Sport and fitness

During summer the banks of the Kamogawa Delta, where the Takano and Kama rivers meet, fill with sunbathers and picnickers. It’s also a popular place for splashing around: you’ll see residents frolicking among the large stones that span the waters. These concrete blocks – some of which are carved in the form of birds and turtles – were placed here in the 1990s to stabilise the riverbed. Nearby are the forested grounds of the Shimogamo Shrine, which appeared in The Tale of Genji, an 11th-century Japanese masterpiece that’s billed as the world’s first novel.

Shorin-ji Temple was established in 1550 as the sub-temple to Tofuku-ji – Kyoto’s oldest Buddhist temple, founded in 1236. Also known as Bishamonten, Shorin-ji is a welcoming institution that offers a zazen (Zen meditation) experience to visitors from home and abroad. Make sure that you wear comfortable clothes: meditation is practised in the lotus position. Zazen classes run every day but book online or call, as spaces are limited. The session lasts for an hour and concludes with a cup of tea.