At Toji Yamabuki, the delicate branches sway in the wind, overlooking the plants and pond, while leisurely watching the ducks swim by, feeling calm and relaxed. The morning set includes a salad, boiled egg, toast, and a drink. The salad is served with coleslaw and Aurora dressing, topped with a peeled boiled egg cut into slices. The disposable items like chopsticks and napkins feature illustrations of Toji. The salt shaker is designed to prevent moisture from affecting the rice inside. Noteworthy is the thick, fluffy toast made from mountain-shaped bread, spread with gently melted margarine. The coffee has a smoky richness.

This year's cherry blossoms were beautiful, weren't they? Seeing the Yoshino cherry blossoms bloom and then fall, I can't help but feel grateful to have been born in Japan. Every year during cherry blossom season, I go out to take photos, and even though I've been busier than usual this year, I managed to make time to go see the cherry blossoms. I visited Toji temple in Kyoto during the period when they were lit up at night. It's hard to put into words how stunning it was. The five-story pagoda and the cherry blossoms together were truly beautiful. Some of the Yoshino cherry blossoms were starting to fall and turn into leafy cherry blossoms, but they were still gorgeous. There were also large weeping cherry trees, and their reflection on the surface of the pond in the temple grounds was truly magnificent. After taking a fair amount of photos, the temperature dropped and I started to feel a bit hungry, so I went to a cafe called "Yamabuki" inside Toji temple and had some sweets. I chose cherry blossom mochi, which came with a warm cup of tea for 300 yen. It was so delicious to enjoy while looking at the beautiful cherry blossoms. It was a moment of happiness. I also took a photo at that time, and I will upload it along with the others. While taking photos, I was thinking about the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year. The title of this review may seem a bit unclear, but just like with delicious food and beautiful scenery, there are feelings that are hard to put into words, right?

Toji, located in Kyōto's Minami Ward, is the head temple of the Toji Shingon sect. Also known as "Kyōō Gokokuji," the temple's main deity is Yakushi Nyorai. Toji was bestowed upon Kukai (Kobo Daishi) by Emperor Saga and prospered as the fundamental dojo of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. With the growing faith in Kobo Daishi, Toji became known as "Odaishi-sama's temple" and began to attract the devotion of the common people. Even today in the 21st century, it continues to exist as a representative landmark of Kyōto. In December 1994, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyōto." The National Treasure, the Five-story Pagoda, has become a symbol not only of Toji but also of Kyōto. Standing at a height of 54.8 meters, it boasts the title of the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan. The current pagoda is the fifth one, built in 1644 as a donation from Tokugawa Iemitsu.

A café located in the lodging facility adjacent to Toji Temple, called Rakunan Kaikan. When you enter the café, it feels like stepping back into the 1960s. The menu includes coffee, tea, curry rice, and pilaf, just like in the old days. I ordered a coffee, which was a bit strong but tasted okay. Nothing particularly outstanding, but the view from the large window is truly magnificent. You can see the impressive buildings of Toji Temple in the distance, with a pond full of turtles and shrubs in the foreground. Since Toji Temple is a large temple, it's a perfect spot for a little break after visiting.

Sakura mochi and roasted green tea (at the To-ji Temple cherry blossom light-up event)