by Hana, age 9, asks Hoteiosho do you carry a big sack of gifts on your back?, about Kyoto’s mountains, and why Kyoto was once Japan’s capital
Dear Hoteiosho,
My name is Hana and I am 9 years old. I live in Kyoto, Japan, where the old wooden temples get dusted with snow in December and my family visits one every New Year to ring in good luck.
First, do you carry a big sack of gifts on your back?
Second, a geography question: what mountains surround Kyoto?
Third, a school question about my country: why was Kyoto once the capital of Japan for so many centuries?
I left you strawberry shortcake and a cup of tea.
Love, Hana, age 9, Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto, Japan
From the Desk of Hoteiosho
Dear Hana, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you carry a big sack of gifts on your back?
I do, a large cloth sack slung over my shoulder, said to hold not just gifts but patience and contentment as well.
What mountains surround Kyoto?
Kyoto sits in a valley ringed by low, forested mountains on three sides, which is part of why the city stayed cool and sheltered enough to serve as Japan’s capital for over a thousand years, and it makes for a beautifully quiet, misty approach by sleigh.
Why was Kyoto once the capital of Japan for so many centuries?
Kyoto served as Japan’s imperial capital from the year 794 until 1869, chosen originally for its favorable location and protective surrounding mountains. Over that long stretch of history it became home to countless temples, shrines, and palaces, and it remains one of the most culturally important cities in the entire country.
Yoi otoshi wo, Hana.
Ho ho ho, Hoteiosho
