Our good hiking friend Aki recommended that we visit the Mimurotoji Temple in Uji, a short train ride to the south of Kyoto. He said that in early June the temple's famous hydrangea garden (in Japanese, aijisai) would be in bloom. He was right!

Walking through the Koko-en Garden, located near the entrance to Himeji Castle, I imagined it to be centuries old. I was stunned to learn later that it was built in 1992!

The former Imperial Palace buildings in Kyoto are spectacular, but I preferred to spend my time admiring the gardens...

The Temple of the Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji, features a remarkable garden, famous for its molded sand representation of Mt Fuji. I was more attracted to the rocks, raked sand, and moss...

A pleasant walking route to our local bus station and railway line is through the Kennin-ji temple complex, which is filled with carefully tended pine trees. Studying their form was a learning experience...