🌉《Walking Through Kyoto with Words #6-1: Shijo Bridge》

✨English Version

I was halfway across the Shijō Bridge when I heard an English voice.

"Excuse me..."

A serious-looking couple stood there, holding a slightly faded paper map. Their faces were tense.

"Is this the right way to Yasaka Shrine?"
The man asked slowly and clearly.

"Yes, just go straight across the bridge—toward Gion," I began to say.
But the woman was already turning the map around and looking confused.

They seemed likely to get lost, even with directions.

"Would you like me to walk with you?" I heard myself say.

The wind across the bridge had a hint of autumn in it.
At first, the couple walked in silence, glancing around nervously.

But once we entered the covered shopping street of Gion, their expressions softened just a little.

In front of a long-established pickles shop, the man stopped and looked at a display of plums.

"Is this pickled… something?"

"Yes, it's ume—pickled plum. Sour, but tasty," I replied.
The woman let out a small giggle.

We arrived at Yasaka Shrine at 4:45 p.m.

I glanced up. “Still time to ring the bell, I hope.”

At the temizuya, the man listened carefully and awkwardly copied my movements,
washing his hands, then rinsing his mouth.
The woman followed quietly.

At the main hall, they both bowed deeply after ringing the bell.
They were more serious than I was.

A stillness filled the air.
We were about to leave when the man spoke again.

"By the way… is Kichi Kichi nearby? We have a 5 p.m. reservation."

…What!?

I turned sharply in surprise.

(to be continued…)

🇯🇵Japanese Translation with Visible Syntax

While I was crossing Shijo Bridge, I heard an English voice.

"Excuse me..."

A serious-looking couple stood there holding a slightly faded paper map. Their faces looked somewhat nervous.

"Is this the right way to Yasaka Shrine?"
The man asked slowly and clearly.

"Yes, go straight, cross the bridge... and head toward Gion," I started to answer, but
the woman was already turning the map around and around with a troubled look on her face.

If I just explain it like this, they'll probably get lost—

"If you'd like, shall we go together?"
Before I knew it, I had said that.

The wind on the bridge had a hint of autumn in it.
At first, the two of them walked quietly, looking around at their surroundings.

However, once we entered the Gion arcade, their expressions began to soften little by little.

In front of a long-established pickle shop, the man stopped and, while looking at the pickled plums in the display case, asked,

"Is this... some kind of pickle?"

"Yes, it's a pickled plum. It's sour, but it's delicious," I replied, and
the woman gave a small smile.

We arrived at Yasaka Shrine at 4:45 PM.

Thinking, "I wonder if we can still ring the bell," I guided them to the purification fountain.

The man listened to my explanation seriously, washed his hands awkwardly, and rinsed his mouth.
The woman gently followed suit.

At the worship hall, they both rang the bell and bowed deeply.
—They are praying much more reverently than I am.

The air was quietly tense.
As I was about to leave, he suddenly spoke up.

"By the way... is the omurice restaurant Kichi Kichi near here? I have a reservation at 5 o'clock..."

...Huh!?

I spun around, caught off guard.

(To be continued)

📝 Vocabulary & Grammar Notes

Expression/Usage Explanation
I heard myself say
A natural way to express talking to oneself when you realize you've said something aloud. Often used when objectively observing words that slipped out unconsciously.
had a hint of autumn
"There is a sign of autumn." Using "a hint of ~" (a faint sign of ~) is a way to softly convey seasons or emotions.
a serious-looking couple
"A couple who looks serious." The suffix "-looking" is used to form adjectives meaning "appearing to be ~."
awkwardly copied my movements
"Clumsily imitated my movements." Composed of "awkwardly" + "copy one's movements."
temizuya / main hall
When explaining shrine culture, Japanese terms are increasingly used as-is in English (especially words like "temizuya," often paired with a footnote).
still time to… "There is still time to do ~." For example, "There's still time to ring the bell."
to be continued... The standard closing phrase used in English stories to indicate "to be continued."