The Banks of the Kamogawa

This is a fantastic shot not only of Nia but also of the small restaurants that line the west bank of the Kamogawa, which flows down from the northern mountains into and through Kyoto. This area is called Kawaramachi and is basically Kyoto's downtown: lots of retail, lots of clubs, lots of restaurants, lots of love hotels. The decks behind Nia are the backs of the restaurants and provide outdoor seating and, according to Hiromi, quick escape for a group of samurai if a rival group came in the front door, which is on the other side along Ponto-cho, a small alley open only to foot traffic. Nia is looking in the direction of Gion, the ancient geisha district that is directly across the Kamogawa from Kawaramachi. In a word, the east and west banks of the Kamogawa have been party central for centuries. Hiromi and I met in this area on the night of December 31, 1996.