Kimono no photo

Japan calling. First stop, Kyoto. 

Known among other things for its thousands of ancient religious buildings and its active geisha-scene. This is a very photogenic town and the clickety clicking of mobile phones, cameras and iPad's is as common as birdsong (yes, the birds really are singing here! Not frozen to a branch in a leafless birch like in Finland). Such is the passion for photo taking here, that restrictions have had to be put into place. In most temples, you can't use a tripod or monopod. Japan Rail goes one further and has banned the use of the selfie stick at its stations for reasons made graphically clear in the information poster at the station.

Kyoto also does a brisk trade in geisha schooling, with young hopefuls coming from all over thecountry (and abroad) to learn how to be once, twice, three times a lady. And, uncommon as it is in this day and age, real geishas still ply their trade in Kyoto, escorting groups of drunken businessmen and hosting fancy dinners.

All those who walk around in kimonos in Kyoto are not geishas however. Most of them are just tourists of all ages visiting the ancient temples in respectful, traditional dress. Couples routinely wear his and her's, but the sober black robe of the men pales next to the silken floral glory of the women's kimonos. Women in traditional costume shuffle along unstably in their wooden flip flops (officially called zori). Indeed this footwear seems to be the reason for the trademark mincing gait of the geishas. You can't really lift your feet when you walk or the damned zori would fall off. So a gentle sliding stride is called for - a technique not unlike the one used in cross country skiing.

Having managed to waddle to the most photogenic spots in the temple grounds, these modern traditionalists promptly produce a mobile phone or camera from some inner pocket of the kimono and get to work. Selfies and frendies and groupies. Click click.