After leaving Ogata-san, I went shopping with my daughter at Sherry Maison de Biscuit, which she had asked me to do. There were over 50 people waiting on that day, but the line was inside the building and there were chairs available, so waiting was not a problem. We then discussed what to do next and decided to go check out the venue for the upcoming Miyako Odori performance the next day. We walked leisurely and the weather was very nice. By the time we reached Ichiriki, I was quite thirsty. The area around Gion Minamigawa's Hanamikoji was packed with people, mostly foreign tourists, and it was difficult to hear Japanese. We took a break and replenished our fluids at a shop we had never been to before. The shop was small, run by a beautiful female owner. My husband had a Lemon Squash (freshly squeezed) for 750 yen, and I had an Iced Cafe au Lait for 650 yen. The Lemon Squash had bits of lemon pulp in it, not too sweet and very delicious. The Iced Cafe au Lait had a nice coffee aroma, and the separate syrup allowed me to adjust the sweetness, which was great. The limited seating allowed us to relax and feel refreshed. As we left the shop, we wondered if the female owner used to be a geisha. We then headed to the rehearsal hall for Miyako Odori, where we purchased exclusive items only available during the performances, such as the performance schedule and pens, during breaks in the show. We returned to the hotel after a satisfying day.

I entered to take a break in the afternoon. Inside, there was a Japanese-style atmosphere, somewhat like a snack bar. I ordered a coffee for 550 yen. The coffee had a normal bitterness and richness, and was delicious.

My wife and mother-in-law visited the Gion area for their annual year-end greetings. As for me? I was the driver, of course. Yes. I had some free time, as my wife told me to "kill about 3 hours somewhere." So, I wandered around Hanamikoji. Or more accurately, I got lost. According to my wife, there are three types of places in Gion: "tourist-friendly," "lively," and "husband-friendly." I don't really understand, but Hanamikoji is apparently a "tourist-friendly" spot. In the middle of this area, there is a café called "Hanamikoji." I really needed to use the restroom, so I decided to go in! I was worried that maybe a cup of tea would be super expensive compared to other places, but there was a menu outside, so no need to worry. And this is what the exterior looks like. I was expecting to see a beautiful lady in a gorgeous kimono waiting inside, but when I opened the door...? No one was there... Huh? I called out "excuse me" a few times, and finally, a lady came out... She looked like a typical Osaka obachan! And she was referred to as "Mama" in the café. Is this a snack bar? I sat at the counter, and as I did, the smell of perfume was stronger than the coffee. Is this really a snack bar? I ordered a lemon squash. When the order was taken, a girl in her 20s with dyed hair and heavy makeup (this girl also had heavy makeup) appeared. What is this place... I was wondering, and then a man who looked like a "husband" came in with a year-end gift in hand. He chatted with Mama for a long time... It's definitely a snack bar! I thought to myself as I sipped on the lemon squash. By the way, I finally used the restroom I had been holding in... and it smelled. Nothing was wrong, just a strange atmosphere. Moreover, right in the middle of the tourist spot, Hanamikoji, there was a single restaurant named "Hanamikoji," with only one review... A mysterious place in the heart of Hanamikoji. I didn't stay long, just drank and paid the bill. Thank you for the meal...