by Yui, age 9, asks Hoteiosho do you visit children in Japan, or only certain regions?, about Kyoto’s mountains, and why Kyoto was once Japan’s capital
Dear Hoteiosho,
My name is Yui 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 visit children in Japan, or only certain regions?
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 a plate of dorayaki and tea.
Love, Yui, age 9, Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto, Japan
From the Desk of Hoteiosho
Dear Yui, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you visit children in Japan, or only certain regions?
Across Japan broadly, wherever the old traditions and the newer Christmas customs have come together.
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, Yui.
Ho ho ho, Hoteiosho
