Japan – Mostly Pictures

View from the Shinkansen, Japan

3 April, 202018 June, 2020 JamesLeave a comment

This is just an a photograph of Mt. Fuji from the shinkansen going to Kyoto from Tokyo. On the train, you catch a glinpse of it quite early and the train takes you closer and closer – until – you have this view. If you fly into or out of Narita airport, you also get a good view (I might post that view at some point). Looking at photographs on line, you can see that Mt. Fuji has a little cloud for a hat. It is bigger than it looks and commands its landscape, silently challenging.

I believe it is possible to climb Mt. Fuji at certain times of the year – and right now – I would really like to go there and give it a try.

Lasts, Osaka

24 February, 2020 JamesLeave a comment

My favourite thing to do, if I go somewhere on holiday, is to spend time just wandering around. If you ever go to Osaka, chances are you will have a list of attractions you want to see (Osaka Castle, the Osaka Aquarium…), but I nearly always find that the journey there is more interesting than the attraction. The castle is quite fun though.

This picture of the lasts, is an example of something I saw on my way somewhere else.

Another Tree, Nara

19 January, 2020 James1 Comment

More trees! Or perhaps it is more yellow leaves against a blue sky. Or sunny winter days..

As I remember it, this was part of an avenue of trees between temples. Nara is a beautiful place to visit on a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.

Tree, Nara

15 January, 202015 January, 2020 JamesLeave a comment

Most people go to Nara to see deer and/or temples (I might share some photos of those another time). I believe I was walking to an art gallery when I saw this tree in the car park. Not sure the photo really does the tree justice – but it really was lovely.

Dolphins, Kyoto

8 January, 2020 JamesLeave a comment

Dolphin Show, Kyoto Aquarium, Japan 2019

I don’t really like the idea of keeping animals (especially large mammals) in captivity, but always seem to visit every zoo and aquarium I have the opportunity to see.

Kyoto aquarium is very smart and clean, with as you can see, a dolphin stadium. Several times a day, they have dolphin shows with a mixture of dolphin action and contributions from human performers. I came away noting the effortlessness of the dolphins movements and wanting to know more about them – which I suppose was the idea.

Garden, Japan

10 December, 20191 July, 2020 JamesLeave a comment

I wander between photographing in squares and rectangles. My squares tend to be more thoughtful, because I’m using an inverted image on a ground glass which is just a slower way of doing things.

I really enjoyed my visit to the Kyoto Imperial Palace, it is beautifully cared for and the staff give the impression that they are very proud of it.

Here, I have shared an image from the gardens, which I rather enjoyed.

Foliage, Tokyo

23 November, 2019 JamesLeave a comment

This is a photograph I took in Ueno Park, which is in the centre of Tokyo. If we zoomed out, you would see that Ueno is the distict where the Zoo and National Museum are (a fascinating place as well). It is rather beautiful and manages rich colours, even in the middle of winter.

Although, it feels like a worn phrase, but I think Japan (and the Japanese) is very good at details and little touches.