Vacation in Japan Part 4

Part 4 : Tokyo - Hakone

Senso-ji 金龍山浅草寺 Asakusa

Outside Nijubashi 皇居二重橋, yonder lies the Fushimi Yagura 伏見櫓 Imperial watchtower. The Imperial Palace is off limits except for New Year's Day and the Emperor's birthday.

Enjoying the shade at Wadakura Fountain Park 和田倉噴水公園

.....and time to fill the stomach......

.....not forgeting playtime in the park of the Outer Garden of the Imperial Palace

Remnant of the stone base of the Edo Castle in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace 東御苑

Fujiya Hotel in Hakone

Koi pond

Wishes and prayers on wooden plaques (or ema 絵馬) by patrons of the Hakone Shrine

At the summit of Mount Komagatake 駒ヶ岳 looking down on Lake Ashi 芦ノ湖

Mount Fuji 5th Station, about 2,000 metres above sea level

Melting snow at Mount Fuji

Vacation in Japan Part 3

Part 3 : Kyoto - Temples and Palaces

Sanjusangendo 三十三間堂

Kiyomizu-dera 音羽山清水寺 (with my eyes wide shut!)

Eating deck overlooking the forest at a Japanese restaurant in Kiyomizu Temple

Glorious food - soba, udon and silky tofu

A stone stele at Kiyomizu Temple

Green moss-covered grounds of Ginkaku-ji 銀閣寺

Ginkaku-ji's Silver Pavilion under renovation, what a let-down!!!

How do I wash my hands in this giant tsubuki?

Shopping street outside Ginkaku-ji

The golden plated Kinkaku-ji 金閣寺

The Kyoto Imperial Palace enclosure 京都御所

Shishinden 紫宸殿 Hall for State Ceremonies, containing the Throne called takamikura 高御座

In front of the Seiryoden 清涼殿

Oike-niwa 御池庭 garden and pond

Having ramen for lunch near Nishiki Market 錦市場

Vacation in Japan Part 2

Part 2 : Kyoto - Miyajima - Hiroshima

Ninna-ji 仁和寺, Kyoto, has a picturesque garden.......

.......... how tranquil and serene!

Ryoan-ji's 龍安寺 famous haresansui 枯山水 rock garden, the place to be for meditation (minus the crowd)

My lunch (yumyum!) on board the Shinkansen bullet train heading for Hiroshima

Miyajima ferry terminal

Deers are free to roam in the streets of Miyajima (officially Itsukushima) Island!

The Grand Torii of the Itsukushima Shrine 厳島神社. It is a more exhilarating sight with high tide!

Three of us posing in front of one of the three famous views of Japan (日本三景 Nihon sankei)

The Senjo-kaku, Hall of One Thousand Tatami Mats....

Striking a pose....

and another......

Feeling triumphant!!!

Outside Senjo-kaku

Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the Atomic Bomb Dome

Deers roaming on Miyajima Island

Senjo-kaku, Miyajima Island

Vacation in Japan Part 1

Hello everyone!!! It has been nearly 3 weeks since I last posted, my brief absence was due to a holiday trip to Japan!!! The 2 weeks vacation from 14-28 May covered Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Tokyo and Kamakura.

Part 1 - Osaka

Ready to take off from Cairns international airport, our transit stop via Queensland to Osaka Kansai international airport. Can you spot me?

Outside Osaka Castle with the moat as back drop

At the threshold of Aoyamon Gate 青屋門, Osaka Castle

Standing on top of the castle wall with commanding views of the city

Osaka Castle 大阪城 (Osaka-jo) main tower or keep, a reconstruction. This replica was built of concrete and likely modelled after Tokugawa Hidetada's 1620 renovation. Still, a magnificent and beautiful structure, an opulent display of the Shogun power.

On the viewing deck of the Floating Garden Observatory, Umeda Sky Building

Tempozan Bay 天保山 Ferris wheel, 112.5 metres high, 100 metres in diameter

Osaka Aquarium (kaiyukan 海遊館)

My favourite sea otter!!!

The elusive manta ray

Is there a seal?

On the Ebisu Bridge over Dotonbori 道頓堀 canal, Namba district

Sushi restaurant, Dotonbori, Osaka

Happy Mother's :Day!!!

Today's is Mother's Day. This is Mommy's first Mother's Day!

We went shopping at Doncaster and a sales girl gave her a candy for Mother's Day. She was absolutely delighted, not so much for the sweet but for the fact that the same sales girl did not know Mommy's a mother when she walked past her the first time. And now Mommy's with me, she duly acknowledged my Mommy's a mother! Sweet! Mommy, you sure look young and boy did it make your day, your day!!! Happy Mother's Day from your Ryan!!!

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