Gold Leaf and Geisha House

(For 24 April)

This morning we learned how to make the right noises to show an interest in the conversation – the equivalent of our ‘I see’, ‘Uh huh’, ‘really?’, ‘OMG’, ‘you’re kidding’ etc., (yes, the Japanese really do say ‘Ah,so’), as well as how to talk about receiving a favour/having something done for you by someone else.

Applying Gold Leaf

The Gold Leaf Dunny

 

 

After lunch, Jasmine, Ulla and I set off for the Tea House District on foot.  It took us a while to find the right place, and a bit longer because we kept getting waylaid by souvenir shops.

Street in the Higashi Chaya District

We also went to the nearby Gold Leaf Museum and were shown the process of making gold leaf.  We were even given a little of it to eat!  The most impressive part was the gold leaf toilet. 

Eventually we found the Geisha House that we were heading for.  It is a very old, and very interesting building.  It’s well cared for and laid out as it would have been in its day.  We enjoyed our tour and took stacks of photos.

 

Inside the Geisha House

 

We then made our way to Uniqlo (clothes shop) for Ulla and Jasmine to buy more stuff to fill up their bags.  We parted company as Ulla and Jasmine had plans to visit a public bath with Jasmine’s host mother, so I took the bus back to the station.

On the bus home, I noticed how very short my strip of bus tickets is getting.  Not many bus trips left now.  Although I miss John and home, I’d love to stay a few months more!  [Sigh!]