After breakfast, Gypsy and I began organizing our purchases. Soon it became apparent that only my extra things would fit in the duffle bag I had brought along for that purpose. Our morning's mission was set ... we would head off to Kyoto BAL in search of an extra bag for Gypsy's ever expanding purchases for Christmas gifts!
Winding our way through Nishiki Market, we found our way to this fascinating store. Japan is so interesting to me in so many ways. Besides incredible respectfulness and graciousness. The Kyoto BAL's website, says to use public transportation. How incredible is that! Thinking stores here, like in the US, would be open at least by 10AM, we timed ourselves to arrive at that appointed hour only to find that it doesn't open until 11AM.
Biding time, a few blocks away we found a French-style bakery — Shinshindo. It was founded in Kyoto, in 1913, by Hitoshi Tsuzuki, a Christian who learned the teachings of the Bible and modern thought, as well as having a deep knowledge of the French language and literature. Hitoshi longed for authentic French bread and is known as the first Japanese baker to visit Paris and learn about the making of French bread. After returning home, he imposed a German kiln and started to manufacture and sell French bread. One-hundred years later, Shinshindo is still a family owned business. I had two savory pastries (my tea was never served) while Gypsy had a full breakfast. |
We arrived back at Kyoto BAL a few minutes after it opened. The door was opened by a liveried man wearing white gloves ... we're definitely not in Santa Barbara! This department store is like scores of small shops within this eight-floor store providing uniquely curated shopping in each of its 33 "boutique" shops — including familiar designers / stores such as Jill Sander, Ralph Lauren, Diptyque, Starbucks. The original concept is a place where a lot of people — parent, child and grandparent — can get together, like a party in France. On the third floor, there is a shop where you can play table tennis, table soccer and board games. There is also a two-floor bookstore!!!
Not finding what Gypsy was originally looking for — we both found lots of other things, some of which we purchased — we stopped at several other shops looking for a large duffle bag. Finally someone suggested we go to the North Face store that we'd seen days before on one of our early rambles. Success!
A digression: I've loved each time our group — or Gypsy and I — have taken taxis or walked to various areas of Kyoto. It's wonderful to see and get a sense of the variations of precincts and watch daily life enfold — day and night. I have deeply fallen in love with Kyoto and already see myself returning and spending more time here, as well as elsewhere in Japan. | Back at Hotel Rings, we happily ate cheeseburgers and fries for lunch before meeting our group in the lobby at 2:25PM and taxiing to Katsura Imperial Villa, a cherished cultural treasure in the western Katsura district of Kyoto. It was constructed during the early to mid-17th century by Prince Toshihito and his son Prince Toshitada, the first and second generations of the Hachijo-no-Miya family as a royal retreat. The family line died out in 1881 and the Imperial Household Ministry took control of the property in 1883. Since World War II, the Imperial Household Agency has been in control. |
Katsura Imperial Villa is famous for its migration-style gardens with their panoramic vistas of nature during each of the four seasons. The grounds cover 69,000 sq. meters (17 acres). The buildings are among the finest examples of Sukuya-style (Edo Period 1603-1868). Due to technical difficulties, it took more than 30 minutes to sort out our group's private reservation, which allowed for more time to read about the gardens and increase my anticipation of photographing them and being inspired with new ideas for my own. I especially fall in love with the variety of materials and designs of the garden paths and the natural ikebana-style |
All of the food products and those created by craftsmen and artists are sourced from the Tango Peninsula.According to Wikipedia, Larry Ellison's 23-acre home and property in Woodside, CA is a replica of the entire Katsura villa.
As dusk descends, Gypsy, Nancy and I take a taxi to our final group dinner at Tan, which is located across from a lovely canal near Kyoto's Shirakawa Bridge in the Higashiyama Ward. The restaurant's founder is considered by many the doyenne of Kyoto cooking and the name, we learn, is from the Japanese character "tan," which means heartwarming.
While waiting for the others to arrive, we three walked along the canal.
All of the food products and those created by craftsmen and artists are sourced from the Tango Peninsula. The vegetables are farmed using natural methods whereby there is no need for pesticides as crops are cultivated in a way that makes the most of the power inherent in nature — no tillage, no weed elimination, no chemicals. A five-woman coop tends to all aspects of the farming process — cultivation to harvest.
Our meal, which in part was cooked over fire, is a central part of the dining room, which features only one table. The food was amazing!!!
Our meal, which in part was cooked over fire, is a central part of the dining room, which features only one table. The food was amazing!!!
After dinner, we taxied back to Hotel Rings ... another amazing and well satiated day!