OMG, what a day! Seriously, I can’t even. So, I’m a Maiko, right? And today was just... wow. Hiji is wild, like, you never know what’s gonna happen.
First off, I woke up late. Ugh! My alarm didn’t go off. I was supposed to be at the tea house on Hiji’s main street, Kōen-dōri, by 10 AM. I rolled outta bed at 9:30. Panic mode activated! I threw on my kimono, which, let me tell ya, is not easy when you’re half-asleep. I looked like a hot mess.
So, I’m sprinting down Kōen-dōri, dodging tourists and locals. Hiji is packed today! Like, what’s up with that? I swear, I almost tripped over a kid. I mean, come on, watch where you’re going!
Finally, I get to the tea house, and guess what? They’re outta matcha! Like, how do you run outta matcha in Hiji? It’s a tea town! I was so mad. I could’ve screamed. But I just smiled and said, “No matcha? No problem!” while inside I was like, “Ugh, seriously?!”
Then, I had this group of tourists. They were super nice, but they kept asking me the same questions. “What’s it like being a Maiko?” “Do you like wearing those heavy kimonos?” I mean, duh! It’s hot, it’s heavy, and I can’t even walk straight sometimes! But I just smiled and said, “It’s an honor!” while thinking, “Yeah, right!”
After that, I decided to take a stroll down to the river. The Hiji River is so pretty, especially with the cherry blossoms. But guess what? It started raining! Like, outta nowhere! I was soaked in seconds. I was like, “Great, just great!”
But then, I saw this cute little café on the corner of Hiji’s Nakano Street. I ducked in to escape the rain. And OMG, they had the best pastries! I got this matcha cream puff (ironic, right?) and it was heavenly. I was in my happy place.
While I was munching, I overheard this couple arguing. Like, full-on shouting. They were talking about something ridiculous, like who left the toilet seat up. I couldn’t help but giggle. I mean, really? That’s what you’re fighting about?
After the rain stopped, I decided to head back. But on my way, I bumped into my friend Yuki. She’s also a Maiko, and we started chatting about our day. She told me she had a crazy encounter with a geisha from Kyoto. Apparently, they had a dance-off! I was like, “No way!”
Then, we decided to hit up the local shrine, Hiji Jinja. It’s so peaceful there. We prayed for good fortune and all that jazz. But then, I saw this cat just chilling on the steps. I swear, it looked like it owned the place. I was like, “Dude, you’re living the life!”
As the sun started to set, the streets of Hiji lit up. It was beautiful. I felt this wave of happiness wash over me. I love this city, even with all the craziness.
But then, just when I thought the day was winding down, I tripped on a stone and fell right in front of a group of tourists. I was mortified! They all gasped, and I just laughed it off. “Just practicing my dance moves!” I said. They laughed, and I felt a bit better.
So, yeah, that was my day in Hiji. Full of ups and downs, but that’s life, right? I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!