Japan Day 3: Gion Corner

We started the day with a class on Japanese culture where we discussed the differences between family life in North America and Japan. We then headed over for some udon lunch with our buddies after which  we continued with a seminar on intercultural studies taught by an American professor with a focus on culture shock.

tea house in the Gion district

 The afternoon was spent in downtown Kyoto doing some shopping, but the main attraction of the day was a tea ceremony and Maiko dancing in the famous Gion Corner.

 

 Walking around the famous Gion district with the very exclusive tea houses and real Maikos ( performers) roaming the streets made me feel like I was part of the famous novel Memoirs of a Geisha. I couldn't believe that such a famous and old tradition that I believed was just a myth is still very much in practice in today's age.  When you look at a Maiko, there are so many layers to peel away from them. They wear a mask of haunting beauty as the outer layer, snow white skin that you are too afraid to touch, with blood red lips.

 It seems the ghosts of Japan's history are still wandering through the downtown streets of Kyoto.