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Jogging Along the Kamo River

July 9 - One of my favorite jogging routes is along the bank of the Kamo River in Kyoto. Since this path is separated from the road, one can jog without worrying about vehicle traffic. The riverside trail also offers interesting sights, and it is wide enough to share with others.

On a recent jog, I began running north along the Kamo River bank from Shichijo in Central Kyoto. Along the way, I enjoyed watching egrets in the shallow waters. They looked plump and satisfied with the results of their fishing efforts. I also saw a contented pair of ducks that seemed quite happy together. And of course I ran past many humans - riding bicycles, walking their dogs, or just enjoying a stroll with friends. One gentleman sat under a bridge painting the bucolic scene.

This jogging route also has a historic destination. The Shimogamo Shrine located at the fork in the river provides a nice post-run resting place. On my recent visit, despite the many tourists and worshippers, the spacious forest surrounding the shrine grounds did not appear crowded.

At the inner shrine, I saw a wedding party posing for a photo. The bride looked so beautiful that I just had to take a photo of their happy moment. Looking at that photo today reminds me again of my pleasant Kamo River jog.

Until next time,

Jim

COMMENTS

This is by far my favorite place in all of Japan. It's great to see so many people out and about and enjoying life. I love to sit at a coffee shop along the river and just watch people come and go. Kyoto offers something quite special, in my opinion, and I count myself fortunate to have experienced it.

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