Gion

We spent an inordinate amount of time getting to Kyoto, since the train was delayed due to heavy rain. By the time we arrived, it was the afternoon. We wandered through what turned out to be the biggest train station I have ever visited looking for food. We went to “ramen street” on the tenth floor, but the lines dissuaded us, so we headed for the hotel. When we got there, it was after three, and since most historic attractions in Kyoto close at four or five and we still hadn't eaten, I considered the day a loss. Fortunately, I was wrong! We walked around our neighborhood looking for a restaurant, and we ended up in a beautiful glass walled place that was surrounded by a zen garden. We were served by women in kimonos. It had a ten page menu, so we ended up getting noodles, sushi, and shabu shabu, which is meat cooked in a hot pot on the table. I finished it off with some fancy Japanese tea, which was refreshing. Thoroughly satiated, we walked down to Gion.

Gion is the historic geisha district, and I was excited to see it. The neighborhood sports historic architecture, but it is still functioning, so it became more interesting as the sun went down. We could peer inside the teahouses where geisha entertained, but we couldn't afford to go in. We wandered down the cobblestone streets for awhile, then went back.

canal outside of our hotel

she was an actress

Gion

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