As you walk the city, you become aware of how many little parks there are (many are famous for their performance in the cherry-blossom season, but they're pleasant in winter too). And a surprising number of these parks also have their own little shrines.

Recent parks:

Here we're back at Higashi Park (without the snow this time). This is close to our digs, so we often swing by this one:





And this is the other end of Tenjin Park from the step garden:




The walk to Hakozaki Shrine turned out to be a good plane- and bird-spotting route:












Sanno Park, and Hiyoshi Shrine:



Hanano Park and Inukaidai Shrine:




On the way to Nishi Park:












It's a good walking city, this.

There are definitely irritations. The sun in, the sun out; the wind blowing, the wind not blowing -- these variations produce radically diverging temperatures, so that you're always on and off with hats and gloves, and up and down with coat collars. The outdoor masking convention is a pain. You have to be constantly on the look-out for bicycles barrelling along the pavements. And people really do not jay-walk here, so any excursion across the city involves lots of waiting at traffic lights.

But interesting things are constantly cropping up along the way; the pavements are in excellent condition; at junctions with no traffic lights, it's the pedestrian who has right of way; and there's a wonderful supply of public toilets.

All in all, then, definitely a good walking city.