On one quiet weekday afternoon, B brought me to a two Michelin-starred ryotei for an 8-course kyo-kaiseki lunch. It was one that I had been meaning to try since my school days when I took Japanese as an elective and had to do an essay on kaiseki. While times have changed and kaiseki are no longer as exclusive and only for the aristocrates, the traditional one we had spoke of the true art and reminded me of why I love Japan and its culture so much.

For selfish reasons, a very big part of me wished Kyoto had never evolved. I have always known Japan as the biggest beauty of all ancient facades - rows of machiyas along the Kyoto-hanamachi, lined with red lanterns and chimes; maikos and geishas going from tea house to tea house to entertain; kids crowding the streets with yakitori and cups of shaved ice in their hands; rickshaw-pullers and farmers peddling their crops on bicycles; sounds of shamisen at every corner...

I guess the closest I could get to this bit of Kyoto was at Gion and Shijo-kawaramachi. Those were areas that we went to everyday during our short week at the former capital of Japan, and as much as modernisation is inevitable, the preserved areas still radiate an undeniable charm that is unique only to Japan; quaint and slow with an unpretentious vibe. Oh, what I would give to be slurping udon by a standing counter and sipping houjicha over matcha desserts once more!

We spotted a handful of women donning their yukatas and kimonos and walking around in wooden slippers, and it was such a beautiful sight. The elaborate Japanese wardrobe is an art that I only studied about so briefly, and while I wished I had on even the simplest of a pastel-colored yukata, my watercolor maxi blended in to the surroundings quite well and it got me just about the right amount of (good) stares. Not a feeble attempt, because I was mistaken as a Japanese when I stepped into a shop selling geisha accessories, and the Japanese told me I spoke the language well.

It was a good day, indeed. Kyoto, oh Kyoto - I love you so.


***


Outfit: Sunrise Watercolor Maxi in Orange, Fash Mob *sponsored* // Sandals, Steve Madden // Quilted Bag, Samantha Vega // Charms Bracelet, Pandora // Chain, Chanel // Earrings, Chanel


Follow Fash Mob on Instagram and like them on Facebook for regular updates of new arrivals.


Photography: Brad Lau @ladyironchef