Life advice: Visit this place before leaving Kyoto...

I'm not exaggerating when I say that Sanzen-in Temple was my favorite temple during my 5-day trip to Kyoto. It was peaceful and serene, like a scene from a movie. I can't imagine how beautiful it would be if the maple leaves were red! 🍁 Unlike most people, we didn't leave until 3 pm. We took our time and walked for 20 minutes up the mountain, arriving at around 4 pm. There were very few tourists at this time, and there was no one in the frame when I took photos. 🚶‍➡️ The sun was about to set 🌅, and the light shone diagonally through the straight trees, creating beautiful shadows! There was none of the noise of other attractions, and you could hear the monks chanting, sweeping, chatting, and the sound of your own feet crunching on the gravel. There are souvenirs for sale when you leave, and you can write a goshuin. There are many handwritten ones, and you can ask for a list of meanings (in Chinese). They also sell incense here, and I picked up a white sandalwood one. I'll compare it to the one I bought at the entrance to Kiyomizu-dera Temple in a few days. 📷 Note that you can't take photos indoors, but you can take photos of the courtyard. 👟 You need to carry your shoes with you and follow the route to see the courtyard after seeing the interior. 🚏 It's a little far from the city center, and the bus takes about 40 minutes from Shimogamo. 🚶‍♀️‍➡️ You need to walk up a long slope from the bus stop to Sanzen-in Temple, which takes about 10 minutes. The shops here usually close early, so make sure to leave enough time if you want to visit them.