As we made our way, we found ourselves walking along a large canal with a wide footpath on either side. The bird watching here in the shallow water ecosystem was fantastic. Herons, egrets, hawks, eagles, crows, ducks and songbirds.
Never before have I seen so many eagles in one place. This was something else about Kyoto that I did not expect, but I was so glad that our wandering feet brought us here.
The buildings and architecture began to change as we approached the more urban sections of the city. What is so interesting about Kyoto is the juxtaposition of ancient temples nestled in between modern buildings. In America we seem to have an unfortunate habit of tearing everything down in order to build something new, while the people of Kyoto have struck a balance between the two.
Before going to see the street lights of Gion, we stopped by the Kyoto Pokemon Center. The mascot for this store is Ho-oh, a large mythical bird. After spending time in Kyoto, I know why! The abundance of eagles, as well as it’s history as the Emperor's seat of power, makes Ho-oh a fitting representation of the city.
As per usual, the Pokemon Center was in a big fancy mall in the uptown district. On the top floor was a huge market of fresh food with a hundred vendors selling both prepared meals and ingredients. The place was packed for the dinner rush, and after walking the floor, Marchelo made his selection: a bento box stuffed with crab meat, scallops, and salmon roe. Yum! He got in line behind two people, waiting for the old woman working the stall to take his order. His presence did not go unnoticed, however, and instantly the line ballooned behind him to well over a dozen people! Clearly everyone wanted to try whatever it was that the only Westerner was having. We waved to the vendor on our way out and the old woman gave Marchelo a thumbs up: he was great for business! ;)
After our meal we walked back over the bridge that spans the large canal into the Gion district. This area is famous as the heart of Japanese Kabuki theater. There are many old ornate buildings alongside modern ones; a blend of neon colors and ancient aesthetics.
You can be walking down the main drag, as busy as Times Square, and yet still turn down a clean, dimly lit alley with no one around. It feels a little bit spooky and a little bit like magic.
I texted Kate to tell here where we were and it turned out they were only a few blocks away. We met up at an Irish pub, of all places, and enjoyed a round of Guinness as we caught up on our days.
They had a fantastic visit to the Golden Temple. We had loved Mt. Inari so much we were excited to go back with them. After walking around the picturesque canals of Gion, we made our way to the train to take us back to Fushimi Inari.
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