The full scale replica of Gundam is quite a sight and one that can only be seen in person until the end of this month in Tokyo’s modern Odaiba area. Gundam is quite an impressive sight towering over surrounding trees and appearing to be larger than the buildings on the horizon. At intervals he turns […]
The Great Buddha of Kamakura, better know as the Daibutsu, is a sight to behold and was one of the highlights of my trip to the area. Sitting peacefully on the grounds of Kotoku-in in the hills to the southwest of Kamakura station this weathered bronze statue was erected in 1252, weighs in at 121 […]
Somewhere in Asia there was a total, or nearly total, eclipse of the sun July 22, 2009. According to my newspaper that morning, Okinawa was going to have about an 80% eclipse and it would be the event of the century; not happen again for another 130 some years. I figured I’d have to live […]
The streets were awash in lantern light and food stalls lined the area around the Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple this past week at the Kagurazaka Festival. After partaking our fill of great matsuri food and beer amongst the other revelers we decided to wander through that alleys of Kagurazaka to get away from the crowds along […]
Guarding a construction site is serious business but the frogs holding up the barrier below make the view from the street fun for kids of all ages! This shot was taken by today’s guest photographer, Hugh Ashton, who has teamed up with nine other photographers from Japan to bring you The View From Japan. In […]
Temaki at a sushi bar blocks from the Tsukiji Wholesale fish market in Tokyo. The temaki (hand rolls) pictured below are natto (fermented soy beans) with shiso leaves, cod roe and kappa (cucumber) from left to right. The fish roe melts in your mouth, the nori is crisp and flavorful and sushi tastes great even […]
Shrines in Japan offer up beautiful vignettes for visitors to enjoy at every turn. The torii (entrance gate) can be impressive, large and wooden like that at Meiji Jingu, multiple smaller ones in a distinctive red, or a single simple torii that humbly announces the presence of the shrine. The path to the shrine itself […]
No arms, no legs, but a well know symbol of good luck in Japan, Daruma dolls were first made over 300 years ago at a temple in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture in the likeness of Daruma, the Japanese name for Bodhidharma and the founder of Zen Buddhism who achieved enlightenment by staring at a blank […]
The bright red Togetsu Bridge connects Oshima Island (sometimes referred to as Ojima Island) to the town of Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture. After crossing the short but stunning red bridge take some time explore the small island’s rocky terrain along winding paths that take you past more than fifty caves carved into the rock containing […]
Kobo Daishi is the posthumous name of a Buddhist monk known as Kukai who established the Shignon sect of Buddhism with the creation of a seminary community and an Esoteric Buddhism School over 1,200 years ago on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture. Today, statues and images of Kobo Daishi abound in Japan and many believe […]
