Japan Picture of the Week Kinkakuji Temple Surrounds Kyoto

This week’s Japan Picture of the Week is a shot of the surrounds of Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto, Japan.

Kinkakuji Temple (金閣寺)Temple of the Golden Pavilion is one of Japan’s best known sites. The original building was constructed in 1397 as the retirement villa for shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

Entrance to Kiyomizu–dera Kyoto Japan

This week’s Japan Picture of the Week is the famous entrance to Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, Japan. Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺) means "Pure Water Temple" and is a temple first built in 798. It is one of the most famous landmarks of Kyoto and attracts a lot of tourist, especially during the cherry blossom season.

To get there take the No. 206 or 207 bus from JR Kyoto Station and get off at either the Kiyomizu-machi or Gojo-zaka bus stop. From there it is a 10-15 minute uphill walk to the temple.

Deer in Nara Koen Japan

This week's Japan Picture of the week is the famous deer which can be seen at Nara Koen in Japan. Nara Koen was created from wasteland in 1880 and is home to about 1200 deer. The deer in pre-Buddhist times were considered to be messengers of the gods, and today they enjoy the status of National Treasures. The deer roam the park and surrounding areas in search of keen tourists and a hand-out of food. You can buy shika-sembei (special biscuits) from vendors for 150 yen to feed to the deer.

Winter in Takayama

Takayama (高山市) located in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture in Japan is famous for its beautifully preserved old town. Takayama has managed to retain its traditional charm with its traditional inns, shops and sake breweries.

Takayama in Winter is a white wonderland with snow and ice dominating its landscape. It is my favourite time of year to visit the city. I love staying at a traditional Japanese ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) soaking in one of the many onsens (hot springs) in the mountains above Takayama and feasting on the world famous Hida beef from the region.

Japan Picture of the Week Kurashiki Ivy Square

Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture, Japan is one of the best places to take a stroll in all of Japan. It has the famous Bikan Historical area, which you can read about here with its canal framed with weeping willows and filled with koi.

Picture of the Week Halloween in Japan 2011

Halloween begins at the beginning of September in Japan with places putting up Halloween decorations in September through to October. The big theme parks go full out and offer fantastic Halloween events during this time.

Tokyo Disneyland has Disney’s Halloween from September 4th to October 31st featuring parades, Halloween decorations and during Halloween, you can visit Tokyo Disneyland dressed in Disney character costumes!

Picture of the Week Suwako Nagano Japan

Suwako is the largest lake in Nagano Prefecture Japan and a popular tourist destination for travellers to Nagano. The region is famous for its abundance of onsen (hot springs) and natural surroundings.

Suwako is located in the center of Nagano and is a great place to rent a boat and cruise the beautiful waters.

Picture of the Week Nio Guardians at Nandai-mon Todai-ji Nara

These two fierce looking guardian statues protect the main entrance to Todai-ji in Nara, which is the 13th century Nandai-mon. The statues were carved in 1203 by the sculptor Unkei, and are more than 8 meters tall. They are considered some of the finest wooden statues in all of Japan, if not the world. They are really impressive and look like they could spring to life at any moment.

Picture of the Week Halloween in Japan

Halloween in Japan has started gaining in popularity with more and more cities, towns, shopping centers and theme parks displaying colourful Halloween decorations and having fun events. Like most things in Japan, Halloween starts quite early and places will start with the decorations in September through to October.

One of the fun things I enjoy around this time of year in Japan is the Halloween special edition of Japanese treats and snacks. This includes such things as Halloween Pumpkin Kit Kat to Koala no March Halloween.

Picture of the Week Former Kaichi School Matsumoto

The Former Kaichi School in Matsumoto City, Nagano, Japan is a Meiji era school that was founded in 1873. The school was used as a functional school for 90 years and is one of the oldest elementary schools in Japan. The building is a mix of Japanese and Western styles of architecture and was designated an important cultural property in 1961.

In 1965 the former school was opened as a museum of education. The museum inside the fantastic looking building showcases the history of some of the education material and architectural materials of the period. The education materials contain some old textbooks that were used during the Edo period as well as textbooks, diaries and certificates from the Meiji era.

Picture of the Week Kamikochi, Nagano, Japan

Kamikochi is a beautiful area that lies in the center of the Northern Japan Alps and has some of the most spectacular scenery in Japan. It has become famous as a base in the Japan Alps for strollers, hikers and climbers with magnificent mountain scenery and lakes. Kamikochi can be visited as either a day trip from Matsumoto or Takayama, but I highly recommend enjoying the pleasures of staying in the mountains in Kamikochi and taking an early morning or late evening walk before the crowds appear.

Picture of Week Festival Floats in Takayama

This is one of the four famous yatai or festival floats, displayed at the Takayama Yatai Kaikan (Festival Floats Exhibition Hall).

The yatai, some of which date from the 17th century, are spectacular creations with flamboyant carvings, metalwork and lacquerwork.

The hall is 800 yen to enter and is open from 8am to 5pm.

Picture of the Week Children’s Day in Japan

Children's Day or kodomo-no-hi is a Japanese National Holiday during Golden Week which takes place on the 5th of May. While it is a holiday for children in general, it is primarily for boys (girls have a day of their own on the 3rd of March called (Hina Matsuri).

Children’s Day is a Japanese boy’s festival and is a day to pray for the healthy growth of boys. It is Japanese tradition for families with boys to display carp streamers (koinobori) outside their houses around this holiday. Carp are believed to symbolize successes in children’s lives. Samurai dolls called gogatsu ningyo (May Dolls) are also put on display in homes.

In my home because we have a son we display kabuto (Japanese military helmet worn by samurai). Many people have these as a seasonal decoration displayed during Children’s Day. Kabuto is displayed to express hope that each boy in the family will grow up healthy and strong. We bought quite an expensive one but really like having it displayed during Children’s Day.

You can see a picture of my kabuto below

This is my entry for this weeks edition of Show Me Japan

Read more about Golden Week here

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Picture of the Week Yokohama Marine Tower, Japan

Yokohama Marine Tower (横浜マリンタワー ) is located in the Yamashita koen area of Yokohama, which is known as the traditional sightseeing district of Yokohama.

The lattice tower is 106m high with an observation deck at a height of 100m. The tower offers spectacular views over the harbour. In clear conditions you can see Mount Fuji from the 100m high observation deck.

Entry to Yokohama Marine Tower is 700 yen and it’s open from 10am to 9:30pm.

This is my entry for this week's edition of Show Me Japan

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Picture of the Week Cherry Blossoms in Gifu, Japan

The cherry blossom or sakura is the unofficial national flower of Japan. There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan with most blooming for just a few days in Spring. The Japanese celebrate that time of year with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees. These celebrations usually involve a lot of eating and drinking. Hanami parties take place during the day or at night. Many places have paper lanterns hung on the trees and street vendors selling all sorts of great festival food including yakisoba, takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

These pictures were taken at Kagamigahara Shiminkoen in Gifu, Japan

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This is my entry for this weeks Show me Japan

Picture of the Week Usuzumi Sakura, Neo Village, Japan

Neo village located amongst the mountains in Gifu Prefecture is home to one of the three largest cherry blossom trees in Japan. The Usuzumi Sakura or Cherry Blossom in Neo Village is said to have been planted in 487 AD and as such is reported to be the oldest cherry blossom tree in Japan. This unique cherry blossom initially sprouts pale pink flowers, which become white in full bloom. The tree has been appointed as a National Natural Monument of Japan and is one of the great places to visit in Gifu.

Here is a picture of the magnificent tree, which is over 1,500 years old, stands 17.2 meters in height, and 9.2 meters in circumference.

There are also many other magnificent cherry blossoms in the area and park around Usuzumi Sakura and there is a lot to do and see there.

 

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This is my entry for this week's Show Me Japan

Picture of the Week Toei Uzumasa Eigamura, Kyoto, Japan

The Toei Uzumasa Eigamura also called Kyoto Studio Park and Toei Movie Land is a film set and theme park all in one, it is located a short distance from Kyoto. It features a collection of replicas of traditional Japanese building which are used as settings for historical movies and TV dramas. It is an amazing place with whole streets depicting Edo Period town scenes, a replica of the old Nihonbashi Bridge, a traditional court house and a Meiji Period police box. Actual shooting takes place occasionally, and visitors are more than welcome to observe the action. You can also catch various performances, visit a haunted house, large souvenir shop and exhibitions about the popular TV series. One of my favourite things to do there is to dress up as a character and get photographed, you can choose from such things as samurai, ninja and geisha.

This is my entry for This Week's Show Me Japan

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Picture of the Week World Expo in Aichi, Japan

World Expo 2005 was a specialized international exhibition held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan from March 25 to September 25, 2005.

The theme of the Expo was “Nature’s Wisdom”, with national and corporate pavilions expressing themes of ecological co-existence, renewable technology, and the wonders of nature. The pavilions were built out of recycled or recyclable materials to minimise the environmental impact on the site.

The key attractions for the Expo were “Satsuki and Mei’s House”, a recreation of the house from Hayao Miyasaki’s famous movie My Neighbor Totoro. ASIMO, Honda’s humanoid robot, The Toyota Partner Robots, and the Growing Village Pavillion, which featured a variety of tree shaping art work.

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This is my entry for This Week's Show Me Japan

Picture of the Week Hina Matsuri, Japan

Hina Matsuri (雛祭り Hina-matsuri), or Girls day, is a Japanese Doll Festival, held on March 3 in Japan. Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls called (雛人形 hina-ningyō) which represent the Emperor, Empress and other court attendants in traditional court dress of the Heian period in Japan.

Families will generally start to display the dolls in February, usually in their living rooms and take them down immediately after the festival.

This picture is of the Hina Ningyo at my home in Japan.

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Picture of the Week Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan

Kurashiki (倉敷市) is a historic city in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

Kurashiki is famous for the old merchant quarter called the Bikan historical area. It contains many fine examples of 17th century wooden warehouses along a canal framed with weeping willows and filled with koi. The unique thing about this area is it has no electricity poles in order to make the area closely resemble the look of the Meji period.

This picture is of the Bikan Historical area. You can see the famous weeping willows and canal in the background and it is a beautiful area to explore.

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