The is a continuation of two other rivers, the
Hozu River
The is a part of Katsura River in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The river begins in the mountains near Kameoka, a town northwest of Kyoto City. It snakes into the Arashiyama section of western Kyoto before changing its name to Katsura River.
The H ...
, a small, speedy river which begins in the
mountain
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited Summit (topography), summit area, and ...
s near
Kameoka
is a city in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 87,518 in 29,676 households and a population density of 390 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Kameoka abuts Kyoto to the east and is loca ...
and then slithers through the mountains separating
Kameoka
is a city in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 87,518 in 29,676 households and a population density of 390 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Kameoka abuts Kyoto to the east and is loca ...
and
Kyoto
Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...
; and the
Ōi River
The is a river in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
Geography
The Ōi River flows from the Akaishi Mountains, the branch of the Japanese Southern Alps which form the border between Shizuoka, Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures. These mountains, with p ...
(大堰川 ''Ōi-gawa''), which emerges from those mountains and expands into a shallow, slow-flowing river until
Togetsukyo Bridge
is a district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. It also refers to the mountain across the Ōi River, which forms a backdrop to the district. Arashiyama is a nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty.
Notable t ...
in
Arashiyama
is a district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. It also refers to the mountain across the Ōi River, which forms a backdrop to the district. Arashiyama is a nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty.
Notable to ...
.
From that point forward, the river is referred to as the Katsura River, and its flow continues for several kilometers through
Kyoto Prefecture until it joins the
Kamo The name Kamo may refer to the following:
Places
Japan
(Note: ''kamo'' ( 鴨), is the common word for ''duck'' in Japanese, but the following names do not necessarily mean ''duck'' and are not necessarily written with that character.)
* Kamo, N ...
and
Uji
is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.
Founded on March 1, 1951, Uji is between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. The city sits on the Uji River, which has its source in Lake Biwa. ...
rivers.
The Katsura River area features some of the oldest shrines in Kyoto and Japan, such as
Matsuo Shrine
, formerly , is a Shinto shrine located at the far western end of Shijō Street, approximately 1.3 kilometers south of the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. It is home to a Spring (hydrosphere), spring at the base of the mountain, Arashiyama, that is ...
, and, as a counterpoint to the channelled
Kamo River
The is located in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The riverbanks are popular walking spots for residents and tourists. In summer, restaurants open balconies looking out to the river. There are walkways running alongside the river, and some stepping ...
, supports acres of
agricultural
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating Plant, plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of Sedentism, sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of Domestication, domesticated species created food ...
area on its flood plain. It also is known for its summer supply of ''
ayu'' and is a popular place for holding
barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque (informally BBQ in the UK, US, and Canada, barbie in Australia and braai in South Africa) is a term used with significant regional and national variations to describe various cooking methods that use live fire and smoke t ...
s.
See also
*
Katsura, Kyoto
Katsura (桂) is a neighborhood in Nishikyo-ku, in the western part of the city of Kyoto, Japan. Predominantly residential in character the district is situated and the western bank of the Katsura River. The neighborhood is renowned as the lo ...
References
External links
(confluence with Kizu River and Uji River)
Rivers of Kyoto Prefecture
Rivers of Japan
{{Japan-river-stub