Autumn has surprisingly been disappointing this year. I blame the weather. This year the weather has been warmer for a longer time than usual. It has resulted in delayed colour changes and also lack of vibrancy. That being said, I still got to see some great places during Autumn.
Last weekend I took a trip to Arashiyama, Kyoto. Arashiyama is a very traditional Japanese town, filled with hand-made souvenir shops and ryokans (traditional Japanese inns). I first crossed the great bridge of Arashiyama to gain access to the monkey park – upon recommendation of my mum who visited in September.
The ticket gate staff warned me that there was a bit of a climb to the top – which can be strenuous, especially in the humidity! However, the view at the top is worth the little bit of exercise.
And of course, this is where the wonderful monkey sanctuary stands. Numerous cute and entertaining monkeys can be found eating, grooming, playing and walking around, almost blissfully unaware of the paparazzi humans around them. There is also a place to feed the monkeys at a fee, which adds to the popularity of this location.
Upon return to Arashiyama I strolled through the bamboo forest. A place filled with mystique, the ominous light shining through the bamboo forest from the setting sun made you feel you were in a sea of green. This place made me feel I had truly gone back in time – there were no buildings or industrial sounds. It was just me. I felt almost at peace looking around at the endless green stretching out on either side of me.
From here I visited the World Heritage Tenryu Temple. This temple is particularly known for its large gardens and grounds – which looked very magical with its Autumn colours. I enjoyed spending time here admiring the garden and also the girls dressed in kimonos, trying to take the perfect photo!
A unique feature of Autumn in Japan are the illuminations. Many temples and popular locations of Japan often open their doors for visitors during the evening, to admire the Autumn colours highlighted by the (strategically-placed) lights. It is a very beautiful sight and does make for some very striking photos. This temple was particularly busy the night I visited – I felt we were like cattle, pushing our way steadily through the narrow routes toward the exit!
The next day, I joined my friends for a glass blowing workshop. That’s right – actual glass blowing. I got to twirl the glass, shape it, and blow out the shape. It was a great experience, but super difficult to do! I often had the instructor help fix my mistakes when needed, but the overall product is pretty cool, right? (Just so you know, I made the white one, while the blue one was made by the Sensei ;) )
Regardless, I don’t think I’ll be becoming a professional glass-blower anytime soon… I think I’ll stick to teaching for the time being!
