Kyoto Imperial Palace

As luck would have it I'm in Kyoto one of only two times (spring and autumn) when the Imperial palace is open to the public and it is about 100m from my Airbnb!  This is where Japan's Imperial family lived until 1879 when the Capitol was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. During my last visit to Japan my guide told me how the Japanese people revered the Imperial family and the crowds I experienced today seem to support that claim. 

The autumn colors accentuate the lovely Japanese gardens around the palace grounds and the buildings and art are beautiful.