The Asakusa Samba Carnival is one of Tokyo's lively and popular summer festivals. It attracts 500,000 visitors each year. The festival has been held at the end of August since 1981. Brazil is home to the largest Japane… Read more

Sakai-Minato, Tottori-ken Outstanding fishery port and the hometown of Shigeru Mizuki known for manga "Ge-ge-ge-no-Kitaro".… Read more

Tsuwano(津和野) is a castle town deep in the mountains in Shimane Prefecture(島根県). The town was formed in the 14th century around Tsuwano Castle. The castle is not existing any more, but the old samurai residences and business streets still remain in the original locations. The first thing that catches your eyes is the red tiled roof of the houses called Sekishu Gawara or Sekishu roof tiles. They are made of the local clay, and became widely used in the snowy town of Tsuwano because they are durable in snow, freez… Read more

Cucumbers are gone from grocery stores ... Not only cucumbers but zucchini, too ... Looks like customers are all ladies... Young brunettes... I tell you Girls have big appetite... http://blog-imgs-82.fc2.com/s/k/b/skbjkjsk/tumb… Read more

One of the largest Fireworks festival was held at Oomagari, Daisen-city, Akita-ken on 22 August… Read more

Yoshida-no-himatsuri (吉田の火祭り) The Fire Festival of Yoshida or "Yoshida no Himatsuri" is held every year on August 26th to appease the goddess of Mount Fuji and to keep volcanic eruptions at bay and to celebrate the end of the Mount Fuji climbing season. For this lively two-day festival celebrated for over 500 years by the same families as one of Japan's three most unique fire festivals, a large number of spectators gather to watch the burning of large "taimatsu" torches and the parade of two large miko… Read more

Night View from Amari-yama 甘利山, 1731m, Yamanashi-pref.… Read more

During the Heian Period, the Fujiwara were the most powerful clan in Japan. In 1105, Hiraizumi (平泉) was chosen as the seat of the "Northern branch" of the Fujiwara f a m i l y. The city steadily grew in cultural sophistication and political power, so that it even came to rival Kyoto, the national capital. Chūsonji (autumn) Hiraizumi's most famous attraction, Chūsonji (中尊寺 ) was established in 850 as a temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism. The temple came to prominence when the northern branch of the Fujiwar… Read more

Nara Todaiji where the Great Buddha statue is in… Read more

Lake Biwa ( Biwa-ko, 琵琶湖 ) is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture, northeast of Kyoto. Because of its proximity to Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, references to Lake Biwa appear frequently in literatures, particularly in poetry and in historical accounts of battles. The name "Biwa" ko (琵琶-lake) was established in the Edo Period. There are various theories about the origin of the name Biwako, but it is generally believed to be so named because of the res… Read more

Gujo-Hachiman… Read more

Soni Plateau, situated approx. 50km southeast of Central Nara-city is famous for its vast pampas grass field. Its 38ha pampas grass turn to golden color very soon. People in Japan are especially fond of Autumn colors. The area is Quasi-National park and is enjoyed by a number of hikers and photographers. http://blog-imgs-79.fc2.com/s/k/b/sk… Read more

Gujo-Hachiman Souvenir Shop… Read more

Kitayama village(北山村), Wakayama Prefecture is one of the “most secluded regions in a large Kansai region, making it an ideal retreat for those fleeing from the city. Not only does it have beautiful natural surroundings, but it is also the only place in Japan where you can try white-water log rafting. Timber was a traditional industry of Wakayama and logs were transported to areas by floating them downstream along the Kitayama River. This activity was modified into a rafting tourist attraction in 1979, and now attracts… Read more

Soni Plateau (曽爾高原), Nara… Read more

Still hot in most of Japan but Autumn is steadily approaching ... Mixture of summer and autumn clouds Autumn clouds are soothing cool .... Meadowhawks (Darters), messengers of Autumn. BTW in Japan called "Aka-tombo" Kirigamine Kougen(plateau) 霧ケ峰高原… Read more

Peaceful Kyoto Street near Ko-daiji… Read more

Kabuki (歌舞伎) is one of the traditional public entertainments of Japan together with Nō and Kyōgen(能, 狂言) and Bunraku(文楽). The origin of the name of the public entertainment Kabuki is the verb "kabuku", meaning to be eccentric or extraordinary or outstep the bounds of common sense. In the Azuchi-Momoyama period(1573-1603) and early Edo period( Edo period1603-1868), people who had striking hairstyles, wore clothes in the peak of current fashion, and rebelled against the order of society, were called kabukimono.… Read more

Koudaiji 高台寺, Kyoto… Read more