As everyone knows, Kyoto is a great place to go and every guide book in every language piles up accolades for it. 
Kyoto is the obvious place to go if you’re into checking out historical wooden buildings and Rokkakudo has a certain unique feature that makes it particularly unusual and a must-see. In fact, you can relax in a plush sofa with a hot coffee while checking it out because the room inside the glass from where the photo was taken is a Starbucks! Rokkaku-ten on Karasuma-dori, just south of Sanjo. The great big Sanjo-Karasuma Starbucks is just a stone’s throw away!
It doesn’t surprise me that most people know about the historical site but it is interesting that it really gets very few visitors and the Starbucks is a relative unknown. English conversation students at the Smith’s School of English in Kotoen スミス英会話 甲東園are often surprised, too. Because of the peace and quiet, this location is a welcome respite from the bustle of Karasuma-dori just outside behind us.
Rokkakudo is a millennia old structure and counts as a National Treasure, the highest order of artifact in the country. It is on the list for UNESCO membership due to its uniqueness in design and function. It’s kind of fun to bring a bag of dried bread crumbs along as well. Hundreds if not a couple of thousand pigeons hang out on the ground in a large mass inside the temple ground. They create a very nice atmosphere, and add a certain charm if even for those of us who really don’t adore pidgeons so much would rather have a little peace!
Enjoy the coffee. It’s great to look from the inside too.
Martin Werner Zander
マーティン・ワーナー・ザンダー
Smith’s School of English 月謝制 Monthly Tuition English Conversation School
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