Kyoto Day 1 - Onsen and Heian Shrine Concert

After arriving from Oooo-saka we made our way to the Hiroshin Ryoken in Central City district, just off Shijo shopping district. Our room was simple and authentic, but even better there was a Japanese bath-house (Onsen)!

This was very confusing for us...

Do you go naked? Do you wander down in you kimono thing?
When do you go? What are the little stools for? Why does the mirror only allow me to see my nether-regions aka "front bum"?

Lu took the safe option with swimwear, while I reasoned that if anyone inappropriate saw me naked it would be their loss. We headed down to the bath-house and luckily enough no-one was there. And what a cavernous, steaming room of joy it was - on my return we will be changing our study into a Onsen. During our stay I went twice daily, and only on my last trip did I have to share the Onsen, I was already in the buff and concerned I may offend a local - luckily he was also in the squids - I have never been so relieved to see a naked man in my life.

That night we strolled in-between the Takasegawa Canal and Kamo river, there is a landing with no lights that looks up at the Pontocho lane restaurants. Fire twirlers, students and dirty gypsies wander along the banks, but we were headed for a concert in the Heian Shrine.

Travelling down the poorly lit Reisen road we made it to the temple, you could hear the cello from outside and as you entered the courtyard a hundred Cherry Blossom Trees in flame were lit up with spotlights, mirrored by tranquil lakes. It was so beautiful Lu almost cried.

We then walked back to Pontocho restaurants via the Maiko district where ugly fat business men chuckled in groups, like a classy version of King Street.

I think it was our best day in Japan