Kyoto

I usually go to Kyoto three or four times a year. It's a great place

to see in the different seasons although mid-summer and

mid-winter are both pretty brutal. Of course the major temples

are usually quite crowded but it's fairly easy to find beautiful

out of the way places that still retain the Kyoto "hannari" atmosphere.

Hannari, as far as I understand it, means a kind of elegant beauty.

Anyone who has ever been to Kyoto has (or should have) this exact same photo!

Kinkakuji/The Golden Pavilion

Koto-in at Diatokuji Temple 京都のちょっとした穴場

Lanterns at Yasaka Jinja Gion, Kyoto

The lanterns have the names of companies or people

who have made contributions to the temple

Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto

There is a famous Japanese saying that when you do something risky,

take a big chance on something or take a leap into the unknown you are

"Jumping off the platform at Kiyomizu Temple"

『清水舞台から飛び降りる』

That's the platform behind me. Of course, really jumping

off it would probably be fatal.

Geisha trainees called "Maiko" and a local pensioner

No doubt they are talking baseball or sharing stock tips.

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