On a brilliantly clear Kyoto morning, the author and a friend set out for Kiyomizu-dera—visited more than sixty times that year. Along the way, they encountered Domoto Inshō’s cloud dragon painting at Kyoto Station’s Porta, capturing a moment where art, city, and daily life converged naturally.

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Our destination was Kiyomizu-dera.
This year alone, I must have gone to Kiyomizu more than sixty times.

This morning was even clearer than yesterday, so I telephoned my friend early in the morning.

Our destination was Kiyomizu-dera.
This year alone, I must have visited Kiyomizu more than sixty times.

I had thought we would take the express bus from Kyoto Station, but as usual there was a long line, so we transferred to the subway, got off at Higashiyama-Sanjō, headed toward Chion-in, and from there made our way to Kiyomizu.

As we entered Porta, the underground shopping street of Kyoto Station, a magnificent cloud-dragon painting was on display.

My friend possesses an exceptionally refined artistic sensibility, and upon seeing this final painting, we both spoke in unison:
“Domoto Inshō truly is the real thing.”
Needless to say, all the other works were also splendid.