Jizobon Nijo Area

地蔵盆二条城三条会

Kyoto is dotted with mini-temples, often tucked into space between buildings.

The structures house Jizo-san, a bodhisattva worshipped in East Asian Buddhism.

The Jizo is usually depicted as a Buddhist monk, and is believed to protect children.

The small statues are found throughout Japan.

In Kyoto, in particular, these statues are ubiquitous. Following the annual Bon Festival - which celebrates the once a year return of one's departed ancestors in August - Kyoto neighborhoods come alive with Jizobon festivals.

These festival are for children. Games and gifts mix with song and religious undertones.

The Jizo pictured here will be taken out of the temple on that day and set up on a temporary altar that will be the centerpiece of a two-day festival. Once finished, the Jizo is returned to the temple for another year.

What caught our eye were the tiles on the outside of the structure, giving it the feel of the interior of a public bath.

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Bikes Behind Daimaru Department Store Kyoto

京都大丸の裏にある自転車

Last Sunday while out on walkabout in downtown Kyoto, we came across a bunch of semi-funky bikes parked at the rear entrance of the Daimaru department store.

They were being sold by Natural Bikes, which is located on the Sanjo shopping arcade.

Not exactly our cup of tea, but interesting.

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Cycling Kyoto Sanjo Arcade

自転車で三条会商店街へ

A bit west of downtown is one of Kyoto's best shopping arcades.

Sanjokai Shotengai ("shotengai" is a neighborhood high street, often a covered arcade) is 800 meters long and wide enough for cycling even at its most crowded.

A typical shotengai has all the things you need: grocery, vegetable and fruit stands, fish market, a barber, a post office, a police box, hardware store, etc.

Nothing too fancy.

Because of the growth of suburbs, many now have a bit of a forlorn air about them.

Not Sanjo Arcade. It connects the edge of downtown with neighborhoods all the way to JR Nijo Station.

As a result, there are many, many interesting shops, including two good cycling shops. Plenty of funky and not so funky mom and pop shops.

Access

Due south of Nijo Castle. Go several blocks south along Horikawa, then turn right at Sanjo.

Due west of downtown. Go along Oike until Horikawa, Cross to the west side, and head down to Sanjo. Turn right.

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