Hi, I am trying to write reviews of places that I have visited. Hope they are helpful to people goin...
Hi, I am trying to write reviews of places that I have visited. Hope they are helpful to people going to those places. I'm currently in university and every single pence helps to finance my travels. Cheers !
Member since:03.10.2005
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Gion is the most famous geisha district in Kyoto (and whole Japan I think). Geisha is a professional female entertainer since the olden Japan times. (There is now a movie on Geisha : Memoirs of a Geisha).
In Gion, you can see many old buildings and there are many restaurants. In the evening, you will most probably bump into a geisha while strolling along Hanami-Koji. You are not able to stop a geisha and talk to her because most of the time, if you see them, they are on their way to the teahouse where they serve their clients. (From what my Japanese friend told me, a geisha is paid about USD$800 per hour to entertain a guest).
The teahouse is like a private club where only the very rich can afford to go. And, you have to be recommended by an existing member of the teahouse to join it. If not, as a tourist, you cannot enter a teahouse no matter how much money you have. However, nowadays, you can purchase a package that includes meal and geisha entertainment. The cheapest package is about £300.
I met a geisha in my friend's teahouse but she was in a hurry to attend another appointment in another teahouse so I could only take pictures with her but no chatting. Later, I saw another geisha in this teahouse which I thought was the one I saw a few minutes ago but actually it's a different geisha. What I want to say is, with their thick make-up and white powder all over the face even covering the neck, it is so difficult to differentiate who's who.
There are a few studios around this area that provide 'maiko makeover'. (Maiko is a junior geisha). I am not sure how much it costs for the makeover and after the makeover, you can take the costumes with you and go out for a walk for about one hour. (I heard it is very expensive).
Another important thing that you shouldn't forget if you are in Kyoto. WAGASHI. It is the common name of Japanese dessert. If you walk around Kyoto, you can see shops selling traditional Japanese dessert. I strongly recommend you to try as these are not things that you can find outside Japan even in sushi restaurants. My friend took me to the most famous dessert shop but it was too expensive even by UK standard. So we ended up buying from corner shops. (Well, you can find such dessert in other parts of Japan but I say Kyoto here because they are originally from Kyoto, according to my friend.) So, if you happen to be in Kyoto, please ask around to see if you can find some local Kyoto dessert.
Transport: Take 'shinkansen' (bullet train) to Kyoto station. If you are coming from Osaka, you can take a local train which is about 1 hour. Then, t ake the bus number 100 or 206 from Kyoto station and get off at Gion bus stop. The closest train stations are Shijo Station on the Keihan Line and Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line.
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Good review, although more info would give you a higher rating, lou xx
kollarosie 30.12.2005 17:04
Oh i love Kyoto and the Gion district with all it's alleys is great. My husband and I had the honour of being invited to a teahouse owned by an ex-Geisha who is now in her 60s. Her daughter is now a Geisha in Gion We meant and talked with them both for a couple of hours. They were incredibly polite, gentle and refined. Lord knows who much those 2 hours would have cost .... but i wasn't picking up the tab, so was saved from having heart failure..
Collingwood21 30.12.2005 16:29
This was an interesting review, but as the category is for Kyoto attractions (rather than just the Gion district), this is a bit limited. I liked the way you included transport and price information, but a bit more variety in the attractions you discuss would make this review more helpful.
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Advantages: It is a fascinating city which presents many of the contrasts of Japan Disadvantages: This review is very long - but there is so much to Kyoto that I've only given you the main sites
ickkate 27.08.2004 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Kyoto (Japan)
Advantages: Enormous temples, exciting centre & good wooded walks. Disadvantages: Disappointment if you let the guidebooks build it up too much & expensive.
Hmatt 08.10.2002 (08.10.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Kyoto (Japan)
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Dec 30th, 2005
(Jan 3rd, 2006)
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