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Nestled on the upper floors of the Hong Kong Garden high rise on Seymour Road in Mid-levels, this 2800 sq ft family dwelling is home to a couple and their two young children. A space to entertain, relax, play and still enjoy the luxury of privacy, the unit was completely refurbished to create a London-inspired ambience with touches of international glamour – the vision of Thomas Griem, founder of TG Studio London.
<figure id="attachment_67283" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67283" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-67283 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Opening-living-room-wide.jpg" alt="Opening - living room wide" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Opening-living-room-wide.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Opening-living-room-wide-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Opening-living-room-wide-600x399.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Opening-living-room-wide-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Opening-living-room-wide-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Opening-living-room-wide-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Opening-living-room-wide-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67283" class="wp-caption-text">(Photos by Philip Vile)</figcaption></figure>
Stepping into the hallway from the entrance, the feature wall opposite combines modernity with sophistication. Constructed out of timber sections and painted in dove blue, this feature not only sets the tone for the rest of the interior design, but also cleverly conceals the private quarters from the rest of the house behind a hidden door. The flooring, crafted from oak and finished in natural oil, also presents a recurring theme of wooden elements throughout the unit, as seen on the recessed shelving, door frames and concealed storage compartments.
Room to Grow
<figure id="attachment_67288" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67288" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67288" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-LivingRoom.jpg" alt="home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-LivingRoom" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-LivingRoom.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-LivingRoom-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-LivingRoom-600x399.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-LivingRoom-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-LivingRoom-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-LivingRoom-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-LivingRoom-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67288" class="wp-caption-text">(Photos by Philip Vile)</figcaption></figure>
It’s in the main area where the home’s eclectic sensibility stands out most. Its large open plan gives way for modern touches and dynamic details to accentuate the space. The living and dining room, a mix of bohemian and modern aesthetics, welcomes guests into this convivial space. The walls are papered in elegant swatches that separates the different zones, while the unusually high ceilings add a deeper dimension to the space, which also afforded a generously proportioned matte bronze-finished joinery TV cabinet to stand – flamed with black granite to create a plinth to hold a fireplace below.
<figure id="attachment_67285" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67285" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67285" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningbar.jpg" alt="home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningbar" width="466" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningbar.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningbar-200x215.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningbar-261x280.jpg 261w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningbar-120x129.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningbar-400x429.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67285" class="wp-caption-text">(Photos by Philip Vile)</figcaption></figure>
“Every room received careful attention to detail with the perfect finishes, fittings and furniture selections to highlight each space. Fabrics, decorations and art pieces were curated to create a holistic interior that pleases with a sophisticated aesthetic”, says Griem. The Ember rug by Rodaete, for example, extends across the living space, adding gravitas to the space while complementing the chic Leonard sofa from Italian brand Minotti and bespoke coffee table by US-based Chai Ming Studios. While lighting from Deltalight and Kelly Wearstler adds warmth.
Creative Curves
<figure id="attachment_67282" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67282" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67282" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-writing-desk.jpg" alt="home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-writing-desk" width="466" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-writing-desk.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-writing-desk-200x215.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-writing-desk-261x280.jpg 261w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-writing-desk-120x129.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-writing-desk-400x429.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67282" class="wp-caption-text">(Photos by Philip Vile)</figcaption></figure>
Behind the sofa, the curved bay windows also allowed the designer to get creative with making the most of the space with a desk that curves along the bend of the windows. Underneath, leather doors imbedded into the arrabascato window sill, cleverly hides away storage compartments at the owner’s discretion.
<figure id="attachment_67286" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67286" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67286" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningroom.jpg" alt="home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningroom" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningroom.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningroom-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningroom-600x399.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningroom-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningroom-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningroom-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-diningroom-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67286" class="wp-caption-text">(Photos by Philip Vile)</figcaption></figure>
The dining room is situated parallel to the living room and partitioned with oak and stained glass that was manufactured locally. The space is tied together by a round Concorde dining table from Poliform and Casino chairs by Amy Somerville. Adding elegance is the patterned wallpaper and a Victorian-style ceiling lamp, as well as a curved pouf that fits snugly into the tailor-made banquette that is covered in a stunning upholstery fabric from Chase Erwin.
A miniature whisky bar to the side adds a subtle sophistication for when it’s time for a relaxing night cap to conclude the day. Each detail, whether the fabric, materials or design, exhibits the precision and careful consideration Griem had put into perfecting the space.
<figure id="attachment_67287" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67287" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67287" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-kitchen.jpg" alt="home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-kitchen" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-kitchen.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-kitchen-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-kitchen-600x399.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-kitchen-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-kitchen-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-kitchen-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-kitchen-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67287" class="wp-caption-text">(Photos by Philip Vile)</figcaption></figure>
In contrast, the kitchen, directly connected to the dining room, features a minimalist Japanese aesthetic. Clean lines with muted colour tones allow for the space to evoke a calm and bright interior here, fitted with the latest appliances from Germany. The floor, laid out with a light grey veined pattern, harmonises with the warmth of the oak doors.
Things of Stone and Wood
<figure id="attachment_67280" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67280" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67280" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-mastersuite.jpg" alt="home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-mastersuite" width="466" height="500" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-mastersuite.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-mastersuite-200x215.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-mastersuite-261x280.jpg 261w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-mastersuite-120x129.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-mastersuite-400x429.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67280" class="wp-caption-text">(Photos by Philip Vile)</figcaption></figure>
The master suite is decked out with a walk-in closet and private bathroom fitted with rare taps from Boffi, veined marbling stone walls and a beautiful Hinoki wood Furo bathtub that is fronted by a large window that affords idyllic views of mid-levels, The Peak, and Central’s bustling streets. “The client’s brief was to find a stone that he had not seen before. We mixed top-notch Italian marble with local grey stone, to quietly support the colour and feel”, says Griem.
<figure id="attachment_67290" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67290" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67290" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-bedroom.jpg" alt="home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-bedroom" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-bedroom.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-bedroom-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-bedroom-600x399.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-bedroom-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-bedroom-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-bedroom-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-bedroom-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67290" class="wp-caption-text">(Photos by Philip Vile)</figcaption></figure>
This feature of oak and lacquer finish resonates here, especially on the concealed desk in the master bedroom. The pull-out desk opposite the window doubles as a writing and vanity table. Within its confines, a hair dryer is built in along with a make-up drawer and storage for jewellery and accessories. “Storage is very important to our client.” says Griem “We thought of creating a really practical space with the warmth and luxurious feel of the timber veneer that covers every surface”.
<figure id="attachment_67279" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67279" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67279" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-dressing.jpg" alt="home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-dressing" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-dressing.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-dressing-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-dressing-600x399.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-dressing-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-dressing-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-dressing-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-master-dressing-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67279" class="wp-caption-text">(Photos by Philip Vile)</figcaption></figure>
But what really gives this intimate space its grounding feature is the exquisite detailing. The window sill is wrapped in leather from Alma and works as a surface to place jewellery and other accessories, but also contains hidden storage units. The handles for the wardrobes are the Quadrale from Serie Rare in cast bronze. Behind the bed is a feature wall made out of solid oak panels, cut into a three-dimensional pattern, while hanging lights by Holly Hunt and bedside tables from Chi Wing Lo flank the bed sides – making for a stunning effect.
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(Text: Roberliza Eugenio; Photos: Philip Vile, courtesy of TG Studio London)

home-tour-wordly-sensibility-bohemian-hongkong-garden-apartment-gafencu-600x337

A worldly sensibility comes together within this Hong Kong Garden apartment

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More than 2 million tourists flock to Japan to admire the pillowy cherry blossoms that sink Japan into a sea of pink for a few weeks each spring. Sakura season may steal the show, but autumn is equally enchanting. For one of the best displays of fall foliage, head to Kyoto – the former imperial capital – between mid-November and early December.
In a city that has more than 2,000 temples and shrines – many of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites – deciding which ones to skip can seem an insurmountable task. To help, Gafencu has curated a three-day itinerary of our favourite temples, historical sites and cultural curiosities.
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You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more dazzling introduction to Kyoto than Kinkaku-ji. Cloaked in a coat of gold leaf, the Buddhist temple is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city. Located nearby, Ryoan-ji is world-famous for its rock garden. Not a single tree or blade of grass can be detected here – only 15 strategically placed rocks in a rectangular plot of gravel, raked daily. Some believe the stones symbolise a tiger and her cub crossing a stream, while others say the arrangement stands more broadly for nature.
After philosophising for some time on the transience of beauty and nature, head to Ninna-ji (a 15-minute walk). Founded in 888 AD by Emperor Uda, the Buddhist temple is one of the oldest of its kind in Kyoto.
From there, hail a taxi and head to Nijo Castle, a sprawling, moat-encircled enclosure of palaces, gardens and support buildings. Each room inside Ninomaru Palace was decorated in a style that glorified the shogun, and its distinctive nightingale floors – so named for the chirping sound they make when walking across them – were cleverly designed to warn occupants of intruders.
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Get an early start the next morning to beat the crowds that will inevitably clog the passageways of Fushimi Inari-taisha, a Shinto shrine and one of the most photographed spots in the city. Thousands of orange torii (gates) climb their way up Mount Inari, paying tribute to the Shinto god of rice.
Now that you’ve seen the most popular sites in Kyoto, opt for something off the beaten track. The nearby Honen-In is a modest but magical temple tucked away in a secluded spot. In a similar vein, Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pagoda, is the less ostentatious sibling of Kinkaku-ji.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-28136" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2-8-499x280.jpg" alt="" width="601" height="337" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2-8-499x280.jpg 499w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2-8-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2-8-120x67.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2-8-500x281.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2-8-400x225.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2-8.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px" />
You’d be forgiven for feeling a tad ‘templed out’ at this point, but a trip to Gion District will remedy this right away. Shops and fine dining options abound, and if you’re lucky, you may glimpse a geisha on her way to work.
Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, leave the city behind on day three and head deeper into the forest. In Western Kyoto lies the Arashiyama bamboo grove and a number of smaller temples and parks.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-28134" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/7-3-499x280.jpg" alt="" width="601" height="337" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/7-3-499x280.jpg 499w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/7-3-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/7-3-120x67.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/7-3-500x281.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/7-3-400x225.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/7-3.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px" />
For your first meal of the day, try Shigetsu, a Zen vegetarian restaurant inside Tenryu-ji temple. Each dish of shojin ryori – a traditional Buddhist meal – is delightfully simple yet bursting with flavour.
Bellies now full, the bamboo grove beckons. Underneath those towering stalks, the shade-bathed path leads visitors on a trance-like journey, with the soothing sway of trees in the breeze serving as soundtrack.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-28139 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/6-3-187x280.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="449" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/6-3-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/6-3-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/6-3-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/6-3-500x750.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/6-3-400x600.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/6-3.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Aside from Tenryu-ji, our favourite temples in the area were Jojakko-ji and Gio-ji, which both feel worlds away from the camera-clicking masses at popular sites like the Golden Pagoda.
Nature’s beauty may be fleeting, but the restorative powers of fresh air and crisp, colourful leaves will linger long after one leaves Kyoto.
Text: Emily Petsko 
Photos: Emily Petsko, AFP
For the full article, please check out the latest issue of Gafencu&#8217;s print magazine or the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gafencu.android&amp;hl=en">Play Store</a> or Apple <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gafencu/id541555130?mt=8">App Store</a>

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