The Heian Jingu Shrine garden, in Winter

The Heian Jingu Shrine garden, in Winter

We went to the shrine to see how the Japanese people welcome the new year. This place, being one of the major Shinto shrines in town, there were, of course, a lot of people. The garden, on the other hand, was almost empty.  Sure, it’s way too late to enjoy the brilliant colors of the Fall but way too early for the cherry blossoms. It’s in-between, and still, the garden is a wonder to cross, quiet and beautiful. 

This is my favorite photo of the day.