Author: Alexander Farrell

Gion, Kyoto’s largest geisha quarter today, is a wonderful place to get a first-person look at Japan’s traditional culture, but it’s also …

Kyoto may be Japan’s ancient capital, but it’s a much more international city than the way your travel agent described it. For that I’m thankful …

It can be hard to summon the courage to ask a total stranger to pose for a photo. Not at all with this guy. He’s clearly seeking attention …

Kawaramachi Avenue, slicing north to south through downtown Kyoto, has undergone myriad changes since I first strolled the sidewalks with wide-eyed fascination …

The Edion electronics store at Shijo-Kawaramachi used to be the Marui department store, and before that for a very long time it was the Hankyu department …

No tourist chatter nor droning hum of traffic. The only sound is the gentle, constant roar of the river flowering over the rocks under the Togetsu Bridge …

How to reach Arashiyama at night? Most of Kyoto’s trains run until around 11 p.m. or midnight, but make sure to check the latest timetable. One way to get here is …

Heading back to JR Arashiyama Station? The neighborhood is quiet as can be at this late hour, but there’s still some activity. Some of the locals may be …

Behold the entrance to the Kimono Forest! Each column contains a piece of elegant kimono fabric. The Kimono Forest is already a beautiful sight during …

The Dragon Ball. No, you won’t see Goku or Piccolo or the like lurking around here. Just a perfect onyx orb engraved with golden lines depicting a fierce …

Vivid shades of red on the leaves, on the store across the street, and the quaint post office box down the sidewalk. And it’s quiet. It’s a still night …