Light Up, Light Up...

It's a well known fact that the whole of Japan goes crazy over cherry blossoms. For a few fleeting weeks, parties and special events are held in honour of these beautiful, fragile flowers. In Kyoto, many temples are lit up at night to show off the beauty of the architecture and the blossoms together.

Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple) is somewhere near the top of most people's places to visit in Kyoto, and lit up at night it is even more spectacular. It stands at the top of a hill and gives panoramic views of the whole city. Even the lanterns themselves are stunningly crafted.

 

There are many different varieties of trees, each lit to show off their colours to create an eerily beautiful landscape.

 

I loved the stark effect of bare branches silhouetted against the inky sky.

 And the sakura reflected in the water.

 

Even though it gets crowded, there is plenty of space for contemplation. The short walk through the forest is much less crowded, and we even managed to have a quiet picnic on a bench just before closing time.

Over the coming weeks I will try to introduce you to more famous places in Kyoto. I hope you can get a sense of the beauty and atmosphere of these places. Remember that when you see a gorgeous photo of Japan, there are probably about a million people just off-camera and you'll get a true sense of the experience!