Kyoto in One Day: Kyoto Imperial Palace & Obaiin — Guide Kazu

What's a Private Walking Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nishiki Market, and Gion

The guests were visitors from North America. Both were bright and easygoing, listening attentively and asking many detailed questions, which made the tour enjoyable. Regarding the pond at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, I had previously heard an explanation from a curator that what looks like a pond is actually a river, while the pond in the garden in front of the Ko-gosho is a true pond, and I had been repeating that explanation somewhat secondhand ever since — but it turns out my understanding was vague. Today, one of the guests asked me why the water in the pond flows from north to south, and I could not answer. When I checked again at home, I learned that the pond in the Oike-niwa garden of the Kyoto Imperial Palace was historically fed by underground water called mikawamizu drawn from Kamigamo Shrine, and that since the Meiji Restoration it has mainly used water drawn from the Lake Biwa Canal, along with some circulated groundwater. While strolling, it appears to be a pond, but when you look at the palace pond from directly above like a bird's-eye view, it actually resembles a fully connected river, with a gentle current (the Demizu no Ogawa stream) always flowing. However, it is not entirely clear where the water ultimately flows out. Thanks to the question, I became a little wiser myself. We ate curry udon at Nishiki Market, had coffee at a coffee shop, and, revitalized, went on to explore a Zen temple and Gion. The guests are planning to attend the Kurama Fire Festival tomorrow and are thoroughly enjoying Kyoto. I would be glad if I was able to be of even a little help.

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Tour Report by Kazu

Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama