mamu's Kyoto Letters - Part 1: Local 'Common Occurrences'

Hello, I'm mamu.
While busy raising three children in Kyoto, I decided to start writing a little bit about life here.
Welcome to 'mamu's Kyoto Letters'!

In this magazine, I'll be sharing the good parts of Kyoto and some slightly funny daily occurrences from the perspective of a local, rather than a tourist.


Well, for the first installment, the theme is 'Local Common Occurrences'.
As someone born and raised in Kyoto, I'd like to share some of the quirks, unique culture, and moments that make me want to blurt out, 'Why is that?!'

1. You must stand on the left on escalators! The right is for people in a hurry💨 (*But it's the opposite in Osaka!)

In Kyoto, it's standard to stand on the left side when riding an escalator.
Leaving the right side open for people in a hurry... this is 'Kyoto common sense'.

But!
In neighboring Osaka, it's the exact opposite, and many people stand on the right.
It's a bit strange that even within the Kansai region this differs, and I'm sure the first time you find out, you'll definitely think, 'Wait, which one is correct!?' (laughs).

By the way, if a tourist stands on the right in Kyoto, they might get a subtle pressure from behind like, 'Excuse me, coming through~' 🥹🥹
Every time I see a scene like that, I have to laugh at the exquisite nature of the 'silent pressure' from Kyotoites 🥹
I was out and about yesterday, and sure enough, people who weren't in a hurry were all lined up on the left 🤭

2. Are tea ceremony and traditional culture so familiar that we're actually not that knowledgeable about them?

Kyoto is a city with a lot of tea ceremony, flower arrangement, festivals, and traditional events.
However, locals don't actually know everything about them perfectly.
Even though we've been exposed to them since childhood, when we become adults and look into them again, we often realize, 'Huh? There's a lot I don't actually know.'
That's precisely why, when we encounter tradition at an unexpected moment, we are moved by its depth.
In everyday life, there aren't many opportunities to come into contact with traditional culture 🥲

3. Do we use 'arigato' more than 'ookini'? But they're still very much alive in shopping streets!

I think many people believe 'Kansai = ookini', but
in reality, I feel like 'arigato' is used more often in Kyoto.
Especially among the younger generation, during daily shopping, or in conversations with mom friends, 'ookini' doesn't really come up much ☺️

But!
If you go to a shopping street, it's a different world.
The guy at the butcher shop, the lady at the greengrocer, the old man at the dry goods store—
I feel like those people often use 'Maido ookini~!' 🧐
And the way they say it has such character; just hearing it makes me feel warm and think, 'This is Kyoto.'

In other words, I think 'ookini' is still a very much alive word, but it feels like a cultural term that depends on the place and the person 🤔
It has a slightly nostalgic, warm sound. I feel strangely happy when I hear it once in a while..

4. The summer Gion Festival has 'unbelievable heat and crowds, but locals are somewhat calm'

Speaking of summer in Kyoto, it's the Gion Festival! It's famous nationwide, but for locals, it's a major annual event.
However, when I'm in the middle of those crowds and heat, I find myself looking at it somewhat calmly, thinking, 'Oh, it's here again this year...'
Tourists are all excited, but locals have a somewhat philosophical attitude, like, 'Ah, another hot summer has arrived.'
Also, I think it's a stylish trait of Kyotoites to enjoy the festival with specific preferences, like 'This is my usual stall!', without being defeated by the crowds.

Like this, I've introduced a few 'common occurrences' from my life in Kyoto this time.
Kyoto as a tourist destination is great, but I think this 'real Kyoto' felt from the perspective of a local has a different kind of flavor.

Things I usually take for granted, when I write them down like this, I sometimes realize, 'Come to think of it, is this because it's Kyoto?'
I would be happy if someone read this and chuckled, thinking 'I get it,' or if they became interested, thinking 'Oh, so that's what Kyoto is like' ✨️

From now on, I hope to continue writing about my daily life in Kyoto, recommended shops, little realizations, and even some venting about parenting,
bit by bit, without pressure, truly feeling like I'm writing a letter 📘

Next time, I'm planning to write something about 'Kansai dialect'!
Please come back and take a look if you'd like~ 👋✨

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