All around Kyoto and most parts of Japan, you will find these beautiful lit lanterns, sometimes in the hundreds, bunched together. In the olden days they were used in Buddhist temples to illuminate pathways, like modern day street lamps. But nowadays they are for purely ornamental purposes.
The Higashiyama district in Kyoto, is a quaint and beautiful section of town. It takes you back to what it would probably be like a hundred plus years ago in Japan. I was particularly struck by the Yasaka Pagoda in the background, with the shine of the car headlights, shadowing figures of people walking up and down the path. I could have stayed there for hours but a cold chilly night and a warm bowl of delicious ramen awaited me.
Besides some of the most amazing lighting after sunset, while shooting the Yasaka Pagoda, add in a kimono dress as the icing on the cake. Many shops around town in Kyoto rent out these traditional dresses for the day. Considering temperatures have been in the high 40s at best and after sunset, in the low 30s, I myself in layers, hat, gloves and a winter coat was cold. So I can’t even imagine how cold it is to be wearing a kimono, but I saw women everywhere dressed up like this. Unless kimonos are made out of wool or the fur of some animal, that is some dedication to wear all day.
