I had a Keiseki lunch today. I am headed back home after a few days of meetings in Japan, and finally managed to get a lunch all by myself. The restaurant had an amazing, old, meticulously maintained Japanese garden in its courtyard. It was lightly snowing, the trees were dusted white and the stones around the koi pond black and wet with the melting snow. I was reminded of my stay at the Hiiragiya in Kyoto a few years ago. I consider the Hiiragiya a top ten stay in the world, and an almost magical retreat. The food, the setting and the memories - it was the perfect lunch, I am looking forward to the cherry blossoms on my next trip here.
