The 19 hour time difference from home was difficult to adjust to, but good espresso drinks helped me enjoy myself! Refreshed, I decided to visit Tofukuji.
The previous visit to this temple, which is a famous autumn-leaf-viewing place, was wildly packed. As I was too early for peak leaf color, it was peaceful and quiet. The contrast from my previous visit was remarkable.
Tofukuji's checkerboard moss garden was on my list of places to photograph in infrared, but the moss is sheltered from full sun, so that wasn't going to work. It was delightful anyway!
This "gate" - the word doesn't do it justice - is a forest of columns... The Sanmon Gate is very worthy of its National Treasure designation. And who doesn't love a lotus pond?
Kyoto is known for its Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, and I was BEYOND DELIGHTED to learn that there is overlap with vegan restaurants and GLUTEN-FREE restaurants. I enjoyed multiple restaurants that managed both, and this was the one I visited three times. It was so satisfying! So flavorful! I GOT TO HAVE POT STICKERS!!! Sorry for shouting - it was such a treat to eat so WELL while traveling.
