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

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)

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/9, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Cherry-Blossom Picnic

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 360 — map & image data — nearby photos

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:

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:

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.

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

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

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

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)

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

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.
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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/9, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Back Street

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/9, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Pitch

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)

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

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