Kyoto – a city of temples, traditions, wooden buildings, and amazing dumpling houses, was quite possibly our favourite place of the entire trip. The hotel we booked by chance – Hotel Brighton Kyoto – was, with its beautiful interior and exemplary staff, most definitely my favourite temporary residence of the entire trip too. Our generous quadruple room with all mod cons, included lovely traditional little touches such as complimentary matcha, and had the most fantastic views of ancient wonky roof tops as far as the eye could see…
Stepping off the train, the first thing we noticed was how much warmer it was here… Japan in general appeared to be in the grip of a heat wave and the temperature in Kyoto at the time was just unbelievable. The hotel’s beautifully cool roof top pool (which was surprisingly quiet) provided both a welcome reprieve from the heat, and ample child blackmailing material in return for daily temple inspecting quests!
Kyoto is famous for its Hanamachi (Geisha Districts), filled with Tea Houses, and of course the ladies that run them – the private but incredibly famous communities of Maikos and Geikos. I really hoped we would get at least a glimpse of one or two during our stay, and that (without sticking a camera in their faces) I might just get a picture or three…
That first evening we ventured out to find dinner, and took to the narrow but gorgeous alleyways of Pontochō. It can get a little busy here, but what happened next taught me a valuable lesson in patience. Suddenly aware of someone directly behind I decided that if they were in that much of a rush, they could just go around me, as I was busy devouring all the minutiae of my immediate surroundings. Faster still they walked, until I felt like they might tread on the back of my heels at any moment. But just as I was about to step to one side to let them past, I turned to see who it was exactly in so much of a hurry, when the divinely dressed Maiko and her assistant swiftly disappeared into a restaurant – obviously running late for an appointment it seems. I could have cried.
Never one to let something like that spoil the evening (much); we went on to have a fantastic Okonamayaki dinner (all saved for a separate food post – you lucky things you!), and spent a happy half hour exploring Kyoto’s mesmerising streets (which I will forever remember for its lanterns, and tangled spaghetti of overhead wires) before returning to the hotel.
And then, just as we approached a zebra crossing (and quite possibly the last place you would ever expect to see something so beautiful!), the Eight Year old tugged at my sleeve and said “look Mummy, just look”….
Although this photograph is not technically brilliant, and is definitely blurry, it also happens to be one of my favourites of our entire trip too… All these favourites add up you know…
Totally Fabulous! You have me hooked, I so want to visit! x
Thanks so much for reading them all! :) x
It sounds awesome and looks awesome , more please!
Thanks so much! More to come shortly! :)
Yay! You got your shot. Maybe blurry, but still bloody brilliant and oh so beautiful. And in separate news, I now want dumplings.
Thank you lovely, finally finally… Lots more to come! I know everyone’s sick of it, but I have been so busy I haven’t been able to write them all! More dumplings to follow! :D
Kyoto was one of the highlights of my parents trip to Japan too. I can see why from your gorgeous post!
So beautiful! Did they see many geishas? :)
Thanks for another Japanese update… love it! Love that you got your photo of your ‘ladies’ too:-)
Are they wearing socks with flip-flops? Good idea, if so… can’t bear thonged footwear!
I rally like your other photos too.
xx Jazzy
Socks with wedge heeled flip flops at that! It must take years of practice. Thank you (: xx
Oh, wow – I was hoping as I scrolled down that you’d get a photo – I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me! Looks gorgeous and I’ve added Kyoto to our list when we finally get around to visiting Japan!
You must you must, you are so close there! Thank you Caroline! :) x
Glorious photos – and I can see why the final one, though blurred, is a favourite.
I clicked through to the hotel for a nosey – very chic, clean lines.
The hotel to get married in in Kyoto too. Makes for amazing people watching! Thanks Trish! (:
Wow. Wow. And Wow. I so love these posts – you write them so, so well – I am always so gripped. What a fantastic time – what a culture, and amazing you got the shots of the Geishas ….. brought back memories of reading Memoirs of a Geisha. X.
Thank you so much Sarah. I think I said to Annie that I was worried that I hadn’t “got them all down” yet, but sometimes you can’t rush these things! :D xx
I bet it was amazing, I’m fascinated by Japan and it’s culture, but have never been lucky enough to visit.
Thank you Mary, it’s ever so slightly surreal, in a good way! :)
This is one of my dream destinations. I’m so pleased to hear how much you loved it. Makes me want to go even more now.
It lived up to my expectations that’s for sure! Thanks Rachel x
The cables look like spaghetti!
And you got the photo you wanted! They look so graceful and stunningly beautiful :-)
Thank you. I will pretend the blurriness adds to it! :D
It looks positively enchanted.
Thank you :)
Wow! Beautiful, you got your image. A bygone era that’s still finding a place in the world. Have loved these travelogues Emma. Looking forward to the food one..
Thank you for reading them! :) x
It sounds amazing :) xxx
Twas lovely, thank you spud xxx
Oh my word this post is like a wonderful dream unfolding im so jelouse feed me more pls
Thanks so much Helen! x
Sounds wonderful, I was captivated. All beautiful.
Thank you Gemma! :) Still a couple more Japan posts to come! :D x