Last additions - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Last additions

Statue of Saicho on the right side of the main altar.Nov 23, 2018

Altar inside Tokugen-in temple's Hondo main hall.Nov 23, 2018

Kiyotaki Tokugen-in Temple's garden in autumn.Nov 23, 2018

View of Tokugen-in Temple's garden in autumn.Nov 23, 2018

Kiyotaki Tokugen-in Temple garden in autumn.Nov 23, 2018

View of Tokugen-in Temple's garden in autumn.Nov 23, 2018

Pay the small admission and enjoy the garden and see inside the Hondo main hall. This is inside the Kyakuden (Guest Hall). 客殿Nov 23, 2018

On the left is the Hondo. The building on the right is the entrance. Pay the small admission and see the inner garden on weekends and spring/fall season.Nov 23, 2018

Tokugen-in temple's Hondo main hall. Tokugen-in belongs to the Tendai Buddhist sect, Enryakuji School. It was founded by 1283 when Kyogoku Ujinobu built the original Hondo Hall. Ujinobu started the Kyogoku Clan. 本堂Nov 23, 2018

Front entrance to temple grounds.Nov 23, 2018

Nov 23, 2018

Nice place to relax and talk while viewing the garden. Tourists maycome by the busloads in autumn though.Nov 23, 2018

They also serve tea to guests.Nov 23, 2018

Nov 23, 2018

Kiyotaki Tokugen-in Temple's garden in autumn.Nov 23, 2018

Tokugen-in Temple is also famous for autumn leaves in mid-November.Nov 23, 2018

This is how Lake Biwa compares to Tokyo in area.Oct 09, 2018

Funazushi fermented carp fish.Oct 09, 2018

Lake Biwa pearls.Oct 09, 2018

Lake Biwa pearl mussel.Oct 09, 2018

Lake Nishinoko, an attached lake in Omi-Hachiman.Oct 09, 2018

Lake Nishinoko reed beds.Oct 09, 2018

Nightly water fountain show at Otsu Port.Oct 09, 2018

Lake Biwa Canal near Miidera Temple supplies lake water to Kyoto.Oct 09, 2018

Seta River in Otsu, Lake Biwa's only outflowing river.Oct 09, 2018

Cherry blossoms along Seta River in Otsu, Lake Biwa's only outflowing river.Oct 09, 2018

Seta Karahashi Bridge in Otsu.Oct 09, 2018

Setagawa River boat cruise modeled after the Ichiban-Maru paddlewheel steamboat which cruised on Lake Biwa in the 19th century. In operation during warmer months from Ishiyama-dera port and stopping at Nango Aqua Biwa and Seta-no-karahashi ports.Oct 09, 2018

Hikone PortOct 09, 2018

Rio GrandeOct 09, 2018

Most of Lake Biwa's boats are named after Otsu's sister cities. This is Lansing.Oct 09, 2018

Uminoko Floating School operates overnight cruises for 5th graders to learn about Lake Biwa.Oct 09, 2018

Bianca is Lake Biwa's largest tourist boat.Oct 09, 2018

Michigan paddlewheel boat leaving Otsu Port, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.Oct 09, 2018

Miidera in Otsu.Oct 09, 2018

Otsu waterfrontOct 09, 2018

Biwako Bunkakan museum closed in March 2008. The museum was known for Buddhist art, including National Treasures.Oct 09, 2018

Omi Ohashi Bridge in southern Lake Biwa leading to Seta River.Oct 09, 2018

Top of Otsu Prince Hotel has nice views.Oct 09, 2018

View of Lake Biwa and Otsu. Omi Ohashi Bridge in the background. The towering building is Otsu Prince Hotel.Oct 09, 2018

Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine's boat dock is used during the Sanno Festival when they carry the portable mikoshi shrines on a boat.Oct 09, 2018

Mt. Mikami across Lake Biwa from Karasaki.Oct 09, 2018

Lake Biwa Giant Catfish is the lake's largest endemic species (max. 1.2 meter long), dubbed the King of Lake Biwa.Oct 09, 2018

Lake Biwa Museum in Kusatsu.Oct 09, 2018

South BasinOct 09, 2018

Biwako Ohashi Bridge is a toll road (200 yen for ordinary passenger cars), but free for bicycles and pedestrians who can go on the sidewalk. There are actually two parallel bridges, making it a four-lane bridge. The additional bridge was built in 1994.Oct 09, 2018

Neck of Lake Biwa with Biwako Ohashi Bridge connecting Moriyama and Katata.Oct 09, 2018

Oct 09, 2018

Ukiyoe woodblock print by Hiroshige showing "Descending Geese at Katata" with Ukimido in the background. 近江八景「堅田の落雁」Oct 09, 2018

Ukimido floating temple in Katata, one of Shiga's most famous and picturesque buildings. One of the eight Omi Hakkei Views made famous by ukiyoe prints by Hiroshige.Oct 09, 2018

Omi-Maiko white sand beach.Oct 09, 2018

Omi-Maiko is Shiga's most popular swimming beach.Oct 09, 2018

Mt. Ibuki in winter as seen from Hikone.Oct 09, 2018

Maibara beach.Oct 09, 2018

View of Takeshima, an island with many shapes. Near Hikone.Oct 09, 2018

Okino-shiraishi Rocks, a favorite resting place for birds which turned the rocks white from bird droppings. Four rocks stand 80 meters deep in the lake. Out of the water, the tallest stands 14 meters high. 沖の白石Oct 09, 2018

Arrow-shaped "eri" fish trap. It leads fish swimming along the fence into a small area where they can be caught.Oct 09, 2018

Nagahama Castle as seen from Lake Biwa.Oct 09, 2018

A small stream empties through Haginohama Beach on the western shore.Oct 09, 2018

A small stream empties into Lake Biwa through Haginohama Beach. Numerous streams and rivers like this one feed water to the lake.Oct 09, 2018

Kawau cormorants. Shiga has thousands of these birds, and most of them live on Chikubushima whose trees are being destroyed by the droppings and branches broken off to make bird nests.Oct 09, 2018

Cycling up northern Lake Biwa.Oct 09, 2018

Sugaura in northern Lake Biwa.Oct 09, 2018

Oct 09, 2018

Shirahige-no-Hama Beach and Lake Biwa in Takashima, Shiga Prefecture.Oct 09, 2018

Shirahige-no-Hama Beach in Takashima. I know they did some filming here for the NHK Taiga Drama "Go" where she rides on horseback. 白ひげの浜Oct 09, 2018

Shirahige Shrine torii as seen from the cruise boat.Oct 09, 2018

Shirahige Shrine torii, Takashima. One of Lake Biwa's best-known landmarks. It faces the shrine on land. Rent a bicycle or go by taxi from Omi-Takashima Station (Kosei Line).Oct 09, 2018

Oct 09, 2018

About 100 meters offshore are two large rocks in the lake. They appear above the surface only when there is a water shortage. This little shrine with two rocks are for praying for rain. 二ツ石Oct 09, 2018

Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument at Imazu Port. In June 1917, a song called Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) was composed by college student Taro Oguchi during a boat rowing trip around Lake Biwa.Oct 09, 2018

Chikubushima and Mt. Ibuki as seen from Imazu.Oct 09, 2018

Kaizu-Osaki and Chikubushima.Oct 09, 2018

Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossom cruise. Megumi docked at Kaizu-Osaki Port, Takashima, Shiga.Oct 09, 2018

Kaizu-Osaki is famous for cherry blossoms along the lake shore. One of Japan's 100 Famous Cherry Blossom Spots.Oct 09, 2018

ChikubushimaOct 09, 2018

Chikubushima is home to Hogonji Temple first built in 724 as ordered by the Emperor to worship the Goddess Benzaiten. It belongs to the Shingon Buddhist Sect (Buzan School) and it is the 30th temple in the 33-Temple Pilgrimage of Saigoku. 宝厳寺Oct 09, 2018

With shrines and temples, Chikubushima is a sacred island in northern Lake Biwa.Oct 09, 2018

Northern Lake Biwa as seen from Mt. Shizugatake.Oct 09, 2018

Biwa means "lute."Oct 09, 2018

Southern Basin is shallow compared to the Northern Basin.Oct 09, 2018

Lake Biwa (blue) in Shiga Prefecture highlighted in pink.Oct 09, 2018

Bye-bye old Uminoko! You did very well!Oct 08, 2018

Oct 08, 2018

The bridge of the old Uminoko.Oct 08, 2018

Oct 08, 2018

Lots of Shiga people have fond memories of this old Uminoko Floating School. Oct 08, 2018

Oct 08, 2018

Old Uminoko is shorter than the new one.Oct 08, 2018

My tribute photos for this original Uminoko.Oct 08, 2018

This is the old Uminoko right after it was retired in March 2018. At Otsu Port.Oct 08, 2018

Shiga Prefecture flag on the bow.Oct 08, 2018

Oct 08, 2018

Interior layout is similar to the old Uminoko with faculty quarters on the basement deck, dining hall on 1st deck, activity rooms on 2nd deck, plus a large room on the 3rd deck.Oct 08, 2018

Oct 08, 2018

Uminoko official Web site here (in English) shows the inside of the ship.Oct 08, 2018

The bridge.Oct 08, 2018

"Uminiko" means "Child of the Lake," a phrase made famous by the rowing song, "Biwako Shuko no Uta."Oct 08, 2018

Wish they offered Uminoko study cruises for the public too.Oct 08, 2018

Hope someday they will allow the public to tour inside the new Uminoko.Oct 08, 2018

When they were trying to give the new ship a name, they decided to keep the old name. Wise choice. It's a perfect name.Oct 08, 2018

The new Uminoko's design motif is also similar to the old one. Looks good. For overnight cruises, maximum capacity is 180 kids and 43 adult staff.Oct 08, 2018

Having more decks, the new Uminoko has a higher profile than the old Uminoko. The ship is 65 meters long, 12 meters wide.Oct 08, 2018

Operated by Shiga Prefecture's Board of Education, the Uminoko "Biwako Floating School" is an educational boat going on overnight voyages year-round on Lake Biwa, taking Shiga's 5th graders.The first and original Uminoko ship was in operation from Aug. 2, 1983 to spring 2018 when it was retired. It was replaced by a new Uminoko ship (same name) in May 2018. Oct 08, 2018

This is the new Uminoko Floating School ship a few weeks before she started service in June 2018. Costing ¥3 billion, the new Uminoko Biwako Floating School ship's major improvements include 4 decks (plus basement), electric propulsion, & wireleOct 08, 2018

Tokyo Tower and Somon Gate, the front gate of the Taitoku-in mausoleum (lost in World War II air raids) for Tokugawa Hidetada. 台徳院霊廟惣門Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower in its Diamond Veil illumination.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower lit up as seen from Shiba Park at night.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

A mysterious baseball was found on the top of Tokyo Tower.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Near the elevators on the 1st floor is this exhibition space.Oct 07, 2018

1st floor elevator.Oct 07, 2018

End of the line on the Main Deck for the Down elevator.Oct 07, 2018

Restaurant on the Main Deck.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018.Oct 07, 2018

Long line for the down elevators.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tourists loved to pose with the projection mapping imagery.Oct 07, 2018

Main Deck at Tokyo Tower. Despite the opening of Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower is still holding its own with innovative attractions.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Main Deck had a cherry blossom-theme projection mapping on the windows.Oct 07, 2018

Inside the elevator.Oct 07, 2018

It wasn't a long wait for the elevator.Oct 07, 2018

Ticket for the Main Deck.Oct 07, 2018

Elevator for the Main Deck.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

A real crowd pleaser. Beautiful and photogenic.Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

In early May for Children's Day, Tokyo Tower was festooned with colorful koinobori carp streamers.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower has a number of evening illumination themes. This is the "Diamond Veil" illumination.Oct 07, 2018

The tower is 333 meters high, with two observatories. The lower one, called the Main Deck, is 150 meters high. The higher one, the Top Deck, is 250 meters up.Oct 07, 2018

Chic couple in Kyoto.Oct 07, 2018

Sanmon Gate, Tofukuji's main gate. National Treasure.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Long line of people entering the temple. They were in for a treat and it was worth the trip. Happy autumn 2017!Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

View from Tsutenkyo Bridge. That bridge in the distance is where you enter the temple.Oct 07, 2018

Tsutenkyo Bridge. Oct 07, 2018

The middle of the bridge has this little deck protruding outward.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tofukuji Temple, KyotoOct 07, 2018

On the bridge, this sign says "No photos" because they don't want people to stop and take photos and hold up the line going through the bridge. Obviously, no one paid attention to this. We all stopped and took photos.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

View from Tsutenkyo Bridge, Tofukuji Temple, Kyoto. More pretty views from the bridge. When the sun's out, the colors are spectacular. The colors really look like this, I didn't digitally enhance the colors.Oct 07, 2018

View from Tsutenkyo Bridge. Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

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