Image search results - "sun" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "sun"

Lord Ishida Mitsunari was born in 1560 in Ishida village in Nagahama, Shiga Pref. You can see the site of his birthplace by bus from Nagahama Station. Get off at the Ishida bus stop. MAPHis birthplace and former residence have monuments dedicated to this fallen but revered leader of the Western Forces which lost to Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. He was a protégé and main samurai retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Little stone marker and shrine next to the bus stop.

Ishida Mitsunari is most famous for the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 when he unsuccessfully led his Western Forces against Tokugawa Ieyasu's Eastern Forces

Steel sculpture depicting Ishida Mitsunari giving tea to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Ishida-cho, Nagahama, Shiga Pref.

Steel sculpture depicting Ishida Mitsunari giving tea to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The road on the left goes to the site of his former residence.

Monument and bus stop

Road on left goes to Ishida's former residence.

Road to Kan'onji temple and marker of Ishida Mitsunari's estate

Marker of Ishida Mitsunari's estate

Mt. Sasaoyama, Ishida Mitsunari's base camp, as seen from the final battlefield. 笹尾山

Site of Ishida Mitsunari's former residence. 石田三成屋敷跡

Foot of Mt. Sasaoyama, Ishida Mitsunari's base camp. 笹尾山石田三成陣跡

The property is now occupied by the Ishida Kaikan public hall and monuments. 石田三成屋敷跡石田会館

Foot of Mt. Sasao, Ishida Mitsunari's base camp. 笹尾山石田三成陣跡

Monument marking Ishida Mitsunari's former residence.

Defensive barriers on Mt. Sasaoyama, Ishida Mitsunari's base camp. 笹尾山石田三成陣跡

Monument marking Ishida Mitsunari's former residence.

Public hall

Inside public hall

Ishida Mitsunari's banner with his family crest.

Monuments on the property

Stone monument for Ishida Mitsunari Birthplace 石田三成公出生地

Barriers and steps looking down the slope.

Statue of Ishida Mitsunari at his former residence in Nagahama.

Steps up to the top of Mt. Sasaoyama.

Statue of Ishida Mitsunari

Lookout deck on Mt. Sasao. 笹尾山

Mt. Sasaoyama and stone marker. 笹尾山

Mt. Sasaoyama and stone monument marking Ishida Mitsunari's base camp.

Poem about Ishida Mitsunari

Scenery behind the public hall.

Top of Mt. Sasaoyama

Behind the public hall.

Top of Mt. Sasaoyama and stone monument

Poem about the Battle of Sekigahara.

Lookout deck with a bird's eye view of the battlefield.

Guide map to places in the area related to Ishida Mitsunari.

Map on lookout deck.

Nearby Hachiman Shrine.

Sekigahara Battlefield, now occupied mainly by rice paddies, a school, and homes. 関ヶ原古戦場

Hachiman Shrine torii

Sekigahara Battlefield and Mt. Matsuo 関ヶ原古戦場

Hachiman Shrine is next to the Ishida Mitsunari memorial.

Map of battlefield for Western Forces. Also see Ishida Mitsunari Birthplace in Nagahama, Shiga.

Ishida Jinja Shrine

Ishida Shrine

Entrance to Ishida Shrine 石田神社　供養塔

Ishida Mitsunari Memorial

Ishida Mitsunari Memorial 石田三成供養塔

Ishida Mitsunari Memorial

Poem

You can see related memorials at the Sekigahara Battlefield.

Cycling road sign near bus stop.

Circular rainbow

"Golden waves on which we weave..."

Mouth of Maira River (マイラ川) before sunrise, short drive from the main town of Ohara. Sunrise was about 6:50 am.

There was this dock where we could get on our kayaks. Maira River, Iriomote.

Off we go. The water was shallow, but we still wore lifejackets.

We were on time for the sunrise.

A few clouds, but the sunrise was getting to be nice.

We anchored to watch the sunrise.

Sunrise kayaking on Iriomote, Yaeyama, Okinawa.

Iriomote sunrise at Maira River.

Our guide was Harubaru, but he doesn't normally do sunrise kayaking unless you ask him to: http://harubaru-iriomote.okinawa/course/

After the sunrise, we paddled along the mangroves on the river's edge.

Maira River lined with mangroves.

Lovely morning, too bad we didn't have time to kayak more upstream on Maira River, Iriomote.

Mouth of Maira River at high tide. The brackish water is quite shallow, no more than 1 or 2 feet deep.

Mouth of Maira River at low tide when we passed by the day before.

Maira River, Iriomote.

Maira River, Iriomote. There's a waterfall upstream, but we didn't have time.

On the southern coast of Ishigaki, we stayed at Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine for one night. It's a nice hotel. About 30 min. by car from the airport. 本館 https://www.ishigakijima-sunshine.net/

Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine has the main building on the left. We stayed in the newer annex seen in the distance. Both buildings face the ocean.Including breakfast, it costs ¥8,000/person for two people in a room in the main building.

Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's newer Ocean Garden annex. 新館

Hotel pool if you want to swim. Because you cannot swim in the ocean...

My nice room at Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's Ocean Garden annex.

Very modern room.

Room rate is about ¥15,000/person in this new annex. Pricing also depends on the season.

Refrigerator.

Roomy balcony of my hotel room.

View from my room.

View from my room, partially obstructed by a big tree.

Tropical plant.

Although the hotel's name has the word "Beach," there's no beach and it's not for swimming. In summer, they have marine activities, but no ocean swimming or sunbathing on a beach. There's a pool and lawn though.

Walked along the oceanfront.

An adjacent hotel had chairs on the waterfront for the sunset.

Ishigaki sunset.

The hotel's oceanfront does have great Ishigaki sunset views.

Ishigaki sunset.

Hotel restaurant terrace at sunset. オープンレストラン　海辺のテラス

Dinner at the hotel's Nami no Shi (波の詩) restaurant. Dinner was kaiseki ryori (会席料理) including Okinawan beef. 赤瓦レストラン　波の詩にがなの白和え、グルクン南蛮漬、小松菜の胡麻和え、お造り 2 点盛、島魚の煮つけ、県産和牛の陶板焼き、ゆし豆腐のすまし汁

Dinner at the hotel's restaurant.

Painting of Okinawan dancers in the hotel.

Painting of Okinawan yotsudake dancer in the hotel corridor.

Hotel lobby sofas.

Stargazing on the Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's roof. This tour option is called "Shani-shani Hoshizora Tour" (しゃにしゃに星空ツアー). Info in Japanese: https://www.utakuna-ishigakijima.com/hoshizoratour

Starry night from Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's roof.

We're lying flat on cots and staring at the sky as our stargazing guide used a laser pointer to point out stars and constellations.

They also had a telescope to see Saturn and the moon.

Another stargazing spot on Ishigaki, in the middle of sugar cane. We were with a large group of people also sitting on camping chairs.The guide standing on the left talked nonstop in Japanese with a microphone. He used a laser pointer to point out constellations and stars.

With binoculars, we got to see Subaru (Pleiades star cluster). For more info about stargazing on Ishigaki: https://photoguide.jp/log/2021/01/yaeyama-stargazing/

Moon was nice too.

Breakfast buffet at the hotel restaurant in the main building. Plastic partitions protect the food. ブーゲンの浜

My buffet breakfast at at the hotel restaurant in the main building. Most dishes are covered with Saran wrap.

Sumpu Castle moat. The buildings are the Shizuoka Prefectural capital.

Bridge over the first moat.

Sumpu Castle is a short walk from JR Shizuoka Station. You'll find mainly moats, a large park, and some government buildings.

When Tokugawa Ieyasu retired as shogun, he lived here at Sumpu Castle. He also died here at age 72 in 1616. On the day of his death, his body was taken to Mt. Kunozan at Nihondaira for burial.

Tatsumi Yagura Turret (Reconstructed in 1992)

Statue of Yajirobe'e ("Yaji") on the left and Kitahachi ("Kita") from the story "Tokaido-chu Hizakurige" by Juppensha Ikku (1765-1839) a comic playwright who was born in Shizuoka city.

Yaji in front of Sumpu Castle in Shizuoka city. 「東海道中膝栗毛」十返捨一九

Kita in front of Sumpu Castle in Shizuoka city. 「東海道中膝栗毛」十返捨一九

Statue of Yajirobe'e ("Yaji") on the left and Kitahachi ("Kita") from the story "Tokaido-chu Hizakurige" by Juppensha Ikku (1765-1839) a comic playwright who was born in Shizuoka city. In front of Sumpu Castle.

Sunpu Castle has only two castle buildings, both reconstructed. This is one of them, the Tatsumi Yagura Turret. 巽櫓

Tatsumi Yagura Turret at the southeast corner of Sumpu Park. 巽櫓

Sunpu Castle's Tatsumi Yagura Turret and Higashi Gomon Gate.

Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge

Sumpu Castle's Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge 東御門

Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge 東御門

About Sumpu Castle

Higashi Gomon Gate Bridge

Higashi Gomon Gate 東御門

Gate door

Higashi Gomon Gate 東御門

Stone wall of Higashi Gomon Gate

Higashi Gomon Gate 東御門

Higashi Gomon Gate

About Higashi Gomon Gate

Tatsumi Yagura as seen from behind.

Inside Tatsumi Yagura Turret

About Tatsumi Yagura

Map of Sumpu Park

Higashi Gomon Grassy Lawn

Ruins of the Inner Moat 内堀

Ruins of the Inner Moat

Park area

The annual Daidogei (street performance) World Cup in Shizuoka is held in Sumpu Park in autumn.

Daidogei World Cup in Shizuoka at Sumpu Park

Shizuoka manhole

Road to Sunomata Ichiya Castle. "Ichiya" means "one night," referring to how long it took to build the castle according to legend. Phone: 0584-62-3322, Address: 岐阜県大垣市墨俣町墨俣1742-1

Gate to Sunomatawhich was also a post town along the Mino Road. Sunomata is accessible by Gifu Bus (W65 on Obusa Sunomata Route) from JR Gifu Station and Ogaki Station. Get off at Sunomata bus stop.

Another gate along the path to Sunomata Castle.

Way to Sunomata Castle. This path goes along the Nagara River.

Sunomata Castle was originally built in 1561 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi supposedly overnight as part of Oda Nobunaga's strategy to conquer Mino (Gifu) Province.

Sunomata Ichiya Castle was reconstructed in April 1991.

Main bridge to Sunomata Castle. Gourds are prominent here.

Sunomata Castle

Sunomata Castle and gourd sculpture. The gourd (hyotan) was Toyotomi Hideyoshi's trademark as well as a symbol of this area.

Sunomata Castle.

Bridge to Sunomata Castle.

Sunomata Ichiya Castle is open 9 am to 5 pm, closed Mon. (open if a national holiday and closed on Tue. instead). Admission 200 yen for adult, free for children below age 18.

Statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in front of Sunomata Castle.

Golden pair of shachi atop Sunomata Castle.

Entrance to Sunomata Castle.

Near the castle entrance is this stone gourd pouring water.

Small sculptures on the castle foundation.

Side view of Sunomata Castle.

Rear view of Sunomata Castle.

Another bridge to Sunomata Castle. More picturesque, but almost useless as it goes to a road with heavy traffic.

Stone foundatio.

Roof

Sunomata Castle has five floors. The first floor has this room introducing the nature and history of Sunomata.

This room was also where Crown Prince Hiro and Crown Princess Masako rested during a visit to the castle in April 1995.

When I visited the castle in 1995, the room still had the chairs and table the Crown Prince and Princess used. They have since been removed from the room. This photo was taken in 1995.

Model of Sunomata which was a post town on the Mino Road between Atsuta in Nagoya and Tarui in Gifu.

The castle is small, but nice. The stairway here.

The second floor shows how the castle was built.

Video screening area.

Rest area.

The 3rd floor shows how Toyotomi Hideyoshi rose to power and prominence.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Swords

Matchlock guns

Print showing the construction of Sunomata Castle.

The fourth floor is a gallery. Pictures by local kids.

"Hideyoshi" in kanji spelled out with small gourds.

The 5th floor is the lookout deck. No veranda, but the windows are open for easy viewing and picture-taking.

View of Nagara River.

View of Sunomata and the main bridge to the castle.

View of Sunomata-juku post town.

On a clear day, Mt. Ibuki can be seen.

Nagara River and Gifu Castle on Mt. Kinka on the upper left.

Gifu Castle atop Kinkazan as seen from Sunomata Castle. Then called Inabayama Castle, Gifu Castle was one objective for Sunomata Castle and Hideyoshi.

View of Shirahige Shrine

Sunomata Castle marker.

Marker commemorating the Crown Prince and Princess' visit in April 1995.

Shirahige Shrine is next to Sunomata Castle.

Next to Shirahige Shrine is Hokoku Shrine dedicated to Hideyoshi.

Hokoku Shrine is called the home of the "God of Success" in reference to Hideyoshi's spectacular rise to power from humble beginnings.

About Hokoku Shrine.

Next to the castle is also this rack of gourds.

Graves of those who died building Sunomata Castle.

On the northern tip of Iriomote is scenic Hoshi-suna Beach. Famous for star-shaped sand grains, but hard to find. 西表星砂の浜Map here

Iriomote Hoshisuna Beach.

Iriomote Hoshizuna Beach.

Utsunomiya is famous for gyoza, and inside JR Utsunomiya Station are many gyoza shops and restaurants. The station's east exit even has a gyoza sculpture.

Gyoza restaurants in Utsunomiya Station. The city's gyoza connection started in 1940 when soldiers in the Imperial Japanese Army's 14th Division assigned to a garrison in Manchuria returned to Utsunomiya and brought back gyoza recipes.

Soldiers in the 14th Division came from Utsunomiya. Sadly in 1944, the division was assigned to Palau and Anguar in the South Pacific where most of them died in bloody battles. What would a trip to Utsunomiya be without eating gyoza?