A view with a bridge

Togetsukyo Bridge is a good place to enjoy autumn foliage in Arashiyama. However, the colours of this autumn were not as beautiful as always.

Portable shrine at night

This is one of three portable shrines with which they parade at Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto.

Splendid lantern display

This is just one example of the splendour at Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto.

On a festival float

They started to play a tasteful festival music on a festival float at Gion Matsuri Festival.

Festival at twilight

The balance of the lanterns and the sky was exquisite at Gion Matsuri Festival.

White umbrella

I came across this elegant umbrella at Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto.

Offerings to the god

There were a lot of offerings in front of three portable shrines at Gion Matsuri Festival.

Cascade of lanterns

Kyoto was full of beautiful cascades of lanterns at Gion Matsuri Festival.

Atmospherical lanterns

These lanterns were amazingly atmospheric at Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto.

Delicate lanterns

Even these simple lanterns showed extreme delicacy at Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto.

Dusk on a festival day

We had a different dusk in Kyoto when it was holding Gion Matsuri Festival.

Lanterns at a festival night

Gion Matsuri Festival is definitely the most important festival in Kyoto. The festival is held on several days in July gathering people from all over Japan.

Intriguing weeds

I found this intriguing scene of various weeds at Kuramadera Temple.

Quietness in the woods

Kuramadera Temple Complex spreads on a beautiful mountain side in Kyoto.

Lamp in the fresh green trees

This is one of many lamps of Kuramadera Temple in Kyoto. They are beautiful even in the daytime.

Temple with trees

Seiryoji Temple was very quiet in the busy Arashiyama area.

Corridor of light

You can see this corridor of delicate lights at Arashiyama Station of Randen Railway in Kyoto.

Pathway with a small shrine

There are some small shrines in Arashiyama and it's pleasing to visit them.

Historic house in Kyoto

This historic house was harmonising well with surrounding nature in Toriimoto (north of Arashiyama).

Spring collaboration

I was thrilled with this pleasing collaboration of beautiful spring colours in Arashiyama.

Small shrine

There are some tourist temples in Arashiyama such as Tenryuji but I prefer visiting small shrines like this Mikami Jinja.

Full bloom

Even vending machines were in full bloom at Arashiyama in Kyoto.

Bridge with a view of fresh verdure

Arashiyama in Kyoto is a pleasing place to enjoy the view of the river and fresh green leaves.

Simple lamp

This simple lamp was creating a tasteful atmosphere at the entrance of Rengeji Temple. Rengeji is just near famous Ninnaji Temple.

Historic beauty

Even a wall shows historic beauty at Ninnaji Temple.

Tranquillity

Although most famous temples have become Buddhist theme parks Ninnaji Temple seems to retain religious tranquillity.

Marvellous pagoda

There are only four five-storey pagodas in Kyoto. This one belongs to Ninnaji Temple.

Grand Buddhist hall

This is the main hall of Ninnaji Temple. Ninnaji is a UNESCO World Heritage site but usually not so crowded.

Protecting the temple

This is a Nio statue of Ninnaji Temple, which stands at the main gate of the temple to keep off enemies.

Steep stone steps

I came across these stone steps around Yoshida Jinja Shrine in Kyoto.

Overpass at night

There was nobody walking on the pedestrian bridge at night.

Lonely swing

This lonely swing was waiting for children to come and play at a park at Yoshidayama in Kyoto.

Red lanterns

I found these lanterns at a sub-shrine of Yoshida Jinja Shrine and thought the characters on them were very eloquent.

Small shrine in the woods

Yoshida Jinja Shrine has many sub-shrines on its large premises.

Quiet shrine

This is a sub-shrine of Yoshida Jinja Shrine. There were no visitors to this small shrine while I was there.

Curved roof

This photo shows an elegant curved roof of Shimogamo Jinja Shrine.

Sacred stream

There are some little streams at Shimogamo Jinja Shrine, which can purify your mind.

Parting gift of autumn

The ground at Shimogamo Jinja Shrine was full of beautiful fallen leaves in early winter.

Steps in winter

The steps of Anrakuji Temple were very clear with almost no fallen leaves.

Tasteful simplicity

This is the gate of Anrakuji Temple which shows the ultimate in the tasteful simplicity.

Red and Green

I found this beautiful nanten shrub at Okazaki Betsuin Temple late in the autumn. Nanten shrubs always show a pleasing combination of red and green.

Quietness

As Okazaki Betsuin Temple was not a tourist site it was filled with quietness.

Autumn palette

I was just stunned when I encountered this marvellous set of autumn trees at Okazaki Jinja Shrine.

Beautiful wall

This is a wooden wall of Bishamondo Temple which shows a striking vermilion-teal contrast.

Beautiful exterior

This is the main hall of Bishamondo Temple, the exterior of which looks new and is beautiful.

Blue sky

Instead of coloured leaves I was welcomed with the perfect blue sky when I visited Bishamondo Temple late in the autumn.

Quiet autumn

As I visited Yamashina Shoten Temple [a sub-temple of Bishamondo Temple] after autumn foliage season I was able to enjoy very quiet autumn with red nanten fruits there.

Waiting for customers

Arashiyama is also a good place to enjoy rowing on a still river.

Exclusively for fallen leaves

These steps at Horinji Temple were just exclusively for fallen leaves.

The falls of fallen leaves

I found this beautiful collaboration of rocks and fallen leaves at Horinji Temple. That looked like a waterfall of fallen leaves.