Cycling along the Kidzu promenade 2
(Yawata and Sewari-Dutsumi)
Shin FUJITA

After the bridge you will cross the National Road No.1 and Keihan train line. The three big rivers in Kyoto area, i.e. Kidzu, Uji, and Katsura river merge around here to become Yodo river which flows into Osaka bay about 35 km away. The picture No.3 shows that construction of Kyoto-Outer-Ring-Road is going on at the far end over Uji river. It is said that its completion will alleviate the traffic jam in downtown Kyoto but there is a concern about the environmental problems caused by the construction.	No.3: Outer-Ring-Road construction site
The area is called Yawata because there is a famous shrine "Iwashimizu-Hachiman-Gu" at the top of the hill overlooking the junction of the rivers. Many people come to pray at the shrine including some historical figures and professional sport teams. You can use the cable car to climb the hill but I recommend you to walk up on foot. The path through the woods is easy enough. An old shrine awaits you at the top. The picture No.4 is a shot of the shrine from the main gate.	No.4: "Iwashimizu-Hachimangu" shrine
Now return to the promenade and continue your trip. About 10 km from the starting point in Kyotanabe you will arrive at "Sewari-Dutsumi" bank, which separates Kidzu river from Katsura river. It is just where the three rivers merge into Yodo river. On the bank, a lot of cherry trees are planted. They blossom very beautifully in spring and it is one of the famous "Ohanami" (flower appreciation) spot around the area. Tenno-zan mountain can be seen on the opposite side of Katsura river. In spring when the cherry is in full bloom the scene here is picturesque. From "Sewari-Dutsumi" bank, you can see the Shinkansen running at the foot of Tenno-zan through the multifold of cherry flower petals. It is a combination of the traditional Japan and the modern technology. I recommend you to visit the bank in spring.