Dipping into the archives, here are some photos from almost exactly two years ago, near where the city butts up against Mt. Daimonji, where developed land ends and one of the paths up to Daimonji starts.
Still in the city part, at this time of year you get some nice colors...
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 28 mm — 1/250 sec, f/10, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
The distinctively-maintained shrubs in front of the house appeared on my blog once before, here, and some of the photos on this Kyoto Fall-Color Preview from last year were taken in this immediate vicinity, as were some on this different Kyoto Fall-Color Preview.
Continuing on toward the mountain, once the houses stop, it's an odd area for a while that feels a bit “no man's land”, before becoming a normal mountain hiking path. Here's what you see upon leaving the “city” part...
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
“Females Walking Alone Not Encouraged”
The literal translation of the sign is “Let's all cease (being) women walking alone.” This “Let's all cease...” construction is quite common, such as “Let's all cease littering”, and often amuses me. It (the literal translation) is particularly amusing for me here because it's quite inclusive in a way biology does not allow for. Of course, the problem/amusement here is the translation, not the Japanese itself. English, too, has all kinds of idioms that are pretty silly when dissected.
The immediate area after the city ends has a small temple of some sort, and a few other random buildings, all in various states of ill repair....
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — 1/30 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
a small shrine or temple of some sort
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 35 mm — 1/15 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
there's a building of some sort at the top of that big rock
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 18 mm — 1/45 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
of some sort
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 31 mm — 1/13 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 23 mm — 1/13 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Somewhere along the line, you see this quaint hand-painted sign...
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 50 mm — 1/200 sec, f/5, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
can be done
If you take the path that dives into the mountain, it'll bring you to the top of Mt. Daimonji, from which you can then take a path back down a bit to the Daimonij Fire Pits. The fire pids are just 400 meters from here, but that's as the crow flys. Hiking, it'll take about an hour.
I was on my scooter On this particular outing, just checking out the fall colors. Turning around and returning, once leaving the treecover you're greeted with a nice view of the city, and that pretty house...
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — 1/3000 sec, f/4, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
the view is more sweeping than this, but nearby utility poles ruin the rest
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 38 mm — 1/160 sec, f/10, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Whoever trims those yews (or whatever the shrubbery is) has not only a good eye, but good balance. Hope he has good insurance too. He certainly does a neat job.
I always get kinda mad when I see those “Hey women, don’t walk alone!” signs. Seems like they should read, “Hey scumbags, stop attacking women!” instead.
Great set of images today and yesterday. Lovely. There is such a sense of history and mystery there.