabata events celebrating the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair). As the legend goes, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the lunisolar calendar. To celebrate this traditional Japanese star festival, a 27-meter bamboograss tunnel decorated with tanzaku (colorful strips of paper that people write their wishes on) and an artificial LED Milky Way will be constructed at Shitennoji. The venue will be lined with street stalls and there will be various events including a concert, an astronomical viewing session, and star workshops. On July 8th, a fire ritual will be held at the temple to burn the tanzaku.

JUL

6–8

Osaka Legend of the Milky Way 平成OSAKA天の川伝説 2018

Between Kitahama & Temmabashi on the Okawa River, Osaka • Jul 7

Fifty-thousand LED prayer stars are floated down the Okawa River in Nakanoshima Park during this festival. This summertime spectacle creates a luminescent sea of electric blue representing the Milky Way, so be sure to have your camera ready! Those wishing to participate by releasing their own prayer star can buy a ticket in advance or at the door for ¥1,000. There will also be special boat cruises and plenty of food stalls to add to the festive spirit.

TIME: 3pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: Subway Shitennojimae Yuhigaoka Stn, 5-min walk • tanabatanoyuube.net

JUL

7

TIME: 7:20pm–9pm (cancelled in case of stormy weather) • ADMISSION: Free to observe • ACCESS: Kitahama or Temmabashi

Subway Stn • osaka-amanogawa.com

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Events  Cultural Image: Kumano Nachi-Taisha

Kansai Temple Markets Explore Kansai s wonderful monthly temple markets and grab a bargain. You ll find a lot of antiques, including old kimono, ceramics and lacquerware, but you may also unearth some more contemporary curiosities.

Perfect as souvenirs or gifts for friends and relatives back home.

Nachi Fire Festival

» Shitennoji Temple Flea

JUL

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Market:

Jul 21 & 22 • Shitennoji Temple Grounds, Osaka • Access: 5-min walk from Shitennojimae Stn, Tanimachi Line » Toji Market Kyoto:

Jul 21 • Toji Temple • Access: 15-min walk from JR Kyoto Stn » Kitano Tenmangu Market:

Jul 25 • Kitano Tenmangu Shrine • Access: Tenmangu-mae bus stop

JUL

24–25

Tenjin Festival 天神祭り

Osaka Temmangu Shrine & Surroundings, Osaka • Jul 24 & 25

The Tenjin Matsuri is one of the largest and most colorful festivals in Japan, drawing a million festivalgoers every year. The premiere Osaka summer festival starts on July 24th with solemn rituals taking place at Temmangu shrine. On the 25th, things pick up with lively music setting the tone as portable shrines are paraded through the streets in a grand procession around the neighborhood near Temmangu shrine. The highlight comes as over 100 boats sail up and down the Okawa River and in the evening when 6,000 fireworks light up the night sky.

TIME: All day • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR

Osaka Temmangu Stn • tenjinmatsuri.com

那智の扇祭り

Kumano Nachi-Taisha, Wakayama • Jul 14

One of the greatest religious fire-themed events in Japan, the Nachi Fire Festival takes place in the picturesque area surrounding the shrine Nachi-Taisha in Wakayama.

Celebrating the anniversary of the change of residence held in the 4th century, the deities of Nachi-Taisha make a pilgrimage to the place of the original shrine at Nachi Falls. Following elaborate ceremonies, 12 red totems representing gods will be carried to the waterfall. A team of pilgrims carrying large torches will join the totems on the mountainside. Watch the pilgrims go up the steep stone steps, boldly swinging torches casting an alluring glow across the grounds.

TIME: 10am • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Kii-Katsuura Stn, bus to Nachisan • kumanonachitaisha.or.jp

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Events  Cultural JUL

28–29

Image: Biwako Visitors Bureau

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JUL

JUL

28 Japan International Birdman Rally

Tezutsu Handheld Fireworks at Mitarashi Festival

鳥人間コンテスト2018

Matsubara Suiei-Jo Beach, Shiga • Jul 28 & 29

みたらし祭 奉納手筒花火

Jul 28 • Karasaki Shrine, Shiga

Adjacent to Lake Biwa, Karasaki Shrine hosts the Tezutsu Handheld Fireworks ceremony. This is a rare opportunity to see the handheld fireworks in action. The performers hold bamboo cylinders with gunpowder stuffed inside which is ignited as sparks shoot up in the night sky like pillars of fire. During the day, various ceremonies relating to the summer purification will be held. The Tezutsu Handheld Fireworks starts at 8pm.

TIME: 8pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Kosei line, Karasaki Stn,

10-min walk • hiyoshitaisha.jp/event/ mitarashi

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Tanabata Star Festival 恋愛成就七夕祭

Jishu Shrine, Kyoto • Jul 7

Dedicated as a shrine for love and matchmaking, the Star Festival is the most fitting time to visit Jishu Shrine as the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi reunite on the 7th of July.

Many visit to wish for a successful romance by writing their names on paper dolls that are then tied onto the sacred bamboo tree.

TIME: 2pm • ADMISSION: (¥400 for entry to Kiyomizu-dera) • ACCESS: Keihan Kiyomizu Gojo Stn, bus to Gojozaka or Kiyomizu-michi, 10-min walk • jishujinja.or.jp

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Have you ever dreamed of flying like a bird? The annual Birdman Rally is where these dreams come to fly, or flop, as hundreds of competitors gather at Lake Biwa to test fly their human-powered aircraft.

The participants, ranging from university students to veteran aeronautic enthusiasts, spend months and years hand-building the aircraft from scratch. While most attempts end in an unfortunate dive into the water, the skilled few glide as far as a few hundred meters. Witness the hopeful challengers fly off the lake jetty! Will they fly or will they flop?

TIME: 7:30am Jul 28th, 6am Jul 29th • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Hikone

Stn • ytv.co.jp/birdman

Osaka Tanabata Star Festival 機物神社七夕祭り

Hatamono Shrine • Jul 6 & 7 Hatamono-jinja is dedicated to the Tanabata deity Vega and is decorated with bamboo branches on both days of the star festival. In the evening of the 6th, street stalls open up around the shrine to welcome many visitors for this event.

The portable-shrine procession is held at 4pm on the 7th.

TIME: Until 9pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Tsuda Stn, bus to Kuraji • murata35.chicappa.jp/meisho/ hatamono

Great Japan Beer Festival Osaka 2018 ビアフェス大阪 2018

MyDome OSAKA • Jul 13–15 Calling all beer lovers! Behold, the largest beer-tasting event in Japan! Enjoy the diversity of aromas and flavors from a large variety of beers from Japan and abroad.

Time & ADMISSION: See website for details • ACCESS: Subway SakaisujiHonmachi Stn, 6-min walk • beerfes. jp/index_beerfes_osa_e.html

dians, a beauty contest, and a beer garden with fine food from well-known restaurants.

TIME: 5pm–10pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: Subway Namba Stn, 7-min walk • soemon-cho.com

Sakai Fish Night Market 堺大魚夜市

Ohama Park & Old Sakai Port • Jul 31 Sakai hosts this annual fish auction spectacle with a 700year history. There will be various attractions aside from the auction including hundreds of food and souvenir stalls and a fireworks display.

TIME: 1pm–9:30pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: Nankai Line Sakai Stn, 10-min walk • yoich.com

Torchlight Court Dance 篝の舞楽（かがりのぶがく）

Shitennoji Temple • Aug 4 Be transported to another world during this ancient dance under torchlight that dates back to the Asuka Period (538 AD–710 AD).

TIME: 7pm–8:30pm • ADMISSION: ¥1,000 • ACCESS: Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka Subway Stn, 5-min walk • shitennoji.or.jp/event/8

Umeda Yukata Festival 梅田ゆかた祭2018

Grand Front Osaka & Surroundings • Jul 28 & 29 Don a yukata (summer kimono) and enjoy the music, food, drinks, and festive atmosphere at this two-day summer event in Umeda. It is a fitting opportunity to wear a yukata and take part in the traditional Japanese Bon dance scheduled in the evening for both days.

TIME: All day (see website for details)

• ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Osaka Stn/Hankyu & Hanshin Umeda Stn • umeda-connect.jp

Soemon-cho Summer Festival 宗右衛門町夏祭り

Soemon-cho Area • Jul 22 & 23 For an eventful summer s night out, come to Soemon-cho for a live show hosted by come-

Ninja Show [ THE NINJA & PRINCESS KAGUYA ] 忍者ショー『忍者竹取物語』

Dotonbori ZAZA • Jul 1 - Jul 25 It s based on a famous, old story called Kaguya Hime .

You will be attracted by ninja s activities called ninjutsu and the fighting scenes with ninjas.

You will also enjoy a lot of unique characters: geeks, fiends, wealthy merchants and warriors. This is the best play that entertains all of you!

Time: 7:00pm, 9:00pm • Entry Fee: IN ADVANCE 2,500yen. ON THE DOOR 3,000yen Non-reserved seat • Access: Approx. 10 minutes’ walk from Nanba

Events  Cultural Station • Website: https://www.ninjanight.com/english

Kyoto Motomiya Festival 本宮祭

Fushimi Inari Shrine • Jul 21 & 22 A magical world of red ambient lights will take over Fushimi Inari Shrine during this two-day lantern festival. On both nights, thousands of red paper lanterns adorn the architecture and paths from 7pm. A ceremony to light up all the stone and paper lanterns will be held on the night of the 21st.

TIME: 6pm on Jul 21, 9am on Jul 22 •

Conducted on the hottest day of the year, the Midsummer Day of the Ox, this prayer ceremony is held to heal summer maladies.

Participants wear a ceramic plate called a houroku on their heads, which is adorned with Buddhist scripture. Moxa (dried medicinal herb) is placed on top which is burnt during the ceremony.

TIME: 9am-noon • ADMISSION: Free (¥2,000 to experience the houroku moxa) • ACCESS: JR Kyoto Stn, bus to Sanbouji • sanbouji-kyoto.or.jp/event/ hourokukyu.html

Hyogo Summer Passing Purification 夏越大祓式 茅の輪くぐり

ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Inari Stn;

Keihan Fushimi Inari Stn, 5-min walk • inari.jp

Mitarashi Festival: FootBathing Ritual 御手洗祭

Shimogamo Shrine • Jul 20–29 Purify yourself during this ritual like the aristocrats in the 9th century. Participants take a short walk in the Mitarashi pond to light a candle to pray for good health.

TIME: 9am–9pm (5am–9pm on Jul 20) • ADMISSION: ¥300 • ACCESS: Keihan Demachiyanagi Stn, 10-min walk • shimogamo-jinja.or.jp

Onda Field Festival 御田祭

Matsunoo Shrine • Jul 15 Located near Arashiyama, Matsunoo Shrine has hosted the Onda Field Festival for many centuries to pray for an abundant harvest.

Three girls are selected as the role of ueme, who will don a red-and-white sash and a floral hat as they plant seedlings in the rice paddy.

Ikuta Shrine • Jul 15 Every year, the locals come to purify any bad deeds committed by blowing air on paper dolls.

The paper dolls serve as a way to cleanse oneself of wrongdoings.

To prevent misfortune in the future, people can walk through a large ring made from thatched plants, which is constructed on the path between the entrance and the main shrine.

TIME: 5pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Sannomiya Stn, 10-min walk • ikutajinja.or.jp

Boiling Water Shinto Ritual 総社の夏祭（湯立て神事）

Itate Hyozu Shrine • Jul 11 To scare the bad spirits away, two miko (shrine maidens) splash boiling hot water in all directions using bamboo leaves.

The leaves are later given out to the participants as a token for good fortune.

TIME: 7pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Himeji Stn, 15-min walk • sohsha.jp

Ashiya Summer Carnival 芦屋サマーカーニバル

TIME: 10am • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: Hankyu line, Matsuo Taisha Stn, 3-min walk • matsunoo.or.jp

Houroku Moxa Prayer Ceremony ほうろく灸祈祷

Sanbouji Temple • Jul 20

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Shioashiya Beach, Shioashiya Ryokuchi & Ashiya City Park • Jul 21 This summer carnival is an eclectic mix of fireworks, live performances, food stalls and more.

The highlight of the evening is a fireworks performance that

incorporates computer technology that allows the fireworks to synchronize with the music.

TIME: 1pm–9:30pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Ashiya Stn, bus to Ashiyashi Sogokoen-mae, 6-min walk • ashiyahanabi.com

Nara Fuchin Taisai Festival 風鎮大祭

Tatsuta Shrine • Jul 1 An array of religious rituals and ceremonies will be held in honor of the gods of Tatsuta Taisha. The shrine s most important event of the year features performers chanting prayers in a shower of sparks lit from handheld fireworks.

TIME: 2pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Sango Stn, 5-min walk • tatsutataisha. jp

Light-up Promenade Nara 2018 ライトアッププロムナード • なら2018

Nara Park & Surroundings • Jul 14–Sep 30 Nara s historic buildings and World Heritage sites within the vicinity of Nara Park will be illuminated. Come and see ancient sites like Gojunoto of Kofukuji Temple, Yakushiji Temple, and the Heijo Palace Site in all their luminescent glory.

Shiga Hikone Fireworks Festival 彦根大花火大会

Lake Biwa Matsubara Beach • Aug 1 A beautiful fireworks display featuring 10,000 light flowers reflecting on the surface of the lake. The highlight of the night is the last 15 minutes as multiple fireworks go up simultaneously filling the night sky with colorful lights.

TIME: 7:45pm–8:30pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Hikone Stn • hikoneshi.com/jp/event/articles/c/ hanabi

Koga Ninja Fireworks Festival 甲賀流にんにん大花火

Yasu River (near Minakuchi Bridge) • Jul 28 Large-scale fireworks will illuminate the night sky above Yasu river. Alluding to Koga s history as a Ninja village, some fireworks related to Ninjas will make an appearance too!

TIME: 7:45pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: Ohmi Railway, Minakuchijonan Stn, 10-min walk • koka-kanko.org

Wakayama

ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: Various (see

Kishu Yosakoi Festival, Let’s Dance!

website for details) • lightup-nara.jp

おどるんや 第15回紀州よさこい祭り

TIME: 7pm–10pm (6pm–10pm in Sep) •

Wind Chime Festival 風鈴まつり

Ofusa Kannon • Jul 1–Aug 31 The summer soundscape in Japan includes the soothing chimes from furin or Japanese glass chimes commonly hung from windows and balconies.

During this period, 2,500 furin collected from all over Japan are on display and create a cool harmony of relaxing sounds.

TIME: 7am-5pm • ADMISSION: ¥300 • ACCESS: Kintetsu Line, Kashiharajingumae Stn, bus to Ofusa or Kashihara Manyo Hall, 5-min walk • ofusa.jp/ furin.html

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Wakayama Castle & Surroundings • Jul 29, Aug 4&5 The traditional yet contemporary dance form called yosakoi has rapidly spread across Japan.

The three-day event will showcase highly energetic performances that captivate the audience regardless of background.

TIME: 11am–6pm on Jul 29, 11am–9:30pm Aug 4, 9am–9:30pm on Aug 5 • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Wakayama Stn, Nankai Wakayamashi Stn • kishu-yosakoi.jp

Wakayama Port Fireworks Display 第66回港まつり花火大会

Wakayama Port • Jul 22

Image: istockphoto.com/Alexander Vow

JUL

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Gion Festival Parade 祇園祭 山鉾巡行

Yasaka Shrine and Surroundings, Kyoto • Jul 17

Originally held in 869 as a Shinto ceremony to avert the plague, the Gion Festival has evolved as Kyoto s main summer event that attracts people from in and out of Japan. In the beginning of July, the sounds of Konchikichin (the festival s unique music of flutes, drums, and bells) can be heard everywhere and floats are constructed on the streets in preparation for the parade. The highlight of the festival is the grand parade of yamaboko floats that are carried around the downtown area on the 17th.

TIME: 9am • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: Keihan Gion-Shijo Stn; Hankyu Line Kawaramachi Stn; Subway Shijo Stn • yasakajinja.or.jp/event/gion.html

Three thousand spectacular fireworks draw 30,000 spectators to this event every year.

During the climax of this special summer attraction, a curtain of light spreads across the sky.

TIME: 8pm–9pm • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: Nankai Line, Wakayama-ko Stn, 10-min walk • w-hanabi.com

Kochi Ship Festival 河内祭（御船祭り）

River Koza & Surroundings, Wakayama • Jul 21 & 22

A magnificent ship parade will be held in Kushimoto-cho, the southern tip of Wakayama. On the 21st, a local boatman will sing festive songs from the colorful wooden vessels illuminated with paper lanterns. The next day, these ancient style battleships will dynamically proceed along the Koza River.

TIME: 6pm on Jul 21, 10am on Jul 22 • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: JR Koza stn, 20-min walk • kushimoto.jp/ kozajisi/sub03.html

Events  Art Exhibition 2018 - Yuki Tsukiyama

Original Picture Exhibition: Imoto Yoko Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art

Yoko Imoto is a world-renowned author and illustrator of picture books cherished by kids and adults alike. Her stories, often regarded as Japanese fairy tales, focus primarily on the adventures of small animals and magical creatures. Imoto creates her images by applying watercolor to pictures made via the Japanese art of tearing and gluing paper known as hari-e. This technique results in the jagged lines and delicate nuance expressed in Imoto s works. Her original images are imbued with soft, pastel hues that fill her stories with a loving sense of warmth. This exhibition highlights some 300 precious original illustrations that convey deep emotion and scenes only found in the imagination.

Yoko Imoto Exhibition • Until Sep 2 • OPEN: 10am–6pm • CLOSED: Mon • ADMISSION: ¥500 • ACCESS: Hanshin line, Iwaya Stn, 8-min walk • TEL: 078-262-0901 • artm.pref.hyogo.jp/eng/index.html

Yuki Tsukiyama Exhibition • Until Aug 4 • OPEN: 12pm–7pm • CLOSED: Sun, Mon & holidays • ADMISSION: Free • ACCESS: Namba Stn, 10-min walk • TEL: 06-6534-3993 • tezukayama-g.com/en

Red and Blue: Exploring the World of Sacred Colors Miho Museum Red and blue are two colors that have been deeply connected with faith throughout the ages and are often regarded as sacred by practitioners of various religions.

They are said to be connected with certain ideas, feelings, or parts of the body, and leave the strongest impressions of all the colors within the visual spectrum. This exhibition presents a selection of ancient artworks from within Japan and around the world that implement red and blue themes. Featured mediums include sculpture, pottery, painting, and more. Guests are invited to examine these works and consider the relationship between red, blue, and the spiritual realm of the ancient world.

Red and Blue Exhibition • Until Aug 26 • OPEN: 10am–5pm • CLOSED: Mon • ADMISSION: ¥1,100 • ACCESS: JR Biwako line, Ishiyama Stn, bus to Miho Museum • TEL: 0748-82-3411 • miho.jp/en

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Bodhidharma By Ito Jakuchu, Edo period, 18th century Color on silk, Miho Museum

ねこの絵本 © いもとようこ

Kobe-based sculptor Yuki Tsukiyama bases the forms and motifs of his works on the inherent characteristics of the materials he uses to create them, such as wood, paint, metal, and resin.

His tenacity and patience allow him to create complex sculptures through a series of repetitive acts. For this solo exhibition, Tsukiyama has taken pieces of 45mm-squared timber painstakingly carved with a hand saw and arranged them in cross sections within a circular form. The result is a shape representing the rings of a great tree, conveying a great flow of time that lies beyond the limits of human comprehension.

Artist's impression: Drawing for Taruki Crossing by Yuki Tsukiyama

Tezukayama Gallery

Events  Art Noritake Kinashi 2018– 2020: Timing – Light of the Moment 花と共に生きる動物達 / Animals of Flowers, Symbiotic Live

Osaka Culturarium at Tempozan •  Until Sep 2 Popular comedian and television personality Noritake Kinashi is also known for his avid love of painting. He recently completed his first-ever solo exhibition in London and is now touring Japan with an eclectic selection of his best works. View over 130 of Kinashi s creations including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and more.

OPEN: 10am–5pm • ADMISSION: ¥1,500 • ACCESS: Chuo subway line, Osaka-ko Stn, 5-min walk • TEL: 050-5542-8600 • osaka-c-t.jp

Kyoto The Scene that Japanese-Style Painters in Kyoto Draw Selected Works from Kyoto Prefectural InshoDomoto Museum of Fine Arts •  Until Sep 30 Since opening in 1991, the Rantokaku Art Museum in Hiroshima Prefecture has amassed an impressive collection of modern artworks created by local Japanese artists. This exhibition features paintings by Kyoto artists who have based their styles on the Rantokaku collection.

Witness a mix of imaginative works from current artists.

OPEN: 9:30am–5pm • CLOSED: Mon • ADMISSION: ¥500 • ACCESS: JR Kyoto Stn, bus to Ritsumeikan Daigaku-mae stop, short walk • 075-463-0007 • inshodomoto.com/index-e.html

New Print Exhibition – Beautiful Scenery of Japan Museum “Eki” Kyoto •  Until Aug 1 Shin-hanga, or new print, was a Japanese 20th-century art movement that brought traditional ukiyo-e art back into style. The term shin-hanga was coined by Shozaburo Watanabe, the most important publisher of new print works. This exhibition includes some 100 shin-hanga

teamLab, 2017, Interactive Digital Installation, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi

Osaka

Learn & Play! TeamLab Future Park Abeno Harukas Art Museum As technology continues to develop and take over tasks currently performed by people, traits that only humans can possess, like creativity, are bound to become increasingly valuable in the future. TeamLab, a collaborative group of specialists formed by Tokyo University postgraduates in 2001, aims to galvanize artistic collaboration between kids to help them retain and refine their creativity skills. In this exhibition, teamLab presents a surreal and colorful interactive multimedia installation designed for guests of all ages. Children can play and create art amidst a wonderland of light, sound, video, visual art, and whimsical sculptures focusing on natural motifs. Several aspects of the installation are geared toward interactive play, providing parents with a fun and educational experience for sharing with kids.

TeamLab Exhibition • Until Sep 2 • OPEN: 10am–8pm • CLOSED: Mon • ADMISSION: ¥1,400 • ACCESS: Tennoji & Osaka-Abenobashi Stn, short walk • TEL: 06-4399-9050 • aham.jp

creations featuring motifs of richly colored Japanese scenery.

OPEN: 10am–8pm • ¥800 • ACCESS: JR Kyoto Stn, direct walk • 075-352-1111 • kyoto.wjr-isetan.co.jp.e.do.hp.transer. com/museum/english.html

OPEN: 10am–5pm • CLOSED: Mon • ADMISSION: ¥800 • ACCESS: Hankyu

Kobe line, Mikage Stn, 5-min walk • TEL: 078-841-0652 • kosetsu-museum.or.jp/ mikage/en

Yozo Hamaguchi and Keiko Minami Exhibition - Small Window to the Mysterious World

Hyogo Suzuki Shonen Exhibition

Kobe City Koiso Memorial Museum of Art •  Until Sept 2

Kosetsu Museum of Art •  Until Sep 30 Suzuki Shonen was a renowned nihon-ga artist active during the Meiji period. He was trained by his father, founder of the Suzuki School of Painting, and went on to produce a bold canon of works. In this exhibition, 100 years after Shonen s death, guests can view selected pieces from his collection.

This exhibition presents paintings by Yozo Hamaguchi and Keiko Minami – two internationally regarded copper-plate artists. These masterpieces feature imagery that is all at once beautiful, surreal, and poetic.

Learn about the deep appeal of copper-plate artistry.

OPEN: 10am–5pm • CLOSED: Mon • ADMISSION: ¥200 • ACCESS: Rokko

line, Island North Stn, short walk • TEL: 078-857-5880 • city.kobe.lg.jp/culture/ culture/institution/koisogallery

Wakayama Natsuyasumi Museum of Art 8: Time Travel The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama •  Until Sep 2 The notion of time travel fascinates us all. Enjoy summer through this imaginative exhibition of artworks centering on the theme of time and its myriad of possibilities, including Suita Fumiaki s The Creation of the Galaxy.

OPEN: 9:30am–5pm • CLOSED: Mon • ADMISSION: ¥510 • ACCESS: JR Wakayama Stn, bus to Kencho-mae stop, 2-min walk • TEL: 073-436-8690 • momaw.jp/language/english

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Food & Drink

/ GREAT PLACES TO EAT

Matcha Cafes in Kansai Sip green tea while devouring gourmet Japanese sweets in these quaint Kansai tea cafes.

Text & Images: Sydney Solis

Kobe Çay Hane

Kyoto Gionkiosi

Osaka Kura Cafe Yanoen

This clean and bright three-year-old tea house and cafe on Rokko Island offers a large variety of Japanese teas (¥400) as well as tasty lunch and dinner sets (¥600-¥850). Try the sweet sake matcha latte (¥500) or sample a variety of tea sets, ranging from Sencha, brown-rice tea, Hojima and Uji accompanied with gourmet Japanese sweets (¥750). For something more substantial, the matcha soba noodle set (¥700) comes topped with tofu, daikon radish, and tea leaves with a broth to pour over your noodles.

You can order green tea with a small tea-leaf salad covered with sugar and soy sauce accompanied by pickled cabbage and a side of brown rice. Additional sets come with salmon, chicken or pork and there is plenty of black tea to help yourself to. Online tea ordering coming soon for all your matcha needs.

After visiting Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto s bustling Gion district, Gionkoisi is a charming cafe where you can enjoy matcha sweets while gazing at beautiful spot-lit woodblock prints. Beat the summer heat with a tall glass of refreshing hiyashiame, a drink of ginger mixed with honey and malt syrup on ice (¥560). Or, dig into an epic green-tealemon parfait (¥1,180) built with layers of plain and lemon-flavored agar cubes, green-tea syrup, vanilla and green tea ice cream, apricots, rice dumplings, chewy green-tea jelly, boiled beans, and more. Explore a medley of textures and contrasts of tastes with the Maiko s Favorite Frappe (¥1,340) – watermelon, kiwi, orange and other seasonal fruits are mixed with brown sugar, green-tea syrup, and red-bean paste. It is then filled with green and vanilla ice cream, agar cubes, and rice dumplings and sprinkled with soybean powder. The shop on the main floor has a dazzling variety of sweets and matcha treats to take home, as well as online ordering.

Disappear into this cozy cafe tucked behind its tea shop to relax in a quiet, contemplative atmosphere. This renovated kura (traditional Japanese warehouse) in Shinmachi features rustic wooden floors, high ceilings, and tetsubin cast-iron kettles lining the walls. Although no English menu is available, the wait staff speak enough English to explain their skillfully prepared creations made from Kyoto Uji tea. A thick, chilled, milkbased hojicha -tea pudding (¥650) comes topped with spots of whipped cream and toasted soybean cream and a side of brown sugar syrup to drizzle on top.

Choose from a variety of teas, milk-based matcha drinks, and parfaits (from ¥600 to ¥1,000) layered with everything from vanilla ice cream, matcha blends, matcha jelly, sencha cake, rice flour dumplings, matcha jelly, sweet bean paste, and whipped cream. Of those, the Yanozen parfait (¥970) is the most popular.

OPEN: 10am–7pm • Closed Wed • Price RANGE: ¥500–¥1,000 (credit cards accepted) • ADDRESS: Higashi Nada-ku,

Naka-cho 6-9, Kobe Fashion Mart 2F • ACCESS: Rokko Liner Fashion Mart Stn, 1-min walk (parking available) • TEL: 078858-6710 • kobe-teahane.com

OPEN: 10:30am–7pm • Price RANGE: ¥560– ¥1,340 • ADDRESS: Kyoto-shi, Higashiyamaku, Gion-machi Kitagawa 286–2 • ACCESS: Gion-shijo Stn, 10-min walk • TEL: 075-5310331 • g-koisi.com

OPEN: 10am–5pm Fri, Sat, Sun & national holidays • Price RANGE: ¥600–¥1,000 • ADDRESS: 1-9-11 Shinmachi Nishi-ku, Osaka • ACCESS: Yotsubashi Stn, Exit 2, 5-min walk • TEL: 06-6531-4188 • yanoen.com

Need more dining options?

Check kansaifinder.com/places to search all of our food and drink spots 18

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

Events  Live Music Shonen Knife The pop-punk trio of Shonen Knife that formed in Osaka in the 80s has a new live release out called ALIVE! In Osaka, and they are coming home to promote it.

The DVD/CD package was recorded live last December at the live house Fandango and includes 21 tracks from the band s nearly 40-year career.

The release features classics such as Twist Barbie, Bear Up Bison, and Sushi Bar Song, newer tracks like Jump Into The New World and Rock N Roll Tee Shirt as well as a cover of the Nick Lowe classic Cruel to be Kind.

Influenced by 1960s girl groups, pop bands, The Beach Boys, and early punk-rock bands, such as the Ramones, Shonen Knife has built a loyal following around the globe and been credited with opening the international alternative-rock scene to other Japanese bands.

Jul / Aug Rock & Pop Peg Leg Love Jul 7 US surf-punk rock band Helluva Lounge, Kobe • Surf-Punk • 6:30pm • ¥1,800/¥2,300 • TEL: 078331-7732

JUL

16 Japanese pop-punk trio from Osaka • Soma, Osaka • Pop-punk • 6pm • ¥3,500 • TEL: 06-6212-2253

Anthem/Sabbrabello/ Lovebites

US singer and Japanese guitarist acoustic rock live

Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog

Jul 16

Music Bar Sora, Osaka • Acoustic Rock • 7:30pm • ¥2,500 • TEL: 06-6644-9292

Jul 23

Japanese rock/metal bands

Kirinji

Big Cat, Osaka • Metal • 4pm • ¥8,500/¥9,000 • TEL: 0570-200-888

Jul 19

Rorcal

Japanese indie-pop band

Jul 16

Club Quattro, Osaka • Indie-pop • 7pm • ¥6,480 • TEL: 0570-200-888

Swiss doom-metal band

Victoria Shen

Bati-Holic

Helluva Lounge, Kobe • Metal • 7pm • ¥1,800/¥2,300 • TEL: 078-331-7732

Jul 21

Jul 13 US visual artist and musician Helluva Lounge, Kobe • Experimental • 7pm • ¥1,800/¥2,300 • TEL: 078-331-7732

Shonen Knife

Japanese taiko-rock band

Jul 16

Taku Taku, Kyoto • Rock • 7pm • ¥3,500/¥4,000 • TEL: 075-351-1321

Japanese pop-punk trio

AKB48

Soma, Osaka • Pop-punk • 6pm • ¥3,500 • 06-6212-2253

Jul 15 Popular J-pop idol group Kyocera Dome, Osaka • Pop • 8pm • ¥TBA • TEL: 03-5615-9369

Davina Robinson & Haruki Matsumoto Jul 18

US veteran free jazz, rock, and blues musician Club Quattro, Osaka • Free-jazz/ rock • 7:30pm • ¥7,000/¥8,000 • TEL: 06-6311-8111

Blackpink Jul 24 & 25 K-Pop singing group Osaka Jo Hall, Osaka • K-Pop • 7pm Jul 24; 6:30pm Jul 25 • ¥7,800 • TEL: 0570-200-888

Hyde

sads

Jul 25–29 & 31

Jul 21-22

Japanese musician Hideto Takarai

Japanese post-punk four-piece Club Quattro, Osaka • post-punk • 6pm • ¥7,000 • TEL: 06-6341-4506

Zepp Osaka Bayside, Osaka • Rock • 6pm Jul 25–27; 5pm Jul 28 & 29; 7pm Jul 31 • ¥7,190/¥10,800 • TEL: 0570-200-888

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Events  Live Music JUL

Lovebites © JVCKENWOOD VICTOR ENTERTAINMENT CORP

16 © GD Corporate Photography

Soft Machine Jul 31

Anthem / Sabbrabells / Lovebites A triple-bill of metal bands featuring Anthem, an influential Japanese heavy-metal band formed in the 80s, alongside Loudness and Earthshaker. Eighties metal band Sabbrabells will also be playing after reforming in 2015, joining Anthem in a celebration of 30 years since Anthem s debut album. The third band will be newcomers Lovebites, an all-girl metal band. Lovebites is receiving international acclaim, especially in the UK where they were just awarded the UK s Metal Hammer Golden Gods award for Best New Band. If you like old-school metal (even Lovebites have been likened to Iron Maiden) then this is the gig for you.

Named after the William S. Burroughs book The Soft Machine, this band was one of the central groups in England s 60 s Canterbury Scene and have remained a major influence on the progressiverock, jazz-fusion scene. Over the years there have been several lineups, a hiatus, and members using variants on the name (Soft Ware, Soft Machine Legacy, and Soft Works). The current lineup on the band s farewell tour of Japan includes drummer John Marshall, bassist Roy Babbington, guitarist John Etheridge, and on saxophone, flute, and piano Theo Travis.

The band will also be joined by pianist and drummer Gary Husband.

English Prog-rock fusion band farewell tour • Billboard Live OSAKA, Osaka • Fusion • 6:30pm/9:30pm • ¥8,500/¥9,500 • TEL: 06-6342-7722

Triple-bill of old-school Japanese metal bands • Big Cat, Osaka • Heavy Metal • 4pm • ¥8,500/¥9,000 • TEL: 0570-200-888

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© Michael G. Stewart

© Michael G. Stewart

Joshua Breakstone Jul 28 & Aug 3 Joshua Breakstone has been a prolific recording artist and live performer for decades having worked and played alongside jazz legends such as pianists Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, and Barry Harris, and saxophonist Pepper Adams.

A regular visitor to Japan, Breakstone has recently moved to Kyoto for a period, so will be playing more dates around the country. His next Kansai dates will be the last Saturday of Jul (28th) in Kobe, and the first Friday of August (3rd) in Kyoto both with special guest vocalists.

US jazz guitarist Jul 28 • Basin Street, Kobe • Jazz • 7:30pm • ¥2,500 • TEL: 078-261-8939 Aug 3 • Bonds Rosary, Kyoto • Jazz • 6:30pm • ¥3,000 • TEL: 075-285-2859

Live Music Taake, Bloodshot Dawn, Remission

Scottish Alt-Folk-Rock band formed 1981

Jul 26

Billboard Live OSAKA, Osaka • Rock • 4:30pm/7:30pm • ¥6,900/¥7,900 • TEL: 06-6342-7722

Norwegian and UK black metal plus others Soma, Osaka • Metal • 6:30pm • ¥6,500/¥9,500 • TEL: 06-6212-2253

Soft Machine Jul 31 English prog-rock-fusion farewell tour Billboard Live OSAKA, Osaka • Prog-rock-fusion • 6:30pm/9:30pm • ¥8,500/¥9,500 TEL: 06-6342-7722

Gfriend Aug 2 K-Pop vocal/dance group Namba Hatch, Osaka • Pop • 7pm • ¥8,500 • TEL: 0570-200-888

Kumi Adachi Aug 4 Japanese rock-fusion guitarist Live Spot Rag, Kyoto • Rock-Fusion • 7pm • ¥2,500/¥4,300 • TEL: 075241-0446

Sho Amano & guests Aug 11 Japanese 70 s band E.B.S. vocalist and bassist Chicken George, Kobe • Rock • 3pm • ¥3,000/¥3,500 • TEL: 078-332-0147

Aqua Timez Aug 12 Japanese alternative pop-rock band Namba Hatch, Osaka • Pop-rock • 5:30pm • ¥4,800 • TEL: 0570-200-888

Nick Heywood Aug 13 English singer-songwriter and ex-80 s band member Haircut 100 Billboard Live OSAKA, Osaka • Singer-songwriter • 6:30pm/9:30pm • ¥8,500/¥9,500 • TEL: 06-6342-7722

The Muggles

Garnidelia

Every Fri & Sat

Aug 4

Mellow ballads, classic rock, and rock n roll from Osakabased jamming band

Japanese pop-rock duo Muse, Kyoto • Pop-rock • 6pm • ¥5,400 • TEL: 075-223-0389

Woodstock Café, Ashiya • Group Sounds • Free Admission (¥2,000 for 2 drinks + snack) • TEL: 079-734-1044

Dadaroma Aug 5-6 Japanese visual-kei rock band Muse, Osaka • Rock • 6pm • ¥3,800/¥4,800 • TEL: 06-6245-5389

Jazz & Blues New York Standards Quartet Jul 22

the GazettE Aug 7 & 8

American jazz quartet playing together since 2006

Japanese visual-kei rock band

Live Spot Rag, Kyoto • Jazz • 7pm • ¥2,500/¥4,700 • TEL: 075-241-0446

Orix Theater, Osaka • Rock • 6:30pm • ¥6,800 • TEL: 0570-200-888

Lewis Nash

Big Country Aug 11

Jul 24–26 American jazz drummer

Events  Live Music INTERVIEW

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Gary Husband Releasing his first solo album in 1998, Diary of a Plastic Box, English pianist and drummer Gary Husband is also a composer, arranger, and producer. Throughout his career, he has played with some of the greats of the music world. Husband is now in Japan to play his own solo shows and as a special guest with Soft Machine on their farewell Japan Tour. KS spoke with Gary about his past collaborations and upcoming shows.

How do you feel about your busy upcoming touring schedule in Japan with solo shows and playing with Soft Machine?

Since I have begun doing solo concerts recently it seemed like a great idea (having played in Japan quite regularly since the late 80s) to now try and give some profile to my own solo material and musical endeavors. I d like to be building more of a platform for my music – my way with my writing and the formations I d like to bring together. With the loss of my close brother Allan Holdsworth recently there is now a big hole. Bigger than I could ever have imagined. That music, sadly, is now a closed book to me, and what we had between us close to four decades of musical development together is a phenomenal loss. I am feeling the need more and more exclusively explore my own creative desires. So, I m hoping to attract some of the great supporters that have come and witnessed many projects I have been a part of in Japan over the many years, and that they may now enjoy these piano concerts.

I m working very hard on the material for them right now.

You’ve played with so many great musicians and bands over the years including Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Gary Moore, Robin Trower, Jack Bruce, and Billy Cobham to name just a few. These collaborations can take you into different musical genres. Is there a style of music or a particular genre that you feel most comfortable playing?

Oh, yes, they are all individual. But I don t really think in terms of genre changes; I just think of the artist himself or herself and the musicians involved. I m comfortable if I can play, improvise, and interact with people who are inspiring to me. With Allan, it

Mister Kelly’s, Osaka • Jazz • 7pm/9pm Jul 24 & 25; 6pm/9pm Jul 26 • ¥4,500/¥6,500 • TEL: 06-6342-5821

Gary Husband

Joshua Breakstone

British drummer and pianist

US jazz guitarist

Mister Kelly’s, Osaka • Jazz fusion • 7:30pm/0:15pm • ¥3,800/¥5,000 • TEL: 06-6342-5821

Jul 28 Basin Street, Kobe • Jazz • ¥2,500 • Tel: 078-261-8939

Aug 3 Bonds Rosary, Kyoto • Jazz • ¥1,400/¥2,900 • TEL: 075-285-2859

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was a long-time personal development alongside him. It was so close, and what we had was really pretty unique to us. The joyful association with John McLaughlin has been in existence since 2005 or thereabouts. He has asked nothing of me except for an intense, personal musical application and constant creativity. But I also enjoy a lot of other kinds of music, and always have. So I ve been taking on a lot of projects with a lot of very different people.

And I think if there s music we love – no matter what kind of music it is – the more natural it is to strive and work towards a way we can work in those realms and be active in them.

You’ve been a prolific recording artist both solo and with other bands and projects. Are there any new releases on the horizon?

Yes! I ve been doing recording recently with some of MoonJune s artists (Mark Wingfield, Asaf Sirkis, Dusan Jevtovic). I would like to do a recording with Mark King celebrating the music of Jack Bruce, too. With the piano, I d like to put a little three-piece together featuring piano, cello, and a tabla player, and on the electric band front, I have a big ambition for a new electric band called Gary Husband & The Trackers. It will feature the unique talents of Norwegian guitar artist Alf Terje Hana and I am in the process of choosing a bassist who will be exactly right for it. That group will predominantly be an outlet for my drumming. Apart from all this, I will begin work on filming a drums e-course and get to be able to put out a lot of messages I don t see too many others dealing with. Stuff that s important to me. It ll mean a lot to me personally to document all that, from my standpoint and from my kind of approach as an example to younger, aspiring, creative musicians.

English, pianist, drummer, and producer • Mister Kelly’s, Osaka • Jazz Fusion • 7:30pm/9:15pm • ¥3,800/¥5,000 • TEL: 06-6342-5821

Chicken George, Kobe • Jazz • 7:30pm • ¥3,000/¥3,500 • TEL: 078-332-0146

Jul 30

World Napoli Mandolin Orchestra

Chris Ciari

Jul 7

Aug 10

Traditional Neapolitan mandolin orchestra Japan Tour

Jazz guitarist and vocals with band

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

Hyogo Performing Arts Center, Hyogo • World • 2pm • ¥3,000/¥4,000 • TEL: 079-868-0255

Sandii with Dennis Bovell Aug 1 Japanese-Hawaiian singer with reggae guitarist Shangri-La, Osaka • Mixed genre • 8pm • ¥4,800 • TEL: 03-3460-3161

Events  Club Circus

JUL

Derrick May, one of the founding fathers of Detroit techno, is headed our way! After founding his own record label Transmat in 1986, he released the classic EP Nude Photo under the name of Rhythim Is Rhythim. That was followed by the release of the most influential house/techno song of all time Strings of Life in 1987. The popularity of these tracks helped spread the Detroit techno sound to Europe in the late 1980s and were instrumental in making Detroit the capital of techno.

They continue to be anthems in the international techno/house scene. Since retiring the Rhythim Is Rhythim moniker in 1993, May has focused his attention on DJing and touring the world. After a long break in his output, he released the CDs Mixed by Derrick May x Air in 2010, Mixed by Derrick

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May × Air Vol.2 in 2011, and in 2012 he contributed Fact Mix 339 for Fact Magazine s popular weekly mix series. His classics like Beyond the Dance (1989) and The Beginning (1990) are still as fresh as when they first came out. May was one of the first, and he remains one of the best.

Derrick May Japan Tour 2018 (Techno) • DJs: Derrick May, Mulan + more • Open: 11pm • Admission: ¥3,600/1D (ADV: ¥3,100/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

July 5 (Thu) Joule Joule 19th Anniversary feat.

Tokimonsta & Tofubeats (Electro) •DJs: Tokimonsta, Tofubeats, Shiya, Kazuya Imamoto + more • Open: 6pm–11pm • Admission: ¥3,500/1D (ADV: ¥3,100/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6214-1223 • club-joule.com

6 (Fri) Alzar Possessed to Osaka (Bass) • DJs: Baku, Kyono, Teru, Kazuya Tanaka + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥4,000/1D (ADV: ¥3,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 090-69608527 • alzar.jp

Joule Joule 19th Anniversary feat.

What So Not (Future Bass/Trap) • DJs: What So Not, Rue-zy, Twoasone, Exit + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6214-1223 • clubjoule.com

Noon + Cafe Moldive (House/Techno)

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• DJs: Akihiro, Cota, Kaito, G’n’B + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Umeda • Tel: 06-6373-4919 • noon-cafe.com

World Kyoto Tanabata Matsuri feat. 3Lau (EDM/Open Format) • DJs: 3Lau, Daishi Dance, Takanori + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,500/1D (ADV: ¥3,000/1D, Ladies: ¥3,000/1D) • Where: Kyoto • Tel: 075-2134119 • world-kyoto.com

Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥1,700/1D • Where: Kitahama • Tel: 06-6314-6541 • compufunk.com

Joule Joule 19th Anniversary feat. Re: Yabai vol.3(Psychedelic Trance) • Live: Damage • DJs: Eiji, Anny, Kuwasako, Shu, O-Man, Senoh + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥ 1,000 • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6214-1223 • club-joule.com

Metro

13 (Fri) Circus Psycho Patch – 2nd Album Difficult to Cure Mantle as Mandrill – Mantle EP5 Core of the Underground Double Release Special Night!! (Alternative Hip Hop) • Acts: Psycho Patch, Tetrad the Gang of Four, Mantle as Mandrill, Artman, Endrun, Ce$ + more • Open: 11pm • Admission: ¥3,100/1D (ADV: ¥2,600/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-62413822 • circus-osaka.com

Gift (Techno/House/Tribal)

7 (Sat) Alzar Alazar Saturdays Manic (Techno/House) • DJs: Sunahara Yoshinori, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Shinichi Osawa, Nao Nomura, Osakaman + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥1,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 090-6960-8527• alzar.jp

Compufunk Records Connected Underground -Joix from Mannheim in Osaka- (Minimal/Techno/Modular Synthesizer)

• DJs: Motive, Yottu × Shim Tatsuya, Masaki Tamura × Natsuki, Raijin × Kaoru + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,200/1D) • Where: Kyoto • Tel: 075-752-2787 • metro.ne.jp

Troop Cafe Delicious Sound feat. Tom Trago (Disco/House) • DJs: Tom Trago, Takeshi Kouzuki,Yukke, Pixie + more • Open: 10:30pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (Mail Reservation ¥2,000/1D; Under 23 ¥1,000/1D) • Where: Kobe • Tel: 078-3213130 • troopcafe.jp

• Live: Joix, Ken’ichi Itoi, Barium • DJs: Ryoma Sasaki, Naohiro Tomisawa, Ouchi S, Koichi, Wataru Horiuchi •

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

14 (Sat) Circus Nahavand & DJ Kim presents Vandalism Vol.2 (Electronic) • Acts: Olive Oil, Tamaki Roy, Nahavand, Kim + more • Open: 11pm • Admission: ¥3,600/1D (ADV: ¥3,100/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circusosaka.com

Noon + Cafe Vibes Crossover (Afro/House/ Hip Hop) • Live: Dig.Dug, Nari-chan + Jun • DJs: Go Kiuchi, Matsuriba, Fox-x + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D

Events  Club PROMOTIONAL FEATURE (Foreigners: Free) • Where: Umeda • Tel: 06-6373-4919 • noon-cafe.com

Piccadilly New Ôrder Sp. Guest Arty (EDM) • DJs: Arty, Ray, Shinji, Silver Fox, Walt, Genki, Chikara + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: Gentlemen ¥3,500/1D; Ladies ¥2,000/1D • Where: Umeda • Tel: 06-6809-5895 • clubpiccadilly. com

West Harlem

20 (Fri) Triangle Psybai (Psychedelic Trance/Bass) • Acts: Hiroto, Hayashit, J3r, Ayabuuu, Jc4, Yanmah + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D (ADV: ¥1,500; Foreigners Free) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6212-2264 • triangleosaka. com

21 (Sat)

Outer Space (Deep House)

Alzar

• DJs: TBA • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥1,500/1D (Enter by midnight: ¥1,000/1D) • Where: Kyoto • Tel: 0501016-0099 • kyotosalsa.com facebook: westharlem

Fullcolor Psytrance Party (Psychedelic Trance)

14 (SAT) & 15 (SUN) & 16 (MON) Sanda Athletic Ground Chakra Festival 2018 (Progressive Trance) • Live: Brave, Frangipani, Hydro Generator + more • DJs: Audiotec, Escape, Cross Breed, Gussan, Akai, Tsuyoshi, Iry, Nanchan, Mintama + more • Open: Noon Aug 14; 8pm Aug 16 • Admission: ¥6,000 (ADV: ¥5,000) • Where: Sanda, Hyogo • Tel: 079-569-0024 • facebook.com/ events/145227579636563

• Live: Neutral Motion, Gu • DJs: Suzi, Kazya, Mi-Bou + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥3,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 090-6960-8527 • alzar.jp

Metro Hardcore Lovers08 (Hardcore/ Rave) • DJs: 3r2, Dustvoxx, T-brave, Revenge, Will + more • Open: 12pm–7pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Kyoto • Tel: 075-752-2787 • metro.ne.jp

22 (Sun) Compufunk Records

15 (Sun) Alzar Smash Osaka feat. Khen (Tech House/House) • DJs: Khen, Teruhiko Ogawa, Senda + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 090-6960-8527 • alzar.jp

Metro Nebula - Guest DJ: Hikaru, Ch.0 (Techno/House) • DJs: Hikaru, Ch.0, Kazuma, Podd + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Kyoto • Tel: 075752-2787 • metro.ne.jp

Lobster Theremin 5 Years in Osaka (Techno/House/Abstract) • DJs: Asquish, Route 8 + more • Open: 5pm-12am • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Kitahama • Tel: 06-6314-6541 • compufunk.com

28 (Sat) Circus Circus 6th Anniversary Special!

Martyn Live Set (Dubstep) • Live: Martyn + more • Open: 11pm • Admission: ¥3,600/1D (ADV: ¥2,600/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

Where’s the party?

Check Kansaifinder.com for the latest club listings...

Osaka Club Scene’s Blast from the Past Maharaja brings back the discotheque saloon from its 80s and 90s heyday.

At the peak of its game during Japan s 1980s bubble-economy era, Maharaja was renowned as the best disco in the nation, with some 60 locations across the country. When the bubble burst, Maharaja went the way of the disco, so to speak, but its revival has begun!

Descending the stairs into Maharaja Minami, the upscale disco atmosphere is readily established; red-and-gold chandeliers hang from the ceiling, mirror balls scatter colorful light fragments onto crisp white walls, and smoke machines fill the air with a cloudy mist. A bucket of Moët sits at the staircase base, a man in a fedora waits to usher in guests, and the DJ pumps out songs like That’s the Way I Like It by KC and the Sunshine Band to a dance floor of elated disco goers waving psychedelic glow sticks.

Waitresses in fishnets and leotards tend to paid tables (which can be reserved) and VIP-room guests while grooving to 70 s, 80 s, and 90 s pop (with some top-40 thrown in for good measure).

Upstairs a dining area called the food corner beckons where guests can order pizza and other light snacks to eat in the restaurant lounge and bar.

The nightclub attracts clientele with a disco nostalgia ̶ those driving the reviving popularity of discos, as well as those who splurged during the asset-inflated bubble economy. For foreign tourists eager for a Japanese disco experience, this is the place to be.

READER OFFER: Until Aug 31, KS readers can get in for free with the purchase of one drink ticket (¥700) ADDRESS: Osaka, Chuo-ku, Minamisemba 4-10-13 Huque Bldg. B1/B2F • TEL: 06-4704-8066 • maharaja-m.jp • See KS Map (Osaka South B-1)

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

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Events  Cinema Note: for show times and ticket information, please contact the cinemas directly

Toho Cinemas Umeda Now showing: Deadpool 2, Peter Rabbit, Lady Bird, Isle Of Dogs, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Only The Brave, Solo: A Star Wars Story, American Assassin • From Jul 6: Battle Of The Sexes, Early Man • From Jul 13: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Inside Tel: 06-6316-1312 • tohotheater.jp • Discounts: Weds (women); 1st & 14th of the month – ¥1,100; every day after 8pm – ¥1,300

Umeda Burg7 Now showing: Deadpool 2, You Were Never Really Here, Ready Player One, Future World, Solo: A Star Wars Story • From Jul 13: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom • From Jul 14: Killing Gunther Tel: 06-4795-7602 • burg7.com • Discounts: Weds (women); 1st of the month – ¥1,100; every day after 8pm – ¥1,300

Cine Libre Umeda Now showing: Jill and Joy, Kill Switch, Mine, April s Daughter, Maurice, I Can Quit Whenever I Want 2: Masterclass, Citizen Jane: Battle for the City, Brigsby Bear, Wonder Wheel, A German Life, Z for Zachariah • From Jul 6: C est La Vi !

• From Jul 13: Redoubtable • From Jul 14: Et Les Mistrals Gagnants • From Jul 27: Wind River • From Jul 28: La Chana Tel: 06-6440-5930 • ttcg.jp/cinelibre_ umeda • Discounts: Weds (women, men); 1st of the month – ¥1,100

Theatre Umeda Now showing: Baahubali 2:The Conclusion, Return to Montauk, Based on a True Story, Degrade • From Jul 14: Eva • From Jul 21: The Bolshoi • From Jul 28: The Invisibles Tel: 06-6359-1080 • ttcg.jp/theatre_ umeda • Discounts: Weds (women, men); 1st of the month – ¥1,100

Osaka Station City Cinema Now showing: Last Flag Flying, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Winchester, Peter Rabbit, Deadpool 2

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• From Jul 13: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom • From Jul 20: Buena Vista Social Club: Adios Tel: 06-6346-3215 • osakastationcitycinema.com • Discounts: Weds (women); 1st of the month – ¥1,100; every day after 8pm – ¥1,300

© 2018 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Osaka

Toho Cinemas Namba Now showing: Deadpool 2, Peter Rabbit, Lady Bird, Isle Of Dogs, Wonder, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Only the Brave, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Winchester, American Assassin • From Jul 6: Battle Of The Sexes, Early Man • From Jul 13: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Inside Tel: 06-6633-1040 • tohotheater.jp • Weds (women); 1st & 14th of the month – ¥1,100, every day after 8pm – ¥1,300

Namba Parks Cinema Now showing: Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Wonder, 24 Hours to Live, Only the Brave, Brigsby Bear, Wonder Wheel, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Kill Switch • From Jul 6: C est La Vi！ • From Jul 13: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom • From Jul 14: I Claude Monet Tel: 06-6643-3215 • parkscinema.com • Discounts: Weds (women); 1st of the month – ¥1,100; every day after 8pm – ¥1,300

Cinem@rt Now showing: Looking Glass, This Is Spinal Tap, Mom and Dad, Isle of Dogs • From Jul 7: Revenge • From Jul 21: Streets of Fire Tel: 06-6282-0815 • cinemart.co.jp/ theater/shinsaibashi • Discounts: Mon (men); Weds (women); 1st of the month – ¥1,100; 25th of the month – ¥1,000

Kyoto Movix Kyoto Now showing: Only the Brave, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Wonder, Deadpool 2, Lady Bird, Mom and Dad, Wonder Wheel, Solo: A Star Wars Story • From Jul 13: Jurassic World:Faller, Redoubtable • From Jul 27: Wind River Tel: 075-254-3215 • smt-cinema.com • Discounts: Weds (women); 1st and 20th

Battle Of The Sexes. From July 6.

of the month – ¥1,100; every day after 8pm – ¥1,300

Kyoto Cinema Now showing: Brigsby Bear, Félicité, The King's Choice, The Young Karl Marx, A Perfect Day • From Jul 7: Return to Montauk, April's Daughter, Dark Inclusion, Porto • From Jul 14: Deep End • From Jul 21: Et Les Mistrals Gagnants, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Lure, What Happened to Monday?

• From Jul 28: Their Finest, The Beginning of Life, The Bloom of Yesterday Tel: 075-353-4723 • kyotocinema.jp • Discounts: Weds (women & men); 1st of the month – ¥1,100

Toho Cinemas Nijo Now showing: Deadpool 2, Peter Rabbit, Lady Bird, Isle Of Dogs, Wonder, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Only the Brave, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Winchester, American Assassin • From Jul 6: Battle Of The Sexes, Early Man • From Jul 13: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Inside • From Jul 20: Buena Vista Social Club: Adios Tel: 075-813-2410 • tohotheater.jp • Discounts: Weds (women); 1st & 14th of the month – ¥1,100; every day after 8pm – ¥1,300

Hyogo OS Cinema Mint Kobe Now showing: Only the Brave, Wonder, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Deadpool 2, All the

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

Money in the World, Solo: A Star Wars Story • From Jul 6: Battle of the Sexes • From Jul 13: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Tel: 078-291-5330 • jollios.net • Discounts: Tues (women); 1st and 16th of the month – ¥1,100; every day after 8pm – ¥1,300

OS Cinema Kobe Harborland Now showing: Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Deadpool 2, All the Money in the World, Peter Rabbit, Ready Player One, Solo: A Star Wars Story • From Jul 13: Inside, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Tel: 078-360-3788 • jollios.net • Discounts: Tues (women); 1st and 16th of the month – ¥1,100; every day after 8pm – ¥1,300

Cine Libre Kobe Now showing: Wonder Wheel, Return to Montauk, Brigsby Bear, The Young Karl Marx, Last Flag Flying, You Were Never Really Here, Phantom Thread, Isle of Dogs • From Jul 6: C est La Vi! • From Jul 14: Jill and Joy, Eva, Et Les Mistrals Gagnants • From Jul 20: Buena Vista Social Club: Adios • From Jul 21: The Bolshoi • From Jul 27: Wind River Tel: 078-334-2126 • ttcg.jp/cinelibre_kobe • Discounts: Weds (women, men); 1st of the month – ¥1,100; Sunday after 8pm – ¥1,300

CLASSIFIEDS For Rent

Near Sakaisuji-Hommachi and Kitahama. Call: Moritomo Ken 066572-6877. Website: https://sites. google.com/site/osakasoroban/ abacus-classes • Contact: mail@ osaka-abacus.com

JOBS Teaching

Move to Osaka? Furnished Apartment in Osaka city 59,000yen.

Furnished Studio Apartment in Osaka city.JR Mitejima Riverside residence. Convenient & Safe.

Only 7min to Osaka Umeda area

by JR. No key money, No fee.No cleaning charge. 1 m refundable deposit is required. Furnished: ￥58,000-￥64,000 Call Passage Apartment:090-2591-9960 http:// passage-apartment.com/Contact: kr_toa@po.twin.ne.jp

Community Clubs and Groups FREE ABACUS CLASS FOR FOREIGNERS FREE ABACUS CLASS FOR FOREIGNERS. OFFERED BY O.C.C.I. and Osaka Abacus Assoc. to promote int l goodwill. Individualized lessons taught in Japanese or English. Saturdays 10-12 am.

Course material provided for free.

PART-TIME PRIVATE TEACHING JOBS IN ALL KANSAI AREA (OSAKA, KYOTO, KOBE ETC.) part-time. Looking for private language students? Pick your own lesson fee, schedule and location and then students will directly contact you! Available for : English, Chinese, Korean, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Burmese, Cantonese and Arabic. Salary: around 2,5003,500 per hour (negotiable) • Company Name: hello-sensei.com • Website: https://hello-sensei. com/en/sensei • Contact: contact@ hello-sensei.com

Kansai Scene Classifieds and Jobs are now online at Kansaifinder.com It's free for online listings or just ¥3,000 per month for your ad to appear in print. Post and pay online.

Place your own ad today

Find foreignerfriendly jobs in Education, IT , Hospitality & Service across Kansai

Learn Japanese at hools one of our selected sc ya in Osaka, Kyoto & Nago

Search apartmen ts in Kansai. Benefit fr om free bilingual support with the GaijinPot Housing Service

Getting Around

MAPS & INFORMATION / INTRODUCTION

The Kansai area covers the prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Wakayama, Nara, Mie, and Shiga.

There is so much to explore, so you ll need to prioritize your time wisely. Its main travel hubs are Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, all of which are well connected by high-speed rail networks, including the shinkansen (bullet train).

On regular trains, you can travel between Osaka and Kyoto in about 45 mins, and between Kobe and Osaka in about 30 mins. If you are here on holiday, pick up a convenient travel pass, such as the Kansai Thu Pass (surutto.com) or Kansai One Pass (kansaionepass.com), to avoid having to negotiate the ticket machines. Use a website such as HyperDia (hyperdia.com) to check train times and platforms from your smartphone.

Get Kansai Scene Kansai Scene is available from the following major outlets in the Kansai region:

OSAKA Hotels and Guesthouses

Hyogo

Kyoto

Osaka

Shiga

Hyatt Regency, Nikko Hotel, St. Regis, Swissôtel Nankai Osaka, Ritz Carlton, Hilton Osaka, Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka, InterContinental Hotel Osaka Tourist Information Centers

Nara

Mie

Wakayama

Osaka Visitors Information Center (JR Osaka), Hankyu Tourist Center Umeda, Osaka Visitors Information Center (JR Namba), Kansai Tourist Information Center (KIX), Kansai Tourist Information Center (Shinsaibashi), Nankai Information Center (Namba) Shops

Trains and Subways

Airport Transfers

There is an excellent rail network connecting all corners of Kansai. As well as JR (Japan Rail), there are numerous private railway companies servicing the area, including Keihan (Osaka/Kyoto), Hankyu (Osaka/Kyoto), Nankai (Osaka, Wakayama, Koya), Hanshin (Osaka/Kobe), and Kintetsu (Osaka/Nara/Mie/Nagoya). Each line operates several types of train. For the fastest trains, look for the Limited Express service trains. Be aware that Local trains stop at every station on the line, so only take them if no other type of train stops at your station. Subways operate in Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto and are an extremely efficient way to get around the cities.

To/from downtown Osaka, the most convenient option is the Nankai Rapi:t Express service (KIX <> Namba 42mins) or a Limousine Bus. To/from Kyoto, take the JR Airport Express HARUKA service (75 mins).

» Tip: Pick up a Railway Network

map from a major station or Tourist Information Center.

Buses For out-of-the-way locations, or in certain cities such as Kyoto, you may need to take a bus. A travel pass usually includes travel on municipal bus services.

Taxis Fares start from ¥500. The drivers wearing white gloves and official hats tend to be the most courteous, but don t expect English to be widely understood. Have your destination name and address on hand in Japanese.

Kinokuniya Bookstore Umeda, Kinokuniya Honmachi, Tower Records Umeda, Junkudo Namba, Hard Rock Cafe

KYOTO

ATMs and Credit Cards If you re using Visa, you will be able to withdraw cash at most bank or convenience-store ATMs. If you re using Mastercard, your best bet for withdrawing money is at 7-Eleven ATMs. Most other ATMs in Kansai do not accept Mastercard. It is not common to make in-store payments using credit or visa-debit cards in Japan, even for expensive purchases. Many shops and restaurants do not offer this service, so be sure to carry plenty of cash with you.

Wi-Fi Getting connected in Kansai can be tricky.

Renting a smartphone or SIM card at the airport is the safest option, to connect to the internet over a 3G or 4G network. In Osaka, you can access the Osaka Free Wi-Fi service at train and subway stations, stores and facilities throughout the prefecture.

Accidents and Emergencies » Ambulance/Fire service: Tel: 119 » Police: Tel: 110

Hotels and Guesthouses

Royal Hotel, Royal Park Hotel The Kyoto, Kyoto Nikko Hotel Tourist Information Centers

Kyoto Tourist Information Center, Kansai Tourist Information Center Kyoto, Kyoto International Community House Shops

Junkudo Kyoto, Maruzen & Junkudo Kyoto Main Store, GEAR

KOBE Hotels and Guesthouses

Kobe Bay Sheraton, Kobe Portopia Hotel Tourist Information Centers

Kobe International Community Center, Hyogo International Plaza Shops

Junkudo Nishinomiya, Junkudo Sannomiya, Kinokuniya Kobe

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

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Osaka North (Kita) MAPS & INFORMATION ho

-c D C Maruzen & ki Junkudo za a Osaka Loop Line Post Office InterContinental ak Club N Osaka Club Noon Hub Azul Hotel Cine Libre Noon+Cafe ri Kitano New Hankyu Hankyu do Umeda Sky Umeda Hosp. aOsaka Hotel Umeda Sta. Grand Front Building m ji o Kinokuniya Osaka / German k a 1 1 iy Knowledge Consulate H&M OWL Osaka M Westin 35F Capital Yodobashi Hankyu Ogimachi Hotel Tourist Toho umeda Camera Park Center Annex TRAD Hotel Osaka Shangrila Hep 5 Kinki Umekita YWCA Hep Navio Plaza Hankyu ade Craft Beer idori Arc Osaka Station Grand Bldg Toho Cinemas Higash Base Umeda Hankyu City Cinema Lucua Hankyu Dept.

JR Osaka Sonezaki Lucua 1100 Daimaru Police H.Q. Osaka Club Umeda a. t S Quattro Visitors’ Station City da e Information Hotel Um Hanshin Granvia shin Center Dept. n Hilton Ha Junkudo 2 2 Umeda 6F Plaza West Hotel Burg7 Hilton The Blarney Kansai Always Drop Inn Hotel Stone Dai-4 Herbis Osaka Maru Tower Bldg. 1F Hearton Ent Bldg. Records Hotel 3/4F TGI Fridays Hotel Nishiumeda Osaka Dental Clinic Dai-3 3RD WORD Beer Monterey Dai-2 Bldg.

Dai-1 Creamy Osaka Herbis Bldg.

Bldg.

2F Osaka Exeo Ritz Kita Shinchi 33F Tanimachi Lin Carlton .2 e o Captain 1F N ute Kangaroo o R . a t Mister aS Kelly’s im sh 7F Hotel ku Outback Fu Daiwa Hanshin US Steakhouse 3 3 Dojima Avanza e Homes Consulate Lin a.

B1F e in t a Group Lin S M i a a Hotel Elsereine im shin Toz ACCJ JR Han ukush Osaka Ana Crowne Kansai F Plaza ta.

S Hanshin Expresswa Dojima ima y (Loop Rou te) ush Hotel NTT Fuk Data Nakanosh Dojima River ima Dori Oebashi Forum i sh Bank of a b e Library b ABC Hall City Hall Festival Museum of Watana Japan a Line er Hall Oriental Ceramics anoshim Riv Osaka City han-Nak ei a K N ani jim Public Hall wa Do Tosabori River bas hi Mitsui Garden Hotel 4 4 Mitsui APA Hotel Sumitomo National Bank Museum of Art Rihga Science Nakanoshima Museum Inn Beer Belly

A

Theater Umeda

B

da Ume

Shin Midosuji

Higa

Nishi Umeda

eda

m shi U

Mid

Fukushima

e

ji Lin

osu

Kita Shinchi

Nishi Tenma

hi Line

Yotsubas

Dojima

a.

St

a

im

sh

no

ka

Grand Cube Osaka

APA Villa Hotel

YMCA

a Tos

Edobori Craft Beer Base Garden

Utsubo Park

Daiichi Group Kitamido APA Sōai Hotel High School Honmachi

30

5

OSTEC Exibition Hall

Honmachi Dori

A

Hanshin Expressway B

Elmers Green Cafe

il Bar Central Banco

Utsubo Tennis Center

6

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kitahama

Starbucks

Chuo Odori C Honmachi

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

St. Regis Hotel Osaka

Hooters Osaka

Hard Rock Cafe Osaka 0 Chuo Line

Sakaisuji Line

Naniwasuji

i

suj ike ida

Am

TAKAMURA Wine & Coffee Roasters

Nii Fine Arts

Maekawa Law Firm

Midosuji

ri

bo

5

ri Do

Yotsubashisuji

Sumitomo Hosp.

Honmachi

Na

Rihga Royal Hotel

Kitahama

Kitahama

i

Higobash

n ka a N

Yodoyabashi

a

im

h os

Starbucks 6

N 200m

D Sakaisujihommachi

Osaka South (Minami)

B

Shinmachi Kita Park

Shinmachi Life

Hearton Hotel

Mizuho Bank Nagahori dori

Nishiohashi

7-ELEVEN

Hotel Via Inn

bi-grace nail Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau

MinamiHorie Orange Street (shoppin

Tezukayama Gallery 2F Westwood Bakers

g street)

a-suji

3 Naniw

Triangle

The Suite

River

Ghost Ultralounge

a. a St

Junkudo

AEON MaxValu

Casa Lapichu

Motomachi

2F Murphy’s Comfort Minami Hotel Police The Blarney Station Stone B1F Suomachi-dori (Europe street) JANUS Bar Jaai

Higashi- soma Shinsaibashi Vanity

Fujiya Hotel

Soemon-Cho

B1

Burlesque B1

Pure Osaka

Osaka Shochikuza

Kokopelli

Namba Hips

Dotonbori

Nipponbashi sta.

Sennichimae line BIC Camera

Namba

Toho Cinemas Namba annex

Toho Cinemas Namba

Visitors Information Center

Takashimaya Dept. Store

Maruzen

Fraser Residence

MUJI/LOFT Tower Records

Swissôtel Nankai Osaka Nankai Namba Station

Namba Oriental Hotel

Misono Building

Namba Plaza Hotel

K2 record

NAMBA PARKS CINEMA

Naniwa Sports Center

Otaroad

Pub Bar 30 2F

Jack & Queen Naniwa Ward Office

Kuromon 5 Market

Sofmap

Animate Nihonbashi Shop

Toys”R”Us

B

Jazz Bar B-Roxy

NipponBashi

Namba PARKS

Naniwa Post Office

A

Singh’s Kitchen

APA Hotel

McDonalds

6

Namba Washington Hotel

Hozenji Temple Osaka Floral Inn

4

Absinthe Solaar 8F

Namba -naka

3

ibis Styles Kaneyoshi Ryokan Osaka

Don Quijote

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

Naniwa Park

Cinquecento

Zerro

Namba

Hotel Ichiei

2

Kinryu Ramen

Little Long Beach

Inari

Ark Hotel

3F GS Travel

Mexico New Japan Spa Plaza ALZAR Rooftop Bar OO

Namba Sta.

amb

Don Quijote

ba

JR N

Kansai Tourist Information Center

Nam

OCAT

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

Cross Hotel

Slices

Dotonbori Hotel

Namba Hatch

Tominaga Hospital

Balabushka 4F Mustang

APA Hotel

Nagahoribashi

Shinsaibashi

FootRock &BEERS

2F Daimaru Dept.

South

Sun Hall

Coolabah L&L ROR Comedy

Music Bar S.O.R.a

Apple Store

Joule

Moonshine Moon Tower

Dotonbori

5

Cinem @rt

Triangle Park

Ohno Memorial Hospital

4

The Silver Ball Planet

Big Step

5F Boy

Yamaya

Daimaru Dept.

Vano

Circus

Horie Park

OPA

Shinsaibashi-suji (shopping arcade)

Granknot Coffee

Banco

Cafe Absinthe

Nest Hotel

GAP

Uniqlo

Daimaru Dept.

North

Nikko Hotel

Via Inn

EXODUS

Craft Burger

TABIJI Kitchen

Critters Burger

Midosuji line

Covent Garden

Saboten

Tokyu Hands

1

Hearton Hotel

Nagahori Tsurumi-Ryokuchi line

Ali’s Kitchen El Pancho 8F

Yotsubashi

Bistro New Orleans

2

Sauce Boss

Minami-semba

Arthur Murray

Shinsaibashi

El Zocalo

D

Louis Vuitton

Toyoko Inn

KitaHorie

D & Dept.

MoeJoe

Big Beans Supermarket

Kansai Scene Mojoprint Office

Namba Shrine

Maharaja

Yotsubashi line

1

C

Daiwa Roynet Hotel

Shinsaibashi-suji (shopping arcade)

A

Sakaisuji line

MAPS & INFORMATION

C

Yamada Denki LABI1 Namba

0

6

N

100m D

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

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Osaka Tennoji Area MAPS & INFORMATION

e Osak

a Lo op L in

Tanimachi Line

Abeno Q’s Mall

ho

Lin

Kansai Kyoiku University

e

Hoop

3

Abeno

way i Tram

Hanka

wa

Abeno Harukas

ROCKTOWN 4F

e

Han

Language School

bo

0

B

C

B

C

N

Ko

CocoMomo&Co.

A

ac

Tenn oji Sta.

ad

Tenshiba Kans ai M ain L suji ine Line

Mido

Osaka Municipal University Hospital

Imaike

Line

e

in

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odan i

ress R ou

n-ma

2

Te r

Nank

miya

tsue

i Main Nanka S

ak

in Exp

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Dobu

u ais

Shitennoji

Osaka Municipal Museum of Fine Art

Tennoji Zoo

e ashi Lin Yotsub

3

Tsutenkaku

Shitennoji Honbo

Tennoji Sta.

Shin

1

Sta.

a i Sh in-Im amiy a

Shin Sekai

D Tennoji Ward Office

Hansh

Imamiya Ebisu Shrine

Ebisucho

1

2

C

Mom

B

Nipponbashi

Zepp Namba

te 1

A

re g

uc

hi

St

a.D

400m

Osaka Castle Area

rk

o Koen

Osaka Castle

Osaka Museum of History

Osaka Castle Park KKR Hotel Osaka Route Morinomiya Q’s Mall BASE

B

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

C

Morinomiya

Hanshin Expressway Higashi Osaka

2 Subway Im azato Line

Subway Tanim ac Tanimachi 4-chome

Osaka-j

Hanshin Expressway

o

Pa

Kitahama

in

ss

32

ig

ine

Sakaisuji Honmachi

Sh

Tamatsukuri A

1

us

Subway Sakaisuji Line

hi

e

Lin

Osaka-jo Hall

Osaka Prefectural Government Office

Subway Chuo Line

Kyobashi

aB

3

iha

Ke

in

a nM

Tenmabashi

Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry

a

ak

2

ob

Os

Tenma

Ky

bas

1

Mint Museum

D i sh Kyo

hi Line

Osaka Tenmangu

Osaka Loop Line

A

Tozai Line

3

N 0

400m D

Kobe

MAPS & INFORMATION A

B

C

D

Kitano Museum

Kobe YWCA

Kitanoseiryu Shrine

Hotel Piena Kobe

1

Shiei Yamate subway line

zaka Fudo

Kitano-cho aka terz Hun

Migration Museum ri -do oto am m Ya

Kitanosaka Hosp.

The Rock et tre 2F rl S a Pe Kobe Sansei Hosp.

Womens Kobe Junior Grocers St. Michael’s Kobe College 2 International Mosque School n Sun City e ns Hobgoblin 7F Junkudo ka Ikuta Police 7F ate m Station OS Cinemas Midnight Ya Kobe Mint Kobe Ikuta jinja 5F Halal Food Hotel Tower a Mickey’s y Oriental Iznt i Records Tokyu Inn Club om 4F Dental n n 5F a Sa Tokyu Clinic Hotel miy Hotel nno Tor Road Monterey Hands Sa 4F SOGO Dept.

Varit 5F Kinokuniya Ali’s Kobe Kokusai Troopcafe Kitchen Kaikan Marui 3F 3 1F HSBC e 2 San Plaza ut do Ro Kobe Kokusai Center u s Center Plaza East et Shochiku Isogami ut Plaza t. ok Park iya ae s West os m m k o i n oke n e a Junkudo Sannomiya b S nad Ko Cine Phoenix Ha Palmore KRAC e lin Hosp.

Kowka n Guild hi 4F s n 2F Aoyama Kobe Ikuta Ha ta.

Junior High hi Minato hi s c Kobe City c u a School Bank ory ae Hall Kobe tom i ky m ch Mo yu aru a Plaza K R im J tom Cine Libre Kobe Da Hotel Mo Kobe Doll 7F Museum Kobe Legal Mitsui 4 Partners Daimaru Sumitomo Dept.

Bank Higashiyuenchi Park

Tor

nn

Sa

iy

om

nn

Po

r

ka

ine

chi

rt l

San

Soraku Park

3

Sa

Kobe Elementary School

a

om

iya

JR

Shinko High School

Sa nn om iya

Kita

noz

aka

ad Ro

2

1

1F Bistrot Cafe De Paris

.

und

Hyogo-ken Prefectural Hall

ek

Bo

r

r ro

nte

we

i ce

Flo

ad

4

Hanakuma Park

Nankin-machi Raja Indian Restaurant

way

K

Kobe Luminarie

H

an ak u

m

a

Sub

Municipal Museum

ne

n li aiga

5

KIITO

Cafe Fish!

Shinko-Cho

Hotel Okura Kobe Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland

Kobe Maritime Museum Jumbo Ferry Terminal

Meriken park 6

Arthur Murray CULMENI Kobe 3F Harborland umie umie MOSAIC OS Cinema Harborland A

5

6

N Kobe Cruise Luminous Kobe 2

Kobe Meriken Park Oriental B

0 C

200m D

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

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Kyoto MAPS & INFORMATION A

B

C

D

Club Metro

1

Kiya Cho

Mori Yu Gallery Kyoto

LAB.TRIBE

Nijo-dori

Irish Pub Gnome Kyoto City Hall

H&M

Hankyu Line

Marui

Gion s hijo

World Kawaramachi

Hanamikoji-dori

Yamatoji-dori

ori awa-d Shirakkawa river Shira JAM Hostel Kyoto Gion

OPA

Junkudo

Fuji Daimaru

Sanjo

Maruzen

Gypsy

Tatsumi Bridge

The Gael Irish Pub Shijo-dori

Ryoshoin

Kacho-michi

Gion

4 Genkoin

Gion Kaikan Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art

Yasaka Jinja

Maruyama Park

Apa Hotel

Minami-za Theatre

Takashimaya

3

Higashiyama

Wakamatsu-dori

Butterfly Kitsune Kyoto Kyoto Bal

Hana hotel

Sanjokeihan

Sanjo

Sanjo-dori

Kawaramachi-dori

Kawara Machi

HUB

Keihan Line

Hotel Vista Premio Kyoto

Pig & Whistle

Pontocho

Movix Kyoto Mina

Teramachi Shotengai Shinkyogoku Shotengai

Oike-dori

Kiyamachi-dori

Gokomachi-dori

Fuyacho-dori

4

2

National Museum of Modern Art

Kyoto Royal Hotel & Spa

Tourist Information Center

Jomo Gas

Okazaki Park

Library

Miyako Messe

Hotel Okura DUBLIN

Honno-ji

Gear

ROHM Theatre Kyoto

Gastro Pub Tadgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Tozai Subway Line Kyotoshiyakusho-mae

3

Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art Annex

Higashi Oji - dori

Aeon Shopping Mall

The Ritz Carlton

2

1

Heian Shrine

5

5

oga wa

Teramachi Area

Riv er

Kaosan Kyoto

Guest House Rakuza

Kam

Kyoto Municipal Museum of School History

Kyoto bAKpAK Gion hostel

Kenninji

Ebisu Shrine

Nawa Clinic

6

Kodai-ji

KamibentenCho

The world's smallest Ukiyoe museum

6

N Ninenzaka

A

34

B

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

Higashiyama Ward Office

0 C

200m D

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Kansai Scene set for major changes

W

e at Kansai Scene have some big news to announce! After our 218th issue (July 2018) and an amazing 18 years worth of feature stories and event information published since 2000, we will be releasing a new-look Kansai Scene this autumn!

We now have an opportunity to expand our content to help you get even more out of your time in Kansai, monthly and seasonally. With the region experiencing record numbers of foreign visitors in the past few years, we feel that the time is right to make some big decisions and embrace this shift in readership demographic.

We are excited to announce then, that while this issue will be the last in its current monthly format, there will be a shiny brand-new Kansai Scene out on September 1. Together with a slick new design and format, the magazine will be larger and will be published quarterly, starting with the autumn 2018 issue.

The new KS will feature even more of the informative articles and listings you have come to expect, with extra tips on getting the most out of the Kansai region, but with a conscious shift in focus to cater for the needs of the English-speaking visitor, rather than long-term expat.

Circulation will double to 30,000 copies and will continue to be available at major hotels, guesthouses, information centers, and popular bars, cafes, and bookstores in the area. We anticipate that it will fly off the shelves, however, so if you have trouble finding a copy, we encourage you to take out a subscription via kansaiscene. com to ensure you never miss an issue.

We re excited, and we think you ll love it, too.

For more details, see our full press release online at kansaiscene.com *Please note that in preparation for the launch, there will be no August issue

Kansai Scene Magazine / ISSUE #218 JULY 2018 / kansaiscene.com

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