Kyoto - before Gion Procession

Kyoto Trip!
woke up early and drove to Kyoto!!! My favorite City!
This is the parking lot we always park. It is near Kiyomizu temple, which is one of most visited temple in Kyoto. Even though it was early Tuesday morning, there were buses already.


We are not going to the temple today. We are going to the main street of Kyoto to see big wheels (I don't know how to translate in English) which will be in very famous procession called "Gion Masturi"

Street of Kiyomizu (mainly souvenir stores both side)

This is miniature shrine for kids festival. The one without wheels will be carried and the one with wheels will be pulled around town by kids to celebrate past and presents prosperity.

Kyoto has small restaurant called "tea house" They are long standing restaurants with reputations. Some of them, you can't even make reservations if you don't have connections. They make special menu for you with ingredient that they find in the market that day. Prepare to spend at least $300 per person. Sometimes, some are open for pubic for lunch without reservations. That is way more affordable. By the way, this is the place you can call "Geisya" or "Maiko (under 19 year old, Geisya trainee)" for entertainment. Then, you have to spend $3000. To make it clear, Geisya won't sleep with you like in the past anymore. They are strictly, performing artist who hand down traditional arts today.

I usually avoid taking main streets because there are so many nice areas away from it. But, be careful. Kyoto is like a big maze.

Good luck charm. Invite happiness and laughter

Small shrines are everywhere. It's like churches in Italy

YES!!! Maiko-san! 10 am... I think they are going to lessons.
They learn traditional dance, singing, and instruments for 2 years to become Geisya

The print of the kimono (what she is wearing) tells which house she is from. It's like emblem. If I remember correctly, There are 5 houses that train and provide Geisya in kyoto.

IF you happen to come to Kyoto and see them on the street and want to take pictures with them, please don't get hurt. They wouldn't take pictures with you. They wouldn't stop for you. They usually run away from you if you try to take pictures of them. That is their rules. Rule is they must get paid to even talk to others.

These fans are business cards of Geisya in the summer.

another one!

Now, on the main street. We are ready to take a break. This is the very famous tea store which has sweet restaurant upstairs. They are so good that people line up hours to eat there. I didn't have to wait today! so Lucky! This is the fake sample (made of candle wax) of what they serve.

I had Special Parfait. My mom had combination of parfait with traditional sweet.

I ate them all! LOVED IT!

Back on the main street. Traditional hand made candies

This is called "konpeitou" another traditional hand made candy.

In ballet "Nutcracker," Sugar plum fairy is called konpeitou fairy in Japan... because we simply don't have sugar plums!

traditional hair accessory made with Bamboo

sweet store (rice cake)

Kabuki Theater

Kamo River

Pontocyou-street

Japanese style cotton towel. We use it to wipe stuff, but also use to carry things.

another hair accessory store... can't see well, but they are beautiful!

Supposed to wear different accessory depend on the season or the month.

Maiko and Geisya are shopping

This is the reason we came today. This is the big thing with wheel that will be in the procession. This procession is also called moving museum. This procession started hundreds of years ago... I am sorry, I am not good at history.

When you donate money, your name goes on lanterns

Beer and sake offering

Close up of the wheel

another one. There are about 10 of these in the procession.

another one

on the street, there are street games and food

gold fish scooping game is very typical game for kids

This is the smaller version which will be carried by men on shoulders

These are all decorations that will be hanged the day of the procession. They were all made hundreds of years ago.

This fish is Koi. This will be decorated on top.

This carpet was woven in germany and was the gift of Roman pope in 6th century. The picture is the scene of Troy War... (I heard this from the people there) This carpet will be decorated on the wheel.

I don't know why Japanese shrine has gift from Pope... I don't know the detail.

I just think that is very interesting connection.

Those treasures are kept in heavy duty safe.

another street vendor. He is selling flavor sake.

In Japan, you can drink on the street. I had Yuzu sake (Japanese citrus sake)


the textile dyeing industry/store

We couldn't see all the wheels. The time was up! On the way to the car, we took famous Nishiki Market street

Fresh fish store

Japanese pickles store

fresh fish again

rice store

fish cake store

dried food (bean, nuts, vegetable and mushroom) store

chicken store

liquor store

cooked fish store

egg store

Wasabi - for people who never seen the real thing.

You have to skin and grate to eat. Real one is very hot with small amount

Tukudani store - boiled vegetable or fish in soy sauce and other ingredient

Japanese sweets made with sweet beans and sticky rice. $2.50 a piece

flower shop - for flower arrangeents and offering

small shrine in the market for good business

Traditional and chinese medicine store

there are some western influence buildings on main street

So many shirines in Kyoto!

Old style taxi or rickshaw for tourists. They will go different spots in Kyoto and explain the history. If you have money, that is the best way to tour Kyoto, but they won't speak English...

Pagoda

ceramic doll store

I hope you enjoied the streets of Kyoto!