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Something that has become increasingly common when visiting shrines or temples in Japan is the presence of instagrammable arrangements and displays. On the one hand, I don't particularly like them. I'd rather find interesting things to photograph on my own, thank you very much! On the other hand, who can resist? Apparently, not me! I came across this while attending the Takatsuki Jazz Festival during Golden Week. It was located next the purification basin at a small temple. And, yes, there were people battling for the best location to take a photo. I was patient...  Barrel filled with flowers at a small temple in Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture
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Viewing the peak fall colors in Japan can be bit tricky as it's not always possible for a free day, good weather, and peak fall foliage to all line up on the same day. This was my frustration this fall—trying to find a day when it all came together. Finally, in late November, I jumped out of bed thinking, "Today is the day!" and off I went. As I sat on the train to Kyoto, I suddenly decided to change my destination. Over-tourism has become a significant problem in Kyoto in recent years, and it was highly likely that my original destination would be overcrowded. Instead, I chose to visit Bishamondo, a Buddhist temple on the outskirts of Kyoto. It was my first visit, and I managed to get lost both on the way to the temple and on my return – not all that surprising since I hadn't prepared at all! (I don't have a cellphone so I usually prepare maps and such before my outings.) However, the temple grounds were stunning with the beautiful fall foliage at its peak. There were only a few visitors, most of whom were couples having wedding photos taken or participating in professional photo shoots. I spent a peaceful morning meandering the temple grounds, enjoying the foliage, and watching the various couples. I'm so glad I changed my mind! Bishamondo: www.discoverkyoto.com/places-go/bishamondo/  View of the main temple. (That's not a person on the other side of the fence. It's a stone monument of some sort.)  The trees along the walkway in all their fall glory!  The brilliant red fall foliage!  This couple was on a professional photo shoot. The photographer was quite entertaining! He was very vocal about what he wanted and he let everyone know how proud he was of himself when he got the image he wanted. Quite a few of us watching were chuckling the whole time.  The spectacular fall colours were everywhere! Last Saturday, I joined a group of friends and walked along the Philosopher's Path in eastern Kyoto. I was a bit hesitant, to be honest. The day was cloudy, the trees were not at their best, and weekends in Kyoto are usually a zoo of people. However, off we went... To my surprise, it was a lovely walk! There weren't many people about, so we leisurely wandered along the path, enjoying the stream and the various shops and sights along the way. On our way back, we took a detour which led to my first visit to Honen-in Temple, a Buddhist temple tucked away east of the path. If you are in the area, I highly recommend a visit! Honen-in Temple (Discover Kyoto)  The thatched gate at Hoen-in, Kyoto  Camellia blossoms and stone basin, Honen-in, Kyoto |
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I'm a photographer based in Osaka, Japan. I like to share.
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