Lovely garden discovered on early morning walk in Kyoto

Judy standing at entrance to garden - she thinks it is a sweets shop.

Just like my Japanese maples at home.

Cherry trees everywhere, if only they produced edible fruit!

Container garden among the cones

Container gardens in front of parked car. We suspect doors push open for more room to park.

Strong triangular design here - you flower arrangers know about this

We think these are margarettes.

88 temple pilgrimage pilgrims. 100,000 pilgrims complete circuit each year. 700 miles. 6-8 weeks.

Karen and Bill - proof they were there.

Retracing route of Kukai, founder of Shingon Buddhism in 9th century. Red stamps show minor temples visited.Can do it by helicopter.

Heavy duty lights to illuminate pagoda at night. Japanese work magic with night lighting.

Would love to see this old Wisteria in bloom

Smoke is from huge incense urn - makes you healthy. If something hurts, rub smoke over area. All ages do it.

Even teenage girls believe

Men in business suits - I didn't try it .

Only lady that stamped and dated our books - usually a monk. They were so quick with their brush.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple - this veranda is a nail-less miracle of Japanese joinery

Sacred spring - Kiyomizu means -pure water. Drinking it promotes health

Love charms are being sold below spring.

Wooden supports for nail-less veranda

Naked deities - first I have seen.

Prayers, I was tempted to write one in English

Prayers,poetry and good wishes tied to branches of a tree

McDonalds does container gardens too. Don't if there is McD sushi or not!

The powerful flood lights that created the magical night of cherry blossoms.

We have returned to temple of fabulous night time show - almost as pretty in the daylight.

Carp open their mouths to be feed

3 married and one single lady - the obei tells status

Close up of single lady's obei

Teenage girls tying prayers, poems and wishes on pink paper to tree - looks like cherry blossoms from distance

Their signs are simple, pleasant and easy on the eye.

Vending machines are everywhere - mostly beverages and ice cream novelities

Lots of green ice cream - green tea flavor

Their writing is so picturesque

Ad for the magical night of cherry blossoms

Only Western cuisine we had - this picture is out of order but hve no idea how to correct it.

More ads.

View of canal on Philosopher's Walk in Kyoto - looks like the Japan I remember.

Refreshment while waiting for the sweet making demonstration.

She played Jingle Bells - lovely home in gion(Geisha) district of Kyoto.

Translating how to make sweets out of bean paste

Beautiful view from sweets demonstration window.

So many shades of green and pink - April in Kyoto

Bean paste sweets and green tea. I remember those sweets from my last trip.

Japanese maples - lots of red - maples, temples, and signs.

A lacquered 21st century model

Bet we didn't pay Y2000 for a 10 minute ride. Rickshaws were everywhere - a needed transportation system after the war - no subway or cars.

Posted ads for something.

Would love to know what the writing says. It is a functioning fence.

Always in uniform, very good and very cute. Sometimes we would get a hello.

The Golden Pavilion - totally covered in gold leaf. Destroyed by fire in 1950. Built as retirement villa, after death to be temple.

Nestled in a beautiful garden with mountains in the background - a photographer's dream

School kids at almost every temple - always in uniform, usually blue. Another memory as they wore uniforms when I was there before.

Part of the "wet' garden surrounding the Golden Pavilion

Tree branches have probably been carefully pruned

This 100 year old tree is supposed to look like a sailing ship - perhaps I have the wrong angle.

Fallen cherry blossoms look like pink snow