峰山高校のAETである、ジュリアンハックマンリー先生に京丹後に住んで感じたこと、峰山高校について感じたことをレポートしてもらいます。

　第１回目は「峰山町（京丹後市）について」です。

Mineyama Town

The Treasure of Kyoto

Mineyama as a town is a great town. I love the communities, the cherry blossoms, and the snow. I love the rural mountains and watching the ruralf train pass my house. The view is always beautiful and great. Everyday, the sky and the mountains paint a new picture. Each as beautiful as the last. Each with its own unique style. There is never a boring view.

Mineyama is like a hidden treasure of Kyoto. Not many people know about it and I think that makes it more special. It has a very prominent fall season with a beautiful snowy winter. Summer is not as hot as it is in Kyoto city. With the cool beach breeze blowing from the east and west side and the sea just around the corners, it makes it easier for anyone to keep cool in Kyotango.

The downside to Kyotango is that it often rains. However, with rain, it brings about the clouds swimming around the mountains. You wake up to the beautiful aesthetics of "unkai" or sea of clouds just around the base of a mountain as if you are looking at a real life Asian painting that you find yourself captivated by in Asian restaurants back in your hometown.

Kyoto city most certainly has temples, Cherry blossoms, and kimono. But imagine having all of that plus the snow, plus cheap kimono, plus the kindness of the local people all around the corners without having the hustle and bustle of a city, the disturbances of tourists, and the crowd of people. Kyotango has everything Kyoto city has but with serenity. That is what makes Kyotango a treasure of Kyoto.