At Home with Venetia in Kyoto

Red spider lilies announce the arrival of fall in Ohara, Kyoto. Venetia makes herb tea with fennel seeds, said to reduce eyestrain, and uses figs from her backyard in her original recipe. With a friend, she repairs an Andon paper lamp in an old-fashioned way, using Kurotani washi paper made in Ayabe, Kyoto. She then visits a maker of the Nishijin-ori textile, who has kept the hand-weaving tradition alive to this day. At the very end, we see that her grandson, Joe, is now a high-school student.

Venetia takes an autumnal trip to the Tanba and Tango areas in Kyoto. The Funaya houses in Ine, known as "Venice in Japan," boast of peculiar shapes, reflecting the wisdom of the people living with the sea. She enjoys the spectacular view aboard a water taxi. Fresh fish from the port are served for dinner. The next day, in the mountainous Kurotani district, she visits a maker of handmade washi paper. Trying her hand at washi making, she appreciates the 800-year-old tradition of Kurotani washi.