This Season’s First Fall-Foliage Outing in Kyoto: Northern Arahiyama
Picturesque Path at the Hokyo-in Temple (宝筐院) Kyoto Japan -- Hokyo-in Temple (宝筐院) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Picturesque Path
at the Hokyo-in Temple (宝筐院)
Kyoto Japan

Fall-foliage season, long over with in most of the Northern Hemisphere, is just getting into full swing in Kyoto. Throwing common sense to the wind, I dared to venture to the Arashiyama area of Kyoto yesterday (Friday), where the density of tourists during this season threatens to form a singularity. Adding to the mass of folks, I went with Paul Barr and Damien Douxchamps.

We limited ourselves to a few temples on the northern fringes of Arashiyama, and so we avoided the most oppressive crowds.

The first stop was my first visit to the Hokyo-in Temple (宝筐院), which includes a picturesque path that naturally attracts the camera. The shot above recalls last week's Why Does Photography with an iPad Look so Silly?, though the lady wrapped in understated class also calls to mind the followup article, iPad Photography: This Guy is Doing it Right.

desktop background image of the veranda of the main building at the Hokyo-in Temple (宝筐院) in Kyoto Japan -- Veranda of the main temple building at the Hokyo-in Temple (宝筐院) -- Hokyo-in Temple (宝筐院) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/9, ISO 1600 — map & image datanearby photos
Veranda
of the main temple building
at the Hokyo-in Temple (宝筐院)
Desktop-Background Versions
1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600  ·  2880×1800

I'd planned to post two shots from each place we visited yesterday, but it seems that while playing around in Lightroom this shot of the same temple building also got included...

Corner -- Hokyo-in Temple (宝筐院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/11, ISO 1800 — map & image datanearby photos
Corner

We then moved next door to the much larger Seiryoji Temple (清涼時)...

desktop background image of fall-foliage scenes at the Seiryoji Temple (清涼時) in Kyoto Japan -- Covered Walkway with rich wood ceiling beams Seiryoji Temple (清涼時) -- Seiryoji Temple (清涼時) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/25 sec, f/16, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Covered Walkway
with rich wood ceiling beams
Seiryoji Temple (清涼時)
Vertical Desktop-Background Versions
1050×1680  ·  1200×1920  ·  1600×2560
desktop background image of fall-foliage scenes at the Seiryoji Temple (清涼時) in Kyoto Japan -- Harsh Sunlight makes for a challenge -- Seiryoji Temple (清涼時) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/250 sec, f/4.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Harsh Sunlight
makes for a challenge
Desktop-Background Versions
1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600  ·  2880×1800
desktop background image of fall-foliage scenes at the Seiryoji Temple (清涼時) in Kyoto Japan -- The Chicken Watches -- Seiryoji Temple (清涼時) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/5.6, ISO 320 — map & image datanearby photos
The Chicken Watches
Desktop-Background Versions
1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600  ·  2880×1800

We then moved over to Heiankyo, which seems to be a private residence/park-ish kind of place not normally open to the public except during rare special openings, one of which was going on yesterday.

desktop background image of the park-like grounds of Heiankyo (平安郷) in Kyoto Japan -- Winding-ish grounds at Heiankyo (平安郷) -- Heiankyo (平安郷) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 720 — map & image datanearby photos
Winding-ish
grounds at Heiankyo (平安郷)
Desktop-Background Versions
1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600  ·  2880×1800
desktop background image of the park-like grounds of Heiankyo (平安郷) in Kyoto Japan -- Tuft -- Heiankyo (平安郷) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/800 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Tuft
Desktop-Background Versions
1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600  ·  2880×1800
Tea Service anyone who showed up got tea and sweet served by kimono-clad ladies -- Heiankyo (平安郷) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/800 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Tea Service
anyone who showed up got tea and sweet served by kimono-clad ladies

The next stop was the almost-impossible-to-find Enrian Temple (厭離庵) whose frontage on the street totals about four feet. A long narrow path connects the street to the temple grounds...

desktop background image of fall-foliage scenes at the Enrian Temple (厭離庵) in Kyoto Japan -- Path To The Enrian Temple (厭離庵) -- Enrian Temple (厭離庵) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/1.4, ISO 2800 — map & image datanearby photos
Path To The
Enrian Temple (厭離庵)
Vertical Desktop-Background Versions
1050×1680  ·  1200×1920  ·  1600×2560
desktop background image of fall-foliage scenes at the Enrian Temple (厭離庵) in Kyoto Japan -- Outlying Building -- Enrian Temple (厭離庵) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/160 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Outlying Building
Vertical Desktop-Background Versions
1050×1680  ·  1200×1920  ·  1600×2560
Garden Photo Op -- Enrian Temple (厭離庵) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/1.4, ISO 250 — map & image datanearby photos
Garden Photo Op

Finally we found our way to the Takiguchi-dera Temple (滝口寺), next to the Gioji Temple that has been on my blog so many times. I'd never actually taken the extra 10 steps up to the Takiguchi-dera Temple, so today we did...

desktop background image of fall-foliage scenes at the Takiguchi-dera Temple (滝口寺) in Kyoto Japan -- Narrow Path Takiguchi-dera Temple (滝口寺) -- Takiguchi-dera Temple (滝口寺) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/3.2, ISO 1250 — map & image datanearby photos
Narrow Path
Takiguchi-dera Temple (滝口寺)
Vertical Desktop-Background Versions
1050×1680  ·  1200×1920  ·  1600×2560
desktop background image of fall-foliage scenes at the Takiguchi-dera Temple (滝口寺) in Kyoto Japan -- Slightly Jostled -- Takiguchi-dera Temple (滝口寺) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/2.2, ISO 450 — map & image datanearby photos
Slightly Jostled
Vertical Desktop-Background Versions
1050×1680  ·  1200×1920  ·  1600×2560

The Takiguchi-dera Temple, much less popular than Gioji just below it on the mountain, was a quiet respite from the crowds.

Damien and Paul then went to Gioji and elsewhere, but I was feeling a bit out of energy by this time so I called it a day. But it was a photogenic day, to say the least, so there's much more to post when time allows.

Continued here...


All 2 comments so far, oldest first...

‘Winding-ish’ is ethereally beautiful 🙂 Thank you!

— comment by Sergey Kolychev on November 26th, 2013 at 9:39am JST (10 years, 4 months ago) comment permalink

I stumbled upon your website when i was googling for wallpapers of the Bamboo grove in Arashiyama. What an amazing collection of photos!!! It is absolutely a treasure trove. I went to Kyoto for the first time last year, and frankly, I couldn’t get enough of that place. It was great to see a blog full with pictures of the place I love. Thanks!!

— comment by Carmen on May 24th, 2017 at 2:34pm JST (6 years, 10 months ago) comment permalink
Leave a comment...


All comments are invisible to others until Jeffrey approves them.

Please mention what part of the world you're writing from, if you don't mind. It's always interesting to see where people are visiting from.

IMPORTANT:I'm mostly retired, so I don't check comments often anymore, sorry.


You can use basic HTML; be sure to close tags properly.

Subscribe without commenting