JOANNE AND MITCH

Our first outing with the group was to hike the Kiyotaki River area on the outskirts of Kyoto into the northern precincts of Arashiyama. The trail gave us Japan in it’s full Autumn glory.

We hiked along the river bed.

Off in the distance, the bridge.

We came to a Shinto Shrine and tea house, the first of the many mountaintop shrines we were to reach on future hikes.

We came to the burial grounds of Adashino Nenbutsuji where there are hundreds of statues of disciples of Buddha. It is said to have been founded by the monk Kulak in the 8th century.

A stone statue of a baby dressed in contemporary clothes was part of this sacred place. Adashi in Adashino means short lived and futile. We saw many stone statues, some quite rudimentary with red bibs, in homage to babies. Below is an Adashino Altar surrounded by children’s toys.

Our walk took us into the stunning Sagano Bamboo Grove. It is an incredible sight.

Upon our return to Kyoto we had lunch with this lovely young woman who is a Maiko in training to be a Gaiko (the term used for Geisha in Kyoto). She is 21 years old and has been an apprentice to enter the profession since she was 19. She described her lifestyle and how she lives in a communal house with other Maikos and Gaikos run by an older “mother” Geiko. The elaborate dress she wears is owned and taken care of by the head of the house. Her work involves attending and performing traditional songs, and dances at private events.

This is a photo of the Gion District with its traditional wooden houses, where many Gaikos live. Before Covid, Gaikos and apprentices were often hounded by tourists who thronged the streets.

Tomorrow we begin hiking the Kumano Kodo trail.