So, yesterday's post left off with a photo from the stairs looking at the dining platforms over the upper river. The stairs were those going down to the lower “noodle platforms” (where the noodle part of the lunch is to be eaten), and so here's a view from the same position, looking down at them.
(IMAGE: The “Noodle Platforms” at Hirobun, in Kibune)Kyoto, Japan
Here's more of a zoom. Notice the trough-like thing in front of the counter Aunt Jeannette is sitting on?

That trough-like thing is really a flume in which water — and occasionally soumen noodles — flow. You sit in front [...]
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(IMAGE: Lunch on the River at Hirobun, in Kibune)Kyoto, Japan
When Aunt Jeanette was in town two weeks ago, we headed up to Kibune to enjoy the drive, and to have lunch at Hirobun, an inn with a nice restaurant that overlooks the river. However, when we arrived, it turned out that the restaurant was serving lunch over the river.
(IMAGE: Hirobun's Uppermost Platform)As viewed from our table on the next platform down
We were on the middle of three straw-mat-covered platforms, at what would have to have been the best seats in the house (so to speak). Next to us was a six-foot waterfall [...]
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(IMAGE: Kibune Shrine... From the Back... Sort Of)
Having visited Kibune with Aunt Jeannette yesterday, I was reminded of my trip to Kibune a month ago. On that trip, we'd eaten at the northern-most restaurant (Hirobun — ひろ文), then made a short climb to a mini “associated shrine” area related to the larger Kibune Shrine (貴船神社) located half a kilometer downstream.
It was a little, quiet area with a small gate and a tiny shrine. In the photo above, the road and restaurant are out of sight below the gate.
(IMAGE: Wish Holder Thing)
The shrine had two little places for tying wish papers, one [...]
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(IMAGE: Solid Copper Rain Gutter)
On our stroll through Kibune (hamlet in the mountains of northern Kyoto) last month, we came across the most impressive rain gutter and downspout I've ever seen. It was clearly made of solid copper, and looked as if it could withstand anything man, beast, or nature could throw at it.
(IMAGE: Copper, Black, and Tan)
I thought the flowers to the side were interesting as well, although my pictures didn't come out very well.
(IMAGE: Small Floral Starbursts)

(IMAGE: A Veritable Fourth of July of Floral Excitement)
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Little River in Kibune (in northern Kyoto, Japan)
We went for a short drive up to Kibune yesterday, a little area of restaurants and inns nestled in a long, narrow river valley that's been populated for at least 1,300 years. Although I bothered learning the name only yesterday, we've been up that way a number of times lately, with the first few pictures from this blossom & buds post from that area, also passing through on the trip with Kyoto's bridge to nowhere, and not even a month ago, snow and funky icicles.
The snow's all gone, of course, and soon their cherry blossoms will be as [...]
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