Category: Kyoto

Most international visitors to Kyoto probably don’t know it’s a big-time college town. It may not be Tokyo, but there are some prestigious universities …

I love the shiny blue body on this motorcycle. It matches the rider’s tank top, his shoes, and I think even his gloves. I would not look so cool …

I’ve driven through this gate, one of the largest torii in Japan, countless times. (By the way, this road, Jingu-michi, is a good detour to avoid …

The narrow streets around Nanzenji Temple are some of the most clogged with tourists during the day. That’s especially so in autumn …

The fountain’s water show may be done for the night, but there’s still a pretty view to take in here at the intersection of Kawaramachi and Oike …

Is Japan an up-and-coming soccer powerhouse? It’s not really my sport, so I can’t say, but either way, the Samurai Blue feed plenty of excitement …

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 …