An inspired law that was passed in 1976 by the Kyoto City government prevented the destruction of the old tea-houses (ochaya) and managed to preserve the old look of several streets from Kyoto. Some of these wonderful streets are located in the Gion district, like the Shirakawa-minami-dori, a street running alongside the canal with the same name (Shirakawa means “white river” and minami means “south").

Here’s an image taken from across the Shirakawa channel, with a few old ochaya, 2-story wooden buildings with traditional Japanese design, with lattice windows and sudare (screens or blinds din bamboo) for protection against sun and insects.

Shirakawa Canal, Kyoto

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Takimi-Koji gourmet street