Pontocho in the rain

Pontocho in Kyoto is a tiny area of the city that, like Gion, was once (and to a certain extent still is) the realm of the geisha. Today it's a very narrow alleyway populated with relatively inexpensive restaurants opposite establishments with no prices displayed out front - these are very pricey places. If you ever find yourself in one of these places it's probably best to box once and reverse out of the doorway. Your credit card will appreciate your gesture...

Some of these places are traditional tea houses.
The architecture and construction materials are mostly very old and much sought after by rich Japanese who, until relatively recently, would buy the entire house and have it shipped elsewhere in Japan. The local government has since put a stop to this practice to preserve the history.