Today during tea with the bestie, we got all nostalgic as we made reference to last year this time, in which I was still living and enjoying my brief Tokyo-ite life, and she was visiting me for a week. What a year it’s been for her, for me and for all of us, I’m sure. Time waits for no man.
As the Sakura season beckons in Japan, I can’t help but miss the time spent there, it was such a timely period to witness the end of winter and welcome the blossoms of spring. One of the most memorable, cherry blossom viewing, I had was spent over a weekend in Kyoto with the parental and friend.
Lucky for us it was the first weekend of cherry blossom viewing – so we abide by the locals’ mode, had a mini hanami at Yasaka Shrine with one jug too many of Kirin beer, light snacks, and wow-ed at the pink blooms above us. Thereafter, it was a slow stroll around the shrine, admiring the evening light fall on the cheery blossom trees creating alluring silhouettes, which made it easy for one to feel all whimsical, poetic or simply fuzzy-woozy inside.
Kiyomizu-dera is one of the oldest, independent Buddhist temple in Eastern Kyoto. Not a single nail was used in the building of the entire structure, with the main hall supported by tall, wooden pillars jutting out to the hillside, offering a splendid view of the city. It was a pity we didn’t get to see the temple in the daytime, am sure it would have carried a much different vibe. The night illumination of the cherry blossom trees is a photographer’s playground, capturing the blooms dancing in the night and swaying with the brief wind, again, very poetic and romantic.
It was one of those moments where having the visual memory etched to your mind was more captivating then seeing it thru your camera lens. With that said, for those that happen to be in Kyoto during this period of time, do check out this link for the temple’s illumination event.
I do hope to see the pinkish, dancing blooms next year!
J-emine's reflexionando 
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