Scenes like this are becoming increasingly rare on Hanamikoji, a street that runs north from Kennenji, Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple. Hanamikoji is lined by traditional wooden buildings and traversed by geiko (geisha) and their apprentice maiko heading to and from restaurants and teahouses to entertain guests with music, dancing, party games, conversation, and of course their beautiful kimono. But with tourists flooding back into Japan after the country ended its pandemic-era entry restrictions, this treasure of traditional Japanese culture now feels like a foreign country. You’re more likely to hear languages like English or Chinese as you walk down the street, even at night. The later hours are your best bet to get a view like this.
花見小路でこのような光景はますます珍しくなっている。コロナ時代の入国規制が撤廃され、観光客が再び日本に戻ってきた今、日本の伝統文化の宝庫である花見小路はまるで外国のようになっている。写真のような景色を見るには、遅い時間帯がお勧め。
©Alexander Farrell