Japan Spring Break 2018

In one day alone the beautiful tree we saw just yesterday has lost more than half its blossoms.  I can't believe how fortunate we are to capture this short-lived beauty! I snuck out early to see Shimbashi-dori Street, the prettiest street in all Gion The bridge from my favorite scene in Memoirs of a Geisha Shirakawa Canal is lined with traditional buildings, willow trees, and of course cherry trees As too in life, while traveling, we make trade offs. Up early, we had a prime opportunity to see Kyoto's famous temple before the hordes of people, but instead I wanted the kids to experience THE Starbucks. Enjoying the moment, I realized I have never sat at any Starbucks with my family, much less such a special one. It was a peaceful hour, sipping coffee on a tatami mat listening to the calming water from the Zen garden.  This Starbucks is so relaxing Walking along Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, two ancient streets.  For centuries pilgrims have labored

Since the kimono shop doesn't open until 9am Greg and I started our day at Starbucks. Not only was it a treat to not have coffee in a can from a vending machine, this particular Starbucks is like none other - even unique to all of Japan!  Located in a historic Japanese townhouse ( machiya ), it is the first Starbucks to be designed in a traditional tea-house style, complete with 3 tatami-matted rooms.  Retaining its traditional Kyoto townhouse feel, it has Zen Japanese gardens in the front, back and center.  It was a pretty cool experience! Walking along the beautiful preserved historic streets of the Higashiyama District The 5-story Yasaka Pagoda is the oldest in Kyoto; those who conquered the city were anxious to display their colors here. Don't stumble in Ninezaka, "Three Year Slope," or you will have 3 years of bad luck A Starbucks unlike any other in the world  Hanging the traditional "noren" door curtain - at 8am they are