霜月 = Shimotsuki

Kyōto is cold. Colder than Tōkyō. That’s why December in Japan is known as shimotsuki, the frosty month.

We started with breakfast in the ryokan; in our room on the low table again.

Then we took in some of the sights in Arashiyama: Tenryū-ji (Zen temple and garden)…

The temple provides one slipper size. Big enough to cover our Western toes, but little else.

…the bamboo forest…

…and Okōchi Sansō (gardens built by an early star of Japanese Samurai films).

Then a quick train ride to the Nijō-jō, or castle (dull) and the gardens (nicer).

Finally back for our final night in the ryokan.  Walking back to the train station, we passed a park with a pretty bridge, and a camera crew photographing a pretty girl.  I stuck my camera through the fence and took this shot.