This was a new addition to the grounds of Ikuta Shrine in Kobe... Lotus flowers! I love this idea! This is a lotus flower that has finished blooming and is now producing seeds (which can be eaten).
I have been teaching English as a second language for over 20 years in Japan and Canada. What keeps me in Japan is the love of its culture, which constantly surprises me. I am also fascinated with "alternative travel", or "travel off the beaten path". Ferries and trains are my mode of choice... airplane for convenience.