Japan

 

Pictures taken between 2004 and 2006 during several trips.

Tokyo

Imperial Palace, Tokyo

New and old co-exist harmoniously..

Souvenirs

Kanon temple

Kyoto

A collage of bullet train pictures (Shin-kanze)

Drinking holy water to fulfill one’s wishes @ Kiyomizudera

Telegrams to the other world..

Kinkakuji – Silver temple

Gingkakuji – Golden Temple

Cherry Blossoms in Spring

Fushimi Inari – Temple of Fox

Torii Gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine

Handmade Fans for sale as souvenirs

Offerings

Holy Water

Nara

Deer roam around in Nara. They are protected.

And I thought only India has these in use currently.

Stone Lanterns

More Colorful lanterns

Buddhist temple in Nara

Beppu – Kyushu Island

Beppu can be reached by a short train ride from Oita.  It has hot-springs called “Jigoku” – literally meaning hell in Japanese. Small shrines of Gods are placed next to Jigokus to protect the villagers from the evil sprits coming out of the hell. Torii gates are also common.

Takeragawa (Bamboo House) Onsen – Spa

Great place to have a quick mud-bath.