I recently made the short hike up Mt. Daimonji to the fire pits (which I first blogged about 11 years ago here), with Damien and Chris Rowthorn, the author of the Lonely Planet guides for Japan and Kyoto. Chris often uses Damien's and my photos on his Inside Kyoto site.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/60 sec, f/1.7, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Steep Stairs
it's closer to a “walk” than a “hike”

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Super-Hazy View
air is filled with pollen, I guess

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — ¹/125 sec, f/4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Cherry-Blossoms
in the center of the photo, the road leading to the Silver Pavilion Temple

The view from where we were, the center of the “大”, is lovely, but today it was ridiculously hazy...

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — ¹/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

The spec of orange just right of center is the main gate of the Heian Shrine. Compare the photo above to those seen on this post, and this one.

There are lots of paths that crisscross the mountain, and Chris knows them well, so he showed us an alternate way home.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Heading Down

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Chance Encounter
with a friend of Chris, who in this shot is explaining something about the area

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Less “Steps”, more “Hike”

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 34mm — ¹/640 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Approaching Sunset

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
Marker
of some kind

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/60 sec, f/1.7, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Lovely Canopy

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 41mm — ¹/25 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Arrival at Civilization
at the Hounen-in Temple (法然院)

I'd been to this temple many times (example blog post), but had no idea that a mountain path started here.

The cherry tree seen blossoming in the shot above is at the grave of some apparently-famous writer, so we went over to look. On the way, Chris pointed out this interesting gravestone:

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 50mm — ¹/50 sec, f/2.7, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Former Baseball Player

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 2000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Quiet Resting Place

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/80 sec, f/1.7, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos

All in all, even with our slow pace and all the chatting, the whole walk took only 90 minutes (the walk on Strava). I should do this more often.