Here's this month's walk with Edward J. Taylor on the historic street of Rokkaku-dō Dōri. Though I’d already decided on Rokkaku-dō Dōri for this month’s walk, my actual starting point was unexpectedly predetermined. A few days before, I’d gone to see a special performance by local dancer Heidi S. Durning. The nearby bicycle parking lot was full, and an alternative too … [Read more...]

In his first Kyoto walk of the new year, Edward J. Taylor takes us from Kyoto Station to the Imperial Palace on the old route of Higashi-no-toin. Outside circumstances dictated the day’s walk, in the form of a lunch meeting at Kyoto Station. Having thus decided on a walk that starts nearby, I pass to the north side of the lumbering building, one much unloved when it was … [Read more...]

In our final post of 2018, Edward J. Taylor completes his walk on Sanjo in the company of friend Max Dodds. Together they contemplate the shared memories of our collective history and wonder how the present will be remembered in times to come. The first part of this walk can be read here. As we carry on up Sanjō, I recognize Max’s point that most of the road west of … [Read more...]

This month Edward J. Taylor walks Sanjo; one of Kyoto's best known streets, and finds so much to talk about that we have to post it in two installments! The second installment will follow in a few days time. Until now I’ve shied away from walking Kyoto’s major boulevards, mainly because they’ve been built and rebuilt so many times that, like with someone who wears too … [Read more...]

This month our friend, Edward J. Taylor, continues his exploration of Kyoto's modern and historical streets with a walk along Ainomachi. “Do you Kyoto?” is a slogan seen frequently throughout the city, one puzzling both to its residents, who may not grasp the English, and its foreign guests, who are not quite sure of the vague sentiment. It becomes a point of derision to … [Read more...]

This month our friend, Edward J. Taylor, continues his exploration of Kyoto's streets with a thoughtful stroll along Kiyamachi. To view previous installments of this ongoing series see the links at the end of this article. It is a well-known fact that Japan is very strict about controlled substances. Never a big user myself, I’ve always felt that drugs aren’t necessary … [Read more...]

This month Edward J. Taylor continues his ongoing exploration of Deep Kyoto’s streets by strolling not one but two: Takeyacho and Ebisucho. The whisk of brooms has replaced the wail of sirens. Typhoon Jebi had roared through the day before, supposedly the strongest storm to hit Japan in 25 years. I could certainly believe it, the way that my old wooden house shook as if in … [Read more...]

This month Edward J. Taylor continues his ongoing exploration of Deep Kyoto’s streets (and takes me along with him) for a stroll along Yanaginobanba Street. I’d originally planned to follow up my previous piece with another one related to the Gion festival, but the idea grew less interesting the more I thought about it. Not only would it be boring to read, it would be … [Read more...]

This month, once again, our good friend Edward J. Taylor continues his ongoing journey through Kyoto’s past and present with the fourth installment of his “Kyoto Streets” project and a stroll along Bukkoji-dōri. The pieces I’ve written thus far have all travelled from south to north, in keeping with how travelers would have entered the city during the Heian period. I … [Read more...]