Our busy day of weaving bamboo baskets and dying Shibori was over and we headed back to the hotel where we would freshen up to spend our evening with Maiko at the Kyoto Cultural Center.

When we arrived, there was some time so that we were able to do a little shopping before going upstairs. Gifting is so Japanese and I needed to bring back many gifts!

Of course before entering the dining area, our shoes were removed and placed in an orderly fashion. This is what we saw when entering…wow!

The table was beautifully set with these bento boxes! The presentation is so perfect and not a thing out of place.

Hats folded from washi paper. Mine came home with me and will be added to my memory board.

For me, it was as delicious as it looked!

MaryAlice on the left and Midori on the right, which are the 2 ladies that put this fabulous tour together!

Okay my comment was… the table was just so beautifully arranged and exactly why would they ruin it with this UGLY water pitcher?

The mamasan would introduce to us the maiko, which is a geisha in training. Very young, maybe 16 years old and they live with their mamasan. They have no money of their own and probably not much of their own life, except to study to be a geisha.

There are many tell tale signs that she is not geisha yet, the long sleeves of her kimono, the hair ornaments, the way the lipstick is worn and the obi.

She would play a little game with us…

and Teresa would be gracious and play!

Then she would dance for us!

So graceful!

This would be the end of our first stay in Kyoto (we would come back to finish up!) and tomorrow we travel.

and for now, I will say…sayonara