Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, may be well known for its grand old temples and stately imperial villas, but one long-time resident decided to shine the spotlight on the beauty of the city’s more humble architecture.
About a year ago, photographer and founder of Kyoto Journal magazine, John Einarsen, began shooting an Instagram series called “Small Buildings of Kyoto” on his iPhone during his daily bicycle journeys around town. He has since taken over 200 images of homes, businesses, workshops, as well as the odd neighborhood shrine and teahouse — each one brimming with personality and charm. We told him we really ought to compile a book out of some of these photos. And that’s just what he did.
More info: Instagram
#1 Red Roses On A Gray Day
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#2 Home On Big Street
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#3 Small Clothing Shop In Traditional Home
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#4 Cut Salon Nagahara
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#5 Odds-And-Ends Carpenter On Horikawa St
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#6 Kyoto Tsukemono (Pickle) Shop
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#7 Neighborhood Jizo Shrine With Cd To Keep Away The Crows
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#8 Aji-No-Tatehara Is Popular For Their Croquettes (West Of Kyoto Station)
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#9 Airing Out Futon
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#10 Blue Cut House
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#11 Shop Front
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#12 House With Hydrangeas
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#13 Kotobuki Industries
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#14 Hair Salon Yamashita
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#15 Corner Garden
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#16 Potted Plants
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#17 Esperanto Hall, The Place You Can Speak Esperanto In Kyoto
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#18 Chiffon Cake Cafe And Wedding Dress Shop
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#19 Shimadai Gallery On Oike St
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#20 Traditional-Modern
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#21 Garden Of Potted Plants
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#22 Traditional Japanese Sweet Shop. They Must Have Two Boys Because Of The Two Koi-Nobori
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#23 Closed Tobacco Stand
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#24 Retro Kissaten Coffee Pocket With Matching Bike
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#25 Urban Architecture
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#26 Rain Is Coming
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#27 Kissa Apuriko
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#28 Guesthouse Cafe With Pictures Of Audrey Hepburn Taped To Windows Of The Sliding Doors
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#29 Cute Small Building
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#30 Trash Day
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#31 Maiko Antiques
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#32 Mobus, God Loves You, Mr. Hedgie
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#33 Arai Tofu-Ten, The Neighborhood Tofu Shop
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#34 Ikebana Tools Kanetaka
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#35 Corner Newsstand Near Ginkakuji Temple
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#36 Satellite Dishes On The This Boutique Look Like Mickey Mouse Ears; And Look At That Noren On The Right!
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#37 Interesting Doorway
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#38 Gray House
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#39 Onigiriya-San
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#40 Friends Of Machiya
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#41 Cute Neighborhood Electric Shop
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#42 House With Sudare On Second Floor To Block Strong South Sun
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#43 Hirata Meat Shop
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#44 Store Front
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#45 Defunct Rubber Boot Shop Kobeya, Which Was The #1 Cheapest In Japan!
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#46 Blue And Orange Curtains
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#47 Royal
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#48 Coffee Shop Mitsuwa On 7th Ave
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