Cherry Blossoms & Quiet Temples

We arrived just as the cherry trees hit peak bloom along the Philosopher's Path. Pink petals drifted into the canal like slow-motion snow. The crowds at Maruyama Park were thick by 10am, but we found silence at Nanzen-ji just 20 minutes away. A reminder that Kyoto rewards the early riser. Final morning: matcha and wagashi at a tiny teahouse in Gion. The owner spoke no English and we spoke no Japanese, but she smiled when we bowed and said everything that needed saying.