KYOTO--Kiyomizudera temple here ... maple trees in the temple grounds stunningly lit up by approximately 500 lights. The autumn foliage is expected to reach its peak colors by late November.

In Kyoto, tourists flock to the picturesque Gion district to glimpse Geisha clip-clopping along cobbled streets. It's one of the most photographed parts of the ancient capital. But now the people ...

with the cityscape flooded with tall skyscrapers in bright neon lights. Japan feels very contemporary with its cutting-edge technology, but Kyoto shows the more contemplative side of Japan.