Kyoto

The Shirakawa flowing through Gion

Willows and wooden machiya beside the Shirakawa

Cathy Cawood Aug 03, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>There are many traditional wooden machiya, or townhouses, beside the river</p>

<p>Narrow stone bridges cross the Shirakawa as it flows between Sanjo and Shijo</p>

<p>Each bridge has the name of the river on one of the end posts, and the name of the bridge on another post</p>

<p>In hot Kyoto summers parents bring their children to play in the shallow river</p>

<p>The entrance to this riverside establishment is also a bridge</p>

<p>Girls in summer kimono meet on a bridge in Gion</p>

<p>Rickshaws are often seen on Minami-Shirakawa Street which runs beside the river</p>

<p>It's interesting to read about the history of this area</p>

<p>There are many interesting monuments and marker stones in this history-rich area</p>

<p>Many restaurants and traditional Japanese inns stand on the banks of the Shirakawa as it runs through Gion  </p>

<p>This attractive plaster wall needs some repairs</p>

<p>The Shirakawa finally flows into the Kamogawa  </p>

Gion is a fascinating area, and one of my favorite parts is Minami-Shirakawa Street, which follows beside the river, under willow trees, past wooden machiya and historic bridges. There are many traditional inns and restaurants beside the river, and you stand a very good chance of of sighting geisha and maiko. You're almost certain to see rickshaws too. Don't forget to take your camera!

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...