 |
 |
 |
In the end, there’s no substitute for personal experience.
We got a break in the weather for a few hours yesterday, so I headed over to the Kyoto Gosho – the Imperial Palace, which is holding one of its two brief public openings this week. Normally you need to book a tour well in advance, but for a few days each spring and winter the palace is opened to anyone who wishes to visit.
There were huge crowds of course, just as with the sakura viewing, but somehow this was different. This was more festive, with a crowd of mostly Japanese thronging to see an important part of their history that many of them have never seen up-close. The normal take on the Imperial Palace in English guidebooks and websites amounts to “overrated” but I have to say, I found it to be spectacular – unquestionably one of my top ten destinations in Japan. Many of the buildings are newer reproductions (16th-20th Century) but they’re beautiful just the same. And the gardens are spectacular. As a bonus, there’s a grove of fantastic weeping cherry trees that was in full-bloom.
After the Gosho, I made a quick return to the Keage Incline. I was here just a week ago but the difference is remarkable – I can only imagine what it was like to ride the Keihan Line through this “sakura tunnel”, all those years ago.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Earthling Zing
April 6, 2015 at 5:49 pmWow, some really gorgeous photos there. Been a while since ive seen such harmony between architecture and nature
admin
April 7, 2015 at 12:26 amThat would be the hallmark of Japanese design, right there.
elianthos80
April 7, 2015 at 10:53 amDecorative panels *_* Hanging scrolls *_* Girls in kimono *_* Not one stiletto heel in sight *_*
The stone bridge and the gardens do really look magnificent. Any idea about the phoenix? Is it decoration or is it supposed to have some 'use'/function inside the room? Intriguing if a tad puzzling display there.
admin
April 7, 2015 at 2:56 pmIt was part of the Imperial Procession during the coronation, actually (Gosho has surprisingly good English signage).
Ekadish Bal
April 7, 2015 at 5:46 pmFor someone who writes with so much consciousness (and conscientiousness), feeling (though the scepticism and dryness coming from years of anime watching is dreary sometimes) and the (nearly stifled yet) still visible excitement of finding something loveable… you really can't take pictures.
Rita
April 8, 2015 at 3:48 pmWell, unless Enzou is planning to add professional phtotgrqpher to his repritoire, I say give him a pass on that.
Plus most if the places he goes are gorgeous enough on their own that I've never felt like they needed fancy lighting or staging to capture that
Hangman
April 8, 2015 at 11:25 pmI thought he'd gotten better…