Sanzen-in sakura 24th April 2012 Spent today rushing around Ohara village north of Kyoto city. Visited three temples, one of them twice, and climbed a long slope once more than I would have liked.

A quick lunch. Swiss roll with yuba - beancurd sheet - in the centre.

The entrance of Sanzen-in looks softer in spring.

To enter the main building, you have to take your shoes off...

... and carry them past this garden.

When you put your shoes back on, you step on this wooden platform, drop your shoes on the concrete and slip your feet into them. I gather from this sign that Chinese visitors did not realise this.

But koi in a pond scattered with sakura are much easier to understand.

A ghost in spring.

What we've been waiting for.

Because I can take non-sakura pictures too.

And I bet so can he.

Oh who am I kidding. One last sakura shot in the late afternoon light.

The yellow road back to the bus stop.

Seen today in Ohara. Best job in the world?