🌸 Spring Exchange | Cherry Blossoms by the Riverside and the Flow of Everyday Life

#cherryblossom25 I didn’t make it to Kyoto’s famous Kamogawa River during sakura season — but instead, I stumbled upon an unexpected scene along the gentle banks of the Setagawa River. There’s something so familiar, so grounding, about riverside life. No crowds. No noise. Just the quiet rhythm of daily moments, with cherry blossoms softly blooming in the background. Under the sakura trees, elderly folks played gateball with cheerful smiles. Some sat peacefully on benches, slowly flipping through their newspapers. Others were walking dogs, fishing, rowing boats, or simply strolling — each moment drifting by like the river itself — calm, tender, and healing. 🌸 The Setagawa is part of the water system flowing from Lake Biwa, eventually becoming the Uji River and Yodo River as it moves toward Kyoto and Osaka. It wasn’t a place I had planned to visit. But when the JR line was suspended, I found myself crossing the Setagawa Bridge by chance — and just like that, this riverside detour became one of the sweetest surprises of my cherry blossom journey. #travel