Back to Homepage Back to Travel Photos	Japan -- June 2004
I stayed in Osaka (a city of about 12 million) with some friends from Madrid who are teaching Spanish there for a year. This is on the grounds of the Shitennoji temple, one of Japan's oldest temples, built in 593.
Just as you'd expect, there's lots of neon about. This is in the Shinsai-bashi area, a district with lots of shops and night clubs.
Streets of Osaka
Osaka-jo Castle built in the late 16th century by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a warlord who united Japan.
View of Osaka from the castle
One of the many underground subway/train stations packed with commuters. These stations are often situated in a labyrinth of shops, grocery stores, and restaurants.
Kyoto, a city famous for being the heart of the geisha. This is the entrance to Kiyomizu Temple, founded in 788, and is situated on a hilltop overlooking the city.
Inside Kiyomizu Temple which is surrounded by a thick forest.
Kyoto
School uniforms aren't just for private schools. At around 3pm each weekday, the streets are flooded by kids and teens in uniform. You can see a few girls carrying umbrellas; this was a common site for women of all ages trying to keep fair complexions.
Kobe, a city of about one million people is a busy shipping port. This is at Merikan Park, a wharfside area.
In the city of Himeji at Himeji-jo Castle, dating from 1580; it is considered one of the finest original castles in Japan.
On the grounds of one of Tokyo's most impressive temples, the Senso-ji which is located in the Asakusa district.
A view of Tokyo from 52 stories up at the top of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. The red Eiffel Tower looking structure (which is 13 meters higher than the Paris original) is Tokyo Tower. From here it's easy to believe 34 million people live in this city.
Speaking of replicas... Here's the Statue of Liberty on Odaiba, a manmade island in Tokyo.
The Shinjuku District in Tokyo at night which is packed with people, neon, shops, bars, and various bands playing live on the streets.
Vending machines are everywhere you look mainly selling soft drinks, cigarettes and even beer.
Mt. Fuji, Japan's tallest mountain at 3776 meters. Many begin the 5-7 hour hike up it late at night so they can reach the top at sunrise.
We arrived a few weeks before they open the mountain up for hiking (usually open in July and August). But we did go up to the 5th station, one level below where people usually begin hiking to the top, and we got to hike several miles around the mountain with stunning views of looking down on the cloud tops.
Nara is a small and beautiful town about a 30 minute train ride outside of Osaka. Nara has a lake, green parks, many temples, and tame deer walking freely about. Here I'm attempting to feed them but you have to do it quickly as they start to gently but persistently butt you with their heads and antlers.
Nigatsudo Temple in Nara which was originally constructed in 752 and rebuilt in the 1600's.
The Daibutsu-den, the largest wooden structure in the world, was constructed in the 8th century but burned down was rebuilt in 1709 and is now only two-thirds its original size. The hall houses the Monumental Buddha, an enormous 450 ton seated Buddha.
Amanohasidate is a small town on the coast of north-western Japan. Pictured here is what they call "The Bridge to Heaven" which is a 2.3 mile by 600 foot land bridge which you can walk or ride a bike across; on the sea side, you can lay on the beach and swim in the Sea of Japan.
Inside a temple near the Amanohashidate ferry station. In temples, it was very common to see these "aprons" tied around figures and you would also see them simply tied around rocks as well.