Timeless Kyoto, Wearing a Fresh New Look

Kyoto’s beauty has endured through the ages, drawing countless visitors. This seemingly eternal ancient capital offers fresh discoveries with every journey. Under the radiant spring sunlight, I find myself back in Kyoto once again, returning to this familiar old place while exploring the unknown and the new.

 

After years of planning, Kyoto Aquarium officially opened on March 14, 2012. This modern structure, located near Kyoto Station in Umekōji Park, sports a simple, unpretentious exterior that blends seamlessly with the ancient capital—no flashy or overly lively design, it exudes the refined elegance unique to Kyoto. Stepping inside, a cool sea-blue greets the eye. The spacious ticketing hall guides visitors along an orderly path to purchase tickets. Through a corner observation window shaped like a crystal ball, I catch a glimpse of dolphins gliding by. “I’ve got to say hello head-on later!” My excitement can no longer be contained—the little adventure in the aquarium begins.

First, we come to the curved landscape tank, the “Kyoto River Ecosystem Zone” that Kyoto Aquarium is most eager to introduce. The Kyoto Basin, surrounded by mountains on three sides, is crisscrossed by over ten rivers including the Kamo and Katsura Rivers. The excellent water quality contributes to the rich flavors of local ingredients like Kyoto vegetables, and cultural practices such as kawadoko (summer riverbed dining) and yuzen dyeing have all developed along these rivers. The vitality of Kyoto can be said to stem from its many waterways. “Aquariums shouldn’t only feature marine life,” is the educational mission Kyoto Aquarium takes on—to fully introduce the inland children to the complete ecosystem where droplets converge into the ocean and all life coexists. At the end of the tank, beneath the rocky wall, we spot Kyoto Aquarium’s signature creature—the Japanese giant salamander—modestly poking its head out to greet us.

Inside the exhibition area, a massive two-story-high tank showcases a dazzling array of fish and marine creatures. Bubbles stirred by flowing water add a mysterious shimmer to the deep-sea beauty—no matter which angle you look from, there’s always something surprising. In another tank, bioluminescent jellyfish float slowly like tiny umbrellas. The penguin enclosure appears empty at first—only to reveal they’ve all crowded close to the glass, cheekily interacting with visitors without any fear. Further along, a cylindrical tank features sea lions breaking the surface with smiles. Finally, we arrive at the dolphin show arena. The open semi-circular stepped seating is spacious and comfortable, and occasionally you can catch a glimpse of trains speeding past Kyoto Station, with sweeping views of the city beyond. I quickly snap photos of dolphins leaping out of the water, while also etching unforgettable moments of Kyoto Aquarium into my memory.

Leaving the aquarium, we head to the Kyoto Cycling Tour Project, also located near Kyoto Station. This bike shop has been promoting cycling tours of Kyoto for years, serving over 50,000 international travelers annually. Julie, who greets us, speaks fluent Chinese and serves as the store’s Chinese-speaking guide. Though it’s spring and relatively mild, a slight breeze still blows. Julie leads us through a warm-up routine and explains essential traffic rules for cycling before we hop on Taiwan-made “Silver Wheel V4” bikes to begin our cycling adventure.

 

Once on the road, we ride in a single file, keeping an eye on the distance to the bike ahead, staying aware of traffic conditions, and signaling with hand gestures when turning—this bustling experience is both novel and thrilling. We weave through the streets, passing by Nishi Honganji Temple and arriving near the Miyagawa-cho Kaburenjo Theater. At every attraction, Julie has us stop and hands out materials explaining the site’s history and details—no rushed sightseeing here.