In March 2008, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks or so visiting the ''Gardens of Kyoto''. It was a tremendous experience, visiting the city, and being in company with its residents, my visiting of buildings, hotels, cafes and restaurants. But Kyoto also has a highly efficient transport system and the complexity of its railway system is to be admired especially when visiting the vastness of Kyoto Rail Station. Kyoto buses run on time, the driver neatly attired and passengers patient and humble, but like elsewhere in Japan they become somewhat crowded but that makes something about the character of the place and being as one with its people. Kyoto is a place for its people, its gardens and for the visitor, a taste of Japan.

I penned some topical pieces and some of these have been included to induce you to go and visit Kyoto and its gardens. Upon reflection some thoughts come to mind.

- The complete Kyoto garden experience requires three visits, maybe four and each visit necessary to represent the changing of the seasons and life in the garden. For example, Cherry Blossom time in the spring, visiting again in summer and admiring the gardens in full flush and their diversity and shaping of foliage. Returning in the autumn and the changing of the trees as they colour and defoliate along with the colourations of the shrubs and finally returning once again, sometime in November or December with the accompanying cold, snow and ice. The garden designers present to observe the seasonal changes and responding to them in their care and maintenance.

- Kyoto's temple gardens are truly a world class tourist attraction and offer to their visitors something of Japan's history and culture. Kyoto somewhat slower in pace and life than Japan's industrialised cities and that of Tokyo.

- Kyoto's people are fond of their public gardens and that of nature and visit them regularly, especially on a Spring Sunday taking in a stroll in the sun and having something to eat along the way. I for one thoroughly enjoyed being within their company.

- Each day in itself is an adventure in selecting gardens to visit, finding them through the transport system, viewing them, luncheon somewhere in a cafe or restaurant tucked away on a lane then returning to the guesthouse, ryokan or hotel. I suggest a doing it yourself approach rather than a tour group which go to places where they can park the coaches. Suggesting such places become crowded and that's fine, but the tranquility and sereneness of the Japanese Zen garden comes to you in its stillness and time spent there on your own. Suggesting the most interesting gardens are those found off the tourist beat and half the fun is finding them.

Finally, I would ensure any visit to Kyoto's gardens include the tours to the four Imperial Gardens and a ticket for those can be found by visiting the information booth near the Shenko Imperial Palace in central Kyoto. These four gardens display the history and culture attached to them by their attendants and dedication to preserve something of the grandeur for the grouping visiting them.