Day 06 is our last full day in Kyoto before we continue onto the second segment of our 15 day trip. In our initial planning, we’d listed several more places to visit on Day 06 – and the list included Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kyoto Botanical Gardens, and Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. But maybe it was because we’d already visited quite a few parks and gardens by this point, or that we’d walked and explore quite a far bit already at this point – or the step counter on all our smartwatches were clocking in between 20,000 to 25,000 steeps everyday – or that we were mindful we’d need to get back to our hotel reasonably early to start packing for check-out, we ended up dropping the rest of the afternoon’s initially planned places, and settled for just revisiting Gion and taking it easy.
Gion is Kyoto’s famous district with its narrow alley ways lined with wooden Machiya houses, and where – of you’re really lucky – you just might spot geishas. Back in our 2010 trip, I chanced upon three dressed in that fashion and thought they were maikos, but a comment from a visitor to our blog suggested that they were more likely locals doing dress-up, given that they were largely unescorted and also their manner of walking.
As it turned out, after lunch at the fabulous Ramen Miyako restaurant – the thick Roast Pork broth is to die for – we were wandering about in the alleyways when we ran into what looked liked a real geisha with her patron visiting houses. It was actually the wife who was super curious, as she spotted a group of local Japanese with pro camera gear lurking about, and being the curious person she is, discovered that they were paparazzing a geisha. So, she did the very Singaporean thing when we see crowds: she joined in. And we all followed!
Japan-Guide does note that there has been complaints of late of photographers ruthlessly paparazzing maikos and geishas. But this particular practitioner seemed to take it in quite good stride, and she seemed unfazed by the attention. Or maybe she’s used to it? In any case, the crowd respectfully made way for her as she darted from one guest house into another, and the following crowd dispersed after that.
Matt observed that this must be how the Kardashians feel, and quipped that this (our following this crowd) is the dumbest thing he’s done in a while, and I kinda agreed LOL.
We next returned to Gion Kinana as the wife wanted to sample their popular ice-creams again. And so we did: those extremely overpriced desserts: with parfaits that cost ¥1,500, and a tray of three small ice-cream scoops costing ¥1,100. And every patron must order something. And like our 2010 visit, the young lasses serving us could not speak English today – the wife mused that clearly, some things still haven’t improved since that time haha.
That’s it for a wrap for the first six days of our 15 day trip to Kansai. Time for us to pack our bag, as we’d be catching the 8:09AM morning train to Kanazawa for our next segment!