This photo is from the start of my very first time to visit a Higashiyama Hanatouro, actually it was the very first scene I photographed. It is the gate of Yasaka-jinja (Yasaka Shrine) which is one of the sites of the Higashiyama Hanatouro that has no entry fee. As it was the nearest site to Hankyu's Kawaramachi station (which is the station I usually alight at when going to the downtown from my place) I decided to start my very first Higashiyama Hanatouro at Yasaka-jinja.

Yasaka-jinja is a popular spot with tourist both day and evening all year round and even more so during Higashiyam Hanatouro! Although, I think the time I went there in the New Year's Holidays was even busier. It is a Shrine where many Geisha come to pray. It's also a popular place for couples who still choose to have a Shinto style wedding to have the ceremony. It is located at the center of the Higashiyama area, making it also the central point of the Higashiyama Hanatouro course, but there are more things to see during Hanatouro to the South of Yasaka-jinja than to the North.

Yasaka-jinja's proximity to Hankyu's Kawaramachi station has either made it my starting or ending (or both) on most of my visits to Higashiyama Hanatouro. Another near by train station is Keihan's Gion-Shijo station. If you're staying near JR's Kyoto station then a catch the Kyoto Municiple subway from there to Karasuma-Shijo then the Hankyu train to Kawaramachi (although if you don't mind a long walk you can walk from Karasuma-Shijo to Yasaka-jinja and save 150yen).

Funnily enough this was the only visit to a Hanatouro (Higashiyama and Arashiyama) that I used the Nikon D80. My second visit to Higishiyama Hanatouro I shot on film and by the time my 3rd visit had come around I had long upgraded to the Nikon D700. I actually made two visits to the Arashiyama Hanatouro prior to going to this Higashiyama Hanatouro and I chose to photograph those with film on the first occasion and a Casio Point & Shoot on the second occasion. Looking back I should have used the D80 more for these kind of events as it worked well with my light weight tripod. Whereas if I want to use a tripod with the D700 I need to use a heavy one, which means a significant increase in total weight to carry around.

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