Thursday 18 April 2024

Yurakucho Direct / Ginza

Sales outlets under a railway bridge, selling food from the Yurakucho District, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Kyoto Tower / 2024

Architect: Mamoru Yamada, 山田 守, 1964. Tallest structure in the height-regulated city at 131m (430 ft) including a 9 storey podium which includes a hotel. Kyoto, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Katsura Boats / Arashiyama

Boatmen punt flat-bottomed boats up and down the river at Arashiyama, while one couple enjoys a bento box lunch. Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Bamboo Forest / Arashiyama

Looking up towards the canopy of the bamboo grove at Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan.
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex) 

Bridge Tenryu-ji Precincts / 2024

At Arashiyama, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Wednesday 17 April 2024

Togetsukyō Bridge Vista / 2024

View of the Katsura River from the west side of the 'Moon Crossing Bridge'. Arashiyama (lit. Storm Mountain) is a nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty. Saga, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Kaito-ro Bridge / Kyoto

Wooden bridge of the C19 with traditional gabled centrepiece. Shosei-en Garden, Kyoto, Japan.
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Shinsetsu-kyo Bridge / Kyoto Tower

 

Arched wooden bridge over the Ingetsu-chi Pond, this view also including the Kyoto Tower, the city's tallest structure in the building-height restricted city. Shosei-en Garden, Kyoto, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Shinsetsu-kyo Bridge / Shosei-en

Arched wooden bridge over the Ingetsu-chi Pond, Shosei-en Garden, Kyoto, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Tekisui-ken Reception Hall / Shosei-en Garden

On the north side of the pond, this 1884 building is linked to the Rinchi-tei Reception Hall (on the left) by an open-sided roofed corridor. Shosei-en Garden, Kyoto, Japan.
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Tuesday 16 April 2024

Paper Lantern / Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan.
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Takase River / Kyoto

Blossom-lined Takase river seen from the intersection of Kiyamachi-dori Street and Matsubara-dori Street. With the rear of traditional buildings on Nishi-Kiyamachi-dori. Kiyamachi, Kyoto, Japan.
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Matsue Castle / Shiroyama Park

Keep of Matsue Castle, much of it surviving from its original construction in 1607 to 1611. It remains of timber construction, which can be viewed inside over 6 floors. Listed as a national treasure. Shiroyama Park, Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Blossom / Matsue Castle

Tree in the grounds of Matsue Castle, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

San-in Godo Bank / Matsue

Tallest building in Matsue and headquarters of the San-in Godo Bank, a regional bank mainly operating in Shimane and Tottori Prefectures. Viewed over Lake Shinji. Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Monday 15 April 2024

Kurashiki River / Night

Night view of part of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter where the river passes traditionally designed houses. Okayama Prefecture, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

No Uncaged Animals / Sign

Google translate produces "No Pets Allowed" which I expect is what is meant! Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Ohara Museum of Art / Annex

Art Gallery in Kurashiki established 1930. It was the first collection of Western art to be permanently exhibited in Japan. As well as a Greek Revival main gallery, there is this modernist annex gallery (believed to be by Shizutaro Urabe, 1961) set within a publicly accessible garden. Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Sunday 14 April 2024

Kurashiki River / Parasols

View of the Kurashiki River as it passes through the Historical Quarter. The parasols are illuminated at night with beautiful effect. Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Denim Street / Kurashiki

Shop selling denim clothes and other denim articles. The area has a history of cotton farming, leading on to the weaving and dyeing industries, eventually including the production of denim jeans. Now designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings in Japan. Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Lanterns / Ivy Square

Decorative, ground-standing lanterns in Ivy Square, Kurashiki, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Saturday 13 April 2024

Kurashiki / Ivy Square

Arched entrance to a hotel remodelled from the original Kurashiki spinning mill factory of the Meiji era (1868–1912). Honmachi, Kurashiki, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Okayama Korakuen / Tea House

Part of a private villa relocated to Korakuen gardens in 1888, although reconstructed in 1961 after WW2 destruction. Known now as Chaso-do Tea House. Korakuen Gardens, Okayama, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Torii Gate / Miyajima

Torii of the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, this current one dating from 1875. The island is properly known as Itsukushima, but gets nicknamed Miyajima (shrine island). Nr Hiroshima, Japan.
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Friday 12 April 2024

慰靈 / Memorial Stone

Memorial stone near the Genbaku Dome (A-bomb Dome) inscribed with the characters "Consolation Spirit" (Solace). Hiroshima, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Black Rain / Hiroshima

The Genbaku Dome (A-bomb Dome), preserved as a solemn memorial to the horror of 6 August 1945. Originally an Exhibition Hall designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel, 1915. Part of the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

BBQ Sign / Osaka

I think this may be Chinese rather than Kanji, but the "BBQ" and the meat skewer works for Westerners! There are many restaurants in Osaka where you can cook meat at counter barbeques, sliced by a chef to order. The speciality is Kobe beef. Namba, Osaka. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Thursday 11 April 2024

Tombori River / Osaka

Night view from the Nihonbashi Bridge of Tombori River Walk, a bustling district in Namba with all kinds of street food and restaurants. Osaka, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Sumo / Osaka

2024 March Grand Sumo Tournament entrance ceremony. At the Edion Arena (Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium), Namba, Osaka, Japan. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Mt Fuji / from Nozomi

The spectacular view of Mount Fuji from the Nozomi Shinkansen. Excuse quality, just with a smartphone.
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Wednesday 10 April 2024

Fuji TV / Daiba

Architect: Tange Kenzō, 1996, in a "neo-metabolist" style including a massive titanium-clad sphere. In front of the Fuji TV Headquarters Building is a shopping mall and entertainments including Aqua City. Daiba, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan.
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Rainbow Bridge / Tokyo

Suspension bridge crossing Tokyo Bay, built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, 1993. It carries the Yurikamome light-railway as well as vehicular and foot traffic. Formally called the Tokyo Port Bridge, it was named the Rainbow Bridge by public participation. Here viewed from Odaiba Marine Park. 
(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)