Shirakawa River, Geisha District

My rating; 8.8/10

If you're lucky, you may just spot one of the infamous maiko-san (known to the uneducated foreigner as geisha) when coming to the Gion District of Kyoto. Apparently there are 6 districts in Kyoto that have Maiko-san, and Shirakawa River is the most prominent of them all.

Strolling the district at night and standing near the canal really is wonderful, and there's not many places in Japan that have a "feel" quite like this. The old roads, the trickling sound of the water, the century old houses, and the occasional Maiko make for an unforgettable experience.

An old restaurant along the road

The Shirakawa River

Like many restaurants, there was a bridge over the river leading to the entrance.

Unfortunately, we didn't get a peep of a Maiko-san. We did, however, enjoy the peaceful district as our last stop of the evening. Perhaps there's no place in Kyoto that feels more like Kyoto than the Shirakawa River ... if that make any sense at all.

The Blue Heron was just chillin in the river...