Night in Kyoto

Strolling the stone-paved alleys in Kyoto

By Masayoshi Hirose

Community writer

Translated by Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

Rare view of Ninen-zaka (Ninen Slope) without crowds at night

Looking at the sunset over Mount Nishiyama from Shogun-zuka

I wonder if they are tourists trying out Maiko costumes? They don't look like the professional Maiko to me.

Paved back street of Kodaiji Temple. This area is very popular with tourists.

Ishibe Koji (Stone Fence Street). Entoku-in Temple demolished a part of its garden to create this street.

In Kyoto, there are many narrow alleys like this

Walking through Entokuin Temple's garden from the street called Nene-no-michi. Snow-viewing sliding screens (Yukimi Shoji) are seen through lattice windows.

When Kyoto City's street cars were decommissioned, stone pavements with tracks were recycled as pathways here

These photos were taken when I went back to Kyoto, my hometown, in early April this year when cherry blossoms were beautiful.

Kyoto is in a basin surrounded by mountains from three sides and even in April when sun sets, the temperature drops and it becomes chilly. I climbed to mountaintop Shogun-zuka for the first time in many years, then went down to Gion in Higashiyama area and strolled on paved alleys there. Narrow alleys are called, 'Roji' in Japanese, but in Kyoto, it's called 'Ro-u-ji'. On the paved stones of 'Ro-u-ji', our two sets of footsteps echoed gently.

Night-time Tale of Three Cities 1. Night in Kyoto 2. Lights in the Port Town Kobe 3. Magnificent Night Views of Osaka

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By Masayoshi Hirose

Community writer

Following Follow

Translated by Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

Following Follow

Anonymous 9 years ago

Great photos Masayoshi, I like wandering around the little lane-ways of Kyoto too.

Masayoshi Hirose Photographer 9 years ago

Richard-san,Thank you very much! Do you also like exploration of alley? I also love! Because I can discover a mysterious place that is not listed in the guide book!