Spent today rushing around Ohara village north of Kyoto city. Visited three temples, one of them twice, and climbed a long slope once more than I would have liked.

I promised a friend that I'd post pictures of the sakura by the river once it bloomed. It's a little late but here they are.

I've learned enough about Heian Jingu to expect crowds there in sakura season. The maiko performance in the shrine courtyard was a surprise though.

I knew the light wouldn't be good - it was too late and cloudy - but I went down to Kiyamachi-dori anyway.

Once a walled-off enclave for court nobles, the rectangular piece of land in the centre of Kyoto city is today a public park.

Went for a walk by the Kamogawa to try to think my way through a knot. I didn't make any headway, mostly because I spent all my time taking photos.

The lights come on in the Kyoto Botanical Garden after dark for about a week during sakura season.

The annual light-up in Gion Shirakawa.