Bustling Keage Incline

　Somei-yoshino cherry blossoms are in full bloom all over Kyoto, and with it being the final weekend of the spring holidays, everywhere is absolutely packed.

　The Keage Incline is particularly popular at this time of year. The Biwa Lake Canal was a vital waterway linking Kyoto and Lake Biwa. However, part of the canal had a height difference of 36 metres, making it difficult for boats to navigate. To solve this problem, a 582-metre-long inclined railway—the longest of its kind in the world at the time—was constructed in 1891 to transport boats. After the war, it was decommissioned and abandoned, but today it has become a famous cherry blossom spot with 90 trees planted along the route.

　I visited just before 8 o’clock this morning, and it was already quite crowded. The best time to visit is at dawn, but even before 7 o’clock, many photographers were waiting to capture the cherry blossom-lined path before the crowds arrived, making it a true spring tradition.