The Shinkansen slows and you step out into the soft,
Wet heat of Kyoto in spring.
You feel the energy of the mountains caressing you.
Sakura motifs are everywhere and it's not coffee that people sip here,
It's tea.
Time softens and plans of tomorrow slip your mind as the present nudges you to simply be.
Kyoto in spring invites us all to allow the lessons of winter to soak deep into our bones,
With the knowledge that what will emerge from within us is more beautiful than we can possibly imagine.
Senses of Kyoto in spring.
The awakening of beauty.
On your way up the hill,
Through the edges of Gion,
You're surrounded by the scent of fresh spring air.
Travellers in hired kimono,
While small stands with age-old recipes of snacks,
Ready for the curious eater,
Start opening for the day.
At the top of the hill,
At Kiyomizu-dera,
You feel the reverence of each altar.
The view of sakura and those beautiful wooden roof lines,
With a gentle breeze brushing sakura petals over people as if to anoint them.
The pulse of visitors grounding into the energy of the temple,
And staring at all it has to offer.
After paying your respects,
You meander along the streets of Gion,
Past the soft cream stalls,
The crunch of pickled cucumber on a stick,
The gentle tinkle of glasswind chimes,
And the minimalist window dressings.
You wander into shops of recycled kimono items,
Like those found at Girls' Day celebrations at the start of spring.
Beautiful teapots and cups catch your eye in the window displays,
Not because they glimmer,
But because they resonate with the energy of the land.
You stroll into a saryo,
A traditional teahouse,
And enjoy a traditional anmitsu and hojicha,
Or a decadent black sesame parfait.
You end up walking into Maruyama Park,
Which is lined with festive market stalls at one end.
But you cross the bridge,
And see bridal couples with professional photographers,
Couples with time-delay cameras,
And anyone wanting nice photos setting up a spot and enjoying the luxurious background of petals.
As if one had entered the garden that Sayuri is idolised in within memoirs of a geisha.
Walking around Gion is elevated by the touch of silk and the wave of a fan.
Wearing a rental kimono often delights locals,
Or at least the Japanese people I have spoken to.
Immerse yourself,
Wear the culture.
Too many kimono are thrown away or recycled,
And wearing them reminds everyone of the beauty of the many eras in which kimono have been the pinnacle of elegance.
Sometimes it's not enough to just taste,
See and smell something.
You have to step into it too.
