Most viewed - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Most viewed

Tottori Station26 views

Covered arcade in front of Tottori Station26 views

City street near Tottori Station.26 views

Shopping arcade near Tottori Station.26 views

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Shopping arcade near Tottori Station.26 views

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Views from Hagi Castle's main tenshu tower foundation.26 views

Adjacent to Hagi Castle is this Asa Mori Clan Residence.26 views

About Asa Mori Clan Residence.26 views

Vestiges of the castle town remain here with white walls.26 views

Shoka-sonjuku school lecture room.26 views

Yoshida Shoin's family when he was a child. (Sugi family)26 views

But there are outdoor sculptures.26 views

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Adachi Museum of Art provides a free shuttle bus ride from JR Yasugi Station. The bus schedule is here, but this is not the bus. Also online: https://www.adachi-museum.or.jp/en/shuttle_bus.26 views

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They were going to take turns and keep shooting for about 90 min. I can handle these loud bangs once or twice, but no more. 26 viewsSo I left this event early right after seeing/hearing/photographing this first battalion fire their guns. I didn't want to risk any damage to my ear drums. I wonder how these gunners protect their hearing.

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Local duo ~Lefa~ performing at Daitsuji Temple.26 views

Celebrities will join the stage program (talk show).26 views

On the stage, local sponsors and dignitaries pulled out the lucky lots one by one.26 viewsBesides the trip to Hawaii as the grand prize, they gave out kimono fabric, travel certificates, free hotel rooms, and other valuable prizes sponsored by local businesses.

Old building used to be the entrance to a small basement mall of three movie theaters and eateries.26 views

Ginza centers on the main intersection named Ginza 4-chome. This intersection is cornered by the Ginza's most famous stores like Wako and Mitsukoshi Dept. store.26 views

This is the mother of all Ginza shopping areas in Japan. The biggest and most famous Ginza of all. Centering on the Ginza 4-chome intersection, the area is one of Tokyo's major shopping and entertainment districts.26 viewsMajor dept. stores, upscale shops, restaurants, galleries, and more. Ginza has been undergoing major changes in recent years with old dept. stores replaced by new buildings.

Ginza Station on the Ginza subway line.26 views

Ginza 4-chome intersection with Wako on the left and Mitsukoshi Dept. store on the right.26 views

Ginza 4-chome intersection with Mitsukoshi Dept. store26 views

Ginza 4-chome intersection with Wako on the left and Mitsukoshi Dept. store on the right at night.26 views

Ginza 4-chome intersection with Wako.26 views

Ginza 4-chome police box koban.26 views

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Mitsukoshi annex.26 views

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To Yurakucho/Hibiya on the right.26 views

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Sculpture by Okamoto Taro at Sukiyabashi.26 views

Sukiyabashi26 views

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Mullion Musical Clock26 views

Yuraku Concourse is a nostalgic place.26 views

Yuraku Concourse26 views

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The 30-min. boat cruise gave us our fill of many photos of these funaya.26 views

A few new buildings have also been built for tourists.26 views

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Enter the car garage and walk toward the back to see another room.26 views

Ineura Park (伊根浦公園) on Ine Bay.26 views

We had the Funaya Teishoku for lunch mostly seafood, worth ¥2,000.26 views

Funaya Shokudo restaurant. http://www.ine-kankou.jp/taste/funayashokudo/26 views

Mukai Shuzo Sake Brewery's gift shop.26 views

How Tateiwa Rock formed. 26 viewsThis large mass of volcanic rock formed when the magma erupted and accumulated within the earthen strata below the surface. The magma didn't break the surface. However, the surrounding strata was soft and eventually eroded to expose only this hard volcanic rock called Tateiwa (Standing Rock).

Tateiwa Rock26 views

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This is Shorenkan Yoshinoya (昭恋館よ志のや), a hot spring ryokan on the Tango Peninsula (Kyotango). Founded in 1928, it has 11 guest rooms.26 views

The "Shoren-no-Yu" (昭恋の湯) bath was originally an abandoned building that was renovated into a bath with a high ceiling and garden. 26 viewsMost everything was designed by Alexander Wilds and his artist wife Yukiko Oka. Wilds is an American sculptor from New Orleans living in Japan since 1985. He currently teaches art at Yamanashi Gakuin University in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.

The bath in a wooden barrel. They allowed men and women to use this bath on alternate days.26 viewshttp://alexanderwilds-japan.blogspot.com/2017/12/alexander-wilds-architecture-yoshinoya.html

Facing the bath's garden area.26 views

This is the other bath named “Vidro-no-Yu” (ビードロの湯) and also designed by Alexander Wilds and his artist wife Yukiko Oka. The indoor part. 26 viewsThe glass windows were a design highlight (hard to see because of the steam and dark night). The glass door opens to a balcony with a bath.

Dining room.26 views

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Heshiko for sale.26 views

Tuna display in the small exhibition room in Block 7.26 views

Block 6's restaurant section is the larger one at Toyosu Market. However, all the restaurants were totally crowded with people by 1:30 pm. 26 viewsMany restaurants that were at Tsukiji moved here or opened a branch here. Wanna wait 1 to 2 hours for sushi?? Nope, but these people don't seem to mind.

If you want sushi and don't want to wait in line, go to the Tsukiji Outer Market instead.

Better view of the fruit/vegetable market toward the end of the corridor.26 views

Going up the shrine's arch bridge called Sorihashi (反橋).26 views

Crowd going to Hongu No. 1. 26 views

Rear view of Hongu No. 3 shrine.26 views

Hongu No. 3 shrine in front of the altar protected by netting.26 views

Hongu No. 4 shrine.26 views

Regular ema prayer tablet with Sorihashi Bridge. ¥800 絵馬26 views

Hankai Line tram at Sumiyoshi Torii-mae stop in front of Sumiyoshi Taisha. 阪堺線住吉鳥居前停留場26 views

The shrine is in the small forest named "Chigusa-no-mori." Not very many people were here so I thought it would be quick and easy to see this shrine. But I was wrong.26 views

I've noticed piles of trash at large Osaka shrines.26 views

Omikuji26 views

The elite runners are on the front line.26 views

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Runners pass by Otsu Mayor Naomi Koshi (standing in red) after she fired the starting gun at the 73rd Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon on March 4, 2018.26 views

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Police cars.26 views

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No. 5 Daniele Meucci at Lake Biwa Marathin in 2018.26 views

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Ride for runners.26 views

End police car.26 views

From one clump of clay, I made all these pieces. Oh yeah, it's easy. Anybody can do it. It costs a few thousand yen per piece to color and fire. It is sent to us later.26 views

Kiln is in a another small building.26 views

Former farmhouse converted into an artist's studio and gallery called "Arigatee" (pronounced "Ariga-tay" ありがてえ). It means "thankful" (arigatai) in the local dialect. It's also named after the former owner 26 views

Pottery by our teacher, Kikuchi Hidetoshi and wife Mie.26 views

Kikuchi Hidetoshi and wife Mie.26 views

At Tengokoro, you can make your own dorayaki with azuki bean paste. The shallow ladle contains the perfect amount of batter to make one pancake. 26 views

Covering only one eye.26 views

Rare cedar with three trunks.26 views

Main corridor inside Yokoyama Taikan Memorial Hall.26 views

Outside the living room, a moon-viewing deck.26 views

The Taikan house also has a small outdoor hot spring bath.26 views

Beautiful tokonoma and painting.26 views

Taikan's residence is great for groups up to 22 people. It's a residence separate from the main hotel building so there's lots of privacy. Rates are very reasonable too. It was awesome to stay here.26 views

Typical room in the hotel's modern tower. This is the living room.26 views

Biwa lute-shaped dish.26 views

Buzan's beautiful tea ceremony room.26 views

The okami-san posing in another guest room of the Buzan residence. 26 views

Most boat musicians are local kids.26 views

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When dragging the boat, the men have to run over the wooden pallets and take care not to trip and fall.26 views

Pallets are ready for the next drag.26 views

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The boat is tilted to one side when it is dragged. It creates less friction and makes it easier to drag.26 views

Getting ready for the rest of the straight route.26 views

This corner is the most crowded spot. Many people leave after seeing this corner turn.26 views

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In May 2019, the giant kite celebrated the new Reiwa Era by having the kanji characters for Reiwa on the giant Zama kite.26 views

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Rugby World Cup 2019 was held at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture. Argentina vs. USA on Oct. 9, 2019. Kumagaya Station greeted visitors with festival music played on ornate floats.26 views

Mt. Fuji at sunset in autumn. Narusawa, Yamanashi Prefecture.26 views

Oyama Afuri Shrine priest Kunihiko Meguro showed us a large wooden sword that was offered to the shrine by a pilgrimage group in 1905. (大山阿夫利神社).26 viewsThe tradition of bringing and offering a sword by pilgrimage groups started with Kamakura-based Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199) who offered a sword to the shrine to pray for the defeat of his enemy, the Taira Clan. The offered swords got as big as 6 meters long made of wood.

Food offerings for the arriving deity.26 views

On the second day, the Departure Ceremony is held here at the Saiku Heian-no-mori Park where a few Heian Period structures have been reconstructed. They had a large blue tarp on the ground for spectators.26 viewsSecond day is the main event. There's the Departure Ceremony and Saio Gunko Procession. The Departure Ceremony reenacts the Saio's departure from Kyoto for her journey to Saiku Palace.
At 1 pm, the Departure Ceremony is held at Saiku Heian-no-mori Park where a few Heian-Period buildings have been reconstructed. At 2 pm, the 120 people dressed in Heian-Period costumes walk in a colorful procession called the "Saio Gunko" to an outdoor stage near the Saiku History Museum. The Saio princesses are carried in their own palanquins. It's a short walk.
On the outdoor stage, they hold a ceremony and picture-taking session from 2:45 pm. Everything ends by 3:30 pm. I went to see the festival on the second day on June 3, 2018. In the case of rain, the event will be canceled.
If you want to get close, you need to arrive earlier than the 1 pm starting time. Short walk from Saiku Station.

In 2018, the Saio princess was portrayed by 26-year-old Nakaho Yuri (中保友里) from Tsu, Mie. She was selected from among 27 applicants. It was her fourth time to apply for this honor and was finally selected. 26 viewsIt's confusing that she's called the 34th Saio at the 36th Saio Matsuri. It's because the festival didn't have a Saio from the 1st festival. She served well.

Everyone quickly dissipated and all the food stalls closed up. It was only 3:30 pm.26 views

JR Kameyama Station platform and tracks.26 views

Chirihama Nagisa Driveway in Hakui, Ishikawa is Japan's only beach where motor vehicles are permitted to run as a public thoroughfare. It extends for about 8 km. 26 viewsIt goes parallel to another highway inland, so this beach road is more for tourists. Note that this beach may be closed to traffic in bad weather.

Even tour buses can easily drive on the beach. One of the coolest things I ever saw in Japan.26 viewsChirihama Nagisa Driveway in Hakui, Ishikawa.

Senmaida in Shiroyone, Wajima is one of Japan's most famous terraced rice paddies. It's in a remote location (10 km from central Wajima), but very picturesque with the ocean (Sea of Japan) right below it. 26 viewsSenmaida literally means "One-thousand rice terraces."

Omaezaki Lighthouse is on Cape Omaezaki. It was designed by British engineer Richard Henry Brunton and completed in 1874. Japan's first lighthouse to use a Fresnel lens.26 views

If you rent a car, you can pretty much see the entire island in one day.26 views

From Rebun, took the ferry to Rishiri, approaching Oshidomari Port.26 views

Kutsugata Port Ferry Terminal in Rishiri when we visited. This building is now a restaurant after a new ferry terminal building was built nearby.26 views沓形港フェリーターミナル

Otaru Maru at Kutsugata Port in Rishiri. 沓形港おたる丸26 views

Monument for Harry Shinichi Gima (儀間真一), an Okinawan-American nisei from Hawaii who donated money to buy the land here to build the Himeyuri memorials and museum. 26 viewsHis parents immigrated to Hawaii from Yomitan.

Kanbire (Kanpire) Falls on Urauchi River, near the center of Iriomote. This is about 2 km from the Gunkan-iwa boat dock. Or 30-40-min. hike. You can get quite close to the falls. カンビレーの滝26 viewsInstead of having one big drop, Kanbire Falls flow down on a series of steps on the river for about 200 meters. The riverside also has small potholes. Kanbire (Kanpire) means "where gods sit." This spot was considered to be a sacred site where the gods gathered.

Approaching the old Ishigaki Airport terminal.26 views

I liked walking on the tarmac to the plane at Ishigaki Airport.26 views

Dinner at Takemori Inn. Chawan-mushi, local fish, Yaeyama soba. The ryokan owner was very friendly. Not English-speaking though.26 views茶碗蒸し、海藻と野菜和え、近海魚の刺身、近海魚の塩煮、煮物（冬瓜)、ソーキ、昆布、こんにゃく、黒紫米入り西表産ひとめぼれごはん、八重山そば

Delicious Okinawan breakfast at Takemori Inn/Ryokan (竹盛旅館).26 views

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Boat named "Benten" going to Chikubushima.26 views

You can sit anywhere you want. Inside Benten. Very comfortable and warm in winter. Not many passengers. Easy to social distance.26 views

Chikubushima is also home to Tsukubusuma (Chikubushima) Shrine which is also a National Treasure. Until 1868 when Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines were required to be separate, the shrine was part of Hogonji temple.26 views

Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) monument for Verse 4 engraved on the front.26 views

After some steps, a small torii to Tsukubusuma Shrine.26 views

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Corridor facing the Funa-roka.26 views

Decorative wooden support assemblages called tokyo (枓栱) or dougong. They are now illuminated to show off the vibrant colors.26 views

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Above the pillars are decorative wooden support assemblages called tokyo (枓栱) or dougong. They have also been brilliantly repainted and even lit up. Dougong are interlocking wood pieces commonly found on temples and shrines as a Chinese influence.26 views

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Pindola Bharadvaja statue right inside Karamon Gate.26 views

Karamon Gate door.26 views

Karamon Gate 唐門 (National Treasure) beautifully restored to its original splendor. Entrance to the Kannondo Temple.26 viewsThis gate is said to have come from Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Gokuraku Bridge at Osaka Castle in the early 17th century (Momoyama Period). Chikubushima, Nagahama, Shiga.

It's the entrance of the temple's Kannon-do Hall that worships Kannon. The gate features the karahafu roof gable shaped like a hump, commonly found on important traditional buildings such as temples and castles.26 views

The gate and other castle structures were later moved to warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mausoleum in Kyoto in 1600. In 1603, Hideyoshi's son ordered Karamon Gate to be moved to Chikubushima to help rebuild Hogonji Temple which was in disrepair at 26 viewsChikubushima had close ties to Toyotomi Hideyoshi since he was once the lord of Nagahama Castle. Chikubushima was part of his domain.

Right door of Karamon Gate.26 views

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Left side of Karamon Gate. The gate doors are also adorned with peony flower carvings.26 views

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Before the renovation, Kannon-do and Karamon Gate had this old, moldy roof.26 views

A pair of tigers on the main roof.26 views

Inside Benzai Tendo. The statue of Benzaiten in the corner was donated by the father of Lord Azai Nagamasa. The Nagamasa clan paid their respects to it regularly thereafter.26 views

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Mochinoko Tree もちの木26 views

Zuisho-sui Well 瑞祥水26 views

Imazu Port with Chikubushima and Mt. Ibuki in the background.26 views

Walking to Imazu Port on the boat dock. New Imazu Port building.26 views

Inside the new Imazu Port building. That's the ticket office.26 views

From Imazu Port, it's a short walk to JR Omi-Imazu Station to catch the JR Kosei Line (湖西線) to Kyoto.26 views

Red hibiscus, Naha.26 views

Chinese banyan or gajumaru tree (ガジュマル) at Okinawa World.26 views

JR Yogo Station on the Hokuriku Line in 2018. You can rent bicycles inside the station.26 views

After a 130-min. train ride from Asakusa, Tokyo, we are greeted by this ogre statue at Kinugawa Onsen Station. The Japanese word for "ogre" (oni) is included in the name "Kinugawa." So you'll see lots of ogres (also called demons26 views

Lake Yogo Visitors Center where you can sell your catch of invasive fish. No English. There's a better tourist center on the other part of the lake.26 views

Sadly, in Oct. 2017, a major typhoon knocked down the swan maiden willow tree. Most of the tree had to be cut. This photo was taken in April 2018. 余呉湖の衣掛柳26 views

Map of Yogo area. This area is also famous for the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583.26 views

Autumn cosmos flowers at Lake Yogo.26 views

Autumn flowers at Lake Yogo.26 views

White flowers along Lake Yogo in late May. Nobody could tell me what kind of flowers they were.26 views

White flowers along Lake Yogo in late May. 26 views

Boat dock. Note that swimming is not allowed in Lake Yogo.26 views

Rice paddies in late May.26 views

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Lake Yogo's mirror surface.26 views

Trail up the mountain to Mt. Shizugatake.26 views

Yogoko-so Kokuminshuku lodge closed.26 views

Lake Yogo sakura cherry blossoms.26 views

Lake Yogo cherry blossoms.26 views

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From Mt. Shizugatake, a short downhill trail to Lake Yogo.26 views

Lake Yogo green with algae in late Sept.26 views

Lake Yogo Tourist Center restaurant.26 views

Lake Yogo Tourist Center gift shop.26 views

JR Yogo Station.26 views

Mt. Yotei as seen from Niseko Hirafu, Niseko's largest ski grounds. Yotei-zan is dubbed as Hokkaido's Mt. Fuji. ニセコヒラフ・羊蹄山26 views

In Ichikawa, Chiba, Guhoji's 400-year-old weeping cherry blossom tree is named "Fushihime Sakura." 伏姫桜26 views

Purple tulips at Tonami Tulip Fair.26 views

Kind of sad to see so many great Yakusugi cedar trees which were cut down. But at least they still survive in some form or hosting other trees and plants.26 views