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Kyoto’s entertainment district

June 11, 2018 by David Herd

You Gotta Love Kyoto

Kyoto’s entertainment district

Kyoto’s entertainment district

Kyoto’s entertainment district is the perfect place to stay when visiting this great city. At one end of the street you cross the river & at the other end is Yasaka Shrine.

Yasaka Shrine.

Gion Kyoto’s entertainment districtYasaka Shrine is also known as Gion Shrine, one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto. Founded over 1350 years ago, the shrine is located between the popular Gion District and Higashiyama District, and you can simply walk between the two districts.

Locals & tourists like the dress up as Geishas.

Kyoto’s entertainment district

There are many shops all over Kyoto when you can hire the traditional dress.

One of the larger hire shops.

Kyoto’s traditional entertainment districtIt really is nice seeing all the ladies dressed in traditional outfits.

Blending in with the atmosphere.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtGion Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district is one of Japan’s most popular destinations.

Mercedes-AMG GT C

Gion Kyoto’s entertainment districtYou should have heard the magnificent sound coming from this fabulous vehicle. The awning you can see on the right is the APA Hotel where I stayed, a great location with large rooms, as a bonus there is a Starbucks on the ground floor. For a really good room rate just book through THIS LINK, it will also give you free cancellation.

APA Hotel.

Kyoto’s traditional entertainment districtA good size room for Japan.

If you are travelling from Kyoto station to Gion forget the train just take either bus 100 or 110 from the station.

A small shrine in the main street.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtSomething to see around every corner.

Gion Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district Yakitori is one of the cuisines.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtWhat amazing food is on offer in this wonderful country.

So many fascinating old buildings.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtThere is so much to see in this great city.

Another great looking restaurant

Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district The most difficult thing is deciding where to eat. 🙂

Drinking with the locals.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtI enjoyed a nice hour or 2 drinking with the locals in a tiny side street bar.

One of the many bars in close by Pontocho.

Pontocho Entertainment District KyotoFor many more bars & restaurants just follow THIS LINK.

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1g Duck

 

This gallery contains 3 photos

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto

June 11, 2018 by David Herd

                                                       Kyoto                      

                                                           Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto comes alive after sunset. Lots of interesting bars & restaurants in this rather compact area adjacent to Gion. My first visit to Kyoto was in 2007 & sadly I never knew Pontocho existed.

At sunset people sit along the river bank, I’m guessing it is some sort of tradition they are following because the view is fairly average as you can clearly see below. 🙂

  A fairly average view.

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto   I guess they meet for the company rather than the view.

  Now this is a better photograph. 🙂

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto Late afternoon in Kyoto.

     Strike up the band

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  These guys were playing very nice music.

   Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto as the sun goes down.

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  It’s time for an ice cold Asahi Super Dry.

  The Sisha Bar

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  This was where I started with a couple of beers.

 Next door was Zaza Pub

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto gives you lots of choices of bars & restaurants.

    Sumika basement restaurant

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto   Sumika was an excellent Yakitori restaurant.

  Beef heart & chicken washed down with hot sake. Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto

    Six skewers & 3 bottles of sake for 2000 Yen or $24 AUD.

     The happy chefs.

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto   They love having their photo taken. 🙂

 Pizza & Tapas

Pontocho Entertainment District KyotoSo many restaurants & such little time.

  Luca Yakitori bar

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  How good does this look?

 Hot sake & a Shitake mushroom.

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto offers very good food at a reasonable price.

  Another terrific Tapas bar.

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto   Red wine at 500 Yen or $6 AUD a glass.

       Spanish cured ham.

Pontocho Entertainment District KyotoThe finest is called jamón ibérico de bellota (acorn). This ham is from free-range pigs that roam oak forests (called dehesas) along the border between Spain and Portugal, and eat only acorns during this last period. It is also known as jamón ibérico de Montanera.

  The crowd gathers

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto    Obviously a popular venue. 🙂

Thanks for visiting my Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto photo blog, Japan truly is a fascinating country.

The APA Hotel was where I stayed, a great location with large rooms, as a bonus there is a Starbucks on the ground floor. For a really good room rate just book through THIS LINK, it will also give you free cancellation.

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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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1g Duck

 

This gallery contains 2 photos

Japanese drummers Geisha District

November 26, 2016 by David Herd

Near Higashi Chaya District

Japanese drummers Geisha District

Japanese drummers Geisha District

Japanese drummers Geisha District Kanazawa is located along the Asanogawa river only five minutes walk from the larger more popular Higashi Chaya District. Geishas are the traditional, female Japanese entertainers who regularly perform in these areas.

Japanese drummers Geisha District

Japanese drummers Geisha District

The district overlooks the Asanogawa river & seems rather quiet & peaceful.

That was until I heard the sound of drums

Fabulous Japanese drummers

The noise seemed to be somewhere up on the hill so I took some narrow winding steps up to the top. I was so lucky to be in the right place at the right time, I was walking through Kazue-machi, the old geisha district located along the river between Asanogawa Ohashi Bridge and Naka-no Hashi Bridge, when I heard these fabulous drums.  

 Five minutes they added a flute

Japanese drummers + flute

I was so happy to be able to see these wonderful street performers in action. About ten days later I had some more good fortune in Nagasaki when I saw some more fabulous drummers doing their thin. Check out my photo blog through THIS LINK.

Japanese drummers Geisha District

Japanese drummers Geisha District

  Chaya houses have a beautiful lattice called “kimusuko” on the walls of the ground floor.

Tiny streets

Japanese drummers Geisha District

As you can see many of the streets are just tiny narrow alleys in Kazue Machi Chaya District Kanazawa.

Tea House

Japanese drummers Geisha District

 The historical rows in this tea-house town have been designated as Japan’s cultural assets since 2008.

Lattice is called “kimusuko”

Japanese drummers Geisha District

A typical Chaya house which is noe a tea house or restaurant.

 Many interesting buildings

Japanese drummers Geisha District

So many photo opportunities in Japan which is one of the many reasons I love travelling here.

Torii Gate

Japanese drummers Geisha District

Torii gates usually mark the entrance to Shinto shrines, however they seem to be used in many other areas as well.

Another example

Japanese drummers Geisha District

This large Torii gate is quite different to the previous one.

Toyoko Inn

Japanese drummers Geisha District

My hotel was great value in a perfect location, book through THIS LINK for an excellent discount. Make sure you are in the downtown one, it’s more convenient than the one near the station.

You can take a bus but I prefer to walk

a (2)

 

The Busses leave from the front of Toyoko Inn. Turn left just before you cross the river to get to Kazue Machi Chaya District Kanazawa.

Thanks for visiting my Japanese drummers Geisha District Kanazawa photo blog.

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Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

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The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Sutus Court is a great budget hotel right i the heart of one of Pattaya’s main bar areas, just use THIS LINK for a terrific room rate. 420/100 Moo 9 Soi Buakhao.

Pattaya Hilton

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This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

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This gallery contains 2 photos

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

November 25, 2016 by David Herd

Two-story Chaya houses

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa, Higashi Chaya is one of three similar districts in Kanazawa. The cities tourism department holds a Geisha show in these Chaya districts every Saturday. Another district is Kazue-machi which is featured in another post.

Higashi Chaya District Kanazawa

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

  A chaya house has a beautiful lattice called “kimusuko” on the walls of the ground floor.

A close look at the lattice

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

Hopefully the rather large body of the well fed FiveStarVagabond does not stop you getting an idea of the  “kimusuko”.

Old Japanese Geisha Town Kanazawa

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

I’m guessing this is probably where the Geisha girls perform every Saturday.

A couple of locals sharing a happy moment.

 Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

The chaya houses used to be in central Kanazawa but were moved into four districts away from the city centre in 1820.

Photo opportunity

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

We all love photos to help us remember these wonderful places.

Hello boys

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

I’m sure the big guy on the right had an Australian accent.

Smile please

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

TripAdvisor rate the Higashi Chaya District 3rd out of 167 things to do in Kanazawa so naturally the tourists (including myself) flock here with their cameras.

Magnificent blue sky

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

How lucky was I to have this beautiful sky?

My hotel was great value in a perfect location, book through THIS LINK for an excellent discount.

Time to relax with an icecream

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

A rather unique tradition in Kanazawa is to sprinkle edible gold leaf on top of ice cream and other food. Check out my Omicho Fresh Food Market Kanazawa photo blog for other examples.

 Higashi Chaya District Kanazawa

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

This whole area along with Kazue-machi which is close by, and Gion in Kyoto have been designated as Japan’s cultural assets.

Just across the bridge is Kazue-machi

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

 Kazue-machi overlooks the Asanogawa river.

sound of drums

Fabulous Japanese drummers

The noise seemed to be somewhere up on the hill so I took some narrow winding steps up to the top. I was so lucky to be in the right place at the right time, I was walking through Kazue-machi, the old geisha district located along the river between Asanogawa Ohashi Bridge and Naka-no Hashi Bridge, when I heard these fabulous drums.  

More great homes

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

 Higashi Chaya District Kanazawa really has quite a wonderful unique style.

If you are feeling lazy

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

These guys are at your service. 🙂

But first lets negotiate the price. 🙂

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

It seems like a very friendly negotiation.

Lovely shop

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

Lots of nice shops & tea houses in Higashi Chaya District Kanazawa.

Toyoko Inn

Old Geisha Town Kanazawa

 My hotel was great value in a perfect location, book through THIS LINK for an excellent discount. Make sure you are in the downtown one, it’s more convenient than the one near the station.

Thanks for visiting my Old Geisha Town Kanazawa photo blog.

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Holiday Inn

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Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

36555237616_da3ed73d6a_o

The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Sutus Court is a great budget hotel right i the heart of one of Pattaya’s main bar areas, just use THIS LINK for a terrific room rate. 420/100 Moo 9 Soi Buakhao.

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.

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This gallery contains 2 photos