Kyoto, Japan

Photos of Kyoto
Photos of Ryokan Yamazaki
Tatami mats, futons, rice paper screens and lovely gardens greeted us at the Ryokan Yamazaki in northern Kyoto, thirty minutes on the bus from Kyoto Station. Staying at a traditional Japanese hotel proved economical and an educational cultural experience. The Yamazaki family took good care of us, showing us the bus routes and which direction to point our shoes when we take them off. We even sat on cushions at low tables in the restaurant where they accommodated our "odd" vegetarian diet. Takehiro Yamazaki speaks excellent English and cooks the food also. His aunt and uncle had limited English (though better than our Japanese) and greeted us with "Welcome Back" when we returned from the city. Leaving this peaceful setting, Mrs. Yamazaki kindly presented the girls with Japanese change purses saying, "I will be waiting for you when you return."

Visiting Ninnanji Temple and taking the walking tour with Johnnie Hillwalker were highlights of our stay in Kyoto, along with our final, perfect day. It began with a great night's sleep at Kyoto Century Hotel where the staff are extremely professional and speak excellent English. We took a trip to a large CD store to get Japanese imports. (That is, before they got to the US & the cost tripled). After finding several, sought after, "paper sleeves," we went to the corner AM/PM to pack a picnic lunch. Why can't they carried sushi and soba lunch boxes at convenience stores in the US? Taking a picnic to Yasaka Shrine, we dined beneath the cherry blossoms at the edge of a creek. Then it was off to a matinee performance of the Miyako Odori or cherry blossom dance, performed only in April by the maiko (15-20 years old) and geisha. Sitting in a tatami boxed seat, the sights and sounds of traditional Japanese music and dance washed over us. The precision of movements reminded us of the dances of India: hand positions, darting eyes, fan movements, stomping all synchronized. We interpreted the dances as stories of the seasons, of love and of the creation of stars and all of it accompanied by traditional stringed instruments and strident vocals. We ended this exceptional day with dinner in the subterranean city below the train station.

Kyoto Station holds enough stores and services to fill a tourist's week, but that would be a tragic waste of time in this vibrant, ancient city. Still, the Italian restaurant in the Porta, provided a welcome change to a two week diet of, you guessed it, Japanese food. Michelle's likeness now graces the walls of the restaurant as the girls entered a poster contest; they will announce the winner May 25th, Mother's Day in Japan.