Photo= People enjoying a meal with Geiko and Maiko on the terrace as the river breeze blows (May 1, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto)

"Noryo Yuka" or dining terraces on the Kamo River, a summer attraction of Kyoto, opened the evening of May 1. According to the Kyoto Local Meteorological Office, that day's high was 30.0 degrees Celsius, recording this year's first day of real summer heat, comparable to early July. In a pleasant breeze that began to blow at dusk, patrons enjoyed eating and drinking while listening to the music of the Gion Festival’s "Naginata Hoko" float.

According to Kyoto-Kamogawa-Nouryouyuka-Kyoudoukumiai, or the cooperative for terraces on the Kamo River, this year 98 restaurants along the 2.5-kilometer river bank between Nijo Ohashi Bridge and Gojo Ohashi Bridge will install them. On the first day, 89 restaurants opened them. Tourists could be seen enjoying the terraces of various restaurants, including luxurious Japanese-style restaurants, French and Italian restaurants, Japanese-style pubs, cafes, and more.

At "Ikumatsu" a restaurant and hotel in Kiyamachi-dori Oike Agaru, Nakagyo Ward, “Geiko” and “Maiko,” or geisha and apprentice geisha entertained guests, while the members of "Naginata Hoko Gion-bayashi Hozonkai" or the preservation group of the festival music, were playing the "Kon Chiki Chin" melody as usual under the summer sky. A 71-year old man from Nara City, Nara Prefecture, who was visiting the terrace with his wife and friends for the first time, said delightedly, "I’ve longed to visit the terraces for years. The river breeze is so nice. It’s the best feeling."