The Neighbourhood - Lien de Sazaesan

Another link to Sazaesan in Sakurashinmachi.  This cafe specializes in small pancakes decorated with images from Sazaesan manga.

Winter Ginkgo

My obsession with ginkos continues into the winter.  No bright yellow but still majestic trees.  These are at the shrine where I took yesterday's wedding kimono photos.

These photos show  the trees back in autumn.

Added in a video to show the snow/sleet on Saturday afternoon.

Sunday Kimono 18 - Wedding Photos

 Wedding photo time in the fall at a shrine in Todoroki gorge. Uchikake are colourful outer garments, usually in bright colours, red or orange like this and worn for photos and after the wedding ceremony at the reception.

White Magnolia

Winter white.  White magnolia flowers are blooming in the neighbourhood.  This tree at riverside shrine was elegant in the sunshine last Friday.

White Poles

This image evokes ideas of Jackson Pollock and Blue Poles.  What do you think?  Splattering of snow instead of paint? White poles?

Black and white in the snow

 

Walking through a forest of deciduous trees - larch- in the snow is so different from a walk in the snow at home. The black and white contrast and the detail in the branches and bark is beautiful.

Snow and Waterfall

 

Two more photos of Shirato Falls at Karuizawa.  

A cold but exhilarating walk along a trail through fresh snow to reach the falls felt rewarding, but I was happy to hop on the bus back to town.  Love Japan - the 12.28 bus arrived at 12.28 and there is a bus on a Sunday, even in a relatively remote location!