On our second day in Kyoto, Japan we splurged on a traditional meal in Gion, which is the Geisha district (you’ll know what I’m talking about if you’ve read Memoirs of a Geisha).

First off, there are Japanese tourists everywhere. We are certainly in the minority as foreign tourists.

We found Tsudaro. A tiny little place that has one set meal only for 3,200 yen (40 usd). We must have been looking a little scruffy because they confirmed we knew the price, then they asked us to take off our shoes (the japanese way) and ushered us in.

We walked in to a tiny room with one long table that was made from a solid piece of wood. It was stunning.

I will let the pictures below do the talking. Because, aside from being mouth-wateringly delicious, it was hands down the most beautiful meal I have ever had. And left me with questions like:
-Who goes to find the perfect twig to use for the cherry blossom shaped rice thingys, making it look like a real branch in my plate? (see top right in bento box)
-Who can slice a pickled cucumber in 2mm slices by hand and have each slice exactly the same thickness?
-How do you pickle a spear of Ginger so that it’s white on one end and hot pink on the other?

Did I say it was amazing?