Kamogawa Without Cherry Blossoms Cured My Seasonal Anxiety

Kyoto in February and March is a mix of warmth and cold. The Kamogawa River flows through the shallows, carrying the chill of early spring. The branches are bare, and the sky is a misty blue. Girls in kimonos still click-clack across the streets in wooden clogs, like koi swimming upstream. 🌿 In Kyoto, before the early cherry blossoms awaken, you can hear the rhythm of the city. The grandmother at the convenience store shapes rice balls into cherry blossoms. The grandfather at the cafe uses matcha powder to paint mountains on lattes. They taught me, "美しいものは目で見えない" (True beauty cannot be seen with the eyes). 🌿 Chinese people always ask about the "best time to travel," while Kansai people live each day as "一期一会" (a once-in-a-lifetime encounter). Walking along the Kamogawa River, I suddenly realized: There's no such thing as a perfect time. 🍃 When your heart is at peace, any time, any place, is just right. Sitting on Sanjo Bridge, I gazed at the Kamogawa River for a long time and began to appreciate the differences between Chinese and Japanese life. —— ✅ Forget about catching a cold, kids are everywhere in shorts: ✅ Smoking bans are strictly enforced, even outdoors, only in designated areas; ✅ Restaurants serve ice water, a refreshing feeling; ✅ People of all ages are working, everyone is polite and courteous; ✅ Train schedules are precise to the minute, so complex yet meticulously designed; ✅ The streets are full of elegant women, beautiful regardless of age; . We always try to define a travel destination with our phones and cameras, framing the four seasons with cherry blossoms. But most miss the *wabi-sabi* in the dry landscape before them. At this moment, there's no age anxiety, no seasonal anxiety, no comparison anxiety. Between walking and pausing, leave some blank space. Isn't it enough to meet your true self?