A short distance inland is the sleepy spa town of Shimogamo, where foreign faces are a rarity.
A row of delightful inns lines the river. Ikona's clientele includes some well known authors and scholars who come here for peace and quiet.
They immerse themselves in little cottages set in a gorgeous garden to labour over their manuscripts. A couple of days at this elgant inn, with its tatami(reedmat Floor) and sliding screens and kimonoed attendants- and a splendid communal hot spring pool overhung by cherry trees-is probably as close as the foreign tourist can hope to come to the elusive dream of discovering the old Japan.
Art Gallery / Crafts Center / Bathing Beach / Tennis Court / Golf Course/ Fishing / Hiking Area / Athletic Facilities / Horse Riding
