Sunset Scenery in Port of Kobe

It is with Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, Kobe Marine Museum, and Kobe Port Tower.

Scenery of Sunset View in Kobe Port

Red tall twoer is Kobe Port Tower. Low one is Kobe Maritime Museum. Right side tall building is Hotel Okura Kobe. Actually I wanted to take a picture one person who is on bottom of the left side and fishing into the picture. He was fishing "Japanese horse mackerel" that is one of famous fish as the stuff that you find in sushi.

Sunset View in Kobe

Port of Kobe had two sailing ships that are two of the biggest in Japan. One is Nihon Maru(日本丸), and the other is Kaiwo Maru(海王丸). Those ships called at Kobe harbor for celebrating hundred forty anniversary of Kobe harbor. So many people have visited those ships. Anyway I think it looks Kobe's best in night view.

Approach of Chion-in

Actually this direction is from Chion-in to Kyoto downtown. Usually Chion-in isn't so busy, but especially during Autumn leaves season it will be jam. Chion-in has also night view of Autumn leaves.

Sanmon(三門), Chion-in(知恩院)

This sanmon means "three gate", so it different from Sanmon of Nanzen-ji that means mountain gate. Anyway it has a presence like Sanmon of Nanzen-ji, eh? I don't know so much about Chion-in, but it is easy to access from downtown Kyoto. It takes just 10 minutes from Gion(祇園). I think Chion is good for night view of autumn leaves. It is kind of amazing scenery. BUT, you must be so difficult to get there during the season. It is one of crazy season in Kyoto.

Maiko in Ponto-cho

She is real Maiko(舞妓) in Ponto-cho(先斗町). Ponto-cho is pretty narrow and long street and there are a lot of restaurants and bars. Sometimes maiko is walking here during night time. It is one of scenery in Kyoto. Maiko is doing traditional Japanese dance, tea ceremony, flower ceremony etc. hmmm I can't explain about maiko well because I have never attend their place. IF i have a chance to know more detail, I will report...

Bridge for Water

Hydrographic Bridge

Actually this bridge in Nanzen-ji is slightly strange even it looks so good. There are only traditional Japanese style building surrounding this area, but the bridge is kind of European style. Anyway Kyoto has a lot of nice old building.

Approach To Nanzen-ji

Sanmon(山門), Nanzen-ji(南禅寺)

It is back side of Sanmon, Nanzen-ji, Kyoto. This temple has calm atmosphere mostly. Especially summer season, I really like the window of nanzen-ji. If you sit down at Sanmon, the window gives some things for you. It is my happiness to visit here during summer season.

By the way, do you know Sofia Carmina Coppola who is a movie director and daughter of Francis Ford Coppola. She took a movie 5 years ago here. It is LOST IN TRANSLATION that got Academy award. I knew she took that movie in her favorite Japanese place, but I didn't know Nanzenji was her cup of tea. Even she took Nanzen-ji just several minutes, I really figured out her mind. Most of the story was unfolded in Tokyo, but main actress wanna travel by her selves to the other place because she got tired about Tokyo. I think that kind of mind is the same as Japanese, especially women. Yep, Kyoto is good place for solo travel woman.

Anyway you can find a nice change from the other Kyoto.

"LOST IN TRANSLATION" official site
http://www.lost-in-translation.com/

Kamo River(賀茂川)

Kyoto People love this river because the river give the people comfortable space.

Paper Fortune

People call Omikuji(御神籤) as paper fortune. Most of the paper fortune have several ranks then the paper has some words for the future. I don't know most people believe it or not, but it is one of the fun to go to shrine for the people.

Votive Picture Of A Horse

It is in Izumo Taisha. People wrote something for pray; for example, to enter some good school, to get good job, to appreciate familiy's healthy etc.... After writing, people hang it on the board in shrine.

Entrance of Kawamichiya Misoka-an

Kawamichiya Misoka-an

Kawamichiya Misoka-an(河道屋晦庵) is Soba Restaurant, Kyoto. It is not huge restaurant, but it is traditional yet also cool. The restaurant has English menu, and the menu said the restaurant have been running since 1710. Anyway people can enjoy typical atmosphere that is Kyoto Style here.

Kawamichiya Misoka-an(河道屋晦庵) site (Unfortunately no English site)
http://www.kawamichiya.co.jp/soba/index.htm

Muscle Of Athlete

He run along Kamogawa(鴨川), Kyoto. I thought first time he was running with naked. No, actually I thought he just wore a diaper. Actually he is REAL athlete, and he had really nice muscle. I am sure that I can't be like him in the future...

Bon Festival Dance

Bon Festival Dance(盆踊り) have been danced around 15 August in many places in Japan. How to dance is not so difficult actually. This kind of festival during her young age was fun because children can get some sweets, foods or toys, but people forget that kind of feeling gradually. This action is evidences of becoming adult, eh? It is in Awaji-shima.

Huse Tora

It is the replica of Huse Tora(伏虎) in Osaka Castle(大阪城).

Teki Jyuku

This place is also the same area Osaka Securities Exchange and Chuo Koukaido. This is the site of private school, Teki Jyuku(適塾). Osaka University is saying that the school has historical lineage of Teki Jyuku. Actually I don't know whether it is true or not. Anyway a lot of famous historical people in Osaka went to this private school, then they had tried to improve by learning from others here.

Chuou Kokaido(中央公会堂)

Chuou Kokaido that is public hall isn't so far from Osaka Securities Exchange. It takes just 3 minutes or something like that. This area is kind of business area because beside the hall has Osaka public library, Osaka city hall and Osaka branch of Japan Bank. Anyway the hall was built a hundred years ago by donation of some stock dealer who worked in Osaka Stock Exchange. Long time ago, Osaka was really center of Japanese economy and at that time many supports who cared social. Japanese think our custom is not like American people who gave donations many situation, but actually Japanese had had that kind of custom like US.

Osaka Securities Exchange

It is in Kitahama(北浜), Osaka. This stock exchange date back to around some era(1652～1673) and it started from rice trading. At that time, economic center of Japan was Osaka, not Tokyo.

End of The Summer in China Town, Kobe

What Kind Of Distance Between Them?

One day in summer, 2007, they were on west coast, Awajishima(淡路島). The scenery, just before sunset, is so nice, isn't it? I thought they have so romantic moment, but they have subtle DISTANCE. I wanted to break into between them because they have spacing for one person, eh?

Bathtub of Yakushi-yu

It is the bathtub of Yakushi-yu(薬師湯). Actually I have seldom seen this kind of seasoned bathtubs. Anyway, this hot spring spa is one of my favorite even it is far from big cities.

Yakushi-yu, Yunotsu Onsen

Yakushi Yu(薬師湯) is Hot Spring Spa in Yunotsu Onsen(温泉津温泉), Shimane. Yunotsu Onsen area has rustic scene. In fact, the spa isn't big and isn't so good scenery even the location is near coast side. Anyway the water of the spa is so nice. You can find the other aspect of Japan here. Actually this spa is in the region of Iwami Ginzan(石見銀山) that is one of mines. The mine have been registered on the World Heritage List recently.

Izumo Oyashiro

She is called MIKO (巫女).

Kagura-den(神楽殿), Izumo Taisha(出雲大社)

It is Izumo Taisha(出雲大社) in Shimane Pref. This shrine has one of the oldest and a lot of story in Japan. Actually I have no idea whether it is true or not because I am not good at historical things, but I can say one thing that the shrine has good atmosphere.

Portable Shrine

It is one of the portable shrines and the shrine was taken around with march along to festival music throughout the town. Especially this festival is using boat on the river with fireworks.

Fife

She is playing Japanese flute for some group of the festival. There is gate in the back of the picture. It is kind of entrance, and actually people who are just visitors and audiences publicly can't enter into the shrine of main festival place. I think that's why place reaches climax and many people wanna see the moment. Unfortunately the shrine isn't so huge, so the place doesn't have capacity. Anyway not only adult people but also young people take part in the event. It means many kind of people enjoy the event as audience.

Japanese Paper Lantern

Hmmmm, I don't know how to explain about the lantern, but i am sure one thing that we don't use normal situation now. I saw this one in Tenjin Matsuri that I have written these days.