Tenjuan Temple: Stepping Stones

Tenjuan Temple is one of the many sub temples of the Nanzenji precinct and is one of the few that are opened to the public. It's known for its gardens as well as its lotus pond and was dedicated to the Zen master who served Emperor Kameyama. Unfortunately, part of its main hall is under construction so I wasn't able to go inside, but the gardens and ponds outside were well worth the visit. 

Reminds me of the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter where an elderly man found a tiny baby inside of a bamboo plant who was actually the princess from the moon :) 

Poor fish thought I had food to give him, so I took the opportunity to snap this picture! 

Thank you so much for reading and have a wonderful week :) It's rainy season here in Japan so don't forget to bring your umbrellas with you! 

Gioji Temple: Moss Carpets

After my delicious lunch, I walked a couple of minutes up the street next to the restaurant to Gioji Temple. It's tucked quite a ways into the forest and is known for its moss gardens. Because of the delicate condition of the moss, visitors are not allowed to step on it, but merely looking at it is more than enough :)  There are a good deal of maple trees in the garden as well and because of this, the temple can get busy and crowded during fall when crowds flock to Arashiyama for the leaves. The temple's main hall and entrance have thatched roofs which I really liked, but was unable to get pictures of :( Sorry for the difference in colors for some of the pictures! I was changing the white balance a bit and it altered how the colors came out. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :) 

Tea House View

The last time I visited Himeji Kokoen, I didn't have a chance to visit the tea house and regretted not trying it. After I had a light, yet filling lunch at the garden restaurant, I walked around for a bit before ducking inside the tea house. For 500 yen, you get a cup of matcha and a wagashi while enjoying another beautiful view of the garden. Just sitting down, sipping my tea and nibbling on the wagashi while looking out gave me such a feeling of contentment. I always look forward to drinking the hot, thick and frothy matcha while eating the sweet wagashi that looks more like a work of art than food to eat. The Japanese take their seasons very seriously (and I mean SERIOUSLY) so the wagashi that is served is handmade to reflect the current season. If anyone knows of a wagashi store, please let me know in the comments below! :)

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Hyakudanen: 100 Flower Beds

Hyakudanen, literally meaning "100 stepped gardens", is a group of 100 flower beds planted on a concrete hill or incline.  It is one of the most popular features of Awaji Yumebutai, a complex center that comprises of a hotel, a conference center and a memorial built after the Great Hanshin Earthquake. While walking through the national park, I was able to see the mini gardens and was determined to see it before I left Awaji. It was much less crowded than the park, but still had amazing views from the top. While the flowers may not have been as impressive, I still thoroughly enjoyed walking up and down the stairs to see the various flowers. It's also free, so don't miss this place if you're in the area :)

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful week :)

Flowers in Awaji

Flowers are usually the first thing I think of when the word "Spring" comes to mind. I went to Awaji Island for the day to look at the plethora of flowers at Akashi Kaikyo National Park which is known for its flowers, particularly the tulips that bloom during spring. To get there, I caught the train to JR Maiko Station and rode an express bus that took me to Awaji Yumebutai Bus Stop. From there, it was a couple of minutes of walking to the entrance. Just look for tour buses pulling up in front of the gates and you'll know you're in the right place. The weather was quite possibly one of the best days this year thus far-- sunny, blue skies with a nice breeze all day long ^^ Families, tour groups, couples and photographers all flocked to the park for a chance to see some spectacular flowers and views. I hope you're all ready for flower pictures galore! :)

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful week!