Tag: Geisha

Japan, day 14 (September 16): Tokyo, Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji temple, Geisha

We visit the Meiji Shrine and Senso-ji temple, then dinner with Geisha performers.

For our only full day in Tokyo we boarded buses to visit the Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine meant to memorialize Meiji, who ended the Shogun period and became the architect of Japan’s modernization.  He died in 1914, and the city built the Shrine in 1920.  Unfortunately, it (and much of Tokyo) was destroyed in WWII, but quickly rebuilt after the war.  Today, despite pouring rain, it was crowded with tourists, as well as many young families with babies; it is customary to bring a newborn (at 30 days of age) to pray for their good health. Read on to see where we went in the afternoon!

Rainy visit to Meiji shrine, Tokyo.
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Japan, Day 12 (September 14): Kanazawa

Our final port, Kanazawa. Historic Samurai home, Geisha district, and Kenroku-en garden.

After an overnight cruise we arrived in the port of Kanazawa.  Known across Japan for its gold leaf, Pam went with a group to learn about the production of gold leaf and its application to jewelry and other uses.  I spent the morning visiting two historic districts.  The first was a Samurai village, including a historic Samurai house; it was interesting to walk through the preserved home and through a small neighborhood with other homes that retain the architecture of that period.  We then visited a historic district that had been a center for Geisha (though here they refer to them as geiko), including a tour of a historic 1820 Geisha tea house (Ochaya Shima), now a museum.  We strolled through streets retaining the historic architecture (with buildings now occupied by restaurants and souvenir shops). For the afternoon… read on!

Street in preserved Geisha district in Kanazawa.
Continue reading “Japan, Day 12 (September 14): Kanazawa”