Sayonara Sakura is my fourth and final post on the cherry blossom season and I hope readers of this blog have enjoyed the images as much as I have enjoyed sharing them.
Once captured, an image is forever and becomes one of those frozen moments from the infinity that is time. This has allowed me the indulgence of posting cherry blossom themed photographs over four weeks, somewhat longer than the real-life experience.
To conclude this series I have selected photographs linked only by the common factor of cherry blossom. Some photos are personal favourites, whereas others revisit and extend previous themes. Allow me to make a few brief observations on select photos.
All the photos were taken in and around Kyoto, with the first photograph showing the Philosopher’s Path – a walk I made many times and a favourite place of mine in Kyoto. This photo best captures the image of the Path that I carry in my mind.
In an earlier post (March 28, 2014) I featured a number of shots taken at the Heian shrine, where the cherry blossom was simply magnificent. I had reluctantly excluded pics 3 and 4 from that post – an exclusion now remedied.
Pics 8 and 9 should be viewed together in that they show diners at different ends of the culinary spectrum, each enjoying views of nearby cherry blossom whilst dining. On the one hand there is the clean, modern lines of a fast-food establishment (pic 8) and on the other (pic 9), a row of high-end teahouses, which I have seen attended by geisha. Two polar dining experiences linked by the sakura.
Another favourite location is Ryoanji and particularly its highly renowned karesansui within a magnificent earthen wall. At pic 13 I have shown the sakura from the other side of the wall – a personal indulgence.
Those who have visited Kyoto will probably have visited the Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto’s Gion district. Pics 14 and 15 feature the same sakura tree at the top of the steps near the main entrance. Pic 14 is the view that greets visitors on arrival and pic 15 is the reverse view looking out over Kyoto and its surrounding hills.
I recall an earlier visit to Kyoto where I chose to capture the sunset from Kiyomizudera as my final shots of Kyoto. Somehow the final photograph of this blog seems an appropriate way to bid sayonara to the sakura until next year.
(Please click on any of the following images for an enlarged view.)
johnliddlephotography 
April 20, 2014 at 5:11 pm
Hi John,
You do know that I love, love these captures – such beautiful tributes (and for me, reminders of blessed Kyoto, especially), all of them.
Thank you for these gentle musings you share alongside your pictures of beautiful heart. Much like the soughing of the wind (the Japanese word for this eludes me, sigh) in the bamboo groves that only serves to enhance its allure, your musings go beautifully with these “frozen moments in time” that you share. Arigatoo gozaimasu, tomodachi.
Do take good care of yourself and stay precious, too.
p.s. I catch myself wondering why the word ‘sayonara’ (by which you chose to begin this post) evokes such sadness, although it is slightly remedied (what a lovely word again, from the discourse of healing this time) by your closing lines of promise. Take care, my friend
April 20, 2014 at 9:35 pm
Hi B,
Thanks for your kind words and I’m pleased that the images remind you of your time in Kyoto. Perhaps there were locations you recognise within this and the preceding cherry blossom posts. Many people find farewells difficult and it may be that the feeling of sadness evoked by the word “sayonara” is inherently wired into the human psyche. However, farewells are often followed by words such as “until we meet again” and it is in this context that “sayonara” was used here. The sakura blossoms will return and bring joy anew.
John
April 21, 2014 at 4:45 am
John,
Thank you as always for your wonderfully cheerful words and posts that hold such warmth and delight in them.
Yes, perhaps the meaning of departure seems coded within words that hint at goodbyes (across languages) but like you suggest, it is often used alongside a hint of renewed hope and joy in the future.
Thank you for the sweet cheer, as always, and stay precious, my friend