I still have a week to explore the beautiful city of Kyoto. I have some of the most famous places to visit, and others less known.
Fushimi Inari
Fushimi Inari is one of the most well known temple in Japan, with reason.
It’s an incredible Shinto temple at the base of a mountain.
Hiking path goes to the top of the hill, surrounded by thousands of torii. It’s amazing to walk miles under them.
Light from the sun is reflected on the torii, casting a beautiful red shine on everything.
Truly magical!
Torii
The temple celebrate Inari, the god or goddess of agriculture, usually associated with foxes.
That why many foxes statues can be found in the temple.
I stopped in front of a small pound along the ascension to the top. It was a fun challenge to draw it twice with the reflection on the water
Reflection in water
Monkeys and others creatures
After drawing birds last week, I got the chance to go into a monkey reserve, where more than one hundred monkeys live in liberty, roaming in the forest.
It’s possible to feed them so they often regroup at the same place.
I went just after the birthing season and I could see the cutest babies.
Baby monkey
I tried drawing them but they move all the time!
I had to be careful to not stare at them to much, since it’s considered as a sign of aggression in monkey’s society.
I really love it though even if I need more practice to draw animals live!
I’ll probably spend quite some time at dog parks to draw when I’ll be back.
Chilling in the sun
But monkeys and birds are not the only creatures here, Japan is home to countless mystical creatures, yokais and divinities.
I went to Kurama, a small village north of Kyoto where a tengu is said to live there.
It’s a folkloric creature, recognisable with its red huge nose.
I didn’t saw it sadly so I spend some time in front of the huge statue dedicated to it.
Tengu statue
Daily scenes
After being so long in Kyoto, it’s easy to get “temple sick”.
When seeing too much beauty and incredible architecture, you can get used to it. So I
decided to reset myself with more mundane scenes, and daily life places.
Cafe along the river
Cafe are always a delight to paint. They usually have unique characteristic, with lots of details and decoration, and an unforgettable atmosphere.
Shops and homes have often air conditioning outside the buildings, usually behind. It’s becoming part of the landscape as temples and divinities statues.
It is never shown on postcards or tourist guide, however it stroke me when I arrived, which is a good sign to tell something is different than the usual.
Behind a restaurant
And just like that, I reached the first half of my journey! It went so fast, it’s hard to realised that I have been in Japan for more than a month already! My sketchbooks are getting filed, patiently, day after days. I don’t know if I’ll finished them in time but for sure, they will be filled with incredible memories.
It’s time to leave Kyoto and go the Hyogo Prefecture, still in the Kansai area. Onsen, boat and castle will be in the program!
See you next week!