Kyoto, Japan

Feb 29, 2024

Kyoto, Japan

And rubber duckies, too

A picket fence on the street side of a Shinto Shrine in Kyoto, Japan.

The rubber duckies add to the quirkiness of Kyoto. If you've been to Kyoto, then you know it's a place that calls you to come back. In my mind, it's one of the mystical places on our planet, on par with Bali in Indonesia or Tiger's Nest near Paro in Bhutan.

It's a short train ride from the city of Osaka to Kyoto. We arrived in Kyoto too early to check in, so we dropped off our roller-bags and hit the streets. Well, actually, we made it only a half a block before heading down an alleyway. This is one of the things we enjoy most about Kyoto. Residential neighborhoods are in most parts of the city. And the alleys lead to the hidden gems of neighborhood shrines and temples.

The alleyways are also great shortcuts when walking from here to there. Even though Kyoto has an excellent mass transit system, walking is preferable. Every block of every street (and alley) seems to have something fun or exciting to see. So why take the subway and take a chance on missing something?

Here are three photos I'd like to share with you from that first day in Kyoto. I hope you enjoy them.

At the top. An orange fence surrounds a Shinto Shrine. I thought the Japanese writing on the pickets would say something profound. According to Google Translate, it seems like jibberish. It could be that some of the words don't translate to English. But "Home cooking Tokiyo" seems nonsensical to me. Further reading suggests the pickets have the names of Shrine sponsors. A way to recognize a sizable donation, I suppose.

Below, top. It seems that the caretaker of this Shrine has a sense of humor. This is a chōzubachi (hand water basin.) Visitors first wash their left hand, then the right. Then followed by the mouth, and finally, the ladle handle. It's a purification ritual followed by Shintos and some Buddhists. The rubber duckies are optional.

Below, bottom. Lanterns light a path leading to the Yasaka Shrine. We stumbled upon this by accident. It was one of those moments where we thought, "Hey, what's up this street?" and off we went. It was kinda creepy since there was no one around. Until we approached the Shrine. And then it was a party. It turned out we came in the back way. When we left, out the front entrance, it was a mob scene.

This wouldn't be the same without the rubber duckies

These lanterns indicate a Shinto Shrine is up ahead.