Chrysanthemum in Kyoto

Chrysanthemum, Kiku(菊) in Japanese, is at bloom in November and many houses in Kyoto put this flower at their entrance to decorate them.

By the way, this flower reminds us of the Emperior. One of the old Emperiors, Gotoba-Tennou, about 800 years ago used the flower as his emblem by choice. After that, this has been used as the emblem of the Emperior. Now this flower, as well as cherry blossom, Sakura(桜) in Japanese, is used as something of a national flower. For example, it is printed on the surface of Japanese passport and carved on the badge of Diet members.

Yamazaki, the oldest distillery in Japan

Yamazaki, in the outskirts of Kyoto, has been famous for its pure water and rich nature, as well as the only remaining tea house of Senno Rikyu, one of the greatest founders of Japanese tea ceremony. Along with such natural conditions, its modest humidity from the river also helps make the place suitable for making whiskey. The harmony of the nature with the art of craftsman gives the rich and smooth taste of Suntory Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky.

This distillery is the oldest in Japan, made in 1923, and has made the history of Japanese whiskey.

A traditional protector against rain and snow, made of straw

A hint of autumn, part 2, at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto

Modest light through shoji, papered sliding door

Modern noren, a cloth hang at the entrance of shops or restaurants

This noren is hang at the entrance of a shop. The building is rather old and the colorful noren goes well with the building. So the cloth successfully gives the old wooden architecture a touch of the modern.

A photo taken from beneath a roof, at Nishi-Hongangi Temple, in Kyoto

Path of bamboo

A hint of autumn at Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto

A traditional umbrella

Many relaxing stone images at Otaginenbutsu-Ji temple, in Kyoto

These rather modest images express monks and were curved by visiting people of this temple. These are rather warm and fuzzy feeling and I prefer such simple, rustic and friendly images.

Wa-ga-shi: Japanese confection in autumn

These are traditional confection, called Wagashi(和菓子) in Japanese and mainly used for Japanese tea ceremony. They fully satisfy not only our mouths but also our eyes. Many of these motifs are flowers or leaves in season and usually change every month. Changing seasons is one of the most important elements in our culture.

I'm back! Autumn leaves at Nanzenji Temple

Thanks for your patience and excuse me for not reply to your comments. I'm back from the vacation in Kyoto and will post photos as usual.

This temple, Nanzen-ji Temple, is famous for beautiful autumn leaves against some big and old structures in the site. Now the autumn leaves has not been at best yet, but will be at full bloom in a few days or a week.

I'll be back on 17th, Nov.

I am going to go to Kyoto to enjoy autumn leaves and will be back on 17th, Nov. Thank you for your understanding! Have a nice weekend!

A path to the sacred place where the gods live, at Kamigamo Shrine, in Kyoto

An old pavement to a shop in Kyoto

This pavement is old

Here is the new one, in Tokyo Daily Photo, one of my other blogs.

We seem to prefer inhomogeneity and asymmetry to homogeneity and symmetry because inhomogeneity and asymmetry goes well with the surrounding nature and we don't seem to like to dominate the nature by geometric pattern.

The entrance in front of the other entrance at Nijo Castle in Kyoto

Well trimmed vegetation along the pond at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto

A house with a pond at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto

Noren, a cloth hang on at the entrance of a restaurant

Such cloth is very familiar in Japan and it is usually hang on at the entrance of a restaurant, showing "We are open now". By the way, what kind of restaurant do you think is this?

Theme Day for November : Blue

Blue sky looks very boring for the theme, blue. But I cannot help sharing the beauty of blue sky in autumn in Kyoto.

By the way, here is a modern skyscraper behind blue sky posted at Tokyo Daily Photo, the other photo blog of mine.

More than 100 City Daily Photo blogs participate in this theme day. Do pay them a visit but remember that due to time difference you might not see the proper photo.

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