Nanzen-ji Temple, Kyoto

A visit to Nanzen-ji Temple is incomplete without experiencing the "Tenka Ryumon," one of Japan's three great gates. While I initially sought out the abbot's residence and gardens, it was the temple's public spaces that proved to be the most captivating.

In stark contrast to the refined and subtly shadowed gardens, the "Tenka Ryumon" exudes a majestic presence. Flanked by lush vegetation and towering, ancient wooden pillars, traversing this space invokes a profound sense of temporal displacement.

I suspect that many visitors upon first arriving in Kyoto may question, "Is this truly an ancient capital?" It was only when I stood beneath this colossal Sanmon gate that I genuinely apprehended the play of light and shadow inherent in a millennium of history.