A vivid colourful memory in my mind-Pontocho in Kyoto

Pontocho is one of Kyoto's traditional nightlife districts where you might be able to spot a geisha apprentice at night. It is a narrow street running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, one block west of the Kamo River.

In the evenings, the narrow street offers a great atmosphere and lots of restaurants and teahouses, ranging from inexpensive yakitori stores to highly exclusive establishments which require the right connections and a fat wallet. [adapted from Japan-guide] Image:Kamogawa at Sakura Season

Year 2005 I took part in “Hekinan-Melaka Friendship Program” which was a friendship program between MMU Melaka students and the Nagoya Hekinan city citizens. Beside staying with Nagoya Hekinan city host family, we also visited Kyoto and Nara temples. There was one night we stayed in Kyoto hotel which was walking distance to Pontocho. Basically at night after 9pm, there is hardly any shopping complex still opened. Poong-san, Edowa-do-san and I, three of us walking down the street to Pontocho, wishing to have a sight of Maiko (geisha).

There were a lot of night-clubs at that area where Japanese guys wearing black suits, standing in front of their shops to 拉皮条， looking for business. “woo~~~..woo~~” Fire engine arrived and smokes came out from second floor of one shop lot. We were lucky enough to witness fireman there with silver outfit to put out the fire. A lot of people crowded at the place where the fire outbreak. (原来日本人也很鸡婆). There were a few groups of street-band singers singing on the street, very happening night life in Kyoto.

Three of us walking down the Pontocho Street, a lot of small shops for food and drinking still opened. The yellow light made the place looked mysterious. Edowa-do-san discovered a vending machine selling cigarette with all the weird brands and flavors (strawberry etc), he bought few for himself and as souvenirs. Walking down some more, there was a river called Kamogawa, we mistaken the river as ‘longkang’ (drain). In gasp, we said “Wahh!~Japan is a clean place, even longkang also cleaner than people’s “.

There were youngster playing roller board, and there were folks sitting beside the river like us, there was one man showing some magic using handkerchief. Hardly see any scene like this in Malaysia, a new experience in foreign land. We bought few cans of bears, sitting down beside the river, drinking and smoking. It was breezy night, accompanied with sound of water flowing in the river. "kimochii ii!!~~" The content of the chit-chatting is very vague now, but the picture of three of us still vivid in my mind.