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Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/1000 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Welcome
entrance to the Kiyamachi branch of Hiro yakiniku restaurant, Kyoto Japan
Yesterday we went with Fumie's folks for an early dinner at the Kiyamachi branch of Hiro (京の焼肉処 弘), a small upscale yakiniku restaurant, overlooking Kyoto's Kamogawa river.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/10, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Heading In
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 20mm — 1/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
On the Terrace
From April to September, ninety or so restaurants along the river erect terraces over the small side river that parallels the larger Kamo river. It's quite nice if you're there early in the summer (no mosquitoes yet), and early in the evening (smokers haven't arrived yet).
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 16mm — 1/400 sec, f/10, ISO 1400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Looking Over The Railing
layers from bottom to top: stream, stone edging, grass, path, grass
The weather was wonderful and many people were enjoying the recently-relandscaped park between the stream and the river...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — 1/400 sec, f/11, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Looking South
toward the Sanjo-Street bridge
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — 1/400 sec, f/11, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Looking North
toward the Ooike-Street bridge
The dining over the river in this area has a long history going back to the 1600s, though it seems to have made an appearance on my blog only once before (here).
The word to describe this idea is 川床, which might be roughly translated as “river dais”, though strangely the exact same characters are pronounced yuka when referring to it in this situation at the Kamo River, but it's pronounced the more normal kawadoko when referring to the same event a few kilometers north, in Kibune (as seen in this post).
It's also called 納涼床, with the middle character lending an air of breezy coolness to help break a stagnant summer's sweaty grip, but while it truly is cooler to eat directly over the river as seen in the post linked at the end of the prior paragraph, you're far enough away from the river in this Kamo River situation that I don't think it really matters. Still, until the mosquitoes and smokers come, it's quite nice.
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/800 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Red, White, and Blue
This area used to be rough cemented cinder block and stones, as seen here and here, and so the relandscaping done over the winter makes it much nicer than before. The couple above is sitting pretty much where Fumie and I came to sit on the first evening we met, 14 years ago. Nice memory.
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/1000 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Cute Puppy
Photo by Anthony Friedl
Anthony tried to take a picture of the puppy, but ended up getting a nice photo of the couple walking by. Their clothing style is not my cup of tea, but they make for a nice shot.
Fumie's mom had just returned from an overseas trip, so she was the guest of honor.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Fumie's Mom
my mother-in-law; Anthony's grandma
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/1600 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Kanpai!
“Cheers”
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
First Course
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/3200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
second course
Beef Sushi
Was really good, melty-in-your-mouth good
Third course was a stupendous amount of exceedingly tasty beef that we cooked ourselves at the table. I was too busy stuffing my face to remember the camera.
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Mildly Annoying Child
The boy was doing his best to pester the family of ducks, but it was like water off a ducks back to them, and they just lazily sauntered away from him, despite his trying to shoot them with a toy puff gun...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 220 — map & image data — nearby photos
Wait, Come Back...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 220 — map & image data — nearby photos
Evening Crowd Starts to Gather
This has long been an area where the youthful nightlife congregates in the evening, especially just on the other side of the bridge.
You can see a number of people sitting along the river in the shot above. The pair the furthest away also appear in this reverse-angle (from across the river) water-level-monitoring frame, from the Kyoto Prefectural website...
Even this morning after a heavy rain the water rose four or five feet, but from time to time it overflows the whole area, such as in this shot taken at the same time as my “Kyoto Kamo River Flooding” post...
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 50mm — 1/320 sec, f/8, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Last Year
But last night, the water was down and the area between the stream and the river was dry, and a pleasant mood filled the air...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Concentrating
I'd like to say that this tussly-haired kid was engrossed in some literary work of high esteem, but alas, he was just playing a game on my iPad.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/2000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Checking Out the River
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/2000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Good-Looking Kid
if I do say so myself 🙂
While on the entrance path seen in the first two photos above, you walk by two huge picture windows showing the restaurant's kitchen...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — 1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — 1/160 sec, f/7.1, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
From the taxi on the way home, while crossing the bridge, I tried to get a shot of the terrace we'd just been on, but it proved difficult...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Terraces Above the River
only the end railing of Hiro's terrace is visible, just right of center
Good Heavens, Jeff. What was that leaf in the soup under “First Course”? It looked like marijuana to me, even though I’ve never actually seen any before. Was the soup particularly good, or can you even recall?? Do you remember much about the evening.
IN “Checking out the River”, I was struck by how much Anthony looks like you did at that age
That was a particularly charming picture of Fumie’s mom..
Of all those restaurants, how does one choose which one to patronize?
How do you know what marijuana looks like, Mom? (Don’t answer that). I assumed it was a garnish and set it aside. —Jeffy
“how does one choose which one to patronize” –Grandma Friedl.
The one that spikes the soup, I suppose. ;>
Anthony looks different now than in earlier pictures. That thought occurred to me in “Mountaintop Silliness” (the article I read before this one); this article confirmed to me (“Good-Looking Kid” in particular).
Hi! I stumbled on this while researching for my honeymoon to Japan next Summer! I am planning on being in Kyoto for 3 or 4 days. I was curious how much money this dinner was. You mentioned it was upscale, and it looks really nice. I am starting ti budget my trip so more information would be nice! Were reservations required? Can you give me any advice or suggestions for my trip to Kyoto?? I have never been to Japan before and I can use all the tips and help I can get!
THANKS!
Staci, San Diego
If I recall, the one we had cost about 5,000 yen per person, but I’m not sure. Reservations are suggested if it’s a nice day and you want to sit outside. It’s hard to give suggestions without knowing more than “3 or 4 days; honeymoon”, but gardens like at the Heian Shrine or the Ryouanji Temple make for slow, romantic strolls. Places like the Nanzen Temple, Heian Shrine, Kyoto Station, and the Golden Pavilion make for nice photo ops. I’m a fan for not trying to pack too much into a trip… one wants to enjoy it, especially if it’s a honeymoon(!) Contrats. —Jeffrey
Thank you so much! I will definitely look into those shrines and temples. We will be in Kyoto for 4 days and Tokyo for 4 days (but 2 of those will be at Disneyland!) Thanks again for the help!
Staci Knox 🙂