A journey of 100 steps through Gion - the last district of the Geisha.

Text and photos:Bamboo

Geisha, or Geiko as they are called in Kansai, are artists who receive rigorous training in performing arts, dress codes, and communication skills to perform at high-society parties.

I like standing right at the intersection, watching the streams of people pouring onto the pedestrian crossing every time the light turns red, people busy in black suits, people hurrying to hold hands with their friends as the light is about to change color…

Despite being a large city and once the capital of Japan during the Edo period, Kyoto feels as tranquil as a small town. Gion Street is perhaps the most authentically "Kyoto" area, with its traditional tea ceremony halls, latticed window houses, the Gion Minamiza Theater, and the upscale Hanamikoji street lined with machiya restaurants where you can enjoy a high-class kaiseki ryori feast in the Kyoto style… Immersing yourself in the crowds strolling through Gion offers a truly special experience.

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About an 8-minute walk from Gion Street, I visited the Fujikuen tea factory in Uji. My friend told me it's one of the most famous and oldest tea factories in Kyoto (226 years old).

Welcome, teacher!tea masterA middle-aged man showed me how the Japanese appreciate the simple things in life, from tea bowls with patterns representing the four seasons to the proper way to stir tea and the water temperature for each type of tea.

This tea bowl's design is inspired by Japanese nature.

In Uji culture, the concept of tea drinking is also known as "the garden in the sky," based on the spirit ofShichu-no-Sankyo*In the tea ceremony, amidst the hustle and bustle of the year-end, why not come here for a peaceful day, enjoy a cup of matcha tea, and feel the tranquility of nature around you?