It was mid-March, just before spring, when I traveled for the first time to Kyoto, Japan. This Torii, a Shinto gateway, is flanked by evergreen trees. It is one of the largest in Japan.
The Torii leads to the sprawling Shinto Heian-jingu Shrine. A stone lion stands guard in the forefront.
Gardens surrounding the shrine are still under the spell of winter, with a promise of spring to come.
