Minami-Za

I have to say one thing for all. Thank you for every thing. I really enjoyed my life in 2007, and I learned so many things from and with friends.

Begging of this year, I didn't know any thing about my near future. I think I had been thinking about avoiding difficult things at that time, but several people who I met suggested not to avoid difficult situation. I also noticed that it is the time to do something. I will try to do my best anyway.

Thank you for 2007.

Eikan-Do

Night Scenery of Eikan-Do

Japanese Umbrella

Eikan-Do Tea Seat

People Are Waiting For Nanzen-Ji Night View

Tenjyu-An, Nanzen-Ji

Tenjyu-An(天授庵), Nanzen-Ji

Autumn Leaves in Kyoto

Eikan-Do(永観堂)

Nanzen-Ji In The Fall

Nanzen-Ji(南禅寺)

Nanzen-Ji

Maple Leaves #2

Honen-In(法然院)

Maple Leaves

What Kind Of Thing Is It?

I have no idea what it is. I found this behind the pagoda in Honen-In. Anyway I really don't know....

The Gate of Honen-in

Honen-in(法然院) is along "Philosophy Path(哲学の道)", Kyoto.

Entrance of Eikan-do Kindergarten

Eikan-do Kindergarten(永観堂幼稚園)

Red and Yellow Leaves

This picture was at Eikando(永観堂), Kyoto. Actually people are really crazy about Autumn leaves in Kyoto. Peak season turns only red leaves. Only read leaves kind of amazing scenery, but several kinds of colors, red, yellow, green, etc. are also fun.

By the way, Kyoto is crazy during this season. That is why accommodation is almost full, many restaurant is pretty busy, and it is serious traffic jam. In addition visitors not only from all over Japan but also from all over the world dropped in Kyoto. Recently I have noticed one thing that most part of "travelers" was English speaker, but now it changed already. I think especially people from two parts of the regions are getting huge. One is East Asia like China, Korea and Taiwan. The other region is Europe. Do you know why foreigners visit Kyoto? I am really sure that is why Japanese currency rate is pretty weak now a days. Even Japanese government is having campaign activity for "VISIT JAPAN!" as politics, I think economic situation gives a big result more than that.

Autumn Leaves in Nanzen-ji

I already took the same photo in Nanzen-ji(南禅寺) before, but it was different season. Nanzen-ji has many aspects. Atmosphere of Nanzen-ji in fall season is also nice. Please , compare the different season's picture. Any I will show you several pictures of autumn in Kyoto for a while.

A Wild Pig with A Cat

In Rokko

Wild Pig in Kobe

Kobe(神戸) is kind of strange place because of the wild pigs. People usually can't see wild pig in the other places, but it is pretty often to see the wild pigs in Kobe, especially Rokko(六甲), Mikage(御影), and Okamoto(岡本). Most of the time, the wild pigs appear during night time. I have never known the place that we can see the pigs like Kobe. Usually this kind of place is pretty rural region.

Dumpling

It is the menu of dumpling(餃子) restaurant in Utsunomiya city(宇都宮), Tochigi. Utsunomiya is famous as dumpling place. There are a lot of the dumling restaurants. Anyway the menu of the picture is pretty strange. From right side, i have no idea about 十全菜餃子, next one is "just now native dumpling(生みたての餃子)", next is "dumpling that is swimming(泳いでいる餃子)", next is "dumpling that monkey angry it (猿おこる餃子)", next is "pig pig dumpling(豚豚餃子)", last one is "many children dumpling (子だくさんの餃子)".... for me it was pretty strange.... i had no idea that this kind of menu. In fact taste was not so bad. If i have a chance to visit this restaurant, i will try to eat as much as possible.

Bakery in Nasu

We found this bakery that is NAOZO in Nasu Highland just by chance. What is the good thing about the bakery? The bakery has a big kiln with stone, the bread was fresh from oven. In addition, the shop was look okay. On the other hand, one thing wasn't so good. Do you know what? The customer of the bakery hadn't choices because the shop was going strong. Anyway it was fresh and yummy.

Nichien Momiji Line

It is a moment of sunset on the way to Nikko(日光) from Nasu.

Sheeps in Nasu

Ostrich in Nasu Highland

Nasu(那須) is in Tochigi(栃木).

To Dig Sweet Potato

I couldn't finish this job for a day, so I spend two days. The field wasn't so huge, but turning straight furrow is soooo difficult. Even I made one line, I got tired because I tried to make several times.... In this year, my mom said she had a good harvest more than last year. Actually I haven't eaten the potato yet.

Some Field in Autumn

It is part of my mother's field, and I had to help her early October. Do you know what? It is sweet potato. In fact, I have never dig potato since elementary school. Actually it was more hard job than construction worker. How much did I work? I wanna show you next photo. Even i worked a lot, my mom did work every year such a long time. At that time, i have just eaten without any feeling... After that my feeling was changed to thank for my mom. Anyway I was glad to help her.

Oseibo(御歳暮)

Do you know what it is? I think it is kind of special custom in Japan or Asia. Actually i have never heard this kind of the custom in the other countries. Oseibo(御歳暮) is year-end gift-giving tradition in Japan, and we have two times a year about this kind of tradition. Once is around July and August that is called Ochugen(御中元), and the other is Oseibo around December. Around those season, people think that which kind of things is good or not. I took this picture in Hankyu Department Store, Osaka, and the booth had a long line to register for sending something. Japanese think this kind of custom is good for having good relationship with the other people. Do you think so?

Along The Eaves

It is in Yasaka Shrine(八坂神社), Kyoto. It takes 5 minutes from Chion-in(知恩院) and it is beside Gion(祇園).

Aritsugu

Aritsugu(有次) is famoust kitchen knife store in Kyoto. It was established in 1560. I suggest you to visit the store even you don't have any plan to buy the knife. This store has not only many kind of kitchen knife but also a lot of kitchen stuff like bowls, spoons .... Anyway it is like some museums. If you buy the knife here, your name can be incused on your knife. The store located along Nishiki Ichiba(錦市場) that is in downtwon Kyoto.

Aritsugu Home Page
http://www.aritsugu.com/

Floating Garden Observatory

This is Umeda Sky Building that has Floating Garden Observatory. The picture was taken from ground level. Actually I have never went up the top of this building, but I have sometimes visited this place because of the movie theater.

Nippon Maru and Kaiwo Maru

Left side is Nippon Maru and right side is Kaiwo Maru in Kobe port.