The Kamogawa River can be considered as the Japanese equivalent of the River Styx. During times of conflict, dismembered heads would line the waters and during times of plague, bodies would float in its tide. Even now it is considered the boundary between this world and the underworld. After passing over this river you will have finally crossed from “outside the castle grounds” and into the capital. Instantly you are greeted by the modern day Kyoto which bears no resemblance to the small backstreets you have just wandered through. The hill that has gradually become less steep over time will plateau and you will find yourself on flat ground for the first time since the beginning of your journey.

As you continue on out of the maze of alleyways you will still see some smaller side roads branching off the main roads. In Kyoto alone there are said to be over 10,000 roads that are less that 4 meters wide. If you happen across one of these roads, why don’t you venture off the beaten path and explore a bit? The narrow roads and tight knit community offer a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life. The excitement of walking through the backstreets and wondering where you will come out is worth the experience.

Our guide for this journey, Mitsukawa-san left us off with this last comment, “Don’t you get bored of walking the same path every single day?” Every once in a while, venture off on a side street and explore a world you have yet to see. It takes some courage, but we promise it’s worth it.”