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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 5h

The Path of Philosophy is a haven for cats, and most have grown increasingly friendly around humans (and the food they bring). By coincidence Nao-san's furoshiki had a cat theme!😺😽💕

Outdoor tea ceremony on the Path of Philosophy (note the furoshiki with printed cats).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 6h

I already have 2 cats waiting for me at home, but I was sorely tempted to put this gorgeous beastie in my backpack. Oh to have a cat that would be happy to ride around on my bicycle. #Kyoto #京都 #kyotocats #京都の猫 #猫 #PhilosophersPathCat #Japan

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 7h

A rotund little cat joined Nao-san for tea and to catch the last rays of the day🌞🙌🐈🍊 #哲学の道 #kyotocats #京都 #Japan #Kyoto #ThePathofPhilosophy

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 9h

Impromptu tea beside the The Path of Philosophy (哲学の道 'Tetsugaku-no-michi') brought a friendly face. Following the course of an irrigation channel fed by the Lake Biwa Canal, the narrow, cherry-tree-lined path was first opened in 1890 (further extended in 1912). #哲学の道

The canal beside the Path of Philosophy.

A friendly white and orange cat joined Nao-san on the Path of Philosophy.

An outdoor tea ceremony on the Philosopher's Path.

Admiring the sunset from the Path of Philosophy.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 10h

The sand mound has a small depression at its summit to give it an even more Mt. Fuji-like appearance, and indicating that the garden was best viewed from the upper floor of the pavilion. White Shirakawa sand (白川砂) was chosen to best reflect the light of the full moon. #Japan

Looking down at Ginkaku-ji and its gardens.

Ginkaku-ji's 'Kogetsudai' and 'Ginshadan', representations in white sand of Mt. Fuji and China's Lake Xi.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 11h

And what better sweets to enjoy with a trip to the 'Silver Pavilion' than Tawaraya Yoshitomi's (俵屋吉富) 'ginshadan' (銀沙灘). Flavoured with hama-natto (浜納豆), the higashi (干菓子) have a sweet and salty taste that pairs perfectly with matcha🍵🙌 #matcha #干菓子 #Ginkakuji

Tawaraya Yoshitomi's 'ginshadan' are dried sweets modeled on Ginkaku-ji's sand garden.

Ginkaku-ji's 'Kogetsudai' is thought to represent (in white sand) Mt. Fuji.

Beautiful kaishi paper with an autumnal leaf design.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 11h

🐈🍬FELINE FRIENDS ALONG THE PHILOSOPHER'S PATH🍂🌅 Golden hour at Ginkaku-ji's (銀閣寺) Kōgetsudai (向月台) and Ginshadan (銀沙灘), representations in white sand of (possibly) Mt. Fuji (富士山) and China's Lake Xi (西湖 'West Lake'). #Ginkakuji #銀閣寺 #Jishōji #慈照寺 #Kyoto #京都 #Japan

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Now, how do we get our hands on a giant bowl and whisk?🤔

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

For five centuries Takayama (高山) has been known as the heart of tea whisk production in Japan, in part thanks to the abundance of bamboo that grows here. Of the original 13 whisk-producing families granted surnames by the Tokugawa Shogunate (徳川幕府), only three remain. #高山

The Takayama Takeakari 'bamboo illumination' event at Takayama Chikurin'en (park) in early October.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Takayama Chikurin'en (高山竹林園), a beautiful park located close to Ikoma City, is famed for its nighttime 'Takayama Takeakari' (高山竹あかり 'bamboo illumination') event in early October. The area has long been famed for the quality of its bamboo products. #高山竹林園 #高山竹あかり #Nara

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

The idea of using a giant tea bowl, to be shared between a large gathering of guests, began with the Saidai-ji monk Eison (叡尊 1201-90) in 1239. He blessed the tea and shared it amongst parishioners as a symbol of unity, mutual support, and as a prayer for harmony and healing.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

The diameter of each tea bowl is about 39cm, the length of the tea whisk 40cm! Around three servings of tea are prepared in each bowl, and although the bowl itself can be lifted without too much difficulty, it takes a lot of concentration to actually sip from it! #Nara #奈良 #高山

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Modeled on similar events hosted at a handful of Nara temples, such as Saidai-ji's 'Ōchamori' gathering (西大寺の大茶盛式), the 'Enraku Dairaku-cha' (円楽大楽茶) booth uses oversized utensils to both entertain and foster a sense of community spirit. #円楽大楽茶 #Nara #高山 #Takayama

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

🍵📏TEA CEREMONY FOR GIANTS🫨💪 As part of the annual Takayama Takeakari (高山竹あかり 'Bamboo Lantern Festival') a very special tea ceremony is held within the grounds of Takayama Chikurin-en (高山竹林園). If you ever wanted to feel like one of The Borrowers then this is the gathering for you😆 #高山竹あかり #高山竹林園

Atsuko-san poses with the tea ceremony utensils used at the Takayama Takeakari tea gathering. Everything was specially made (understandably) for this event.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Kinmokusei blossoms are considered to be one of Japan's three great fragrant flowers, along with early spring's 'winter daphne' (沈丁花 'jinchōge') & early summer's 'common gardenia' (梔子 'kuchinashi'). Depending on the temperature, kinmokusei begin blooming from mid-September.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

You might be wondering how my week is going. Well.......😭 At 20cm, by far the biggest I've encountered. #mukade #百足 #ムカデ #Kyoto #giantcentipede

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Kinmokusei flowers, especially in China, are used in tea, jams, dumplings, liquor, and cakes. In traditional medicine, kimokusei tea helps with irregular menstruation. Some states in Northern India use the flowers to protect clothes from insects.

Kinmokusei cakes - the flowers are used to add flavour.

Kinmokusei jelly - the flowers are used to add flavour.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Kinmokusei (キンモクセ), in English known as sweet osmanthus, fragrant olive and tea olive, was brought to Japan from China in the Edo period. The plant was used for both medical and culinary purposes, and also as a natural air freshener. The flower symbolizes truth and nobility.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

👃THE SCENT OF AUTUMN🍂 telling of autumn, the scent of kinmokusei 秋告げる香りはなってキンモクセ -Saeko Takada (高田さえこ). As autumn deepens the fragrance of sweet osmanthus, harbinger of Kyōto's finest season, gently hangs in the air. #Kyoto #Japan #kinmokusei #金木犀

Atsuko dresses in orange kimono for the autumn season.

Kinmokusei scented jelly, finished with edible petals.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

After spotting them on Instagram, Nao-san ordered azarashi and penguin nerikiri (アザラシ和菓子/ペンギン和菓子) from Beniya Miyake (紅谷三宅) in Tochigi Prefecture. #Japan #和菓子

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Our friends at Panda-no-Sanpo (ぱんだの散歩) tried their hand at creating a nerikiri pandango (and matcha jelly). The finished product was totally adorable! Hopefully some more seasonal delights will be coming soon🙏 ➡️@panda_nosanpo ➡️https://pandanosanpo.com/english/ #ぱんだの散歩 #pandango #京都

Pandango (panda shaped dango) nerikiri and matcha jelly.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

My favourite nerikiri?🤔... The brown little critter is a 'tonkatsu' (とんカツ 'breaded pork cutlet'), flavoured with chocolate, and his yellow friend is an 'ebifurai-no-shippo' (えびふらいのしっぽ 'fried shrimp tail'), flavoured with banana... 🥩➡️🍫✨ 🍤➡️🍌✨ #練り切り #京都

Banana flavoured 'friend shrimp tail' and chocolate flavoured 'breaded pork cutlet' nerikiri.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Nerikiri originated in Kyōto during the early Edo period as a sweet to be served at tea gatherings. This one, created for the Kyōto Suizoku-kan (aquarium), is in the shape of a giant salamander (オオサンショウウオ)🥰 #nerikiri #練り切り

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

How about a morning Moomin and matcha treat!...🍵 The rather adorable milk Moomintroll (ルク味のムーミントロール) and matcha Snufkin (抹茶味のスナフキン) nerikiri. #食べマス #Japan #Kyoto

A milk Moomintroll and matcha Snufkin nerikiri.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

I will never forget the time one of our team members visited over 80 convenience stores to complete a full set of Dragon Balls. Each pack came with 1 nerikiri 'Shenron' (神龍) and a custard-filled mochi Dragon Ball. There were 9 sets to collect in total (2 of these were secret😓).

Dragon Ball inspired nerikiri and custard mochi (balls).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Thanks to collaborations between convenience stores and companies such as Bandai, nerikiri have once more caught the public imagination. The 'Tabemasu' collection (食べマス - a clever play on the words 'to eat' and 'mascot') brings well-known characters to life in sweet form.

Sumikko Gurashi's milk flavoured 'shirokuma' (polar bear) nerikiri, and strawberry milk flavoured 'tonkatsu' (breaded pork cutlet) nerikiri.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

🍯NERIKIRI NOM NOM NOM...😋 'Nerikiri' (練り切り) is a type of sweet made from a softer variety of mochi called 'gyūhi' (求肥), into which white bean paste is typically mixed. Because these traditional confections can easily be coloured, flavoured and shaped, they have become increasingly experimental🙌

Collaboration between Sumikko Gurashi and FamilyMart, producing nerikiri sweets based on popular characters.

Chrysanthemum inspired nerikiri. Petals are pressed into the pink sweet, with a yellow dot at the centre.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Cosmos have helped more than a few Nara temples turn their fortunes around. Abe Monju-in (安倍文殊院) creates a cosmos maze for guests to enjoy each autumn. The temple started life as Sūke-ji (崇敬寺) in 645, founded by Abe-no-Kurahashimaro (安倍倉梯麻呂). #cosmos #コスモス

Cosmos flowers blooming at Abe Monju-in.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Forty years ago Hannya-ji (般若寺) was rather down on its luck, its grounds gone to seed. The then abbot came across a single cosmos, and so started researching the flowers. Little by little he began to transform the precints, and now 150,000 cosmos plants grow here! #般若寺

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Fudō Myōō (不動明王) is the wrathful deity of Buddhist wisdom. ⚔️His sword cuts through deluded and ignorant minds. 🪢His rope binds those ruled by their violent passions. 🔥With flames he consumes the evil of the world. 🪨His rock symbolizes unshakeable peace. #不動明王

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Close to the temple's main hall is a large rock known as 'kanman-ishi' (カンマン石), on which stands an image of Fudō Myōō (不動明王). It is said those who place their back and bellies against the rock will be granted good health. #奈良

Hannya-ji's 'Kanman-ishi', a large rock upon which sits a small statue of Fudo Myoo.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

It seems that Ekan (慧灌 - Hyegwan), a monk from the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo, first founded a monastic complex here in 629. Originally known as Hannyadai (般若台), in 735 Emperor Shōmu renamed the temple Hannya-ji (般若寺) after gifting it a copy of the Mahāprajñāpāramitā Sūtra.

Heart shaped wreath made of cosmos flowers framing Hannya-ji's stone pagoda.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

cosmos flowers- old storehouses along with an old canal 秋ざくら倉庫とともに運河古る -Akatsuka Gogyō (赤塚五行). 🤔I was going to mute the video, but I think this is a more honest glimpse of how noisy popular sites get😑 #Hannyaji #般若寺 #cosmos

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

🙏BIG BUDDHA AMONGST THE COSMOS😇 Nara is one of the best places in Japan to see cosmos, and in recent years Hannya-ji (般若寺) has taken great efforts to make itself one of the best places in Nara to enjoy the flowers... ...that, and a very unusual soda🥤 #Japan #コスモス #奈良

A soda modeled on Nara's Great Buddha (with big candy floss hair).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Yūsai-san examined an imperial kōrozen-no-gohō in the possession of Kōryū-ji (広隆寺), and managed to reproduce the dye used in creating the garment. Because the dye behaves mysteriously in different lights, it is known as 'maboroshi-no-zome' (幻の染 'phantom dyeing'). #Japan

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Interested in a mysterious method of dyeing that allowed clothes to change colour depending on the sunlight, Yūsai-san began to research 'kōrozen-no-gohō' (黄櫨染御袍), a type of yellowish attire worn by the emperor for special ceremonies since Heian times.

'Korozen-no-goho', a type of yellowish attire worn by the emperor for special ceremonies since Heian times.

Photo thanks - @ozrainbow1985

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Yūsai-tei (祐斎亭) is a workshop and exhibition space in Arashiyama, displaying pieces by the master dyer 'Yūsai' (祐斎). Yūsai-san is a leading figure in 'yume kōro-zome' (夢こうろ染), a process of dyeing that creates a pattern capable of changing colour in the sun.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

💜🦩THE SEASON OF PINKS & PURPLES📿🌺 These are the days of cold dew (寒露 'kanro'). In the traditional calendar the wild geese are returning (October 8th-12th 鴻雁来), chrysanthemums are blooming (13th-17th 菊花開), and crickets are singing at the door (18th-22nd 蟋蟀在戸)🦗🎶 #Kyoto #京都

A soda drink modeled on Nara's Great Buddha.

A delicately folded sweet with a chrysanthemum crest stamp.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

In many Kyōto sweet shops you'll find a small 'manjū-kui' doll (饅頭喰い). The 'bun-eating boy', based on a tale of filial piety, is holding 2 pieces of manjū. Asked if he liked his mother or father more, the boy tore his bun in half and asked which piece was more delicious...😉

Small clay 'manju-kui' doll, depicting a boy holding 2 pieces of a manju sweet.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Turtles and cranes are both symbols of longevity. A minogame (蓑亀) is a turtle that has lived so long it sports a fabulous tail of seaweed and algae. As the Chinese proverb goes "cranes live for a thousand years, and turtles live for ten thousand years." #folklore #木型 #Japan

Wooden moulds for turtles and cranes...both auspicious symbols of longevity.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Some of the most remarkable kigata use bats as inspiration, one artist even borrowing the face of a cat to create a strange hybrid. In China the word for bat (fù 蝠) was a homonym for 'wealth' or 'fortune' (fù 富), and over time the bat became connected to good luck in Japan also.

Wooden moulds using bats as inspiration for sugar sweets.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

In Japan 'tai' (鯛 'red sea bream') is a symbol of good luck because its name is associated with the word 'medetai' (めでたい), which means 'congratulations'. As Kyōto is far from the sea, sugar sea bream became a convenient (but no less expensive) alternative to the real thing.

Taiyaki (鯛焼き 'baked sea bream'), as the name suggests, is a fish-shaped cake made from waffle batter. It's traditionally filled with sweet bean paste.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Of the many 'sea bream' kigata on display, one was created by Horikyūraidō (掘九来堂) for use in a movie called Onna-no-saka (女の坂). About the size of a newborn, such large sweets were intended as a display of wealth and would be cut up into slices of sugary sashimi for guests!

Wooden mould for creating a large sea bream of sugar.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

A few winters back Nao-san joined a workshop at 'ZENBI -鍵善良房- KAGIZEN ART MUSEUM', hosted by the owner of Kagizen and a wooden mould craftsman from Okayama Kyo-ya (岡山京屋). There was a chance to use some of the moulds with a clay mix (rather than sugar)👏✨😊 #木型 #Kyoto #京都

A workshop at 'ZENBI -鍵善良房- KAGIZEN ART MUSEUM', learning how to use kigata (wooden moulds).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

One of the most important sets of kigata for any confectioners is the 12 zodiac animals... 🐀🐂🐅🐇🐉🐍🐎🐏🐒🐓🐕🐗 2027 will be the Year of the Sheep or Goat. #干支 #zodiac #yearoftherabbit #zodiacanimals #木型 #Kyoto #京都

Wooden moulds with designs themed on the zodiac animals.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

As the bigger sweets were intended for display they typically featured auspicious motifs, such as cranes, pines and turtles. When finished the 'sculptures' were often coloured with edible paint to enhance the designs🎨🖌️ #干菓子 #higashi #japanesesweets #traditionalsweets #京都

Large kigata with a pine, turtle and crane motif.

A large higashi partly painted to show how the original would have looked for display.

Large moulds with a shrimp (lobster) design...this is an auspicious motif seen around the new year.

Wooden moulds for sakura and ume blossom designs.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

The most common type of higashi use wooden moulds called 'kigata' (木型) to create intricate designs in sugar. Kigata were used to make both smaller, affordable sweets for tea ceremonies, and larger, often prohibitively expensive, creations for special celebrations🙌 #Kyoto #木型

Wooden moulds featuring a bat and crab design.

Large higashi modeled on symbols of longevity (and marital harmony) - cranes, turtles, and the old married couple (from Noh) Jo and Uba.

Wooden moulds featuring pine branch and ume blossom design.

Wooden moulds featuring Noh mask designs.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

👏MOULDING GOOD FORTUNE🍬 Two types of sweets are typically used in tea gatherings: higashi (干菓子) for usu-cha (薄茶 'thin matcha'), and omogashi (主菓子) for koi-cha (濃茶 'thick matcha'). As the name suggests, higashi is a type of dry confectionery, whereas omogashi are fresh sweets with a short shelf-life.

'Tameiki-chan' (ためいきちゃん), a pointy-headed, rather melancholy-looking sweet created by Kagizen Yoshifusa (鍵善良房).

Dried sweets for spring...sugar bush warblers and thin wafers with a bracken design.

Summer sweets...jelly ayu nibble on green moss like morsels.

Dried sweets served around the time of the Gion Matsuri...one is in the shape of a fan emblazoned with the crest of Yasaka-jinja, the other features an abstract lantern design.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

A cornucopia of chestnut deliciousness from Jukō's (聚洸) concession in Takashimaya Department Store. 🌰rihei-guri kuri kinton (利平栗の栗金団 - made from rihei chestnuts) 🌰kurikanoko (栗かのこ) 🌰tanba-kuri kuri kinton (丹波栗の栗金団 - made from tanba chestnuts) #wagashi #和菓子

A selection of chestnut inspired sweets from Juko.

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