Kiyomizu-dera Arrival

Cue the montage as we begin up hill.

2024 December  ◬  34.9955055, 135.7830747
It hits like a bolt. In a sea of same and gray. Against the flat cloudy December sky. The structure towers on the hillside, slicing through morning haze. I stood amongst so many others who also made the journey. There at the gates. An entry to another time. My fingers stiff, steely against the cold aluminum body. Waiting, surveying. Wind coming off the trees above had its own bite. Scent of damp cedar, with a slight whiff of incense from further up. The clouds open. Only seconds. A sharp spike of sunlight catching the bright paint on wood. Igniting the feeling of guardians standing proud. I didn't even check my camera settings. Just started capturing the scene before the flatness. Rolling back in. This place is magic.