Tokyo Nihonbashi near our hotel
I love the intersection of cherry blossom and shopping represented by Mitsukoshi, arguably Japan's most famous department store
Nijubashi - arguably Tokyo's most famous bridge (maybe rivalled by Nihonbashi)
Nijubashi is nothing more than a nickname. Its real name is Seimon Ishibashi. In both cases bashi means bridge. This is the bridge leading into the Imperial Palace over which ambassadors travel to present their credentials to the Emperor. Occasionally the public traverse the bridge to glimpse part of the Palace
Shinto wedding at Meiji Shrine
Door at Meiji Shrine, Tokyo
The Meiji Shrine was constructed to commemorate Emperor Meiji's role in transforming Japan in the late 19th century. The wood is Japanese Cypress or Hinoki, not the same as Australian Cypress
Arashiyama - Sitting in the rain in a rickshaw in a bamboo forest
Stone water basin at Ryoanji Kyoto
There are five Kanji on this basin including the square in the centre. The reading of these Kanji encapsulates the philosophy of Zen - "The knowledge that is given is sufficient"
Gion district Kyoto
Gion (祇園) is Kyoto's most famous geisha district
With Asimo the robot in Tokyo
Honda claim the world's most advanced humanoid robot. This littlle chap can run, jump, hop, do sign language etc. Very impressive and a great free treat in Tokyo
At the cat cafe a cat peeping out from under Chris's dress
Feeding the cats at the cat cafe
Little Egret surrounded by cherry blossoms
This little egret that we saw on our bike ride in Kyoto is showing its breeding plumage - long feathers from head and chest and fluffy feathers on back
The origins of Nintendo
In the 1960s Nintendo was a small Kyoto manufacturer seeking world domination of the market for plastic playing cards. When they realized that achieving this goal didn't really amount to a row of beans they started trying some alternative growth ideas that led them into toys then electronic games.
Dress up time in Hroshima with cherry blossom
Every year Japanese women flock to dress up in traditional clothes under the cherry blossom
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The Great Torii in Miyajima
Dating from the 6th Century the shrine at Miyajima is constructed over water. The gate or Torii is one of the grevvat sights of Japan
Shinto Temple in Miyajima
Sake barrels at Shinto Temple
There is a symbiotic relationship between sake producers and Shinto shrines hence these barrels found outside every shrine
Bridge into Miyajima Shrine
Kintai Bridge at Iwakuni
This wooden arch bridge was built in the 1600s and has been redesigned to reduce the risk of it being washed away
Splicing of stone and wood at the base of columns supporting the bridge
The Hakone checkpoint on the historic Tokaido Road
Tuna at Tsukiji fish market
Tsukiji fish market
Japanese garden at Kyoto Castle
The famed Kinkaku-ji Temple in Kyoto
Another view of Kinkaku-ji
Underneath the Cherry Blossom at Kyoto Castle
Zen garden at Ryoanji in Kyoto
