My Entry Into The Cherry Blossom Photography Contest #1

When I think of Sakura I think of tradition, so what better place to view tradition than at a temple? Enter Takahata Fudoson Kongoji.

Takahata Fudoson Kongoji is a very old Buddhist temple complex dating back to around 701 A.D. It's located about 30minutes west of Shinjuku and is a very popular tourist attraction in the small town of Takahata, Hino.

The temple is only a few stops from my home so a couple of years ago I went down there to do some sight seeing. Lucky for me it was also hanami season so I was able to get some nice pictures of the sakura.

This photo was took me a few minutes to figure out how I wanted to present it.

As I was finishing up my walk of the temple grounds I stumbled upon the tree overhanging the walkway.

My first attempt was a failure.

The second try was the one I like the most. It is the first image in this post.

The third attempt I tried to move the temple building more into frame, but it just didn't look right to me.

What do you think?

Here are some additional pictures from the temple grounds.

While hanami season is coming to a close, the temple is still worth paying a visit anytime of year.