Category: Kyoto
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In Fushimi Inari Taisha at night…
… there’s almost no one ! Despite the shrine being open all the time, and the torii paths being all lit up. There are a few walkers and two or three cats left. The ghosts are also out and about, showing themselves to anyone willing to see them. The darkness and silence create a very…
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Loose pictures: March 2024
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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Back on the Kyoto Trail
+500m / -580m / 13km I’m not working this Friday, and unlike the previous days, it’s not raining. I’m heading out for a rather “short” hike to enjoy the outdoors without burning myself. I initially wanted to walk south of Kyoto and pass by Yokoku-ji temple, but I prefer to avoid the crowds and opt…
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Uji
Uji is a small town south of Kyoto. It is home to a quite famous temple, as it is depicted on the 10-yen coins: the Byōdō-in. One of the phoenixes adorning the roof of the structure is also visible on the 10,000-yen bills. Matcha is a local specialty, and the shops in the area sell…
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Loose pictures: January / February 2024
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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Halfway Setsubun
This year is no exception, Setsubun falls on February 3rd. I head to Rozan-ji temple to attend the festivities. The schedule includes demon dance at 3pm, bean throwing at 4, followed by a ritual fire at 5. Upon arrival, the dense crowd overflows from the temple grounds onto the sidewalk. The same scene repeats at…
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Loose pictures: December 2023
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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Mount Atago
+1050m / -1100m / 19km I leave at night to take a bus 15 minutes from my place. I’m going east of Kyoto. I change buses and find myself at daybreak in Kiyotaki. I follow a small road that goes into a valley, then I turn left to get down to business. I hesitate for…
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Daigo-ji
I’m not working today. I’m off to Daigo-ji temple to take some pictures. Momiji season is almost over, and since it’s Monday, there’s hardly anyone around! It must also be said that this temple does not attract as much as the classics. Once there, the weather becomes cloudy quite quickly. I’ll deal with it!
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Back to the Live House Gattaca
I met Take-san at a meetup once month ago. He is one of the guitarist from Ninefall, a rock band based in Kyoto. And they are playing tonight at the Live House Gattaca! I get there just a few minutes before the show. I meet with Take-san and we have a drink. The first of…
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Loose pictures: November 2023
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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Kurama – Kibune
I take advantage of waking up early to go to Kurama. It has been a month since I want to return there, and I haven’t seen the momijis around Kyoto yet. There are some in the city of course, but they are a bit dull. From what I heard, it has been too hot here…
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Loose pictures: October 2023
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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The countryside within reach of Kyoto
+1070m / -940m / 19km The hike of the day is a stage of the Kyoto Trail, at the North-East of Kyoto (in blue on the map). It is feasible from station to station by slightly adapting the route. I take the subway at Sanjo towards the North until Demachiyanagi, and I change for a…
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Loose pictures: september 2023
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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Going with the flow
This Sunday I go to a meetup at the Kyoto Laundry Cafe. It’s a bit crowded, there are one or two Frenchmen and a few French-speaking Japanese who seem happy to practice. Other expats as well. People of all ages. I talk to a Japanese guy who I met yesterday in another meetup… Yesterday again,…
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Mount Hiei
+730m / -760m / 14km I meet two colleagues on the Kamo around 8am and we go to the hike starting point by bike, around 6km North-East. We drop the bikes on what looks like the parking lot of the nearby hostpital (Japan Baptist Hospital), not knowing whether we are allowed to do so, and…
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Around Gion
A bit of rest this Sunday afternoon, for the first time since I got here. I just need to get some stuff from Yodobashi (again) and from Nitori, the Japanese Ikea. Both stores are near the Kyoto station. The weather is rather nice, this must be a good time to go there following the Kamo,…