An hour to spare this afternoon... Just perfect for wandering into one of my favourite temples to stroll through the peaceful precincts and contemplate first blushes of autumn foliage. And just time for a brief sit-down too...
It's a modest sub-temple, hardly worth a side glance, let alone the 100 yen admission. But for an extra 400 yen, it's the perfect setting for a revivifying bowl of tea.
Instead of tickets, they give you well-worn wooden plaques branded with an indistinct seal...
These you promptly hand back as soon as your tea arrives...
Two chunky bowls half filled with frothy jade-green matcha. And a couple of sugar candies on the side to complement the sharp bitter flavour of the powdered tea.
Just perfect.
