Kyoto - Gion and Nishiki Market

It was a cold, wet morning in Kyoto. Having just finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha I was keen to visit Gion (Kyoto's Geisha District) so we set out to catch the train to the area. First we found Yasaka Shrine (once called Gion Shrine) which has several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage. Next we wandered through the Gion streets where some tourists were dressed in traditional kimonos. We crossed the river and found ourselves in a main shopping street and large arcade. We had some lunch and shopped for a while then eventually found Nishiki Market which is a narrow, five block long shopping street. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen", this lively retail market specializes in all things food related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware, sake and sushi. The rain had stopped when we made our way back to the station and returned to the hotel.Read more