After two glossy cities Tokyo and Nagoya, and another supersonic train journey, it was refreshing to arrive in Kyoto. Here all your visions of Japan are revealed: temples, cherry blossoms, wooden houses, geisha, ornamental gardens, amazing food and multicoloured kimonos. Kyoto has all of this, and before you know it you have walked 15,000 steps, taken 200 photos, become addicted to green tea icecream, and wondering why you only planned a three day stay, not six.

Of course we are not here alone. Notably, when it is the month long cherry blossoms season, the Japanese descend on Kyoto to take wedding photos, advertising photoshoots and family portraits, adding to the million international tourists who have also come to saviour its overwhelming prettiness.

There are many foreigners here who have rented kimonos and walking the streets akin to the Japanese. I resisted any temptation, on many counts, but the two main ones: with a tight wide cumberband around your waist, how can you eat that delicious ice cream, but also as a woman who can’t wear socks on a good day, could I wear those socks with a separate sheath for your big toe and thonged slippers? This for me is like chalk scratching along a blackboard to others.

I think i will leave the photos to tell the story of Kyoto so far.

Even Starbucks blends in to the Kyoto architecture.