KARAHORI art FESTIVAL

Cycling around the city today on another sunny Sunday is simply bliss for me. Accompanied by my beau, I am sure not to get lost, sure to eat well, and sure to find new places wonderful. We ventured over to Kara Hori Dori shopping arcade because it is so welcoming in its simplicity.

Click on the photo of the steps on the left side for a link to atmospheric photos of the KaraHori area.

http://karahori-machi-art.com/w_top.html

I was hoping to see some lazy cats stretched out in the afternoon sun, but instead I saw the beautifully red 'higanbana' (cluster amaryllis) growing on an old roof instead of beside a patty field, and found a little pocket of interesting space just near Minami Senior High school.

http://karahori-machi-art.com/l_shop.html

There are three main gallery type shops of particular prettiness that are full of all sorts of things lovely. What might interest you all is their 9th annual Kara Hori Art Festival held on the weekend of October 24 and 25.

Unfortunately the deadline has passed for submissions, but perhaps you will find some inspiration for the 2010 event? Click on the black 2000-2008 art link for photos of previous submissions by artists.

http://karahori-machi-art.com/

For a bit more of an inside look into what the festival feels like, have a look at the 8th annual interactive guide on this web page.

http://karahori-machi-art.com/midokoro-guide2008.html

There are a few shops recommended on the following link page for ladies who would like to stroll about in kimono. Do you dare?

http://karahori-machi-art.com/kimono/page-2.html

Cafe Renga Machaya just in front of Minami High school looked interesting from the outside if you need something to eat.

http://honmachi.nokotonara.com/15/2008/12/post_12.html

Furthermore, the Horikawadori Shotengai are holding their Autumn Horikawa festival on October 2 and 3. Perhaps it will be a good chance to meet some locals and explore the area before the Art festival at the end of October. The map at the bottom of the page is especially good.

http://www.horikawasandou.jp/exhibition/index.html

A map to the area (in Japanese) can be found here.

http://www.so-karahori.com/

TO get there:

To get to Kara Hori Dori shopping arcade and the 'arty areas', you can take the Nagahori Tsurumi Ryoukuchi Line to Matsuyamachi station. It is a 5 minute walk from Exit 3 to the hub of action.

If you are coming in on the Tanimachi Line, get off at Tanimachi Rokuchou-me station. It is a 6 minute walk from Exit 4.