Kyoto in Spring

KYOTO TOWER

Our first experience for the day was going up into the Kyoto Tower where we saw a panoramic view of Kyoto.

This was not in our original plans but it was right in front of the train station so we took advantage of the discovery.

The tower stands 100m from the roof of the main building and has two observation platforms. The second platform has a curved window so, if you're game, you can look directly down at the city below.

GION KOBU KABURENJO MIYAKO

We then made our way to the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theatre to see Miyako Odori (The Cherry Dance) performance. We bought non-reserved seats on tatami mats, which meant the cheap seats at the back! We only just made the 12:30 show and so the seats were already pretty full. We needed the usher to shift people over to make room for us. We had to sit cross legged on the tatami mats 2nd row from the back. Despite this, we could see everything.

It was a traditional Japanese show with many stunning kimonos and gracefully moving dancers, all women. They used many props to accompany the different parts of the story like gold/silver fans, white materials ribbons, baskets full of blossoms and branches of cherry blossoms.

On both sides of the theatre (along next to the audience) were groups of women playing traditional instruments for the show including a drum, bell and the koto. There were many backdrop and prop changes and they even had a large opening in the stage from where the actors were raised and lowered. The synchronisation and precision of each group was incredible. Every fan, every head movement was done in unison. There were different parts to the performance, sometimes there would be a large group of ladies in the same kimono, then there were parts when individual and small groups of actors would take to the stage. I (Jodi) was captivated for the whole 1 hour show. I thought it was amazing.

THE TAJ MAHAL

Despite being 10,000 kms away, I can already hear you go Huh?!?!?!?! So, went looking for food... Having walked miles already we were pretty hungry... so we crossed the street and found a string or restaurants. Looking for a relatively cheap yet satisfying meal we headed to the basement and found an Indian restaurant called the "Taj Mahal"... a $9.90 buffet was awaiting us with ten different dishes... I thought you beauty, lets go there... That's way better value than the banquet at the Standpipe! So, 10 dishes... 2 were salad, one was a coleslaw and one insanely hot onion salad... maybe one Indian dish there... 3 curries, chicken, eggplant and mushroom... all with the same sauce... naan bread and tandoori chicken... saffron rice... so maybe 5 were actually real dishes! So maybe not as grand as the real Taj Mahal but a good feed none the less. For $9.90, it becomes a funny story rather than a false advertising law suit!

MARUYAMA PARK

So, having taken in the Kyoto tower, the weird music, beautiful costumes and amazing sets of the cherry blossom dancing and the $9.90 Indian buffet, it was time to see some real Cherry blossoms up close and personal... We had been told that Maruyama Park is one of the most popular places to see cherry blossoms in Kyoto, so, when in Rome... Fortunately, everywhere we wanted to visit was really close to each other, even better as we walked everywhere (disclaimer: i don't recommend that... it was a bloody long way from the train station! The first time a Japanese map we have encountered has been further than it looks. Usually it is much closer.)...

Anyway, we followed the crowd into the park and there were thousands of people wandering around, sitting under trees, having parties, watching jugglers... It could be said it was the equivalent to our Royal Shows, with many side stalls with games and sideshows, plus the customary interesting food. Actually, it was probably more like the Smelters Picnic (Pirie)... It seems here everything is on a stick... toffee apples, toffee strawberries, squid, corn, sausages and fish... when we say fish, we mean the whole kit and caboodle! the hook was still in its mouth... well, almost! Having wandered we saw many beautiful cherry blossom trees... they are still only in half bloom so I can only imagine what they will look like when they are in full bloom... I can see why it is the favourite season of many Japanese people... Good weather and magnificent weather (well, comparable to winter!)...