Kimiko Barber, Shining in the rain; Stormy weather fails to spoil the
ancient charms of Kyoto. Financial Times, Jan. 9, 2010.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/aaeec296-fbe0-11de-9c29-00144feab49a.html
千利休 (1522-91) allegedly coined these words to "indicate the frugal meal
served in the austere style of chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony) [茶の湯, also
known as 茶道]. The idea came from the practice where Zen monks would ward
off hunger by putting warm stones into the front folds of their robes, near
their bellies."
Kaiseki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiseki
(f) Isamu Yoshii 吉井 勇 (1886-1960)
(g) matsutake 松茸
(h) conger eel (n): "a large strictly marine scaleless eel (Conger oceanicus
) of the Atlantic; broadly : any of various related eels (family Congridae)"
(i) languor (n): "1 : weakness or weariness of body or mind
2 : listless indolence or inertia"
(j) allegro moderato: Italian for "moderately quick"
Tempo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempo
(k) karyu 花柳
(l) machiya 町屋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machiya
Another picture of the "the dark wood vertical slatted windows":
http://blog-imgs-11.fc2.com/
k/a/n/kanochandiary/CIMG1122.jpg
(m) slat (vt): "to make or equip with slats"
slat (n): "a thin narrow flat strip especially of wood or metal"
The three English definitions in (h)(i) and (m) are from www/m-w.com.
(n) Kiyomizu temple/Higashi-yama 清水寺/東山
(o) Ninen and Sannen-zaka 二年坂（二寧坂）and 三年坂（参寧坂）, both at 東山.
(p) Kasagiya 笠木屋 where "kasa" is 笠.
(q) Nanzenji 南禅寺 (臨済宗大本山)
http://www.nanzen.net/
(r) Philosopher’s Walk/Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) 哲学の道/銀閣寺
(s) Shugaku-in 修学院離宮
(i) Shugakuin Imperial Villa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shugakuin_Imperial_Villa
("Although styled as a "detached palace", often translated as 'imperial
villa', there were never any large-scale buildings there, as there are at
the Katsura Imperial Villa" 桂離宮)
(ii) Cercidiphyllum japonicum 桂
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cercidiphyllum_japonicum
("native to China and Japan. The tree is deciduous and grows to 40 to 60
feet.")
I have not seen this tree in America or Taiwan.
It appears that in China it is called
连香树
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BF%9E%E9%A6%99%E6%A0%91
, which is different from
桂花
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/桂花
The latter is called (A) 金木犀 kinmokusei in Japanese
or (B) Sweet Olive, Tea Olive or Fragrant Olive in English.
On the other hand, laurel wreath in ancient Greece is made of interlocking
branches and leaves of the "bay laurel" (Laurus nobilis).