Day 5 - Miyako Odori

 . . . . . . Too much excitement!!!!!


BIG day today and it's been planned for weeks, with a little help from the lovely Rieko (the owner of our house!).  Nothing was going to stop me today . . . .  I am going to the 2012 Miyako Odori.  


For those of you who don't know what this is . . . .  it's the annual traditional Spring Dance in Gion performed by the local Geisha.  This only happens in April . . . so I HAD to go!!!


Scott had decided he didn't want to go (something to do with the Shamisen playing and the singing).  No worries . . . .  I'll go on my own!!!  I had booked a first class ticket (well as I was only paying for one ticket, I decided to push the boat out!!).


My first class ticket included a tea ceremony (complete with a cup of matcha tea and a sweet), a tour of the garden, a gift and special reserved seats.


So, I woke up this morning with a spring in my step, raring to go!  I was all excited until I saw outside . . .  . the rain was coming down in torrents!!!  It was literally bouncing (and it was freezing!)  Oh well - I said nothing was going to stop me, so I'll be dammed if a bit rain is going to make me miss the dance.


Scott packed me off with an umbrella and off we went to the theatre.  I was going to the Dance and Scott was going off to wander around.


First stop was the tea ceremony.  We were allowed to take photo's at this point, so everyone starting clicking away.  I managed to get a few good shots . . . 

I was thisclose to Geisha!!!!

We were served with a bowl of tea and a sweet on a plate (the plate was our gift).  We were then supposed to go round the garden . .  . but as it was monsoon weather - everyone stayed inside (took some photos through the window)

 There were a few stalls on the way to the theatre and as Scott wasn't there to monitor my spending I may have bought a couple of books and other Geisha stuff . . . . !!!!!


The dance started at 12:30 and I was shown to my seat - I had a bloomin good seat, just a few rows from the front and next to the stage on my left.  

The stage curtain

This is where the Geisha with the Shamisen sat

 This was the stage to the left of me - the Geisha playing instruments were in here and the Dancing geisha came out of a door right next to me . . .

We weren't allowed to take photos during the performance, but it was absolutely magical.

It's really hard to explain what it was like. There are 8 different scenes and they move through the seasons telling a story.  The first scene there are about 20 Geisha all in the same Kimono - a vivid blue with a red Obi  sash.  In later scenes, there are some Geisha who are dressed as Gods and warriors . . . .  but at the end they all come onto stage together for the final dance. This means there are about 60 Geisha on the stage.  It was breathtaking!  Their moves are so precise and they all move in perfect harmony - it must take them ages to practice getting it right.  They looked absolutely perfect.

I couldn't take my eyes off them . . .  but I didn't know where to look!  I wanted to watch the girls next to me playing their instruments, then the girls on the other side of the stage who were singing and playing the Shaminsen, then the girls on the stage!  Phew - I was all over the place.

The hour was up soooo quickly I could have cried . .  . I also could have gone straight to the ticket desk to buy another ticket for the 2:30 performance!!!!

 The Miyako Odori Theatre

Scott was waiting for me when I came out . . .  though he hadn't been anywhere as it was still raining really heavily.


We were going to go to the Fushimi Inari shrine (the Torii Gate shrine) but it was raining too heavily with a good dose of thunder and lightening thrown in (not too happy about that being outside and under an umbrella) and we were absolutely soaked.  So, a new plan of action was needed.  We made our way back to the house to dry off, get changed and think of something else to do.


There's not much to do indoors, so we decided to go to Nishiki Market as it's all indoors.  


Nishiki Market is known as 'Kyoto's Kitchen' and is a five block long narrow shopping street selling all kinds of seafood, meat and veggies!


One of the best things about this is that most of the shops have sample dishes so you can have a try  . . . .  which I did, though don't ask me what I was eating as I have absolutely no idea!  Some were good . . .  and some were - well not so good!!!  In fact, one of the samples I tried, I can still taste now!!!!

 Octopus or seahorse on a stick anyone?!!?!?  

(These were very popular - saw loads of people walking round eating octopus on a stick!!)

It's a huge market and went on for ever . . . .  it actually starts to merge with other shopping alleys (all uncover - yeah!) so we moved from food to clothes and shoes and kitchen ware etc . . .  great stuff!


By the time we made out of the market, it had stopped raining, but it was getting on so we made our way back to the house.  We have a HUGE day tomorrow.  We are going to Nara (about 40 minutes outside of Kyoto) and there's a lot of walking involved with this trip (the weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow - fingers crossed!)


So, I'm going to bed thinking of the Geisha I have seen today . . . it's a performance I will always remember.


We are having the absolute time of our lives here - despite the horrific weather . . . . and we just don't want it to end.


Love n hugs xxx