Camellia flowers inspire a mind-boggling number of traditional sweets.
The most famous, and one of the oldest (an early version featuring in 'The Tale of Genji'), is 'tsubaki-mochi' (椿餅). Camellia leaves adorn a sticky rice cake, but unlike sakura-mochi the leaves act as decoration only.
Plum blossoms aren't the only flowers in town
For two brief periods each year the once-imperial nunnery of Reikan-ji (霊鑑寺) opens its gate to the public.
From mid-March to mid-April visitors can enjoy over 100 species of camellia dotted around the hillside gardens.
Kotokiki-chaya (琴きき茶屋) in Arashiyama is famous for its 2 types of sakura-mochi.
The 1st is unusual because there is no bean filling, taking its flavour from the 2 sakura leaves.
The 2nd, wrapped in red bean paste, is shaped like Mt.Arashi. It has been served for 110 years.
It's that most wonderful time of the year...'sakuramochi' (桜餅) in abundance
'Sakuramochi' (桜餅) begin appearing in stores around the time of Hina Matsuri (雛祭り "Doll's Day" - March 3rd) and are eaten throughout the spring.
Kinkakuji Temple in #Kyoto is an amazingly beautiful gold-plated Zen Buddhist temple and one of the highlights of your Kyoto trip. Read our review and let us know what you think. https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Kyoto/
Feliz jueves 
Title: Spring Snow at Maruyama, Kyoto (1936)
Artist: Koitsu Tsuchiya
https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1177/ #ShinHanga #Art #Showa #KoitsuTsuchiya #Winter #Snow #MaruyamaPark #Kyoto #Japan
Here are the booking pages for our Garden Teahouse...
https://tea-kyoto.com/reservation/garden
https://tea-kyoto.com/garden-teahouse-extrasessions
All current availability is shown on the booking page calendars.
The chaos of blossom season is almost upon us, so I thought I'd share some information for guests who have already booked, or are thinking of booking tea ceremony during the busiest time of the year in Kyōto.
Last rebuilt in 1907, the 11.7m granite bridge is barely 60cm wide.
Bubbling up on Hiei-zan, the Shirakawa (白川) eventually flows through Gion. Fine sand would flow down from the mountain, settling on the bed. In the sun it would shine white, giving 'White River' its name.
During the 'Kaihōgyō' (回峰行) Tendai monks descend from Enryaku-ji (延暦寺) on Mt. Hiei and complete various prayer routes that take them into the city and back to their home temple.
This ascetic practice is undertaken for 1000 days (over 7 years)!
Not too far from Chion-in (知恩院), Gyōja-bashi (行者橋 'Bridge of Ascetics') straddles the Shirakawa River (白川).
Monks participating in the 'Kaihōgyō' (回峰行) cross the narrow bridge on their 75th day, en route to Yasaka-jinja (八坂神社).
Feliz martes
It was a little wet for an outdoor tea ceremony, but blossoms are so fleeting you have to enjoy them while you can.
On a grey day the pink blossoms really sing
