Central Japan Railway Company, or JR Central, announced on August 7 that renovation of part of its shopping facilities inside the ticket gate of the Tokaido Shinkansen line at Kyoto Station in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, will be completed this autumn. New coffee shops from Starbucks, a leading U.S. coffeehouse chain,...

Construction tours of Kojo-in Kyakuden, which is a National Treasure undergoing repairs, were held in Miidera Temple, Onjoji-cho, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, on August 17. Participants standing on construction work scaffolding gazed closely at its roof, which is being rethatched, and learned about preservation techniques for cultural assets. The event...

Is a body with mottled skin cute or gross? Giant salamander stuffed toys, a souvenir of Kyoto Aquarium, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, have gained a reputation as "gross but cute." The XXL toy, the largest of the five sizes, is 170 centimeters long. They have become a hot topic on the...

The elderly landlady of the roughly 90-year-old public bath "Yoki-yu," in Sakaemachi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, has handed it over to a young public bath manager in Kyoto City. Yukina Fujiuchi, who grew up in the area, is managing the bathhouse as its new landlady, and working hard to make...

High schools that provided inspiration and locations for Kyoto Animation Co.'s popular anime series "Sound! Euphonium" are mourning the victims of the arson attack on the studio that left 35 dead and dozens injured. The anime series centers around the brass band club at the fictional Kitauji High School, which...

The highlight procession "Yamahoko Junko" of "Saki Matsuri," or the former festival, of the Gion Festival, one of Japan's three major festivals, started in central Kyoto City on July 17. Celebrating the festival's 1,150th anniversary this year, a total of 23 Yama and Hoko floats decorated with gorgeous tapestries, which...

Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd. was founded in 1981. It has worked comprehensively in planning through production of animated TV shows and movies. It is based in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, where its head office is located, and has several studios. Its works have been released both in Japan and abroad....