Aiko Tanaka shared a list · 3 Dec 2025 Everyone

Kyoto in November, early

Momiji season without the crowds, mostly by getting up before them. Breakfast notes included.

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1. 1 Fushimi Inari at dawn Fushimi Inari Taisha

   Before seven the torii are yours. By nine they belong to everyone.

   Aiko did it 14 Nov
2. 2 Arashiyama's bamboo before eight Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

   Then Tenryū-ji at opening; the garden borrows the mountain.

   Aiko did it 16 Nov

   
3. 3 Persimmons at Nishiki Market

   And whatever the pickle lady insists on.

   Aiko did it 17 Nov
4. 4 The Philosopher's Path in the afternoon

   Maples, a canal, cats. Walk it slowly or not at all.
5. 5 Matcha everything in Uji Byōdō-in

   Thirty minutes by train. Byōdō-in is on the ten-yen coin; bring one to compare.

   Aiko did it 20 Nov

   
6. 6 Bow to the deer in Nara Nara Park

   They bow back. Some of them. Hold on to your map.

   Aiko did it 19 Nov
7. 7 Kiyomizu-dera lit up at night

   The autumn illuminations. Worth the crowd, once.