Pontochō

Pontochō is a narrow street running between Shijo-dori and Sanjo-dori in the Hanamachi district in Kyoto. 

It is known for geisha who has existed there since at least the 16^th  century. Nowadays, it is still home of geisha houses and tea houses but also of traditional Japanese restaurants, bars and of the Pontochō Kaburenjō Theatre

Along Kamo river 

Rokkaku-do - Kyoto

Rokkaku temple is located southeast of the intersection of Karasuma and Sanjo street in central Kyoto.

Its official name is Chohoji but as its main hall is hexagonal and that roku means 6 in Japanese, it is commonly called Rokkaku-do.

It has been founded by Prince Shotoku in 587 to enshrine Nyorin Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. 

The temple is the site of the birth and development of ikebana, the Japanese art of arranging flowers. Indeed, flowers started to be placed on the altars when Buddhism was introduced in Japan in about 538.

Taishi-do hall

The 16 disciples of Buddha. The are called rakan which is the name given to the monks who guard the teaching of Buddha.

Jizo facing north in direction of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, standing guard over the imperial family.

Nishiki Ichiba - Kyoto

Nishiki Ichiba is a known as “Kyoto’s market”. It is a narrow street in downtown Kyoto with more than one hundred shops where people can buy seasonal foods and Kyoto specialities. Some shops also give out samples to taste. 

The first shop was opened around 1310. At the beginning, the place was a fish wholesale district. Then, shops selling other products moved there, among these products, the Kyo-yasai (Kyoto vegetables) and the tsukemono (Japanese pickles).

Pickles can be prepared with many vegetables but also some fruits. The most common are made with carrot, cucumber, cabbage, eggplant, ginger, shallot, plums …There are several kinds of pickles : shiozuke (salt), nukazuke (rice bran), kasazuke (sake lees), shoyuzuke (soya sauce), suzuke (vinegar) and misozuke (miso).

Takeshita-dōri

Takeshita-dōri is a pedestrian street, located in Harajuku, with fashion boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
It is very popular with teenagers but also with tourists.

In the same area, the no less famous Harajuku-dōri.