Topic
Photo posts and Tokyo photo walks from around Japan.
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Kitano Tenmangu is well known as a shrine dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, a scholar and politician who was exiled unfairly by his political rivals many years ago. He is associated with Tenjin, the god of literature or calligraphy and many students come to wish for good fortune in their upcoming exams. Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka which i visited previously is built over the grave of Sugawara Michizane.
Amanohashidate is known as one of the 3 great scenery spots in Japan. It is a sandbar stretching about 3 kilometres covered pine trees.
A quiet walk through the grounds of Myoshinji Temple in Kyoto looking at the Autumn colors.
Myoshinji Temple is in the Hanazono quarter in Kyoto. It is a wonderful complex of temples where you can enjoy strolling through the old pathways and imagine you are back in time. A number of the temples have gardens open for public display and some offer zazen sessions for the public also.
The recent typhoon that is passing over Japan caused the Kamogawa River in Kyoto to overflow slightly during the night. I took these photos in the morning after. The river is still flowing fast and is over its banks but it doesn't look to be getting any higher now and the rain has stopped. It certainly looks quite different to the normal peaceful river flow.
The Gion Matsuri is one of the 3 well known and important annual festivals in Kyoto. Spanning the whole month of July one of its best known events is the parade through the streets of the Yamaboko Junkō on July 17.
I went to Yakushima recently and took some photos near the beach and in the forest. Driving just a short distance produced such varied scenery changes, it was really interesting to get the chance to take photos different from the normal sets. Here are a few scenes from the forest that inspired some of Miyazaki Hayao's movie creations including Princess Mononoke.
The Incline at Keage in Kyoto is the old train line where barges would come down from Lake Biwa to Kyoto. Close to Nanzenji, where you can still see the Aquaduct, the Incline is a popular place in Spring due to all of the beautiful Sakura trees planted here. On a spring sunny day in Kyoto, this is one of the magical places to visit.
The Kyoto Gosho, Imperial Palace and gardens are a great spot for casual walking, playing sports or just sitting down and reading a book. As Spring hots up, the trees are starting to take on a different color. It was a nice weekend to go out and capture a few plum blossoms ahead of the coming sakura season.
I took a short walk at sunset up past Kyoto University to Yoshida Jinja. You can very easily get into the mountain hillside from the Jinja and within minutes forget that the city below even exists.
Shimogamo Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan. Located in Kyoto next to the Kamogawa river it is a short walk from the centre of the city. The Shrine is set in a natural mini forest that contains many large trees, beautiful pathways and streams. Shimogamao Shrine is designated as a World Cultural Heritages Site.
Kiyamachi Dori in Kyoto is one of the well known streets in Kyoto city. The Takase river which was built in the 1600's to transport materials and goods between Kyoto and Osaka runs along the street.
The Aoi Matsuri is one of the three main festivals held in Kyoto each year in addition to the Festival of the Ages (Jidai Matsuri) and Gion Festival. The festival has its origins from the time of Emperor Kinmei back in the 500′s, and was started to ward off floods and severe winds which had ruined crops and epidemics which had spread throughout the country.
The Umeda Sky Building is one of the well known landmarks on Osaka's city skyline. The building was designed by the same architect that designed the new Kyoto Station building and also Sapporo Dome. The main feature of Umeda Sky Building is its rooftop observatory known as the "The Floating Garden Observatory".
Nata tera Temple was founded in the first year of the Nara Period, 717. It is well known for its temple grounds having stone walls with caves carved out of the rock face. In Autumn the colors were great and the grounds very beautiful.
Ninnaji (仁和寺) is a temple in Kyoto listed as a World Heritage Site. It is the head temple of the Omuro School of the Shingon sect of Buddhism and was founded in 888. As well as its religious hitory and background it is also famous for its locally cultivated, late blooming sakura trees called Omuro Sakura. Mid April is normally a good time to see the cherry blossoms here.
Daitokuji Temple is located in the North part of Kyoto City near Kinkakuji and was founded in 1315. It covers a large area and operates over 20 sub-temples within it. It is a working Temple and you can practice Zazen training on the weekends after 5pm if you make a booking. I was lucky enough to be able to participate in this on my visit.
