Oideyasu! Please take off your shoes.

I jumped out of the way of a car while taking a picture of an “iroha momiji” maple tree around the corner from my home, and spun the camera accidentally, producing a nice effect. So I tried it again a couple times and this was the third shot.

The Naginata Hoko leads off the parade of Yama and Hoko on the morning of July 17th every year, carrying the “chigo”, the boy selected as the parade’s spiritual “Grand Marshal.”

The Gion Matsuri yoiyama on Shijo St before it got crowded. Anyone who has been there knows that this is not an exaggeration– this is what it looks like BEFORE it gets crowded.

There is a thriving fixie enthusiast subculture in Kyoto, I think centered around Sanjo St. west of Teramachi. This bike is often parked here in Miyagawacho, and just before I shot this picture I took a shot of another fixie, all pink (including tires).

This lighting always catches my eye as I pass.

Today (July 17) was the day I arrived in Japan 15 years ago.

Taken on yoiyama (July 16), the day before Gion Matsuri parade, with my old camera, Lumix FZ10.