Higashiyama in Kyoto is another favorite destination of mine… The first time I visited it was autumn, and it was beautiful but visiting the next spring was even more memorable. Everything was just so fresh. The doors of the Chion-in were open, and I felt like it was a sign of spring.
Higashiyama is in Eastern Kyoto and many of the most popular temples, shrines and parks are located there: Gion, Yasaka Shrine, Kiyomizudera, Chion-in, Tofukuji, Kenninji, and Kodaiji. The Sakura Tree in Maruyama Park is something people from all over go there to see.
A lot of tea houses and shops are also scattered all over Higashiyama. And there are small winding roads that lead up from Kiyomizudera that are lined with cherry blossom trees.
Really beautiful.
Most cities around north Italy have lost this little historic/traditional districts spots. Now everything is for shopping and big malls … even the street around the biggest cathedral of Italy.
Hi simaldeff! Thank you for commenting!
That’s a shame… There seems to be a lot of historical places in Japan that are protected by the UNESCO or that are made into National Treasures in order to preserve them. Kyoto and Nara are both World Heritage Sites and I think there are laws prohibiting the modernization of the surrounding areas… not so sure, but I vaguely remember being told or reading somewhere…
It’s like traditional Japanese house disappearing from the cities. I’d like to have a traditional looking Japanese house somewhere near Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto … all around the world there is an homogenization of habitat toward “modern” concrete square lofts. There is no soul in a downtown 300sqm loft.
A dream we all share… I’m thinking though that a traditional home in Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto would be pretty expensive to maintain.
Hi Marie
I love the website! Really nice content and the pictures are really nice.
Could I ask you how you learnt photography? I am really interested in getting started and don’t know where to start e.g. is a course better or self study? I am based in London FYI.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks
Mark
Thank you so much, Mark! Your comment just made my whole month!
I actually have no training in photography, but I do read photography blogs and I practice when I have the chance. I also have a great photography subject: Japan. I always feel however that what comes out in the photograph is only 1/3 of the actual beauty, I never really see what I saw in actuality in the photos I take.
Do you have a camera? Digital or film? With a digital, you can instantly see what you took, so for me it’s really convenient. I try to make the most of my camera by trying out all the features. I use the macro function a lot and I prefer not to use the flash. Choosing a camera is also important, you can read a lot on the web. But I’d say that it would be better to choose a camera you’ll feel comfortable with. Also, I subscribe to several Photo-of-the-Day stuff. National Geo has one, and Yahoo Photos is great, too. Then I buy postcards, travel magazines and stuff, then try to copy as close as I can to the photos on them…
Good Luck! Let me know how it goes!
Hello, I was just surfing when I came across your site. You have some very lovely pictures. I was in Higashiyama just as the sakura was coming out, but it wasn’t very much at all - if only I could have stayed another week! There were snow blizzards when I arrived! I’m coming in April to attend Dodai, which I’m very excited about.
I would ask you where abouts you live and why you came to Japan - but you’ve probably been asked a million times and put it on your blog somewhere anyway!
Just having a look at other posts- is a traditional house really that expensive to maintain from the point of view that they are generally very small?
Again, lovely pictures!
Cinders
Hi Cinders! Thank you so much for the kind words and for visiting!
I’d gladly answer this question: why am I still in Japan? I love it here…
I’ve heard from a lot of friends that a traditional house is impractical because of maintenance, like repairing damaged roof tiles, changing tatami mats etc. On the other hand, modern homes only have a life of 35 years…