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Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, may be well known for its grand old temples and stately imperial villas, but one long-time resident decided to shine the spotlight on the beauty of the city's more humble architecture.
About a year ago, photographer and founder of Kyoto Journal magazine, John Einarsen, began shooting an Instagram series called "Small Buildings of Kyoto" on his iPhone during his daily bicycle journeys around town. He has since taken over 200 images of homes, businesses, workshops, as well as the odd neighborhood shrine and teahouse -- each one brimming with personality and charm. We told him we really ought to compile a book out of some of these photos. And that's just what he did.
More info: Instagram
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#1
Red Roses On A Gray Day
#2
Home On Big Street
#3
Small Clothing Shop In Traditional Home
#4
Cut Salon Nagahara
#5
Odds-And-Ends Carpenter On Horikawa St
#6
Kyoto Tsukemono (Pickle) Shop
#7
Neighborhood Jizo Shrine With Cd To Keep Away The Crows
#9
Airing Out Futon
#10
Blue Cut House
#11
Shop Front
#13
Kotobuki Industries
#14
Hair Salon Yamashita
#17
Esperanto Hall, The Place You Can Speak Esperanto In Kyoto
#18
Chiffon Cake Cafe And Wedding Dress Shop
#19
Shimadai Gallery On Oike St
#20
Traditional-Modern
#21
Garden Of Potted Plants
#24
Retro Kissaten Coffee Pocket With Matching Bike
#25
Urban Architecture
#27
Kissa Apuriko
Ged Maybury 7 years ago
'Apuriko'? (I read it twice on the awning - THEN looked at the title.) I believe it's a small clothing chain.
#28
Guesthouse Cafe With Pictures Of Audrey Hepburn Taped To Windows Of The Sliding Doors
#29
Cute Small Building
#30
Trash Day
Deborah R. 7 years ago
That house looks very Western to me -- esp the design of the door and windows. But charming nonetheless.
#31
Maiko Antiques
#32
Mobus, God Loves You, Mr. Hedgie
#33
Arai Tofu-Ten, The Neighborhood Tofu Shop
Milena Matic 7 years ago
I notice pots and pots of plants everywhere... very nice ... where I am from, someone would have already broken them or stole them, or the dogs would pee on them....
#34
Ikebana Tools Kanetaka
Aunt Messy 7 years ago
That is a GORGEOUS shop. I could have spent a whole lot of money there. The tools are amazing and the quality is better than anything I've ever seen.
#36
Satellite Dishes On The This Boutique Look Like Mickey Mouse Ears; And Look At That Noren On The Right!
#39
Onigiriya-San
#41
Cute Neighborhood Electric Shop
#46
Blue And Orange Curtains
#48
Coffee Shop Mitsuwa On 7th Ave
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What do you think ?
Ged Maybury 7 years ago
Thank you, Lucinda Ping, for bringing this to Bored Panda. I've yet to visit Japan, but photo series like this help to remind me that it is not all a perfect garden with a shrine and passing geisha. It is shabby too, and people struggle to survive, and places go to ruin, and people live ordinary hard-working lives, and have pot-plants. Lots of pot plants! (There is a tiny museum in Neyagawa, Osaka, dedicated to karakuri dolls. These photos remind me of it)
Ged Maybury 7 years ago
Thank you, Lucinda Ping, for bringing this to Bored Panda. I've yet to visit Japan, but photo series like this help to remind me that it is not all a perfect garden with a shrine and passing geisha. It is shabby too, and people struggle to survive, and places go to ruin, and people live ordinary hard-working lives, and have pot-plants. Lots of pot plants! (There is a tiny museum in Neyagawa, Osaka, dedicated to karakuri dolls. These photos remind me of it)
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