The Kyoto City International Foundation is hosting Open Day 2012 on Nov. 3.

The festival, lasting from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature a concert by a musician from Okinawa, lectures and workshops to learn different ways of counting numbers in various cultures, an opportunity to try on ethnic costumes, a flea market and a cafe run by Japanese learners and tutors.

Admission is free. The venue, Kyoto International Community House, is a six-minute walk from Keage Station on the Tozai subway line.

For more information, visit www.kcif.or.jp/HP/jigyo/tabunka/en/openday/2012/index.htm or call (075) 752-3511.

Concerts in Suita feature music for babies

The Osaka Symphony Orchestra will play music composed by Rossini, Strauss, Mascagni and Rodgers for babies in two concerts next Wednesday in Suita, Osaka Prefecture.

The concerts are welcome to all children, no matter how young. The first session will start at 10:45 a.m. and the second at 1:30 p.m. Admission is ¥1,500 for adults and ¥500 for children. The venue, May Theater, is near Hankyu Suita Station on the Hankyu Senri Line and a 15-minute walk from JR Suita Station on the JR Tokaido Line.

The website is at www.maytheater.jp/series/1210/1031_orchestra.html (in Japanese) or call the hall at (06) 6380-2221.

Exhibit covers history of alcohol production

The Museum of Osaka University will hold an exhibition on the history of making beer, whisky, wine, sake and "shochu" spirits in the Kyoto-Osaka area.

The exhibition runs from Saturday through Jan. 19. Various lectures and workshops related to alcohol will also be held.

The museum is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and national holidays except Nov. 3 and 4. It will also be closed Dec. 29, 30 and 31, and Jan. 1, 2 and 3.

Admission is free. The museum is a 10-minute walk from Ishibashi Station on the Hankyu Takarazuka and Mino lines. For more information, visit www.museum.osaka-u.ac.jp/jp/exhibition/P15/P15.html (in Japanese) or call (06) 6850-6284.

Cherry blossoms, fall colors at the same time

Visitors to Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, will be able to view cherry blossoms and autumn leaves at the same time during a festival running for the entire month of November.

The Obara area in the city is known for 10,000 unique cherry trees that blossom twice a year, in spring and autumn. The area can be accessed by taking a shuttle bus from Yakusa Station on the Aichi Kanjo Tetsudo Line.

For further information, visit obara-kankou.sakura.ne.jp/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012obara.pdf (in Japanese) or call (0565) 65-3808.

Weekend festival in ceramics center Tokoname

Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, is welcoming visitors to a festival Saturday and Sunday that takes place in various sites throughout the city, which is known for its ceramics.

There will be numerous events, including pottery making and stage performances of music and puppet shows.

Pots, dishes and glasses will be available at reasonable prices. The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The main venue is a 10-minute walk from Tokoname Station on the Meitetsu Tokoname Line. For more info, go to www.e-tokoname.com/ak-festa2012-top.htm (in Japanese) or call (090) 6597-3751.