Nijo Castle - Kyoto Japan

I purchased a Japan Rail Pass for my trip which allowed me to travel anywhere in Japan. There were two places in Kyoto I hadn't had time to see on my previous trip so one day I decided to take a day trip from Tokyo and visit them.

Nijo Castle, a World Heritage Site, doesn't look like most typical Japanese castles as it's not a vertical fortress but a horizontal series of five buildings. I knew that Nijo Castle was known for its elaborate interior decorations which I'd seen pictures of and wanted to visit. The castle took twenty three years to complete and was the Kyoto residence of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616). In addition to the art work I wanted to walk along the nightingale floors which were made so they sing (squeak) as one walks on them. And they did. As I walked along the wooden floors in my stocking feet I realized no intruder/assassin would have gotten very far. Unfortunately no photographs were allowed inside the buildings.


Once inside the castle and its gardens it's easy to forget that one is still in the center of the modern city of Kyoto.


The entrance to the Ninomaru Palace complex of buildings is quite impressive.


The crow is real not a decoration.


The beautiful elaborate decorations continued inside the palace.


Nijo Castle is also famous for its gardens which were designed by tea master and landscape architect Kobori Enshu.


What's a castle without a high wall and a moat.


The trees were just beginning to turn color during my visit.


A woman grounds keeper. Her clothing looked so interesting and comfortable too.


An elborate doorway to a side exit.


Ah, food, souvenirs, school kids and low tables where everyone sat together while they ate.


This food stall had beautiful textile decorations and served tasty food.


This noodle dish 'hit the spot' after my walk through the castle and its gardens.

Great Buddha at Kamakura

What trip to Japan is complete without a visit to the renown Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Kamakura. Cast over 750 years ago this serene figure sits in the grounds of the Kotoku-in temple. This was my second visit and it was just as wonderful an experience as my previous visit.


The Daibutsu has withstood typhoons, tidal waves, fire and earthquakes.


We were more casual in our photo taking on this visit.


Though we did take some close up shots of his face


and hands.


A side view from under some trees.


Is she calling the Daibustu?


Beautiful face.


We also took photos with a purple Holga. To see the Holga photos of the Daibutsu click here.

Matsushima Morning

One of the highlights of my Japan trip was an overnight stay at an onsen, the Matsushima Taikanso Hotel. The hotel overlooks Matsushima Bay which is considered one of the three views of Japan. We took the almost two hour Shinkansen (bullet train) ride from Tokyo to Sendai and then a forty minute local train to Matsushima.




Map from the Matsushima Taikanso Hotel website.



Hotel room photo from the Matsushima Taikanso Hotel website. The low table is moved to the side of the room at night and futons put out for us to sleep on. This hotel is quite large and offers both Western and Japanese style rooms.


We decided to get up early and watch the sunrise over Matsushima Bay. The morning was foggy. The view from our room was lovely.


Matshushima is famous for the 250 small islands in its harbor.


A bridge to one of the islands near the shore.


Sunlight peaking through the clouds.


Another view of the bay. In the upper right corner are oyster beds which the area is also famous for.


I enjoyed watching islands in the bay appear on this foggy morning.


One last view from our hotel room. ....to be continued....

First Winter Snowfall

Last evening was the first snowfall of the upcoming winter. A wet snow which stayed on the tree branches as the temperature dropped. The couple of inches which accumulated looked pretty in the morning sunlight. My husband was very excited by the first snow and took these photos.

Japanese Souvenirs

As this was my third trip to Japan I found myself buying less and buying smaller objects as mementos of my vacation. While not an avid Hello Kitty fan I did find myself coming home with a couple of Hello Kitty items I really like.



What better than a large Hello Kitty bag to use to carry groceries and books.


A closer view of Hello Kitty's many guises which was given to me as a gift in the seaside town of Matsushima. And I've received several "how cool" comments from both men and women here at home in Vermont.


Hello Kitty in a plastic wooden barrel with purple eggplants. We ate pickled eggplant as a small side dish several times during my visit. This Hello Kitty ornament has a strap which is used to attach it to a cellphone or keitai. There are all kinds of things available to put on or hang from ones phone in Japan.


A small blue leather school bag keitai strap which I hung on a lucky bamboo plant. The school bag is made of leather. I like keitai straps as souvenirs as they're small and not expensive yet remind me of my trips.


A Totoro keitai strap I purchased on an earlier trip to Japan.


And one from the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto. Most of the keitai straps I have are made of plastic and some I hang on plants and the rest I hang from my purse where the strap is attached to the bag itself. Many straps like the Hello Kitty in the pickle barrel have small bells so people hear me coming.


This buckwheat filled Totoro pillow was the the largest in size of my purchases on my most recent Japan trip.

Okonomiyake in Kamakura

After the lightness of being (apologizes to Milan Kundera) in the presence of the Kamakura Daibutsu and the Bamboo Grove at the Hokoku-ji (Temple) we were in the mood for some really good substantial food. What better than the Okonomiyake place we found down a side street in Kamakura.



The side street to the restaurant. Thank goodness I was with someone who reads and speaks Japanese.


Mixing the pancake batter with the other ingredients is serious business.



Be careful not to let too much batter run down the side of the mixing bowl.



The batter is then poured onto the greased grill.


Flatten the pancake as it begins to cook.


Okay, sit back and enjoy your beer....


Mom will take over for a bit.


Almost done.


Add some mayonnaise and bonita flakes which wave in the heat from the grill.



Ready to eat.


Yummy.


And a local beer to drink too.



A successful first course.....stay tuned.....

Holga - Shinjuku Southern Terrace Lights

Across the road from the South Exit of Tokyo's Shinjuku Train station trees along a pedestrian walk are covered with white or blue lights which look spectacular at night. We had fun taking Holga photos of the area.




People and blue trees.



Other people taking photos. The building in the background is part of the Takashimaya shopping complex.


A run on photo of a tree with blue lights and an advertisement for the restaurant behind it.


Shinjuku '09 - '10 Southern Lights.



Another shot of Shinjuku '09 - '10 Southern Lights.


The lights gave off enough light to take Holga photos at night.


Blue lights. Double exposure.


Blue lights with store signs in the background.


A run on photo of blue lights on trees and the Shinjuku '09 - '10 Southern Lights sign.


A run on shot of blue trees and our train ride home.