Kyoto was buzzing with visitors over the weekend, and on the main streets we were forced to move at a snail’s pace because of the crowds. But the good thing about Kyoto is that there are plenty of quiet places too.

In the middle of the busy Gion district is Kenninji Temple, the oldest Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto. It’s the area’s ‘inner sanctum’, if you like.

Most of the visitors headed straight for the temple itself, where there were amazing painted ceilings, but we were content to wander through the quiet gardens.

There was a little shrine where people wrote the prayers on wooden boards.

And as it was a zen garden, rocks were used all the way through.

The scenes that I liked most were the little signs that autumn was in full swing in the city.

We soon found out however that in Kyoto it was a luxury to enjoy such beauties in peace and quiet.