It is a well-known fact that Asians invented this term that delights us all but which we most often totally lack. But the Japanese know perfectly well how to deal with it, so that it may work to the highest degree. In a city which used to be a capital where the former pace seems to be slow in comparison with the speed of the latest technology, I came across a ravishing mix of abundant culture, traditions, a neighborhood full of geisha girls, a lot of matcha tea, countless temples, nature in all its splendor and above all the people`s kindness and their highly civilized society.

Were you wondering if geisha girls still exist at present? Well, the answer is YES, and I was really fascinated by their area, as here I felt as if I had walked in tiny streets, within a movie scene or a book.

Colored list Kyoto:

1. Gion Neighborhood is a must, it is the area with the most beautiful and best preserved streets-Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka, Shirakawa and Hanamikoji-dori, crammed with tea houses and restaurants+oyka (a geisha girl`s home), where you can obviously see geisha girls but also maikos (the apprentices), especially in the evening, between 5:30 and 6. Gion also hosts many little shops as well as different artistic performances (Gion Corner), but also the 49 m high landmark, Pagoda Yasaka, that gives a lot of charm to its neighborhood; go for a walk in the tiny streets and go to the Tatsumi bridge, too, where the brides and the bridesgrooms come to take photos, especially at the weekend.

2. Don`t miss temples like Fushimi Inari Taisha

Kiyomizu-dera

Heian with its superb garden,

Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion)

and Ginkaku-ji (The Silver Pavilion)

Chion-in which is Buddhist and where you can hear and see monks singing,

Nanzen-ji with a small, delightful garden

Ryoan-ji with it famous stone garden

or Shimogamo

And also the Shoren-in garden where you can drink a matcha tea and eat a traditional mochi cake, which are included in the ticket price.

3. Visit Arashiyama, with its famous Bamboo Grove the forest with huge bamboo plants,

with the Tenryiu-ji temple,

with Okochi-Sanso villa, which has a beautiful garden and a small tea house,

with Monkey Park where you can see likeable macaques which are in the habit of coming for food during the daytime, they have the whole forest at their disposal for the rest of the time.

with its picturesque Saga-Toriimoto, all deserve being immortalized in snapshots 4ever.

4. Spare some time for a promenade on the bank of Kamo river at dusk and then take a look round Pontocho, with its countless bars and restaurants; it is one of the coolest area for having dinner.

5. The Imperial Palace, the royal residence until the 19^th century and

The Nijo Castle, belonging to the first shogun,a UNESCO heritage site, are two special buildings, historic places, which I warmly recommend to you, especially in a period of time when you can see the cherry-trees in blossom or the red and yellow leaves in autumn.

6. Walk in some tea houses like Rakusyou, which has also an awesome, small garden with a pond full of koi carps

and Tsuburano where you can try sweets made of matcha (even ice cream)

Don`t miss an exquisite culinary experience in some traditional restaurants like Omen specialized in noodles, served in soups, with vegetables and sauces to match, but they have other dishes, too.

Nineizaka (specialized in soba noodles),

Gion Karyo  with kaiseki (a sophisticated Japanese cuisine, almost haut cuisine) - the menu of the day includes 10 dishes, based on fish presented in a sophisticated way-among which a starter with kaki, figs and fish, a wanmono fish soup, sashimi, grilled fish, some assorted dishes, a fish hot pot, garnishes and dessert.

Kani-ya ( only crab-based dishes ),

Hatanaka Gion where you can have dinner with geisha girls and maikos (but you have to book in advance, you'd better make a reservation a month or a month and a half before, it can be a private dinner or a dinner with other people, too) and you can enjoy a tea ceremony, with geisha girls and maikos, Tomikiku is a renowned tea house, you still need a reservation in advance .

7. The lovers of traditional Japanese sweets should go to  Takashimaya, shop with a large product range –tens of kinds in the food area, more precisely with the huge part devoted exclusively to Japanese sweets.

8. You can go for a walk in the Shijo Street, between the Kamo river and the Yasaka temple, it is full of small shops selling handicrafts, very nice tea houses and all sorts of restaurants, which are worth visiting even if they are touristic. The same street from the Kamo river towards Kavaramachi is crammed with department stores for the shopping lovers.

9. Nishiki market, which is crowded, vibrant and colorful, is also worth a visit, for its original atmosphere and the wide range of fish, seafood, pickles and other specialties.

10. Stay in a hotel near Gion (walking is needed) or even in Gion, as it is quite pleasant to go for a leisurely stroll in this idyllic area and you won't waste time on your way; I chose The Celestine Gion Kyoto.

Colored funny tip: in Gion you can dress up as a geisha girl in more places (one of them is Aya studio) therefore, make the most of this opportunity and do it for the sake of a unique memory.