I often look down when walking. If there’s an uneven path, or I remember last year’s catastrophe when I didn’t watch my step, I check the ground. That previous trip cost me a week using crutches so in Kyoto I was more careful.
Firstly, I noticed the wide divided footpaths for pedestrians on one side and cyclists on the other, although not everyone stuck to the right section. It seemed a safer alternative than sharing the road with cars especially in a city like Kyoto where there were a lot of cyclists.
Next, I might have missed some of the different drain covers I spotted by Gojo-dori if I hadn’t checked where I walked. I hadn’t even arrived at my intended destination that day. I guess often the journey can be as much fun as the arrival.
