by Yuto, age 7, asks Hoteiosho do you come down the chimney, or appear at the door?, about Kyoto’s mountains, and why Kyoto was once Japan’s capital
Dear Hoteiosho,
My name is Yuto and I am 7 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 come down the chimney, or appear at the door?
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 mochi and a small cup of milk tea.
Love, Yuto, age 7, Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto, Japan
From the Desk of Hoteiosho
Dear Yuto, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you come down the chimney, or appear at the door?
Neither exactly. My arrival is a bit gentler and less specific than that, more a quiet presence felt throughout the household during the season.
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, Yuto.
Ho ho ho, Hoteiosho
