Modern not Modern

I visited Japan, Kyoto, for the first time in 2025. I was anxious about going because I am desperately uncomfortable in crowds, and intimidated by the language barrier. However, I didn’t need to worry. There were some moments that I could have lived without (the crowds at Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) were so overwhelming that I had to bolt for the exit), but there was always somewhere to find solitude and peace.

The temples and castles exude calm and elegance and I loved just sitting and looking at the intricate details on the woodwork / roof. Taking the bullet train (Shinkansen) from Kyoto to Himeji was surreal. The train is ultra-modern, pulling into a contemporary station, where you can see the 17th century castle perched overlooking the town. The contrast is magical.

Settings and Approach

50 mm f/1.4 lens

Aperture Priority, set to f/22 or f/3.5 depending on light conditions

Challenges: Often difficult to be in the right place at the right time for the light direction due to opening hours (and crowd numbers).