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Discover Latest #Kyoto News, Articles and Videos with Contenting
- ABC News Find the latest Kyoto news from WIRED. See related science and technology articles, photos, slideshows and videos. Kyoto is a city located in Japan, and is known for its rich cultural and historical heritage. The city is home to some of the oldest Buddhist temples in the world. It is also home to some of the most beautiful gardens and shrines, making it a popular destination for both tourists and locals. Kyoto is also known for its traditional cuisine, with a variety of flavors from all over Japan. Visitors can enjoy the city's many festivals, including the famous Gion Festival and the Aoi Matsuri. Kyoto is also a great place to experience traditional Japanese art and culture, with a variety of museums and galleries located throughout the city.
October in Japan: 31 Mindful Travel Affirmations | Arigato Travel
Here in Japan, autumn invites us to slow down and notice change—the hush of a temple garden after rain, the warmth of tea between our palms, the quiet joy of a red maple leaf against a slate sky. At Arigato Travel, we see travel as a mindful practice: a way to step into the season with curiosity, presence, and gratitude. Japanese life philosophy reminds us to welcome each moment as if for the first time (beginner’s mind), appreciate the beauty of imperfection (finding grace in the worn and weathered), and offer sincere hospitality—small, thoughtful gestures that turn strangers into friends. These ideas pair naturally with mindfulness, asking us to breathe, look closely, and let the season teach us how to transition with ease. Affirmations are a simple tool that helps you do exactly that. In psychology, affirmations are values-based statements that reinforce your sense of identity and purpose. They aren’t magic—but they are meaningful. Research on “self-affirmation” shows that reflecting on what matters to you can reduce stress responses, support clearer thinking under pressure, and even increase openness to positive health messages that lead to better choices. Over time, these small moments of self-alignment can ripple outward into lasting benefits for well-being, relationships, and performance. How to use the October affirmations for best results: Keep it brief and present-tense. Read or say your affirmation in a calm voice that feels believable and kind. Tie it to a daily cue. Pair an affirmation with an existing habit—morning tea, a walk under changing leaves, or your first glance out the train window. Engage your senses. Look for one autumn detail (color, scent, texture) as you repeat your line; let the season anchor the words in your body. Write it down. Handwriting increases intention; pin your note where you’ll see it—luggage tag, mirror, or phone lock screen. Align with values. Choose affirmations that reflect what matters most—curiosity, compassion, steadiness—so they resonate beyond the moment. Practice gently. If resistance shows up, soften the wording (“I am learning to…”) and return to your breath. Our Japan-themed autumn affirmations were created to travel with you—whether you’re exploring Kyoto’s gardens, wandering seaside shrines, or savoring ramen on a breezy evening. Think of them as quiet companions that help you mark thresholds, release what no longer fits, and step into the next chapter with clarity. Please enjoy and use the following 31 affirmations—they evoke October in Japan and invite a path of calm consideration, gentle transition, and openness. I welcome October like a new journey, open to crisp air and small wonders. I see beauty in change, like turning leaves. I grow by letting go. I treat every meeting as a once-in-a-lifetime moment and savor it fully. I leave white space in my plans for serendipity—room for a detour under red maples. I offer wholehearted hospitality and receive it with gratitude, warming hearts like tea. Nature restores me; I walk tree-lined paths and breathe deeply. I carry calm through stations and shrines, steady as mountains in morning mist. I honor my repairs—kintsugi (mending with gold) in spirit—stronger and more beautiful. I improve through small, steady steps, as leaves shift color day by day. Stillness clarifies my path; I pause to hear the soft rustle of leaves. I anchor my day with simple rituals—tea, a bow, a breath—harmony and respect. I notice haiku-sized details: a single leaf on stone, steam from a rice shop, a quiet smile. I waste nothing and thank everything I use, packing lightly and mindfully. I trust the season’s mystery; earlier dusk invites lamp-lit wanderings. I walk with relaxed awareness, mindful of each wooden step and fallen leaf. I accept wholeness even when incomplete, like a circle drawn in one imperfect stroke. I move like a clear brushstroke—confident, graceful, unhurried. I travel light and resourcefully, wrapping each day’s surprises with care. Warm baths soften my body and thoughts; I release tension and return to ease. I feel protected by the good intentions I carry, like a small charm in my pocket. I pause for tsukimi (autumn moon-viewing); the night sky resets my rhythm. I welcome momiji (turning maple leaves); change is natural, necessary, and beautiful. I speak with gratitude and humility; simple words can warm a chilly day. A seasonal lunchbox and a train window are enough for contentment. I practice courtesy and presence on every ride, creating islands of calm. I celebrate community wherever I find it, joining a local harvest festival. I step through new thresholds with courage and reverence, into bright autumn light. I lift each curtain gently, crossing spaces with care and curiosity. I rise after every fall; resilience is my daily habit—seven setbacks, eight returns. I fold hopes patiently; small, steady acts build great results. I align with purpose as the year turns; my inner compass points to what matters most. If this approach to mindful travel speaks to you, we’d love to craft something special. Visit our blog for more reflections and practical guides, and contact Arigato Travel to plan a Japan journey centered on wellness, meaningful experiences, and personal transformation. Together, we’ll curate moments that feel like deep breaths: small, beautiful, and unforgettable. Featured Photo Credit: AaronChenPS2 Ready to experience the best of Japan, let us help plan your entire trip from start to finish.
THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTUMN IN JAPANESE CULTURE | Arigato Travel
Across the world, each season paints the landscape with its own mood and meaning. In Europe, we often connect the seasons not only with changing colors and shifting atmospheres, but even with music. Who hasn’t tried to guess which melody in Antonio Vivaldi’s magnificent The Four Seasons corresponds to each season of the year? The importance of a season, after all, depends on what it has historically meant in each country. Some seasons are dreaded, while others are eagerly awaited. It is the same in Japan, where each season carries its own cultural weight, reflected in art, poetry, and tradition. Today, we’ll step into autumn, a season that in Japan embodies both brilliance and impermanence. As leaves blaze crimson before falling, artists and poets have long drawn inspiration from the fleeting splendor of this time of year. Autumn as a painting The idea of depicting the seasons in art has a long history in Japan, particularly with yamato-e, a classic style of painting inspired by the pictorial works of the Chinese Tang dynasty. Another important genre was the shiki-e, or “pictures of the four seasons.” Both flourished in the Heian period (794–1185). In these works, autumn was marked by brilliant red maples, pampas grass swaying under the moon, or chrysanthemums in bloom. Such motifs weren’t just pretty decorations; they carried layers of meaning. Momiji (maples) embodied both vitality and impermanence, while chrysanthemums symbolized longevity and dignity. One of the most famous early visual records is found in the Genji Monogatari Emaki (The Tale of Genji illustrated scrolls, 12th century). Certain scenes are set in autumn, and the choice of seasonal detail helps to deepen the mood: the blaze of leaves, the sound of wind, or a moonlit night reflecting on water. Over time, artists like Hiroshige and Hokusai (known for The Great Wave Off Kanagawa) brought autumn landscapes into the ukiyo-e woodblock tradition, making them accessible to townspeople. Hiroshige’s prints in particular capture glowing hillsides, rice fields ready for harvest, and temple gardens carpeted in red leaves. Even today, autumn exhibitions are common in Japanese museums and galleries, where classic and contemporary works alike highlight the seasonal shift. Paintings of geese migrating, persimmons ripening on bare branches, or moon-viewing gatherings remind visitors of how this imagery has remained constant for centuries. Autumn’s poetry If art gives autumn a visual form, poetry gives it a voice. In Japan, autumn is one of the richest poetic seasons, appearing in anthologies as old as the Manyōshū (8th century) and the Kokin Wakashū (905). These works don’t just describe scenery; they express feelings of melancholy, longing, and appreciation for impermanence. One waka from the Kokin Wakashū opens the autumn section with surprise at the season’s arrival: “I could not see clearly that autumn had come, but suddenly — startled by the sound of the wind.” — Fujiwara no Toshiyuki (c. 9th century) Haiku, a short Japanese poem of three lines that follows a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, are especially suited to autumn’s sharp, fleeting impressions. Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694), the great haiku master, left many verses about autumn, including: “On a withered branch a crow has settled— autumn evening.” Here, the quiet image captures not just the sight of autumn but its emotion: loneliness, stillness, and acceptance of change. Another haiku, written in his later life, shows how autumn can mirror personal reflection: “First autumn morning— the mirror I stare into shows my father’s face.” Both poems embody mono no aware, the Japanese sensitivity to the beauty of impermanence. Experiencing autumn in Japan This cultural celebration of autumn is not confined to art and poetry. It is lived out in traditions like momijigari (maple leaf viewing), where families and travelers alike seek out mountainsides, temple gardens, and riversides glowing with red and gold. Just as spring brings cherry blossom picnics, autumn brings excursions to admire leaves. Kyoto’s temples, Nikko’s cedar-lined paths, and even Tokyo’s parks transform into destinations for leaf viewing. Autumn festivals also highlight chrysanthemums, the season’s symbolic flower. The Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Doll Festival in Fukushima, for instance, blends floral art with cultural storytelling, while chrysanthemum exhibitions across the country showcase elaborate displays of this dignified bloom. Food also becomes part of the seasonal experience; dishes with matsutake mushrooms, roasted chestnuts, and persimmons reflect the harvest and add a sensory richness to the season. Autumn in modern Japan What image do Japanese people have of autumn today? On the one hand, it remains deeply tied to tradition: the glow of momiji, the taste of autumn foods, the sound of crickets in the evening. On the other hand, autumn has also become associated with new, modern idioms. There is a saying, shokuyoku no aki (autumn, the season of appetite), because cooler weather brings heartier meals. Another is dokushō no aki (autumn, the season of reading) since long evenings are perfect for books. Sports festivals are often held in autumn, making supōtsu no aki (autumn, the season of sports) another familiar phrase. For many Japanese today, autumn combines nostalgia with comfort. It is a time to savor, whether by walking under fiery maples, enjoying cultural events, or simply cozying up with a seasonal snack. While the imagery of classical poetry, loneliness, impermanence, still resonates, autumn is also seen as a season of abundance, reflection, and balance. In Japanese culture, autumn is more than a transition between summer and winter. It is a profound source of inspiration that links art, poetry, tradition, and everyday life. From Heian-period scrolls to Bashō’s haiku, from temple leaf viewings to modern expressions of seasonal joy, autumn reminds people to pause and appreciate the fleeting beauty around them. It is both brilliant and fragile, fiery and fading, a season that captures the very essence of Japanese aesthetics. So that’s why Autumn matters so much in Japan! Featured Photo Credit: NTRdesign Ready to embark on an unforgettable autumn adventure in Japan? Check out our top autumn tours to embrace the magic of the season!
5 Magical Places to Enjoy Autumn Leaves At Night in Tokyo | LIVE JAPAN travel guide
Tokyo’s autumn isn’t only a daytime show. Across the city and nearby prefectures, gardens switch on evening illuminations that set fiery maples and golden ginkgo aglow. The blend of light, water, and seasonal color creates a calm, cinematic mood you can only feel after dark. Below, we’ve picked the most impactful places to see illuminated autumn leaves at night, with easy access and clear details so you can plan smoothly. Many think of visiting Kyoto for fall colors, but Tokyo’s night views hold their own; come see a different side of the season in and around the capital. (This article contains affiliate links)
Kyoto Named One of the World's Friendliest Cities - Kyoto - Japan Travel
Condé Nast Traveler has recently released its 2025 Readers' Choice Awards, and Kyoto has been named one of the world's friendliest cities. The annual awards are based on reader votes, highlighting destinations that make lasting impressions through hospitality and atmosphere.