A Day with Akiko

Saturday, 19 May, 2018


After a rainy night, the day is cool and blustery but no wind.  We met Akiko san at Sanjo and she was beyond excited.  She took us to a wonderful soba restaurant for lunch: Honke Owariya (established in 1465!!!) (address: 322 Kurumaya-ho, Nijo Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto).  There we had cold soba with about 8 different add-ins, the soba in layers so each time it could be flavored slightly differently.  Great fun. After lunch we decided a walk in Higashiyama would be the best way to catch up so we ended up in the gardens of Chion-in Temple, which for some reason I had never visited.  As always, calm and beautiful, and very bright spring green.  We had a good long walk along the paths, away from the large tourist crowds.  Akiko is working hard both as a teacher and a clinician, and seems to like her work.  She is also preparing Chopin for a piano recital! Then on to a sweet shop for some tea and coffee, and a trip to the department store for some wine.  We know she was sad for us to go and of course we hope she will visit us one day.  We had dinner with the Oyamas in their apt as Kaya was still under the weather but much improved.  They catered a lovely bento box meal, but we know they were exhausted.  We wish we could have spoken or played more with Satoki but language is denintely more of a barrier than it was when he was little.


We send love to everyone.

Akiko san and Win

Garden at Chion-in Temple

Soba noodle lunch