5000 more photos of autumn leaves (but this time in Kyoto!)

The last weekend in November was THE weekend for autumn leaves and where better to go than Kyoto. The city was PACKED (Elspeth and I spent hours on the internet looking for accommodation!) and everyone was there to see the leaves. Becky and Elspeth stayed over at my place the night before (we ate Chinese food and drank Becky's favourite Italian dessert wine). The next morning we met Fil in Kyoto and went to a shrine flea market. Then we went in search of leaves...

(Ginkakuji Temple - the Silver Pavillion)

This was Becky's last trip with us, as she was leaving Japan (boohoo!) in December. It was kind of appropriate as our first trip to Kyoto was together in August 2006.



After Ginkaku-ji we walked along the Philosopher's Path, a walkway lined with small shops and cafes, to Eikando Temple. Eikando Temple is a must on any autumn leaf hunter's list because they light the trees up at night. We had to wait in a HUGE line but once it opened it went surprisingly fast.

Tired and hungry after flea market shopping and leaf hunting, we went to our ryokan to drop off our bags. The owner was very interested in Fil and tried to figure out which of us girls was his girlfriend (she wouldn't believe that we were all just friends). She also grabbed him to feel his muscular, foreigner arm.

(My favourite restaurant in Kyoto, possibly Japan! The most delicious tonkatsu and the most amazing yuzu salad dressing EVER)

That night we crashed kind of early because Elspeth and I were determined to get to our favourite autumn leaf shrine, Tofukuji early. We got coffees at the station (which were put into big paper bags so that we could carry our coffee to our destination and then drink) and hopped on the bus (we were bad foreigners and secretly drank on the bus).

(Doing the now famous, 'Aaron shot' - Becky has a hard time with this as she ALWAYS laughs or looks at the camera. Doesn't Fil's arm look weird?)

(Getting in Fil's face while he was digitally macro-ing (my photo term) some leaves. Here Fil, let me show you how it's done. Watch the digital macro master. Sorry if that offends you! Muuhuuhaahaa!!!)

(We blocked the best spot for about 10 minutes taking self portraits and 'Aaron' shots. Whatever, we're foreigners. What do we know?!)

(Who's the coolest? Oh right, that would be us!)

(It would appear to be stupid o'clock...)

(What the heck happened here? I have no idea. And what is Elspeth scheming about below?)

Last year it had been rainy and cold when we came to this shrine. On the way out we had gotten some yaki-mochi (mochi filled with red bean paste that is then grilled) and whenever we thought of this place we always reminisced about the mochi.

Thank god it was there this year too or I think Elspeth would have forgotten how beautiful the leaves were and called the weekend a loss. God, it was good. So warm and crispy and gooey...


Our last stop of the day was Sanjusangen-do. The long building with many statues.

(Look how tiny Elspeth looks beside the GIGANTIC door. Now you know how I feel sometimes!)

(Doing the 'Hello Kitty' pose)

(Fil, are you jet lagged or tired from being with the super travellers? Oh, and sorry if that offends you, Fil)

While Fil took pictures of rocks...or whatever he was doing, Elspeth, Becky and I sat on some benches and sang camp songs. Koombayah indeed.

You can't take pictures inside but it is very impressive. Elspeth and I were amazed that the building was designed to withstand earthquakes and was used for archery competitions. Cool.

And so our Last Autumn in Kyoto adventure came to an end but not before we did some purikura and souvenir shopping. Fil stayed in Kyoto for another day or two, Becky caught the train to Toyohashi and Elspeth and I caught our shinkansen to Nagoya.