The place where the Rajomon Gate model and Kyoto Tower overlap | A shot of the east side of Kyoto Station’s Karasuma Exit

A single shot where history and the present intersect

Exit Kyoto Station’s Karasuma Exit and head east, where you’ll find the quietly standing “Reconstructed Model of Rajomon Gate.”

This model is a 1/50 scale reproduction of the massive gate that once stood at the southern end of Heian-kyo, and even though it’s surrounded by the modern Kyoto Station buildings, it still has a strong presence.

In this shot, I’ve composed the photo so that Kyoto Tower is superimposed behind the Rajomon Gate model.

It’s a strange and interesting sight, with past and present Kyoto coming together within just a few meters of each other.

This model is surprisingly often overlooked, but it’s a spot worth stopping to take a look at when walking around Kyoto Station.