Traditional Japanese Houses in Kyoto

I told you yesterday that I had so much of temples here and there and everywhere in this city. So, instead of going to the city and see buildings again, I decided to be a bit of historical and cultural.

How did I do it? I just walked around the city, passing through streets that interest me, including getting lost and asking few directions.

My hostel, GION HOSTEL, is just a walking distance to Gion where old-century houses which now turned into cafes, restaurants and teahouses. 

In ancient history of this city, Gion, was a flourishing entertainment district in Kyoto. It is famous as a district for geishas and maikos (student geishas) performing in one of the traditional houses. If you have seen the movie, Memoirs of a Geisha (or read the book), Gion should be familiar to you. 

We all know that Japanese are minimalist. And you can see it in their traditional houses. Its designs show simplicity but functional. Even the facade of their residential houses doesn’t scream modernity which the country is known for nowadays. 

The simplicity of their architectural design is akin to the simplicity of their way of life. 

Though they are harbingers of change in science and technology, the Japanese still retains its old-age traditions in modern times.

When you’re walking around Kyoto, you’d still see a lot of Japanese bowing to each other almost at the end of every sentence. As a visitor, I am in awe! Too much bowing might make me a hunchback or someone with a six-pack abs. 😉 

And in one of my aimless walks, I found these two maikos. How lucky I was!

And not just two. I found some more.

Related: Portraits of a Geisha.