I love the little spots like this that are all over Kyoto. Every time I went I would discover some other little hidden gem. I don't think you could ever see them all.

I'm Mike by the way, I live in Canada now, but I used to live in Japan (Matsusaka-shi in Mie-ken). I love your site, it does tend to make me awfully nostalgic though!

Keep up the great work!

Kyoto must be the most beautiful place on earth. I hope to visit someday, but even if I can't, I'm still lucky that such a place even exists somewhere.

You've got me with this one. I'm curious: Where was this taken? What kind of business/establishment? What's with the bench?

This was between Sanjo and Nishiki-koji, around Yanagi-no-banba Street, a restaurant I think. The bench is a Kyoto trademark called a Tomomachi like the one at my mother-in-law's house, like this one. The bound stone is commonly seen in front of a chashitsu teahouse, signifying passage into a different realm. I suppose it's a visual cue to leave behind the outside world when you pass.

This quiet little spot brings back so many good memories of my time in Kyoto. Thanks