We arrived in Kyoto mid-afternoon. Our first impression: it’s busy! Especially compared to the quiet Nara.

A quick stop at the tourist office, then bus to the hotel. Very nice hotel, traditional room with tatamis. They gave us kimonos when we checked in, to the kids’s delight – 1 minute after entering the room, the whole family was wearing them.

We took the bus to Gion area, walked in the park in the beautiful afternoon light, ate diner at a tiny restaurant, walked a bit more and – finally – met our friends!