Kinkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto, Japan

One of the most famous temples in Kyoto we headed here early morning to try and avoid the crowds. Unfortunately, there was still many, many people! We went on a weekday too, thinking it would be better than a weekend, but that just meant that there was groups of school children on outings as well.

The actual experience itself wasn't special, but the views of this temple are STUNNING. It exceeded my expectations for just how beautiful this could be, although it was difficult to find a serene place among the crowd.

Nature treated us to a stork perched perfectly in front of the temple too, so still that there were questioning murmurings from the crowd about whether it was a real one or not, dispelled as it changed position ever so slightly every few minutes.Read more