Japan I photo gallery
Photos from a visit to Japan in 2004.
Kyoto Station
Cemetery on the path to Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera
School party at Kiyomizu-dera
Prayers
Front gate of Kiyomizu-dera
Himeji-jo, the greatest of Japan's surviving samurai castles
Detail of the tiles; the symbol is a family crest, in this case the Matsudaira clan
Weapon racks
View from within the bailey
Roof details
Another view of Himeji-jo
The Zen garden at the foot of the castle
Carp
Himeji town shopping arcade
Nara was the capital of Japan even before Kyoto, and contains spectacular sights such as the 16-metre Buddha of Todai-ji. The Tokon-do and the five-storey pagoda. The hall, Tokon-do, is full of fascinating statues, but photography, alas, is forbidden
Nara is famous for its deer, but you wouldn't like them when they're angry!
A lion-dog at a temple entrance
The south gate, Nandai-mon, ofTodai-ji
The main temple building at Todai-ji, the Daibutsu-den
The 16-metre Buddha
Other statuary in the Daibutsu-den
Other statuary in the Daibutsu-den
Image of Binzuru outside the Daibutsu-den
Nigatsu-do, on Nara's eastern hills
School party at Nigatsu-do
Nigatsu-do, Nara
View from Wakakusa-yama, Nara
Hill paths in eastern Nara
Kasuga Taisha, with its orange lacquer and many lanterns
Kasuga Taisha, with its orange lacquer and many lanterns
Woodland torii gate
Sake barrels
Woodland shrines
One of the Twelve Heavenly Generals in Shin-yakushi-ji
Another Heavenly General
Roof detail at Kongobu-ji, Koya-san
Portico and garden at Kongobu-ji, Koya-san
Park benches with sleeping Buddhas, Koya-san
Bridge over a lotus pond, Koya-san
Shrine on the lotus pond island
Koya-san's Great Stupa (Konpon Daito)
Kujako-do
Detail of Western Stupa
Miyo-jinja
Daimon or great gate, Koya-san
Detail of great gate
Hexagonal scripture library, Koya-san
Lion-dogs
Pilgrims
Great bell
The cemetery of Okonuin
The cemetery of Okonuin
The cemetery of Okonuin
The cemetery of Okonuin
The cemetery of Okonuin
Back to Osaka and the big city. Guess which movie had just opened! We did go to see KILL BILL Vol.2 in Osaka, of course...
A pachinko parlour. It's a good thing you can't hear the racket!
The Statue of Liberty?
Shinsaibashi
Typical side-street in Osaka
The same pachinko parlour from above, from a different angle...
Sake bottles in the window
Shinkansen. We caught this one to go to Kyushu.
Sand baths on the beach at Beppu.
Hanabi (fireworks) on the beach at Fukuoka
Canal City shopping centre, Fukuoka
A presentation for boys' day
View from Senko-ji hilltop observatory, Onomichi
A grumpy Buddha at Senko-ji
The ropeway to Senko-ji, Onomichi
Stairs with dog, apparently a bit of a local celebrity!
Jodo-ji, a big and colourful temple with lots of pigeons!
Jodo-ji, Onomichi
Jodo-ji
Back to the hilltop over Onomichi for sunset
The rock at Senko-ji, which changes colour
Cranes lit up at night
Cycling to Ikuchi-jima
The bridge from Ikuchi-jima to Omi-shima, about 1.4 km long
Omi-shima, and a helicopter
Onomichi shopping arcade, with many excellent gift shops, markets, record shops, junk shops, coffee shops - you name it!
Queues for Onomichi ramen, possibly the world's best noodles. The 30-minute-plus queue was definitely worth it!
They weren't wrong, as it goes! Americana is still very cool in Japan...
Vending machines. They're everywhere!
Koshien stadium, home of the Hanshin Tigers
Getting ready to let off long balloons at the seventh inning (it's a Tigers tradition)
And the Tigers win!
Post-quake Kobe isn't looking backwards
Carp streamers
Modern Kobe at its boldest
A house shop, downtown Kobe. We liked this one and wanted to buy it...
All photos copyright ©2010 Andrew Gilham. All rights reserved. Please enquire for reproductions.