KYOTO

In November 2018 I went to Japan with my family. We spent around two and a half weeks there, exploring different areas. It was the end of autumn and winter was certainly on its way, yet the incredibly cool chills did not dampen the bright orange and red colours of the fall.

Kyoto was beautiful to visit, as even though they are still large populated areas, it was more of a traditional 'country' view of Japan compared to the built-up and lit-up city of Tokyo. Kyoto was beautiful and showcased Japanese nature at its finest.

We visited various temples and palaces, as well as their accompanying gardens and grounds. It honestly continues to amaze me how people built (and still do build) such intricate and sturdy pieces of architecture. I think it is absolutely fascinating, and some designs are works of genius when you pay close attention to the finer details.

Entrance gate to the Golden Temple

The Golden Temple

Kinkakuji Temple (金閣寺鹿苑寺) is the 'Temple of the Golden Pavillion'. Originally built in 1397 for the shogun of the time, it has now been converted into a Zen Buddhist temple. Tourists are not allowed inside the temple as it is still used as a sacred religious space. The pond and gardens surrounding the temple are gorgeous, and the reflections on the pond are magical - it was as if I was looking at a painting turned into real life right in front of my eyes.

While the Golden Temple is the main attraction, there are also other smaller buildings and areas within the grounds. Some camellia trees were still blooming which added a beautiful splash of pink to the surroundings.

The pathway in the photo below was outside one of the grounds. There was something so crisp and delightful about the crunch of the autumn leaves under our feet as we walked down.