(Postponed to April) Soba Making @ 苔香居 Taikoukyo, A Time Capsule of an Ancient Japanese Home (#45)

The entrance of Taikoukyo

No matter how long you have been living in Japan, apparently there are still many hidden treasures yet to be discovered. This time we will take a time flip and lead everyone to visit a 400 years old house in Kamikatsura, Kyoto.

Through the stone pathed garden, it leads to the main building.

Taikoukyo is the house’s nick name belonging to the Yamaguchi family, and it was registered as a cultural heritage 12 years ago. Tai means moss in Japanese and Taikoukyo means a residence filled the fragrance of moss. The Yamaguchi family has well preserved this old house up until now at their 20^th generations, and it was used as a residence for the family until 2003. Since the family has relocated, it is now occasionally opened to the public under very special arrangements.

A view of the Japanese moss garden from the main guest room. Can you see the dog?

The garden is filled with many types of mosses. They are grown naturally without artificial care or watering.

Here we were, making a preliminary tour of the house. 

We Are One organizers will guide you around the house and garden, while groups will take turn to experience soba-making at the traditional kitchen using firewood and charkol. Rice made from the Meiji-era-furnace, some side dishes and Japanese Tea will also be served. Let’s enjoy a Sunday afternoon under the moss-filled roof of Taikoukyo, immersed in Japanese history and experience its rich culture in this hidden treasure.

A view taken from the main guest room.

The 20th generation of the Yamaguchi family in this house, Mr. Yamaguchi explained to us about this tea room in the middle of the forested garden.

Date & Time:       postponed to April. Please register with us at we.are.one.japam@gmail.com if you are interested. 

Meeting place:    Hankyu Kamikatsura Station 11:00

Venue name:      苔香居 (http://taikoukyo.com/)、11時 上桂駅で待ち合わせ
Venue address:  西山の麓　苔香居
                                  〒615-8174　京都市西京区山田上ノ町25
Access:            ・阪急嵐山線
　　　　　　　　「上桂駅」より　西へ徒歩10分
　　　　            ・阪急京都線
　　　　　　　　「桂駅」より　タクシー7分　

Program:

• Presentation of Taikoukyo
• Guided tour in Taikoukyo
• Soba making workshop in an ancient Japanese kitchen from Meiji Period
• Lunch with Soba, rice, side dishes, snacks and Japanese tea
• Quiz, stand a chance to win a free stay at a newly reformed Machiya inn at Kawaramachi. Sponsored by Kyoto Machiya Inn

Cost: 4000yen (adult), 2500yen (children 6~12 years, FOC for children 5 and below)

RSVP by 10th March Thursday with participants' names, number of children to we.are.one.japan@gmail.com.

For enquiries email us at we.are.one.japan@gmail.com

A waiting from for the guests before they proceed to the tea house

日本では、まだあまり人に知られていない宝物がたくさん隠れています。今回We Are Oneは、皆さんと一緒に歴史の回廊に入って、京都上桂にある　400年の歴史を持つ苔香居を訪ねます。

Stone decorations in the forested garden

苔香居は山口家住宅に茶人であった先々代が付けた庵名で、苔の香りのする住まいとの意が込められています。400年前に庄屋として務めた山口家は20世代を経て、2003年まで苔香居を住まいとして使用し続けておりました。2003年に隠居場を別棟に持ったため、現在は限定しつつも苔香居は公開可能となりました。　

Travel through the time and back to this kitchen from the Meiji period. Much of it remain unchanged ever since.

苔香居内の部屋、茶室や庭園に見学し、明治時代の風貌を残し続けたキッチンでそば作りを体験することができます。薪を使って釜で炊くご飯、そしておかずやお茶も用意しております。苔に覆われ屋根の下、日本の歴史や文化を体験しながら皆で楽しい週末を過ごしましょう！

日時:                   4月に延期させていただきます、ご興味をお持ちの方　
                          we.are.one.japan@gmail.com まで登録してください。

待ち合わせ場所:   阪急•上桂駅/11:00

場所名:               苔香居 

住所:                  西山の麓　苔香居

                         〒615-8174　京都市西京区山田上ノ町25

アクセス:          ・阪急嵐山線

　　　　　　　　「上桂駅」より　西へ徒歩10分

　　　　            ・阪急京都線

　　　　　　　　「桂駅」より　タクシー7分　

プログラム:

• 苔香居のプレゼンテーション
• 苔香居のガイドツアー
• そば作りのワークショップ(明治時代からの伝統的な日本の台所で体験！)
• ランチ(そば/ご飯/おかず/スナック/日本茶)
• クイズ(優勝者には河原町にある最近改装されたばかりのまちやの一泊無料サービス券がゲットできます!スポンサーはKyoto Machiya Innより)

コスト:    4000円（大人）2500円(子供6~12歳、5歳以下は無料)

イベント参加のご予約は、参加者名、子供の数を記入してwe.are.one.japan@gmail.comまでご連絡ください。

参加費お支払いの情報はご予約が済み次第お知らせします。

質問•ご相談がありましたらwe.are.one.japan@gmail.comこちらまでご連絡ください。

A pot cover made of wood

We will be using this to cook rice for everyone.

Besides the kitchen there is an ancient well. According to the owner it is as deep as 10m. 

We will be using this well water for cooking and making tea.

Japanese umbrellas made of paper remain functional withstanding the test of time.

Taikoukyo was registered as Culture Heritage some 12 years ago but it is not fully open to public.

This is an ancient "car" (乗り物）. It has no wheels!