Putzing Around Kyoto on a Fine Spring Day
1 comment
by Jeffrey Friedl Fri, April 7th, 2017 8:00pm JST (7 years ago)

It took a casual spin around Kyoto last weekend, as the cherry blossoms were starting to come in.

Kids Oblivious to the Blossoms Kyoto Imperial Palace Park (京都御所公園) -- Kyoto Imperial Palace Park (京都御所公園) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 160 — map & image data — nearby photos
Kids Oblivious to the Blossoms
Kyoto Imperial Palace Park (京都御所公園)
Cherry-Blossom Picnic -- Kyoto Imperial Palace Park (京都御所公園) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/9, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Cherry-Blossom Picnic
Typical Kyoto Scene -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Typical Kyoto Scene
Very Little Person very great cuteness -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 66mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Very Little Person
very great cuteness
Obnoxiously Rude In pointing the camera at these ladies, I took their attention from their ricksha-driver photographer. -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 28mm — 1/500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Obnoxiously Rude
In pointing the camera at these ladies,
I took their attention from their ricksha-driver photographer.
Calculated Chaos Despite the crowds, the photographer can get great shots because if it's not in frame, it doesn't exist -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Calculated Chaos
Despite the crowds, the photographer can get great shots because
if it's not in frame, it doesn't exist
Dress-up Play dressed as a maiko (apprentice geisha), but probably not one -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Dress-up Play
dressed as a maiko (apprentice geisha), but probably not one
Parking Lot traffic in this part of town slows to a crawl this time of year -- パインヴィレッヂ -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Parking Lot
traffic in this part of town slows to a crawl this time of year
Maruyama Park (円山公園) still as ugly this time of year as it was 12 years ago -- Maruyama Park (円山公園) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Maruyama Park (円山公園)
still as ugly this time of year as it was 12 years ago
Temporarily Closed to traffic -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 58mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Temporarily Closed
to traffic
Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 360 — map & image data — nearby photos
Construction of Some Kind as happens often, I couldn't remember what had been there -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 29mm — 1/400 sec, f/5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Construction of Some Kind
as happens often, I couldn't remember what had been there

Looking down the street from next to the construction, toward the right, it was a mad house:

Not Going to Even Try -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 60mm — 1/250 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Not Going to Even Try

So, instead I went up the steep road that goes under the shrine arch seen two photos above.

Not long past the shrine gate, I noticed a huge statue off to the side, and wondered how long it had been there and how I had never noticed it before:

Huge Statue to the far left -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/13, ISO 160 — map & image data — nearby photos
Huge Statue
to the far left

It turns out that it's been there since 1955, and is 24m (80') tall. I guess I'm not very attentive.

I ended up taking the long way around to the other side of the “not going to even try” street, where it was just as crowded.

Still as Crowded near the Kiyomizu Temple -- イノダコーヒ清水支店 -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 40mm — 1/160 sec, f/13, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Still as Crowded
near the Kiyomizu Temple
Less Photogenic Approach to the Kiyomizu Temple -- イノダコーヒ清水支店 -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/9, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Less Photogenic Approach
to the Kiyomizu Temple
Ugh I'll find another way -- イノダコーヒ清水支店 -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/9, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ugh
I'll find another way
Side-ish Approach Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺) -- Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 32mm — 1/125 sec, f/9, ISO 140 — map & image data — nearby photos
Side-ish Approach
Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺)
So Much Less Crowded -- Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/9, ISO 125 — map & image data — nearby photos
So Much Less Crowded
Kyoto's Lombardi Street there are plenty of zig-zags all the way down -- Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/9, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Kyoto's Lombardi Street
there are plenty of zig-zags all the way down

I'd never noticed this street that pitched down in zig-zag curves like a snake, so was happy to try it despite the bumpy cobblestones.

Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/8, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos

It eventually brought me to a service road where a trash-truck driver was replacing a “do not enter” rope. I guess there was normally one at the top, but it had been placed aside for him. So, I don't think I'll be able to take the road again, now that I know I wasn't supposed to have the first time.

Near the Eastern Gate -- Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Near the Eastern Gate

Popping out of the eastern gate, I made my way up to Shogunzuka, where I used to go often to try to catch a nice sunset.

Blah and Hazy Shogunzuka Overlook (将軍塚) -- Shogunzuka Overlook (将軍塚) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 44mm — 1/200 sec, f/8, ISO 110 — map & image data — nearby photos
Blah and Hazy
Shogunzuka Overlook (将軍塚)

The “nearby photos” link under the photo brings you to some of the many posts I've done from up here, including some amazing sunsets like this and this and this.

Best I Could Come Up With for something interesting -- Shogunzuka Overlook (将軍塚) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/8, ISO 360 — map & image data — nearby photos
Best I Could Come Up With
for something interesting
Visiting Larry Ellison's Kyoto Digs the same place seen in this lovely snow shot -- Larry Ellison's Kyoto Villa -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 31mm — 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Visiting Larry Ellison's Kyoto Digs
the same place seen in this lovely snow shot

This ride was the first this year not to wear full-on winter gear. It was lovely to be out.

Nanzen Temple (南禅寺) main gate from the side -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 56mm — 1/250 sec, f/9, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nanzen Temple (南禅寺)
main gate from the side
Start of the Philosopher's Trail 哲学の道 the blossoms haven't even started here -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/9, ISO 2000 — image data
Start of the Philosopher's Trail
哲学の道
the blossoms haven't even started here
Back Street -- Nanzen Temple (南禅寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/9, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Back Street
Pitch -- Okazaki Koen [ Dobutsuenmae Bus Stop -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/9, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Pitch
Some Kind of Dance Performance in the plaza in front of the Heian Shrine (平安神宮) -- Heian Shrine (平安神宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/9, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Some Kind of Dance Performance
in the plaza in front of the Heian Shrine (平安神宮)
My Local Park taken over by some festival or another -- Okazaki Koen [ Dobutsuenmae Bus Stop -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 38mm — 1/160 sec, f/9, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
My Local Park
taken over by some festival or another
People Streaming from the Festival -- Okazaki Koen [ Dobutsuenmae Bus Stop -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/9, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
People Streaming from the Festival

Related posts:
April8th,2005The Ugliness of Japanese Cherry-Blossom Viewing
October14th,2007If It's Not in Frame, It Doesn't Exist
November17th,2011Unusually Dynamic Views of Kyoto from Shogunzuka
February8th,2013Views of Kyoto From Shogunzuka Over The Years
November8th,2013The Hope Imbued in a Dull Sunset
January3rd,2015Kyoto At Night During a Heavy Snow
March29th,2018Cherry Blossoms are Quite Early in Kyoto This Year
You can submit a comment below | Posted under: Cherry Blossoms, Cycling, General, Japan, Temples and Shrines | Comments via RSS | Trackback
One comment so far...

Thanks, I have great memories of the Philosopher’s Path area. I am surprised you have not seen the Huge Statue before.

— comment by Rick on April 8th, 2017 at 2:44pm JST (7 years 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