My favorite Kyoto

It has been a while since I wrote a blog about life in Japan outside of my university. I have been so busy that I didn't do any big adventurous stuff, except for my solo trip to Kurashiki and the Seto inland sea islands which I will write a separate blog post for.
I want to share here some pictures that I took while out and about in and around Kyoto, places of which I took snapshots, some because they just looked nice, other because I don't want to ever forget them. My favorite places in and around Kyoto.


Clouds on Mt. Hiei.
One of the most famous mountains that surround Kyoto, Mount Hiei is what I see when I step out of my dorm. Along with the cute Eizan line train riding past many times a day, it always makes my heart jump with happiness when I see this view. But it does that just as much when the sun is shining down on the mountain. Trains and mountains are an awesome combination.

The "SouSou backalley"
Not the original original name of this tiny, pretty alley but it is the way between multiple shops by the Kyoto based brand Sou Sou. Small red torii gates line the wall in this alley. I always feel like walking into a strangely different world which is not Kyoto when in this alley.

Nishiki market tasting samples 
Delicious Japanese pickles in the nishiki market. The Nishiki market never fails to deliver colorful pictures.

The Nishiki Tenman-gū Shrine
A small shrine at the end of the the Nishiki market (if you start from the Shijo st. side, which I normally do) This shrine breaths tranquility even though it is located inside the biggest (tourist)shopping acrade in Kyoto.

Kyoto's wonderful wooden houses

Because Kyoto city is being protected by the government from demolition of old houses and further high rise buildings, old wooden houses are abundant here right in the middle of the city. Each house beautiful with it's own discolorations. 

Kurama temple's guardian tiger twins
At the entrance, at base of the climb up to Kurama temple there are two tiger statues guarding the gate.
Moss growing on their backs like fur is what makes them even more beautiful.

Gion area at night

If you stray away from the Gion main area a bit you will end up in hushed back streets with an equal wonderful atmosphere. 

Never far from water

In and around Kyoto, water is flowing everywhere. Small streams lining quiet neighborhoods to whole temples dedicated to water and big lakes, water is never far away. Even while walking on the street outside of the city's center, you will hear the water flow underneath your feet, water ways are covered with concrete slabs you walk on, small holes make you catch glimpses of the water and the sound is very soothing.

Rice fields 

Especially around the area I live, Iwakura north of Kyoto, there are many many rice fields.

I am in love with them, the view, the vivid green, then speed at which the rice grows and the reflection of sun and moon on the water in between the individual rice plants.

But the most wonderful, I find, is the reflection of the whole surrounding with the new rice plants like stitches on the water.