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Japan Nature Reclaimed

August 11, 2010 1:37 pm

This blog entry was created for August Japan Blogs Matsuri kindly hosted by Through Eyes From Afar blog. The main theme of the matsuri is “Japan and Nature” so I decided to show some pictures from the small Japanese islands we visited this summer. The photos were specially selected to represent how the Japanese nature reclaims its loss to human space.

All the shots are from the islands of Ogijima (男木島) and Megijima (女木島) – both around 40 and 20 minutes away with ferry from the port of Takamatsu (高松市) city (I will prepare separate blog entries for these two islands in the very near future). Both of islands are quite small (especially Ogijima just a few hundred people inhabitants) and in both of them the advances of nature are quite well visible, despite the fact that they are so close to the relatively big city of Takamatsu.

First – the pictures from Ogijima – from the periphery of the village (we walked also deeper in the island where we saw some more traces of human dwellings but they were really just a traces submerged in vegetation).

I must mention though that on both islands you can see some efforts for renovation (especially on Megijima where there are several summer houses on the beach). Moreover, both of the islands are part of the Setouchi International Art Festival. One of the reasons for the creation of the festival was an attempt to re-vitalize the island communities. The question is how long this re-invigoration will last after the festival is over.

Here are the pictures from Megijima (actually there were many more abandoned houses but not all of them were submerged in vegetation yet):

I find it quite interesting that human communities which have survived for hundreds of years (if not thousands) are under threat of disappearing from the small Japanese islands in 21st century. Or maybe there will be a new wave of re-colonization one day :)

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Tags:
- Nature,
- small islands

Rainy Ritsurin

August 7, 2010 6:15 am

It is said that Ritsurin Park (栗林公園, Ritsurin Kōen) is one of the top 10 most beautiful Japanese parks (栗林 – ritsurin means chestnut (栗) grove (林)). It is situated in Takamatsu (高松) city (the tall (高) pine tree city(松)) on the island of Shikoku.

We were there before during early spring but this blog entry photos are all from the end of June still in the middle of rainy season. Apparently one of the advantages to visit Ritsurin park during this time is that you can see the irises gardens in the park flowering.

On the east part of the park is situated a small mountain – Shiun-san (紫雲山) or the Purple Clouds mountain. For purple I am not sure but it definitely was cloudy that day. It looked very wild also (I do not think there was any kind of fence on this site of the park – there was no need of it anyway):

There are several interconnected lakes in Ritsurin Park. The biggest one of them is covered almost completely by enormous lotuses. They were just about to start flowering:

The park is also famous for its black pine trees and the intricate forms of their branches:

The most beautiful part of the park though is the area around so called Nanko lake with the elegant Engetsu-kyo (Crescent Moon) Bridge:

Behind the lake you can see Kikugetsu-tei – a 17th century tea house:

Now when I have Ritsurin Park rainy and sunny (not yet uploaded) photos the only think left is Ritsurin Koen covered in snow. I hope one they to have this photos too :).

We spent 3 days in Takamatsu and the surroundings so expect many new photos (and movies).

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Kanazawa – Kenrokuen Garden Winter Visit

March 19, 2010 5:48 pm

This a continuation of my previous post Kanazawa – Kenrokuen Garden by Night.

The night visit of the garden has its own magic but the full glory of the Kenrokuen would be revealed only during the day:

At the very entrance of the garden there are tea houses:

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Actually these are much more than tea houses – on the first floor there are souvenir shops and on the second you have a combination of tea room and izakaya (Japanese traditional pub). Actually when we walked next to them during the night we could here from almost every one sounds of music and cheerful human voices. it actually reminded me scenes from “Spirited away” – the entertainment of “No face” when he was big and powerful. The music was almost the same as in the animation movie even though I couldn’t see exactly what was going on on the second floor.

The shaped pine trees are more typical for the garden but they are not the only beautiful thing within it. Rocks covered in moss and little waterfall close to the entrance:

And again – an old pine tree covered in yukitsuri:

As I mentioned before this is the generation one – the ancestors of all other pine trees in the garden:

The ropes are not sufficient though to maintain these intricate shapes. A second support is needed in the form of solid wooden pieces:

The garden is an artificial creation of course. The river flowing through it makes no exception.

As you can see the river bed is covered with small pebbles.

The water for the Kenrokuen river comes from a kilometers long viaduct from near by river (build by one of the ancient daimyos (lords) of the city specially for the garden).

It was a still a winter but the spring was coming:

The Plume garden

Inside the main garden there is a second one – a plume trees garden. You can see plume trees flowering in Japan even in January (at least in Kobe, Osaka area). Kanazawa is a colder city so it seems that mid February is the time when the first flowers of the plume tree appear:

In the plume garden there were and other species of trees. I do not know their name but this one was particularly beautiful:

In several places within the garden you can find tea houses (I saw similar and in other traditional Japanese gardens especially if they are bigger one):

There are concerts sometimes in the house above the water. This is exactly the place of the flute performance during our night visit.

This is the last picture and this is the pond from where the Kenrokuen garden building began (several centuries ago):

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Kanazawa – Kenrokuen Garden by Night

March 15, 2010 12:35 pm

This is my first real entry after almost one month of interruption and it will be about Kenroku-en – the most famous Japanese traditional garden (from Kanazawa city).

First we visited it during the day and we liked it so much that we decided to stay one extra day just to have the opportunity to see it one more time (during the night). Moreover we knew that there would be a flute concert so there was no chance we could skip such an opportunity.

The ropes which you see in conical shape around the trees are called – yukitsuri. They are used to protect the branches of the trees from the snow during the winter. You can actually see them not only in the garden but all over the Kanazawa area.

It is interesting that all the pine trees in the park have their own pedigree. For example these are the first-generation trees. All the rest of the pine trees are their descendants.

As you can see from the previous picture it was heavily snowing. When you use the flash it becomes more obvious (and beautiful):

Here are a few more pictures of the main cluster (the ancestor trees):

More yukitsuri (the branches holding ropes)

And finally here is the video – Kenrokuen Garden snowing and the sounds of a flute:

There will be many more photos coming from the Kenrokuen Garden and the Kanazawa area in the next days :)

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Tokyo Christmas 2009 – Kabukicho, Yurakucho and others

December 18, 2009 1:44 pm

After Roppongi Hills Christmas decoration post it is time for some other iconic places in Tokyo.

The First one is Kabukicho (for the non-Christmas post please visit here).

The main color was blue and yes, this is a Christmas palm behind the tree:

The lights were everywhere including in between the flowers:

The following pictures I took with my keitai. These were actually the very first pictures I took in Tokyo and these were the very first things I saw once I escaped the Shinjuko huge station:

And here is the movie – Kabukicho by night with Christmas decoration (it is just next to Shinjuko train station exit – listen to the sounds).

Here is the second video. I took it right next to the main police station in Kabukicho (you can see part of it to the right). There are always a group of policemen staying in front of it. It reminded me for the big Roppongi police station but the Kabukicho’s one is smaller of course.

The next one is -

Christmas Yurakucho

Yurakucho is just one station away from Tokyo station – actually you can simply walk from Tokyo station and I do not think it will take more than 15 min. to reach it. For sure there are some big office building here but I think above all Yurakucho is shopping area (or at least this was my impression). Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan was the building, which was attracting most attention so I’ll start with it. Here it is in all its glory:

I couldn’t resist and ventured to the top to have a better view on the Christmas tree and the surroundings. I promptly documented this trip to the top. Please do not watch the movie if you suffer from vertigo. I was really fast and the round stairs looked like they will nevere end.

Here are and the rest of the Yurakucho Christmas pictures:

[View with PicLens]

Just a few more photos. The following pictures I took on my way from Roppongi Hills toward Shimbashi Station. I do not know the name of the area though.

A nice Christmas tree in the vicinity of Ginza:

And last but not least – Christmas Ginza (what a Tokyo Christmas post would be withou it?) :)

15_Tokyo_Christmas_Kabukicho_Yurakucho

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Tokyo Christmas 2009 – Roppongi hill

December 17, 2009 3:16 pm

Another post for Tokyo Christmas decoration 2009. This time it is Roppongi hill.

It was my first visit ever at that place so everything was new for me. I took may be a hundred picture (or more) from the top of the Roppongi hill building but they are rather for another post (well may be I will add one or two at the end).

Without a further due here are the pictures (and the movies).

The central entrance of the big Roppongi hill building – this is the heart of Roppongi hill.

May be you noticed the root like black things on the right site of the picture. These are actually spider lags. I do not know if this is “resident” spider or just part of the Christmas decoration but here it stands and it’s really huge:

Here comes and the real decoration – the thousand little lights in the crown of the trees:

Even more trees with lights:

Many of the lights were actually moving slowly and the main source of this animation was this light stucture:

Here you can see it in action (together with the rest of the main Roppongi square):

Finnaly a picture of the main Roppongi Hill building by night:

Now – please follow me to the top and let see how Tokyo looks during the night viewed from the top of Roppong hill.

This is the view from the coffee bar at the top of the building (at that stage one still can use a tripod for the camera – at the very top tripods are forbidden):

And this is from the very top of the building (the Tokyo tower looks as almost you are observing it from above):

I promise a separate post with Roppongi hill pictures and movies but some other time. Next days will be Christmas posts only :)

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Shimbashi, Tokyo – Christmas 2009

December 15, 2009 3:20 pm

Shimbashi – just two station from the Tokyo one (direction Shinagawa). This is the staion of the small, causy restaurants and bars where you go after work with your friends and collegues. I was visited it both Friday and Saturday nights but during the second night it was almost deserted. It is definetly Friday night when you should visit it to see the real animation of the streets.

This is the first thing I saw when I approached Shimbashi (I came from Roppongi hill – may be around 30 minutes walk (but keep in mind that I walk relatively fast).

Of course – this are the Salaryman. You can see them everywhere. May be at Shimbashi is the biggest concentration of salaryman during Friday night in Tokyo (and highly possible the biggest concentration of salaryman in the world :)). Here there are more of them browsing the streets (if you look carefully you may even see one salarywoman).

Actually eveything is very colourful and animated. I hope you can get the feeling from the photos:

If Shimbashi has a heart it must be definitely the street immediately next to the railway. It is the most animated of all and most full with light and live. Here are and some of the coolest small restaurants:

This is the main square just in front of the staion with the christmas decoration:

And here is the video (a short one):

The main attarction though is the locomotive. Actually it is always there but it is not always covered with lights neither it is always singing:)

And here you can here the “singing” locomotive (also a panoramic view of the square):

I will continue tomorrow with more photos and videos from Christmas Shimbashi and Tokyo.

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Tofukuji, Kyoto – Koyo viewing

December 10, 2009 3:13 pm

I asked the clerk in the tourist office at Kyoto main station “What is the best place for autumn leave viewing?” – “Tofukuji temple” he answered without any hesitation.

Of course I had no other choice but to go directly to Tofukuji temple (moreover it turned out to be extremely close to the main station. Just take one of the JR trains and you will be there in 3-4 minutes).

Unfortunately it was a rainy day but still it had its own charm (I hope you’ll feel it from the photos).

This is one of the few successful photos with flash:

And without the flash:

Even more momiji:

And now is time for some more colors (pink and yellow) :)

This creature I found in one of the gardens. It reminded me the “Princess Mononoke” movie little forest spirits. Who knows may be he is one of them just pretending to be from stone :)

And this is the lake next to which the creature was “hiding”. It definitely must be one of Princess Mononoke forest spirits.

And some more photos of momiji and the temple:

And even more :)

[View with PicLens]

The temple is also interesting. It has a zen garden (next to the lake with the “mononoke” creature). This is part of the building surrounding the garden (on the second picture you can even see part of the moss garden where the creatures were hiding):

Just a few more pictures of Tofukuji temple buildings (in the rain):

[View with PicLens]

I would like to end the post with just two more pictures. The first one – the roof of the main building surrounded by the momiji:

And the second one – I called it “Koyo canopy” I simply can not figure up anything more suitable :)

I hope one day I’ll have the opportunity to visit Tofukuji in a nice, sunny, autumn day and than the real “koyo canopy” shall be revealed :)

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Zojoji Temple, Tokyo – Autumn

December 2, 2009 3:33 pm

Just a few random pictures from Zojoji Temple from Saturday. It is located next to Tokyo Tower so you have quite a spectacular combination of modern and ancient. And to make the point I am starting with the first picture – the temple (part of it), the ginko and the tower:

Another one. This time slightly more of the roof of the temple and the red sceleton of the tower behind.

More of the temple and the autumn colors of the trees:

The maple tree behind the old wooden port.

The stone with the red ivy on it (distance shot).

And close shot:

The Jizos.

These are Jizo. Statues of the dead children, stillborn or aborted fetuses. It is really said but they always have beautiful colorful windmills:

And some of the rest of the Jizos.

[View with PicLens]

There are many of them:

Some more of the photos.

Buddha (may be) and red momiji.

Again – nature (the branches of the trees), ancient temple and modern structures (the Tower). One of the most common compositions in Zojoji.

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Kabukicho – the other Shinjuku

November 29, 2009 3:37 pm

I didn’t know where I am going. At all me prevoius visitis in Tokyo I was on “the other side” of the Shinjukiu station – the side of the “Keyo plaza” and “Hilton” hotels and the “Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building”. Now I asked in the agency for the cheapest hotel (if possible in Shinjuku area) and that is how I ended up in Kabukicho (even though 8000 yen per night wasn’t so awfully cheap). Yes Kabukicho and its hotels is definitely for salary men and definitely not for family people with kids (unless they visit it as tourists of course). Especially I disadvise if you are with kids to take some of the cheap hotels their. Even though the hotel was clean I always could feel (even though very, very weak) cigarette smell (yes, in Japan they smoke, they smoke a lot and they smoke everywhere). Also if you are a lonely man (trying to find your way to or out of the hotel) expect to be stopped at least once per 20-30 meters and offered sex services or invited to bars with hostess. I was just refusing politely even though some of the black dudes were quite imposing (but still polite I must say). Otherwise I felt quite safe in the area (as pretty much everywhere in Japan) and there were no any problems when I was browsing the streets late in the night or just coming back to the hotel. Needless to say there were at least a thousand bars in the area and at least as many restaurants but I didn’t enter a single one apart for a ramen shop. The interesting thing about this ramen shop was that it was next to a kebab shop (in ramen there is a pig meat) but apparently they co-existed peacefully ( I am still sorry I didn’t took a picture of the two restaurants next to each other).

But enough of “speaking” – it is time for the pictures galore. Here is Kabukicho by day: