KYOTO WAS NOT ON THE ITINERARY,  BUT A FRIEND BESEECHED ME TO COME AT LEAST FOR COFFEE, WHILE CHANGING TRAINS.

DINNER AND A NIGHT WAS SETTLED ON, TO CHECK OUT A HOTEL FOR FUTURE TOURS: THE PALACESIDE. NICELY SET UP FOR FOREGNERS AND TOUR GROUPS,... 

...WITH AN ADEQUATE BREAKFAST, WHICH CAN BE A CHALLENGE TO FIND OUT ON THE STREETS.

IA COUPLE HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE ALLOWED A WALK IN THE RAIN AND A CHANCE TO ILLUSTRATE WHY KYOTO IS A CITY OF MANY FACES: HERE IS THE BIG STREET MEETS BIG STREET FACE: BUSY, WIDE, CARS....

HERE IS A MEDIUM STREET: TWO LANES, TWO WAY, NOT SO MUCH TRAFFIC.

AND HERE, A SMALL STREET: NARROW, ONE WAY, WALKERS, AND BIKERS AND PARKED CARS. HOW NICE. 

MOVING SLOWLY ON FOOT OR BIKE, ONE WILL SEE THINGS LIKE THIS "RIVER WALK" WHERE BOTH FORMS OF MOVEMENT ARE ACCOMMODATED.

OR OLD BUILDING FRONTS....

...AS WELL AS NEW.

AND PROBABLY A CURIOUS STORE OR TWO.

WANDER INTO THE CITY HALL COMPOUND AND DISCOVER A SMALL CORNER GARDEN...

...OR FIND THE ENTRY GARDEN TO A SMALL HOTEL...

...OR MAYBE PEER OVER A GUARD RAIL AND SEE THE STORM WATER DITCH WITH AUTUMN LEAVES.
IN ANY WEATHER, IN ANY SEASON, IN ANY AREA OF KYOTO, IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME.