Kyoto prefecture study trip: Hakurei Sake brewery, Kurotani washi and Amanohashidate

In August, I went on the last study trip of the year with Osaka University. We went to three places around Kyoto prefecture- and we saw sake making, Japanese paper making and a place which I'd wanted to visit for ages- Amanohashidate. 

The first place we visited was Kurotani village, which is home to a cooperative which makes traditional Japanese paper (washi). They have been making washi there for 800 years! It's quite out of the way and it was such a cool opportunity to go and visit. The actual village was teeny and cute, and there were a few paper making buildings dotted around. Some of the paper makers took us on a tour of their workshops. Because they make paper using traditional methods, their paper is highly sought after. I bought a couple of envelopes with cute watermelons on them <3 Kurotani Washi cooperative association website

The next place we went was somewhere that had been on my list the whole year, one of the 'three Japanese views': Amanohashidate. It's a sand bar covered in pine trees in north Kyoto prefecture, and it's gorgeous. We got food, and I had something called tanin niku don (it was yummy) and then Emily and I went up the ropeway to Kasamats park. They had 'wish padlocks' so we did one. We wished to be friends forever <3 

We also had matching sunglasses, bc swag.
And this was the famous view! It's so gorgeous. You're also supposed to look at this upside down, through your legs.

It's sooooo gorgeous!
You're supposed to look at it upside down, through your legs.

I bought some sweets which 'told your fortune' of love, health etc. based on which sweet you picked.

The last place we visited was Hakurei sake brewery. They let us try some sake, gave us a tour and a little explanation of how sake is made and about the company itself. So interesting! 

These hanging spheres are called sugidama, and they are hung outside places where sake is made or sold.

And then we had the long bus journey back to uni. All the trips with Osaka uni were so amazing! I'm so lucky and thankful they took me. All of these places were quite hard to get to, but it's well worth trying to visit if you can!

Thanks for reading! -Amy xoxo

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