Autumn leaves and not-urinals

28th November 2009

Kyoto's November is lovely but Kyoto has been around for centuries and news of that loveliness has got out.

Kyoto's November is crowds and coach buses.

Still, there are a few spots left where you can find autumn colours and take a picture of them without the population of Greater Tokyo - last seen in your sakura photos - appearing as well.

Seiryo-ji, better known as Saga Shakado, in the west of Kyoto is not on the list of famous momiji temples so it doesn't have the profusion of maples that, say, Tofukuji does.

But it has a great garden, intriguing angles and enough quiet for you to think (or not think, if you practise Zen) even in the height of the fall frenzy.

An Edo-period stone garden (karesansui). Not, as you may first think, a urinal that fell over.

But some of the best sights are not to be found at your destination but along the way. Like this gentleman looking out at the world from the walls of his garden.

And these friendly faces near an Arashiyama bus stop.