Kyoto | I can't imagine how beautiful it will be during cherry blossom season

- I finally found Nanzen-ji Temple without any crowds. Perhaps it was the off-season, but I strolled here leisurely. There weren't many tourists. The last time I came was summer, with lush green leaves everywhere. Following the same route, the old woman was still sitting in front of Nanzen-ji Temple selling tickets. Everything seemed unchanged, yet different. From emerald green to dark brown, and then to a momentary snow-white, the distinct four seasons of a monsoon climate, once learned from textbooks, now unfolded before my eyes. Sitting in a small Western-style restaurant favored by a friend, I saw several elderly customers come in. The owner and his wife greeted them with "Hisashiburi" (Long time no see). Although we were strangers, we also exchanged pleasantries about the cold weather, acknowledging that it was the coldest time of the year. Many houses on Hanamikoji Street have been renovated or perhaps remodeled. The brand-new walls appear somewhat abrupt. I noticed that several famous Tokyo stores have opened branches run by their apprentices on this street. It felt a bit like catering to the trends. Perhaps this street will soon become indistinguishable from Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. There probably won't be matcha-flavored ice cream without actual matcha. It might just become a high-end tourist spot. As winter turns to spring, I look forward to our next encounter.