Upon reaching the temple complex, we headed straight for lunch at Yuusui, the most famous soba restaurant out of more than 20 in the area. The fresh handmade soba noodles were springy in texture, making a great companion to the piping-hot serving of tempura.
After amazake, soba manju and a short tour of the temple and picturesque streets, we visited a nearby natural onsen for a relaxing open-air bath in ebony-coloured spring waters. Upon the ripples, sakura petals spun and danced to the sounds of raindrops and rustling leaves. We sat under the overcast evening sky, listening quietly.