Magnolia

One of my favourite "hiking" courses is to walk up Futatabi Mountain. On this day the flowers were trees were beginning to bloom and this Magnolia tree looked magnificent in the clear morning sky.

Buddha in Arima

Arima is a well known hot spring town in Japan which attract many visitors every year. Everyone who visits the town is there for the baths and the hotels with delicious food. But I like the temple in the middle of Arima with this seated Buddha.

Umbrella Art

This was an art piece at an art show in Sasayama, a small town in Hyogo Prefecture with some old houses. The  town is trying to attract tourists with art installations in some of the old style Japanese houses. I thought this umbrella was interesting.

Small Red Flowers

On our hike today behind Shin-Kobe station, we came across a tree with very small red flowers. We had never noticed them before but took  photo to keep in the memory file.

A Flea Market Under the Tracks

A couple of years ago, a friend of ours held a unique flea market under the tracks in Kobe. It was a very "real" event with no professional sellers like you find at most of the flea markets at temples and shrines in Kyoto. The atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly. I had a great time!

Busan Chinatown

We found this interesting restaurant in Busan Chinatown called "Samarkand". There seem to be many people from the west area of China in South Korea and they bring with them a different aspect of "Chinese" food. Delicious and exotic!

Stone Lantern

It was a beautiful day and I saw this simple stone lantern at a local shrine with delicate blossoms hi-lighting the cold hard material of the lantern from behind. I sometimes forget that I am living in Japan and how exotic it can be. This was a small reminder to appreciate the beauty that Japan has to offer.

More Small Flowers

These are some small flowers growing on the side of a concrete wall on one of the walks that I go on from time time to time. They look like violets.

Venus Bridge

It was a beautiful day today so we took the opportunity of time off work due to a certain sickness that is causing some panic around the world, and walked up the mountain for a gorgeous view of the city.

Kyoto Maiko

We ran across some beautiful Maiko-san dressed in kimonos early in the morning one day in Kyoto and slightly off the main drag. These days they are most certainly hounded for photographs such as I have here. Traditional beauty in a modern world and becoming more and more rare.

Nara Palace

This is a remake of the palace that used to be on this sight. Is was built for the 800th anniversary of the establishment of the Nara Kingdom. This is an up close shot of an eaves decoration.

Murder!

What do you call a group of crows? That's right. A "murder" of crows. Lots of crows in Kobe. This "murder" was hanging out on a neighbouring building early one grey morning.

Japanese Garden

This is a Japanese garden that we came across on a dreary day just as the plum blossoms were starting to bloom sometime near the end of February.

Rusty Old Tub

Found this old tub on one of our walks around Kobe. It was hidden behind on old tree stump at Suwayama Shrine on a beautiful, crisp morning. Kind of looks like a picture of the cosmos!

Kobe Senta-gai

This is a view of Kobe Center Street from above. Not too pretty. Typical image of a concrete jungle and what I expected to find in Japan. Thankfully, here in Kobe, there is a lot of nature that is easy to access.

Small White Flowers

These are some flowers that are growing on the side of mountain path. They are so small that they probably go unnoticed by all the hikers that frequent the walking course. I am always on the lookout for flowers at all times of the year and in all places in Japan.

Blessings

Everywhere we go, we are blessed with life including all the people and places around us.

My View From the Platform

This is the view that greets me most mornings on my way to work. There are usually a few crows around that seem to watch me board the train. Am I the crow master?

Children's Masks

This is a common sight at festivals throughout Japan. I do not know half of the characters portrayed but I recognize Doraemon. My favorite is Ultraman.

Evening Satellite Dish

A beautiful evening sky with a view of the moon on a warm summers evening. Sitting in my room on a cold spring day hiding from the corona virus, I can hardly wait for the warmth of summer.

Signs of Spring

Another sign of spring is the emergence of narcissus in all the gardens. This is a very common one that looks like a small daffodil.

Temple Bell

I have been in Japan for many years and have rung the bells at temples on occasion. But I have never rung in the New Year Japanese Buddhist style by ringing the temple bell 108 times.

Akashi Manhole

This is a manhole cover from the streets of Akashi with a picture of the Akashi planetarium on it. Can you see the resemblance?

Kyoto Style

Some images of mannequins in Kyoto. I like these lifeless human portraits.

Natural Wall Art

This is an outside wall near Motomachi station where some vines have grown up the side of a wall and has left some interesting patterns.