Mystery novel “Kyoto Teramachi Sanjo no Holmes” written by Mai Mochizuki.
Kura is an antique store located in the Teramachi Sanjo shopping street. The store owner’s son, Kiyotaka Iegashira, is nicknamed ”Holmes” because he has an eye for discerning the value of things and a keen intuition. Aoi Mashiro, a high school girl, meets Kiyotaka by chance and ends up working part-time at the storehouse. The two solve requests related to antiques brought into the store one after another. Based on the comic version of this novel that takes place in the streets of Kyoto, it was made into an anime in July 2018, and is currently being broadcast on TV.
We will introduce the scenery of Kyoto that appears in the anime in several parts, as if following the TV broadcast.

Let’s start with the first episode.
The five-storied pagoda that appeared immediately after the broadcast started is located at Ninnaji Temple, located in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City.
Although the cherry blossoms were in full bloom in the scene in the film, Ninnaji Temple is famous for its late-blooming cherry blossoms called Omurozakura. The scenery that represents Kyoto’s spring has been designated as a national scenic beauty and has been featured in many Japanese poems. The story starts from here.

▲When we went on location, it was the season of fresh greenery. Please be sure to visit during the spring cherry blossom season.

The scene where Aoi feels melancholy after seeing a couple getting along so well is on the banks of the Kamogawa River.
The riverbed of the Kamogawa River is famous for couples sitting at equal intervals. This scene is a view near Pontocho Park in Kamogawa.

▲Scenery from the western riverbed of the Kamogawa River. The scenery that can be seen on the other side of the river is also faithfully depicted.

Many scenes from the shopping district surrounding the antique store “Kura” also appear. “Sanjo To-ri”, a familiar sight in Sanjo Meitengai, was also depicted in the story.

▲The shopping street is crowded with people during the day, but at night it becomes like the atmosphere in the story.

▲At the time of the interview, the curtains in the work had been removed due to the Gion Festival period, but you can still see views of “Sanjo To-ri” all over the shopping street.

▲There is also a shop nearby that was the model for the antique store “Kura”.
Just like in a “Kura”, there are customers happily chatting with each other while drinking coffee.
Please visit the store and see for yourself what the store is all about.

Here is the second episode.
This is a story about the Aoi Festival.
This time, Kyoto Hotel Okura appeared. The hotel lobby and the cafe where Kiyotaka and Aoi had tea exist exactly as they appear in the story. Why not enjoy the hotel’s signature French toast at the seat where Kiyotaka and Aoi are sitting?

▲The exterior of Hotel Okura Kyoto.

▲The cafe Rec-court on the first floor of the hotel appears in the story. There was also a seat where Kiyotaka and Aoi were sitting.

▲French toast is a popular dish, with some people coming from far away just to have it.
Did Aoi and Kaori go out together to eat there?

The mystery of the threatening letter received by Saori, who was chosen as the Saioudai of the Aoi Festival, was solved in the Tadasu no Mori of Shimogamo Shrine.
It is a very beautiful scene with sunlight shining into the nature-rich Tadasu Forest. The place Kiyotaka and his friends were talking about was the approach to the Tadasu Forest. The scenery of the Shimogamo Shrine precincts that appeared in this scene is not just the approach. Kawai Shrine, located within the precincts and dedicated to the god of beauty that protects women, has also appeared. Maybe it’s because it’s a story about the beautiful Saioudai.

▲Tadasu no Mori is also a popular walking course for locals.

▲This is Kawai Shrine located to the south of the Shimogamo Shrine grounds.

It is a story that not only depicts the scenery of Kyoto, but also includes episodes related to the places where it appears. When you make a pilgrimage to a sacred place, you will be able to see the history and lifestyle of Kyoto, which is exciting.
What kind of places will appear after the third episode? Look forward to the next article!!

TV anime “Kyoto Teramachi Sanjo no Holmes ” official website:
http://kyototeramachi-holmes.com/

©Mai Mochizuki and Ichiha Akizuki/DEF STUDIOS
©”Kyoto Teramachi Sanjo no Holmes ” Production Committee

翻訳者：Mei G.