Last October, I discovered that Japan has some serious monopoly on the sun. If sunlight were a currency, then a huge chunk of the world’s high-quality rays of light—the kind that makes ordinary you look extraordinary in photos—is being held hostage in Japan.
One of the main reasons I keep going back to this country, which in my opinion is distinctly different from the rest of Asia-Pacific, is because the place transforms with the season. Take Kyoto, for example. I’ve been there a grand total of three times, and the places I end up coming back to would leave me with images that are quite unlike the images I was left with on prior visits. I think part of it is that, having lived in a tropical country all my life, the concept of places “changing” with the season has always been foreign to me. It wasn’t until this last visit in Japan, which happened on the tail-end of summer and the beginning of fall, that I experienced the difference.
Because I was with a friend who had never been to the country, we ended up visiting much of the places I had already seen. I thought I wouldn’t enjoy Kyoto as much as I did when I saw places like Fushimi Inari and Tenryuji with freshly minted eyes, but this visit actually left me with a renewed sense of appreciation for the country’s beauty. Whereas in the wintry months I was left with a rather dark and dramatic image of these places, at the tail-end of summer, I saw another side of Japan. One that was refreshingly light, vibrant, and, no other word to describe it, sublime.
-T
The Jetset Journo 
Beautiful moments!
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Thank you! :)
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End of summer turning into fall is the most amazing part of the year. Late summer sun has such a nostalgic feeling! I still have not made it to Kyoto, which is really a huge oversight given that it’s but a 2 hour $50 flight away from Seoul. Definitely have to remedy that this year I think!
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$50?? Okay you officially have no excuse. Perfect time to go this spring! Cherry blossom festival :D
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I knowww!! We get these crazy cheap fares to Osaka on Peach Air… I’m ashamed actually…there’s really no excuse. This year I’m making it happen…also want to get my teeth onto some Kobe beef. Have you tried?
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We didn’t really make it to Kobe, but we did have some Kobe Beef Burgers in a restaurant in Kyoto. The beef melts in your mouth. Freakin’ amazing. I still dream about it. hahaha. Goooo!
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Beautiful photos
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Thank you, Kan!
I love your photos, too—thanks for following my blog. Returned the favor :D Cheers!
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Bravo. A good read. I placed your article on my Twitter site. Thanks for sharing. :)
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Cool! Thank you for helping promote the post :) Happy travels!
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