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  • Yes, Christmas is celebrated in Japan but usually only as an excuse to have a party, a large dinner (almost never turkey) and  gift giving.  In short, it is the festive mood that attracts the Japanese who are oblivous to its original religious significance.  On the other hand there is no pretense about it in Japan - it is simply a commercial venture of gift shopping, admiring decorations and dinner party time.
    japan-christmas-01.jpg
  • Japan Railways Second Class Railway Carriage
    japan-railway-images-1.jpg
  • JR Japan Railways Local Train
    japan-railway-images-12.jpg
  • The Japanese Alps is a series of mountain ranges that bisect the main island of Honshu. The Japan Alps encompass the Hida Mountains, the Kiso Mountains and the Akaishi Mountains. These towering ranges include several peaks exceeding 3,000 metres in height, the tallest after Mount Fuji.
    japan-alps-2.jpg
  • Dining Car On Board the Hokotosei, or the North Star night train, plies its way nightly from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Sapporo.   The train takes approximately 16 hours in either direction Ueno-Sapporo.  Blue Trains in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed for the color of the train cars. They consist of sleeper cars, and currently run on nine routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer limited-express sleeper trains which are not blue.
    hokutosei-7.jpg
  • Hokutosei or the North Star night train, plies its way nightly from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Sapporo.   The train takes approximately 16 hours in either direction Ueno-Sapporo.  Blue Trains in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed for the color of the train cars. They consist of sleeper cars, and currently run on nine routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer limited-express sleeper trains which are not blue.
    hokutosei-10.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-02.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-11.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-03.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-18.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-19.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-16.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-14.jpg
  • Hokutosei or the North Star night train, once plied its way nightly from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Sapporo.  The train took approximately 16 hours in either direction Ueno-Sapporo.  Blue Trains in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed for the color of the train cars. They consist of sleeper cars, and currently run on nine routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer limited-express sleeper trains which are not blue. Sadly, these blue trains have been disappearing one by one in recent years.
    hokutosei-6.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-20.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-17.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-13.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-05.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-02.jpg
  • Hokutosei or the North Star night train, plies its way nightly from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Sapporo.   The train takes approximately 16 hours in either direction Ueno-Sapporo.  Blue Trains in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed for the color of the train cars. They consist of sleeper cars, and currently run on nine routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer limited-express sleeper trains which are not blue.
    hokutosei-1.jpg
  • Hokutosei or the North Star night train, plies its way nightly from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Sapporo.   The train takes approximately 16 hours in either direction Ueno-Sapporo.  Blue Trains in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed for the color of the train cars. They consist of sleeper cars, and currently run on nine routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer limited-express sleeper trains which are not blue.
    hokutosei-8.jpg
  • Hokutosei or the North Star night train, plies its way nightly from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Sapporo.   The train takes approximately 16 hours in either direction Ueno-Sapporo.  Blue Trains in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed for the color of the train cars. They consist of sleeper cars, and currently run on nine routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer limited-express sleeper trains which are not blue.
    hokutosei-3.jpg
  • Japan Alps at Komagane - Komagane  Is Located At the foot Of the magnificent Southern And Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, which contain mountains as high As 3000 meters.  The Senjojiki Curl is a  bowl-shaped topography scraped with ice from the ice age 20,000 years ago in the Central Alps, spreading below the rock surface of the alpine zone at above 2,500 meters above sea level.  When it is not in use during the ski season, it is a popular spot for seasonal flowers and trekking.
    sano-family-trip-13.jpg
  • Japan Alps at Komagane - Komagane  Is Located At the foot Of the magnificent Southern And Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, which contain mountains as high As 3000 meters.  The Senjojiki Curl is a  bowl-shaped topography scraped with ice from the ice age 20,000 years ago in the Central Alps, spreading below the rock surface of the alpine zone at above 2,500 meters above sea level.  When it is not in use during the ski season, it is a popular spot for seasonal flowers and trekking.
    sano-family-trip-16.jpg
  • Japan Alps at Komagane - Komagane  Is Located At the foot Of the magnificent Southern And Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, which contain mountains as high As 3000 meters.  The Senjojiki Curl is a  bowl-shaped topography scraped with ice from the ice age 20,000 years ago in the Central Alps, spreading below the rock surface of the alpine zone at above 2,500 meters above sea level.  When it is not in use during the ski season, it is a popular spot for seasonal flowers and trekking.
    sano-family-trip-14.jpg
  • Japan Alps at Komagane - Komagane  Is Located At the foot Of the magnificent Southern And Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, which contain mountains as high As 3000 meters.  The Senjojiki Curl is a  bowl-shaped topography scraped with ice from the ice age 20,000 years ago in the Central Alps, spreading below the rock surface of the alpine zone at above 2,500 meters above sea level.  When it is not in use during the ski season, it is a popular spot for seasonal flowers and trekking.
    sano-family-trip-12.jpg
  • Japan Alps at Komagane - Komagane  Is Located At the foot Of the magnificent Southern And Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, which contain mountains as high As 3000 meters.  The Senjojiki Curl is a  bowl-shaped topography scraped with ice from the ice age 20,000 years ago in the Central Alps, spreading below the rock surface of the alpine zone at above 2,500 meters above sea level.  When it is not in use during the ski season, it is a popular spot for seasonal flowers and trekking.
    sano-family-trip-9.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-15.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-12.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-09.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-08.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-06.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-04.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-01.jpg
  • Dining Car On Board the Hokotosei or the North Star night train, plies its way nightly from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Sapporo.   The train takes approximately 16 hours in either direction Ueno-Sapporo.  Blue Trains in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed for the color of the train cars. They consist of sleeper cars, and currently run on nine routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer limited-express sleeper trains which are not blue.
    hokutosei-6.jpg
  • Japan Alps at Komagane - Komagane  Is Located At the foot Of the magnificent Southern And Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, which contain mountains as high As 3000 meters.  The Senjojiki Curl is a  bowl-shaped topography scraped with ice from the ice age 20,000 years ago in the Central Alps, spreading below the rock surface of the alpine zone at above 2,500 meters above sea level.  When it is not in use during the ski season, it is a popular spot for seasonal flowers and trekking.
    sano-family-trip-17.jpg
  • Japan Alps at Komagane - Komagane  Is Located At the foot Of the magnificent Southern And Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, which contain mountains as high As 3000 meters.  The Senjojiki Curl is a  bowl-shaped topography scraped with ice from the ice age 20,000 years ago in the Central Alps, spreading below the rock surface of the alpine zone at above 2,500 meters above sea level.  When it is not in use during the ski season, it is a popular spot for seasonal flowers and trekking.
    sano-family-trip-11.jpg
  • Japan Alps at Komagane - Komagane  Is Located At the foot Of the magnificent Southern And Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, which contain mountains as high As 3000 meters.  The Senjojiki Curl is a  bowl-shaped topography scraped with ice from the ice age 20,000 years ago in the Central Alps, spreading below the rock surface of the alpine zone at above 2,500 meters above sea level.  When it is not in use during the ski season, it is a popular spot for seasonal flowers and trekking.
    sano-family-trip-10.jpg
  • Japan Alps at Komagane - Komagane  Is Located At the foot Of the magnificent Southern And Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, which contain mountains as high As 3000 meters.  The Senjojiki Curl is a  bowl-shaped topography scraped with ice from the ice age 20,000 years ago in the Central Alps, spreading below the rock surface of the alpine zone at above 2,500 meters above sea level.  When it is not in use during the ski season, it is a popular spot for seasonal flowers and trekking.
    sano-family-trip-2.jpg
  • Japan Alps at Komagane - Komagane  Is Located At the foot Of the magnificent Southern And Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, which contain mountains as high As 3000 meters.  The Senjojiki Curl is a  bowl-shaped topography scraped with ice from the ice age 20,000 years ago in the Central Alps, spreading below the rock surface of the alpine zone at above 2,500 meters above sea level.  When it is not in use during the ski season, it is a popular spot for seasonal flowers and trekking.
    sano-family-trip-8.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-06.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-05.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-01.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-10.jpg
  • A scarecrow is a special type of decoy in the shape of a human placed in fields to keep birds from disturbing and feeding on seed and crops. Modern scarecrows, though remaining decoys, sometimes take other shapes. Reflective aluminum ribbons are tied to plants to shimmer in the sun. In Japan, kakashi is the modern Japanese word for a scarecrow, though there are references in Shinto mythology of the Kuebiko god of agriculture, represented as a scarecrow.  These days scarecrow events and festivals are popular around the world in Autumn.  They are held in Scotland, Canada, Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom.
    scarecrow-07.jpg
  • Hokutosei or the North Star night train, plies its way nightly from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Sapporo.   The train takes approximately 16 hours in either direction Ueno-Sapporo.  Blue Trains in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed for the color of the train cars. They consist of sleeper cars, and currently run on nine routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer limited-express sleeper trains which are not blue.
    hokutosei-9.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-03.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-04.jpg
  • Cassiopia special train from Tokyo to Sapporo, with view of the observation car.  The Cassiopia is one of the few "blue trains" or night trains left in Japan as a result of the bullet train.
    cassiopia-train-2.jpg
  • Sailboats at Miura Peninsula Japan
    jogashima-4.jpg
  • Childrens Day Carp Banners on front cover of NHK Books "Trad Japan"
    nhk.cover.jpg
  • Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating has Western roots, but in recent years Halloween has become popular in Japan.  Wookies, batwomen, unicorns, vampires and vampirettes, not to mention a smattering of cosplayers decked out in new rags.  Japan is a serious contender in the halloween costume game.  Large events are held the last week of October, from Tokyo Halloween at Odaiba, to Shibuya Costume Street Party.  Originally the only Halloween events in Japan were when bands of westerners took over the Yamanote Line in Tokyo around Halloween midnight trying to spook ordinary commuter passengers for fun.  The fun has caught on.
    japan-halloween-1.jpg
  • Kabuki Character Mask, Japan Expo - Kabuki is a traditional Japanese form of theater developed during the Edo Period.  Kabuki is rich in showmanship and involves elaborately designed costumes, outlandish wigs, extraordinary makeup and exaggerated actions performed by the actors. Highly stylized movements convey meaning to the audience; this is especially important since an old-fashioned form of Japanese is typically used, which is difficult for speakers of modern Japanese to fully understand.  Plots are based on historical events, moral conflicts, love stories, tales of tragedy of conspiracy, and other well-known stories.  Dynamic stage sets: revolving platforms and trapdoors allow for the quick changing of a scene or the appearance or disappearance of actors.  Another specialty of the kabuki stage is a footbridge that leads through the audience, allowing for a dramatic entrance or exit. Ambiance is aided with live music performed using traditional instruments. These elements combine to produce a stunning performance.  Kabuki is recognized as one of Japan's three major classical theaters along with noh and bunraku, and has been named as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
    Japan-Expo-2012-Bugakuza.jpg
  • Japan Railways Conductors
    japan-railway-conductor.jpg
  • JR Japan Railways Conductor - peering out of his small office window.
    japan-railway-conductor-2.jpg
  • Lafcadio Hearn lived in Matsue for about one year during his long life in Japan.  His former residence is open to the public and is dedicated to his work.  Hearn was born in Greece in 1850 to an Irish father and a Greek mother and lived in Greece, Ireland, Britain, France and the USA before ending up in  Japan in 1890 where he married a Japanese and was naturalized as Japanese as Koizumi Yakumo, his name in Japan.  He is best know for books that introduced Japan to the western world.   His most famous work was "Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan”.  In his home at Matsue, Hearn described the Japanese garden of the residence: “There are large rocks in it, heavily mossed and fantastic basins of stone for holding water; and stone lamps green with years... and there are green knolls like islets.”  In his well known essay “In A Japanese Garden” he writes: “These are the gardens of the past. The future will know them only as dreams, creations of a forgotten art.”
    lafcadio-hearn-garden-4.jpg
  • Mount Fuji View from Tateish - iMount Fuji or Fuji-san as it is called in Japan (not Fujiyama) is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 meters or 12,388 feet in altitude. Mt Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707; Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone is a well known symbol of Japan and is frequently visible in art and photographs. Although Mount Fuji has not erupted in over 300 years its still not considered to be extinct.
    fuji-tateishi-2.jpg
  • Shonan Beach has long been a popular escape from Tokyo and has a rich history. Many manga and films have been set at Shonan, especially in Kamakura, solidifying its reputation as a great escape from Tokyo.  It is known for its views and perspective of Mt Fuji, tides, surfing, beaches and windsurfing. Mt Fuji at Shonan Beach - Mount Fuji or Fuji-san as it is called in Japan (not Fujiyama) is the highest mountain in Japan in altitude.  Mt Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707.  Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone is a well known symbol of Japan and is represented in art, plays and movies.
    mt-fuji-shonan-beach-01.jpg
  • The Negishi Horse Racing Grandstand is one of the most famous of the abandoned ruins in Japan and a popular urban explorer destination.  The Emperor Meiji ordered the construction of this horse racecourse in 1866, so an English architect was commissioned to design it so tough that it withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. After 1945 it was used as US headquarters of communications during the occupation.  It is located near facilities of the US Fleet Activities and consequently the entire area is heavily guarded and monitored by surveillance cameras. Negishi Heights was returned to Japan in 1983 and it became a public park, with Negishi Horse Grandstand cordoned off as a kind of curiosity of the park, sectioned off by barbed wire fences.
    negishi-grandstand-11.jpg
  • The Negishi Horse Racing Grandstand is one of the most famous of the abandoned ruins in Japan and a popular urban explorer destination.  The Emperor Meiji ordered the construction of this horse racecourse in 1866, so an English architect was commissioned to design it so tough that it withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. After 1945 it was used as US headquarters of communications during the occupation.  It is located near facilities of the US Fleet Activities and consequently the entire area is heavily guarded and monitored by surveillance cameras. Negishi Heights was returned to Japan in 1983 and it became a public park, with Negishi Horse Grandstand cordoned off as a kind of curiosity of the park, sectioned off by barbed wire fences.
    negishi-grandstand-08.jpg
  • The Negishi Horse Racing Grandstand is one of the most famous of the abandoned ruins in Japan and a popular urban explorer destination.  The Emperor Meiji ordered the construction of this horse racecourse in 1866, so an English architect was commissioned to design it so tough that it withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. After 1945 it was used as US headquarters of communications during the occupation.  It is located near facilities of the US Fleet Activities and consequently the entire area is heavily guarded and monitored by surveillance cameras. Negishi Heights was returned to Japan in 1983 and it became a public park, with Negishi Horse Grandstand cordoned off as a kind of curiosity of the park, sectioned off by barbed wire fences.
    negishi-grandstand-03.jpg
  • Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is the one of the most famous spots in Kamakura for sakura views after Wakamiyaoji Path, which leads to the shrine itself.  A cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese Cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is called sakura in Japanese.  Japan has a wide variety of cherry blossoms with well over 200 types can be found there.[ The most popular variety of cherry blossom in Japan is the Somei Yoshino. Its flowers are nearly white, tinged with the palest pink, and bloom and fall within a week, before the leaves come out.
    torii-sakura-2.jpg
  • Mt Fuji at Shonan Beach - Mount Fuji or Fuji-san as it is called in Japan (not Fujiyama) is the highest mountain in Japan in altitude. Mt Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707; Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone is a well known symbol of Japan and is frequently visible in art, movies and photographs. Although Mount Fuji has not erupted in over 300 years its still not considered to be extinct. Shonan Beach has long been a popular escape from Tokyo and has a rich history. Many manga and films have been set at Shonan, especially in Kamakura, solidifying its reputation as a great escape from Tokyo. It is known for its views and perspective of Mt Fuji, tides, surfing, beaches and windsurfing.
    Fuji-3.jpg
  • Mt Fuji at Shonan Beach - Mount Fuji or Fuji-san as it is called in Japan (not Fujiyama) is the highest mountain in Japan in altitude.  Mt Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707;  Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone is a well known symbol of Japan and is frequently visible in art, movies and photographs.  Although Mount Fuji has not erupted in over 300 years its still not considered to be extinct.  Shonan Beach has long been a popular escape from Tokyo and has a rich history. Many manga and films have been set at Shonan, especially in Kamakura, solidifying its reputation as a great escape from Tokyo.  It is known for its views and perspective of Mt Fuji, tides, surfing, beaches and windsurfing.
    mt-fuji-shonan-beach-09.jpg
  • Mount Fuji View from Tateish - iMount Fuji or Fuji-san as it is called in Japan (not Fujiyama) is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 meters or 12,388 feet in altitude. Mt Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707; Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone is a well known symbol of Japan and is frequently visible in art and photographs. Although Mount Fuji has not erupted in over 300 years its still not considered to be extinct.
    fuji-tateishi-4.jpg
  • Mount Fuji View from Tateish - iMount Fuji or Fuji-san as it is called in Japan (not Fujiyama) is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 meters or 12,388 feet in altitude. Mt Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707; Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone is a well known symbol of Japan and is frequently visible in art and photographs. Although Mount Fuji has not erupted in over 300 years its still not considered to be extinct.
    fuji-tateishi-3.jpg
  • The Negishi Horse Racing Grandstand is one of the most famous of the abandoned ruins in Japan and a popular urban explorer destination.  The Emperor Meiji ordered the construction of this horse racecourse in 1866, so an English architect was commissioned to design it so tough that it withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. After 1945 it was used as US headquarters of communications during the occupation.  It is located near facilities of the US Fleet Activities and consequently the entire area is heavily guarded and monitored by surveillance cameras. Negishi Heights was returned to Japan in 1983 and it became a public park, with Negishi Horse Grandstand cordoned off as a kind of curiosity of the park, sectioned off by barbed wire fences.
    negishi-grandstand-21.jpg
  • The Negishi Horse Racing Grandstand is one of the most famous of the abandoned ruins in Japan and a popular urban explorer destination.  The Emperor Meiji ordered the construction of this horse racecourse in 1866, so an English architect was commissioned to design it so tough that it withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. After 1945 it was used as US headquarters of communications during the occupation.  It is located near facilities of the US Fleet Activities and consequently the entire area is heavily guarded and monitored by surveillance cameras. Negishi Heights was returned to Japan in 1983 and it became a public park, with Negishi Horse Grandstand cordoned off as a kind of curiosity of the park, sectioned off by barbed wire fences.
    negishi-grandstand-14.jpg
  • The Negishi Horse Racing Grandstand is one of the most famous of the abandoned ruins in Japan and a popular urban explorer destination.  The Emperor Meiji ordered the construction of this horse racecourse in 1866, so an English architect was commissioned to design it so tough that it withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. After 1945 it was used as US headquarters of communications during the occupation.  It is located near facilities of the US Fleet Activities and consequently the entire area is heavily guarded and monitored by surveillance cameras. Negishi Heights was returned to Japan in 1983 and it became a public park, with Negishi Horse Grandstand cordoned off as a kind of curiosity of the park, sectioned off by barbed wire fences.
    negishi-grandstand-01.jpg
  • Mt Fuji at Shonan Beach - Mount Fuji or Fuji-san as it is called in Japan (not Fujiyama) is the highest mountain in Japan in altitude. Mt Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707; Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone is a well known symbol of Japan and is frequently visible in art, movies and photographs. Although Mount Fuji has not erupted in over 300 years its still not considered to be extinct. Shonan Beach has long been a popular escape from Tokyo and has a rich history. Many manga and films have been set at Shonan, especially in Kamakura, solidifying its reputation as a great escape from Tokyo. It is known for its views and perspective of Mt Fuji, tides, surfing, beaches and windsurfing.
    mt-fuji-wave-01.jpg
  • Mt Fuji at Shonan Beach - Mount Fuji or Fuji-san as it is called in Japan (not Fujiyama) is the highest mountain in Japan in altitude.  Mt Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707;  Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone is a well known symbol of Japan and is frequently visible in art, movies and photographs.  Although Mount Fuji has not erupted in over 300 years its still not considered to be extinct.  Shonan Beach has long been a popular escape from Tokyo and has a rich history. Many manga and films have been set at Shonan, especially in Kamakura, solidifying its reputation as a great escape from Tokyo.  It is known for its views and perspective of Mt Fuji, tides, surfing, beaches and windsurfing.
    mt-fuji-shonan-beach-10.jpg
  • Shimogamo Shrine or Shimogamo jinja in Japanese is an important Shinto sanctuary in Kyoto.  Its official name is Kamo-mioya-jinja and is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan.  Importantly, it is one of the seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
    shimogamo-3.jpg
  • The Adachi Museum of Art was based on the private collection of Zenko Adachi.  Adachi collected Japanese paintings, ceramics and scrolls.  Adachi himself was an aficionado of Japanese gardens and collected each pine tree and each stone for the garden himself from around Japan.   In this way he created a beautiful garden filled with his own vision and passion.  Adachi believed that Japanese gardens were "as beautiful as pictures” and even framed one of the gardens in one of the museums rooms as if it is a painting itself. Adachi Museum Garden has been selected as the best garden in Japan year after year since 2003, by the Journal of Japanese Gardens Shisai Project.
    adachi-garden-12.jpg
  • The Adachi Museum of Art was based on the private collection of Zenko Adachi.  Adachi collected Japanese paintings, ceramics and scrolls.  Adachi himself was an aficionado of Japanese gardens and collected each pine tree and each stone for the garden himself from around Japan.   In this way he created a beautiful garden filled with his own vision and passion.  Adachi believed that Japanese gardens were "as beautiful as pictures” and even framed one of the gardens in one of the museums rooms as if it is a painting itself. Adachi Museum Garden has been selected as the best garden in Japan year after year since 2003, by the Journal of Japanese Gardens Shisai Project.
    adachi-garden-09.jpg
  • JR Staff Bowing to Passengers - The Shinkansen is a network of high speed railway lines in Japan operated Japan Railways.  Starting with the 210 km/h  Shinkansen in 1964 the now 2,500 km long network has expanded to link most major cities on the islands of Honshu and Kyushu at speeds up to 300 km/h.
    shinkansen-11.jpg
  • The Negishi Horse Racing Grandstand is one of the most famous of the abandoned ruins in Japan and a popular urban explorer destination.  The Emperor Meiji ordered the construction of this horse racecourse in 1866, so an English architect was commissioned to design it so tough that it withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. After 1945 it was used as US headquarters of communications during the occupation.  It is located near facilities of the US Fleet Activities and consequently the entire area is heavily guarded and monitored by surveillance cameras. Negishi Heights was returned to Japan in 1983 and it became a public park, with Negishi Horse Grandstand cordoned off as a kind of curiosity of the park, sectioned off by barbed wire fences.
    negishi-grandstand-04.jpg
  • 21st Century Memorial Park Hayama no Mori is adjacent to Hayama Park selected as one of the 100 Best Historical Parks in Japan.  There is a Japanese garden area, a tea room Mugen-an, and a Sukiya-style architecture Foot Sanso.  In the beautiful Japanese garden where the seasons change, there is a tea ceremony room, a tea ceremony room, and hermitage that can be used for tea ceremony and flower arrangement. It is a sukiya-zukuri building that was set up for the purpose of improving technology while inheriting the traditions and culture of Japan
    hayama-no-mori-22.jpg
  • 21st Century Memorial Park Hayama no Mori is adjacent to Hayama Park selected as one of the 100 Best Historical Parks in Japan.  There is a Japanese garden area, a tea room Mugen-an, and a Sukiya-style architecture Foot Sanso.  In the beautiful Japanese garden where the seasons change, there is a tea ceremony room, a tea ceremony room, and hermitage that can be used for tea ceremony and flower arrangement. It is a sukiya-zukuri building that was set up for the purpose of improving technology while inheriting the traditions and culture of Japan
    hayama-no-mori-11.jpg
  • 21st Century Memorial Park Hayama no Mori is adjacent to Hayama Park selected as one of the 100 Best Historical Parks in Japan.  There is a Japanese garden area, a tea room Mugen-an, and a Sukiya-style architecture Foot Sanso.  In the beautiful Japanese garden where the seasons change, there is a tea ceremony room, a tea ceremony room, and hermitage that can be used for tea ceremony and flower arrangement. It is a sukiya-zukuri building that was set up for the purpose of improving technology while inheriting the traditions and culture of Japan
    hayama-no-mori-04.jpg
  • Takahama beach has the clearest water and the whitest sand in all of Japan and one of the best known beaches of the Goto Islands, attracting visitors from all over the country despite its remote location. The beach overlooks the Sagano Islands and its sandbar provides a calm shallow swimming area. Silvery sand sparkles through clear water, with surrounding greenery completing the perfect coastal scene.<br />
Named among Japan’s top 100 natural beaches and top 80 swimming beaches Takahama is popular with locals as well as tourists. Its famous waters of brilliant shades of blue change hue throughout the day.
    takahama-beach-goto-3.jpg
  • The Adachi Museum of Art was based on the private collection of Zenko Adachi.  Adachi collected Japanese paintings, ceramics and scrolls.  Adachi himself was an aficionado of Japanese gardens and collected each pine tree and each stone for the garden himself from around Japan.   In this way he created a beautiful garden filled with his own vision and passion.  Adachi believed that Japanese gardens were "as beautiful as pictures” and even framed one of the gardens in one of the museums rooms as if it is a painting itself. Adachi Museum Garden has been selected as the best garden in Japan year after year since 2003, by the Journal of Japanese Gardens Shisai Project.
    adachi-garden-02.jpg
  • Yuushien garden is found on Daikonshima Island and was designed as a strolling garden with ponds, streams, trails and waterfalls. The garden is resplendent year round with a variety of seasonal blooms and is famous for peonies. In the 1950's, sericultural industry was in decline on the small island of Daikonshima, and women on the island had to travel all around Japan selling peony seedlings to make a living. A local man, Mr Sakai Kadowaki opened the garden at Daikonshima so that people would visit the island and the free the locals from constant travel around Japan. The garden named after Kadowaki’s father.
    yuushien-13.jpg
  • 21st Century Memorial Park Hayama no Mori is adjacent to Hayama Park selected as one of the 100 Best Historical Parks in Japan.  There is a Japanese garden area, a tea room Mugen-an, and a Sukiya-style architecture Foot Sanso.  In the beautiful Japanese garden where the seasons change, there is a tea ceremony room, a tea ceremony room, and hermitage that can be used for tea ceremony and flower arrangement. It is a sukiya-zukuri building that was set up for the purpose of improving technology while inheriting the traditions and culture of Japan
    hayama-no-mori-21.jpg
  • 21st Century Memorial Park Hayama no Mori is adjacent to Hayama Park selected as one of the 100 Best Historical Parks in Japan.  There is a Japanese garden area, a tea room Mugen-an, and a Sukiya-style architecture Foot Sanso.  In the beautiful Japanese garden where the seasons change, there is a tea ceremony room, a tea ceremony room, and hermitage that can be used for tea ceremony and flower arrangement. It is a sukiya-zukuri building that was set up for the purpose of improving technology while inheriting the traditions and culture of Japan
    hayama-no-mori-16.jpg
  • 21st Century Memorial Park Hayama no Mori is adjacent to Hayama Park selected as one of the 100 Best Historical Parks in Japan.  There is a Japanese garden area, a tea room Mugen-an, and a Sukiya-style architecture Foot Sanso.  In the beautiful Japanese garden where the seasons change, there is a tea ceremony room, a tea ceremony room, and hermitage that can be used for tea ceremony and flower arrangement. It is a sukiya-zukuri building that was set up for the purpose of improving technology while inheriting the traditions and culture of Japan
    hayama-no-mori-13.jpg
  • 21st Century Memorial Park Hayama no Mori is adjacent to Hayama Park selected as one of the 100 Best Historical Parks in Japan.  There is a Japanese garden area, a tea room Mugen-an, and a Sukiya-style architecture Foot Sanso.  In the beautiful Japanese garden where the seasons change, there is a tea ceremony room, a tea ceremony room, and hermitage that can be used for tea ceremony and flower arrangement. It is a sukiya-zukuri building that was set up for the purpose of improving technology while inheriting the traditions and culture of Japan
    hayama-no-mori-08.jpg
  • Koshoji Temple Garden - Koshoji was the first Zen Buddhist temple of the Soto sect in Japan, which was opened by Dogen Zen Master during the Kamakura period. The official name is "Buddha Tokuyama Kannon Doriin Koshohorinzenji". The garden and the approach Kotozaka are designated scenic spots by Kyoto Prefecture.  In the front garden, the 13-storied pagoda, which was once placed in the nearby Uji River, was moved to the temple. This was built in the Kamakura period and is said to be the largest and oldest existing stone pagoda in Japan. The Shoin Garden is located back of the temple and is a pond-viewing garden that makes use of the background slope, some of the stonework and also the moss composition may be of a more modern composition. 
    Koshoji-12.jpg
  • Koshoji Temple Garden - Koshoji was the first Zen Buddhist temple of the Soto sect in Japan, which was opened by Dogen Zen Master during the Kamakura period. The official name is "Buddha Tokuyama Kannon Doriin Koshohorinzenji". The garden and the approach Kotozaka are designated scenic spots by Kyoto Prefecture.  In the front garden, the 13-storied pagoda, which was once placed in the nearby Uji River, was moved to the temple. This was built in the Kamakura period and is said to be the largest and oldest existing stone pagoda in Japan. The Shoin Garden is located back of the temple and is a pond-viewing garden that makes use of the background slope, some of the stonework and also the moss composition may be of a more modern composition. 
    Koshoji-09.jpg
  • Yasuda Kusuo, inherited the house and grounds and lived there until his death in 1995. After his death, the building and most of the site area were donated to the Japan National Trust for Cultural and Natural Conservation.   The garden is configured with four elements: a front garden located between the main gate and the entrance of the house; a main garden facing the solarium and the Zangetsu-no-ma; a courtyard that fronts the north side and an interior garden enclosed in the back. The main garden is designed in a dry-landscape style, and is intended to be viewed while sitting in the solarium Zangetsu-no-ma. Rocks symbolizing a waterfall are placed at the southwest corner of the garden as the highest point from which sand and gravel suggesting flowing water descend towards the east.  The rocks representing the waterfall are the main feature of the garden and are arranged with pointed natural stones called Taki-soeishi and straight stones called Mizuochi-ishi. By orienting the top of the waterfall facing the northwest, it also created a visual effect of making the flowing dry riverbed appear larger.  This magnificent Tokyo garden, uses the geographical characteristics particular to the edge of the Hongo plateau, in a unique sample found among luxury residences of the Yamanote area in Tokyo from the Taisho and Showa periods that comes down to us today in its original condition.
    kusuo-yasuda-garden-4.jpg
  • Takahama beach has the clearest water and the whitest sand in all of Japan and one of the best known beaches of the Goto Islands, attracting visitors from all over the country despite its remote location. The beach overlooks the Sagano Islands and its sandbar provides a calm shallow swimming area. Silvery sand sparkles through clear water, with surrounding greenery completing the perfect coastal scene.<br />
Named among Japan’s top 100 natural beaches and top 80 swimming beaches Takahama is popular with locals as well as tourists. Its famous waters of brilliant shades of blue change hue throughout the day.
    takahama-beach-goto-1.jpg
  • Jizo in Snow - "Jizo" images and statues are popular in Japan as Bodhisattva who console beings awaiting rebirth and travelers. These jizos in snow are at Saisho-in temple, in Hirosaki Aomori, Japan's winter heartland. Jizo are often found along roadsides, paths or even street corners.
    jizo-saisho-in-4.jpg
  • To-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect in Kyoto. Its name means East Temple. Toji's pagoda is  54.8 meters high and is the tallest wooden tower in Japan.The pagoda has long been the icon of Kyoto.
    toji-temple-2.jpg
  • Dankazura Wakamiyaoji Street Sakura - A cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese Cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is called sakura in Japanese. Japan has a wide variety of cherry blossoms with well over 200 types can be found there.[ The most popular variety of cherry blossom in Japan is the Somei Yoshino. Its flowers are nearly white, tinged with the palest pink, and bloom and fall within a week, before the leaves come out.
    wakamiyaoji-2.jpg
  • Kokoen is a relatively modern Japanese garden, opened in 1992 on the former site of of the feudal lord's west residence Nishi-Oyashiki at Himeji Castle. The gardens were designed by a team of Japan's top landscape architects and garden designers and consists of nine separate, walled gardens designed in various styles of the Edo Period.  Among the gardens are the garden of the lord's residence which features a pond with a waterfall, a tea garden & tea ceremony house, a pine tree garden, a bamboo garden and a flower garden.  Overall the gardens were designed to be attractive in every season.
    koko-en-36.jpg
  • Koshindo Kamoba Duck Hunting Blind at Hama Rikyu - Hama Rikyu, the garden of a feudal lord's residence during the Edo Period, is one of Tokyo's most attractive landscape gardens. It is located next to Tokyo Bay, beside the futuristic Shiodome district. Seawater ponds, former duck hunting grounds, forested areas and a teahouse in the middle of the pond are some of the park's attractions. The difference between the traditional garden with Shiodome's skyscrapers as a background shows a remarkable contrast between modern Japan and traditional Japan which seem to co-exist in harmony.
    hama-rikkyu-13.jpg
  • Koshoji Temple Garden - Koshoji was the first Zen Buddhist temple of the Soto sect in Japan, which was opened by Dogen Zen Master during the Kamakura period. The official name is "Buddha Tokuyama Kannon Doriin Koshohorinzenji". The garden and the approach Kotozaka are designated scenic spots by Kyoto Prefecture.  In the front garden, the 13-storied pagoda, which was once placed in the nearby Uji River, was moved to the temple. This was built in the Kamakura period and is said to be the largest and oldest existing stone pagoda in Japan. The Shoin Garden is located back of the temple and is a pond-viewing garden that makes use of the background slope, some of the stonework and also the moss composition may be of a more modern composition. 
    Koshoji-07.jpg
  • Yasuda Kusuo, inherited the house and grounds and lived there until his death in 1995. After his death, the building and most of the site area were donated to the Japan National Trust for Cultural and Natural Conservation.   The garden is configured with four elements: a front garden located between the main gate and the entrance of the house; a main garden facing the solarium and the Zangetsu-no-ma; a courtyard that fronts the north side and an interior garden enclosed in the back. The main garden is designed in a dry-landscape style, and is intended to be viewed while sitting in the solarium Zangetsu-no-ma. Rocks symbolizing a waterfall are placed at the southwest corner of the garden as the highest point from which sand and gravel suggesting flowing water descend towards the east.  The rocks representing the waterfall are the main feature of the garden and are arranged with pointed natural stones called Taki-soeishi and straight stones called Mizuochi-ishi. By orienting the top of the waterfall facing the northwest, it also created a visual effect of making the flowing dry riverbed appear larger.  This magnificent Tokyo garden, uses the geographical characteristics particular to the edge of the Hongo plateau, in a unique sample found among luxury residences of the Yamanote area in Tokyo from the Taisho and Showa periods that comes down to us today in its original condition.
    kusuo-yasuda-garden-2.jpg
  • To-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect in Kyoto founded by Kobo Daishi. Its name means East Temple. Toji's pagoda is 54.8 meters high and is the tallest wooden tower in Japan. The pagoda has long been the icon of Kyoto.  However, Toji is far more than merely its pagoda.  It hosts a centureis old antique market once a month and the huge compound just south of Kyoto Station makes it almost never crowded except during market days.
    toji-12.jpg
  • To-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect in Kyoto founded by Kobo Daishi. Its name means East Temple. Toji's pagoda is 54.8 meters high and is the tallest wooden tower in Japan. The pagoda has long been the icon of Kyoto.  However, Toji is far more than merely its pagoda.  It hosts a centureis old antique market once a month and the huge compound just south of Kyoto Station makes it almost never crowded except during market days.
    toji-10.jpg
  • Shimogamo Shrine or Shimogamo jinja in Japanese is an important Shinto sanctuary in Kyoto.  Its official name is Kamo-mioya-jinja and is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan.  Importantly, it is one of the seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
    shimogamo-10.jpg
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