Lanterns on a Working Street

East of the river, the streets are narrow and old. Higashi Chaya has small wooden houses with two floors. They have wooden screens on the front. As it got dark, paper lanterns came on.

This street is not a museum. It was built in eighteen twenty for performers and rich guests. It still works today. About forty geiko live and work in the city. They perform in the rooms upstairs.

Polly sat on a roof. Music began above the street. She heard strings, a drum, and a voice. Below, the street was normal. A bike leaned on a wall. A cat walked by.

On the corner, a shop sold ice cream with gold on top. One whole sheet of gold leaf goes on each cone.