Places where eels sleep

Kyoto (where I lived for two years) is a very cramped place, especially the middle part and the eastern part (中京区、左京区). The main part of Kyoto lies somewhere around Shijo (四条) and Kawaramachi-doori　(河原町通), and if you walk a few streets toward Kamo River (鴨川), you'll hit Kiyamachi (木屋町) - where liquor was taken up to the imperial palace from the Fushimi area years ago - and Pontocho (先斗町) - where all the maiko (geisha) are. Even thought these places are very busy, they are also extremely compact, and the tight, confining streets that interlace the area are called Unagi no nedokoro or "Places where eels sleep" (鰻のねどころ) as eels are very slender (and delicious) and therefore can sleep in a very narrow, confining place.

Pontocho:


Unagi no nedokoro:


Gosh I miss Kyoto now and my former home in the Kurotani-dera area...