This evening we had a Japanese cultural experience at the Gion corner in Downtown Kyoto. Dad Dan and Auntie Casilda treated us to the 50-minute cultural show which featured brief performances of the Tea Ceremony, Koto music, Ikebana, Gagaku (court music), Kyogen (ancient comic play), Kyomai (Kyoto Style dance performed by a Geisha and/or a Maiko), and Bunraku (puppet play). This show is like the typical Hawaiian luau except that everything is short and sweet, and the tea ceremony was an additional expense for those interested in it. It is actually good to see this show as an introductory experience to Japanese culture.
Dad Dan and Auntie Casilda were out in the lobby waiting for us when the show finished. We all walked along the streets of Gion looking for a place to have dinner. It was at Tendan Yakiniku where we decided to dine. We ordered the "healthy" set: three-choice meats and two side vegetables. Thought we ordered the "ladies set" but it turns out we needed to order two for this, or something. Instead we ordered another "healthy" set, an assorted seafood plate, and beef soup. The meats and seafood really cooked fast, and because of the marinade the grill had to be changed so that cooking won't be uneven.
We left the restaurant fully sated.
To walk off the calories we walked along Pontocho street, a narrow alley that is filled with restaurants that only open in the afternoon until late at night. The restaurants facing the Kamo river opens the yuka (outdoor dining) around this time of the year until the end of summer. As we walked it began to drizzle then turned into rain. We immediately turned back and found a taxi to bring us back home. It was perfect timing because as soon as we entered the house it started to pour harder. We'll try a night stroll along Pontocho and the Shijo and Shanjo bridges along the Kamo river for another day.
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Toilets: Public toilets can be found all over town. Japanese-style (squat) and Western-style toilets are available but toilet paper are not always available. Private shops/restaurant toilets also offer both styles complete with toilet paper. The one at Tendan restaurant even had a heated toilet seat and options for a wash spray and dry, I think that's what the picture on the bottons were.
Taxi: The back door of the taxi opens and closes by itself so there's no need to do that when you enter and exit the cab.
Dad Dan and Auntie Casilda were out in the lobby waiting for us when the show finished. We all walked along the streets of Gion looking for a place to have dinner. It was at Tendan Yakiniku where we decided to dine. We ordered the "healthy" set: three-choice meats and two side vegetables. Thought we ordered the "ladies set" but it turns out we needed to order two for this, or something. Instead we ordered another "healthy" set, an assorted seafood plate, and beef soup. The meats and seafood really cooked fast, and because of the marinade the grill had to be changed so that cooking won't be uneven.
We left the restaurant fully sated.
To walk off the calories we walked along Pontocho street, a narrow alley that is filled with restaurants that only open in the afternoon until late at night. The restaurants facing the Kamo river opens the yuka (outdoor dining) around this time of the year until the end of summer. As we walked it began to drizzle then turned into rain. We immediately turned back and found a taxi to bring us back home. It was perfect timing because as soon as we entered the house it started to pour harder. We'll try a night stroll along Pontocho and the Shijo and Shanjo bridges along the Kamo river for another day.
~~~
Toilets: Public toilets can be found all over town. Japanese-style (squat) and Western-style toilets are available but toilet paper are not always available. Private shops/restaurant toilets also offer both styles complete with toilet paper. The one at Tendan restaurant even had a heated toilet seat and options for a wash spray and dry, I think that's what the picture on the bottons were.
Taxi: The back door of the taxi opens and closes by itself so there's no need to do that when you enter and exit the cab.
posted by Mimi | 3:16 AM
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