To photograph Kyoto’s cherry blossoms on a day of clear blue skies is my very life itself.
2026/4/3.
This year, today is the only day on which I can photograph Kyoto’s cherry blossoms under clear skies.
I headed for Kyoto on the Special Rapid train at 8 in the morning, despite the heavy crowds because it was also commuter time.
Unusually for me, I had already decided the order of shooting, and even that I would use taxis, the night before.
Starting with the place I most wanted to photograph today, I went first to the Kyoto Botanical Gardens.
Since it is as familiar to me as my own garden, I completed the shooting there perfectly in 30 minutes.
I immediately took a taxi to Ginkakuji-michi.
At first, I had planned to head from there to Heian Shrine, but I ended up walking the Philosopher’s Path all the way to the end in one stretch.
As expected, I was tired.
Just then, a taxi appeared after dropping off a foreign couple.
I decided to skip Nanzen-ji and headed to Heian Shrine.
For lunch, unwilling to waste the clear skies, I chose to eat at the Seven-Eleven near the torii gate.
Three rice balls and milk.
From Higashiyama Station, I took the Tozai Subway Line to Uzumasa Tenjingawa Station.
From there, I transferred to the Randen and went to Arashiyama.
I had planned to go to Ryōan-ji as well, but the long uninterrupted walk along the Philosopher’s Path had taken its toll, so I ended the day at Arashiyama.
I returned home.
This work is also one of the best in my photographic history.
I present it to people throughout the world together with Schumann’s symphony.
Today, I began shooting at the very moment the Botanical Gardens opened at 9, completed photographing the places written above, and returned home at 2:30 p.m.
The reason I can perform such a feat is that I live with Kyoto as though it were my own garden.
One of the reasons I live in Osaka is that I live with Kyoto, the world’s greatest tourist city, as though it were my own garden.
In 2012, I visited and continued photographing the Kyoto Botanical Gardens as my main destination for 300 days in a single year.
A few years ago, I also visited and photographed Arashiyama, chiefly Tenryu-ji, for more than 100 days in a single year.