A photo blog from Tokyo. A blog started in 2014 in Chiangmai, then moved to Vientiane, continues now in Japan. Daily photos and some stories to share my life in Tokyo with friends, families and others.
Tuesday, 30 April 2019
Monday, 29 April 2019
Azalea
Sunday afternoon was spent slowly walking amongst azaleas. My mother always liked azaleas and they provided a spot of colour in the garden. However I'm sure she never envisaged azaleas planted en masse and on such a scale.
The Nezu shrine in the Bunkyu- ku area of Tokyois famous for its azaleas and the azalea festival drew a huge crowd.
Sunday, 28 April 2019
Charred Boards
The striking black boards of houses and building in Kyoto (and suburban Tokyo) are cedar that have been purposely charred as a means of protection agains the weather and future fire. The technique know as shou sugi ban or yaki sugi ita is becoming a trend in western countries too. Wonder if I could add a charred feature wall to Finch St??? It does look amazing, but the technique requires specific timber. I like the vertical run of the boards too.
Saturday, 27 April 2019
Friday, 26 April 2019
Maples
View to maples from a bridge over a small creek in the gardens at Tofuku-ji Temple in Kyoto. The brilliant green of the new spring leaves was spectacular.
Thursday, 25 April 2019
Zen Gardens
Kyoto is the spiritual centre of Zen Buddhism so it has many karesansui (dry landscape) gardens -commonly known as Zen Gardens. The Hojo gardens at Tofukuji Temple, right and the Nanzen-ji Temple are examples of the simplicity, elegance and restraint in a garden of only rocks and gravel.
Wednesday, 24 April 2019
Tuesday, 23 April 2019
Tuesday Temple Tofuku-ji
Monday, 22 April 2019
Torii Gates
An amazing colour. The vermillion (bright orange) torii gates at Fushimi Inari was mesmirizing and impressive. Thousands of the gates extend over trails across the slope of Mount Inari behind the main Shinto shrine.
Saturday, 20 April 2019
Friday, 19 April 2019
Sakura Confetti
Petals of sakura were like confetti along this riverside path at Kawazu on the Izu Peninsula last weekend.
Thursday, 18 April 2019
Wednesday, 17 April 2019
Sakura Ripples
As the blossoms fall, my obsession continues. Love the ripples of the sakura petals as they drift out to sea on the water of Tajiri River on the Izu Peninsula.
Tuesday, 16 April 2019
Tuesday Temples - With Sakura
The Izu Peninsula is a beautiful location and I visited it for the weekend. Sakura were still blooming, but the peak had passed.
A grove of Sakura were in grave yard of Chorakuji shrine. It was a used for negotiations leading to the end of Japan's national isolation policy in 1854. A Russian delegation visited in 1854 and were trapped there when a tsunami destroyed their fleet. The Russian-Japanese treaty was signed at Chorakuji in 1855.
Admiral Perry for the US signed a similar treaty in Shimoda in 1854.
Monday, 15 April 2019
Sunday, 14 April 2019
Sakura at Election time
These billboards with numbers on them have been erected throughout the neighborhood this week. I thin they are a tally board. Posters for candidates are also aroun every where. Seriously could you vote for that hairstyle!