Kyoto: From the past

Monday, 8th April, 2014.

Hosoki’s brother and his wife and family lived next door to JEE.  Their house was about 80 years old, and Hosoki took us to see them to show us an unusual heating system.  As in most Japanese houses, there was a collection of brightly-flowering pot plants outside the house at the edge of the narrow footpath.

 

The feature we were taken to see was this table in the lounge.  There was a sunken pit beneath it which contained a heater safely covered by a wire grill, where you could put your feet to keep them cosy.

A soft blanket around the table kept the heat in and also kept your legs warm.

 

Although the heater was now electric, originally it would have been a different fuel – charcoal I think.

People would sit and read or knit around the table, warm as toast.

 

Hosoki’s sister-in-law gave us some pickled cherry-blossom tea around the warm table.

 

In complete contrast, there was also a state-of-the-art massage chair.  Hosoki’s sister-in-law gave us all a go.

 

Bliss!

 

“It’s grabbing me!”

 

Hosoki and her sister-in-law thought it was highly amusing when I photographed this shoe-rack inside the front door where everyone takes off their shoes.  I thought it was another example of good Japanese design.