Picutres of Places in Japan A very modest gallery (compared to the two filled photo albums I have) but I tried to give a quick sense of the different kinds of places in Japan. TOKYO: IMPERIAL PALACE MOAT This photo was taken in central Tokyo if you can believe it. I walked in and around the entire Imperial complex (at least a half-day journey) and found that the view across the moat on the south side was gorgeous. TOKYO: SHIBUYA This photo was taken from the second floor of a McDonalds on the little side streets of Shibuya, about five minutes from the JR station's Hachiko exit and to the right of the 109 building. TOKYO: SHINJUKU Shinjuku garden may be the largest garden in Tokyo. It takes a full afternoon to walk through and includes a variety of different garden types from Europe as well as the Japanese (which is still my favorite part). This building, so perfectly situated over the pond, is begging to have its picture taken. TOYKO: ASAKUSA This photo is part of the sprawling Asakusa Cannon Temple, the biggest temple in Tokyo and a great place to buy gifts. The complex is a great deal bigger than shown, but the building on the left is the main temple. This area is not to be confused with Akasaka further south. TOKYO: ASAKUSA This was also taken in Asakusa, about five minutes from the Temple. This building is the Asahi building (a big Japanese corporation) which is right along the Sumida river. The structure was supposed to resemble a giant foaming beer mug with the Asahi trademark 'flame' next to it. For wind reasons, the flame could not shoot straight up. Unfortunately, it no longer resembles a flame and it is a running joke among Tokyoites who call it the Asahi turd. TOKYO: JIMBOCHO Mukoshi-carrying is an interesting event. It happens a few times a year in Japan and involves carrying a small shrine on a group of shoulders to a mother shrine a kilometer away. What I find most fascinating is that the giant procession of Happi-robe wearing men and women completely block city traffic without a worry as the carry their burdern slowly across town, chanting. TOKYO: SUGAMO Japanese cemetaries are very much like mini-cities where every family gets a city block and a little 'skyscraper' to put their urns in. The wooden ski-type things with kanji on them? Don't have a clue. Aoyama cemetary (not the one on the right), in central Tokyo, is the one I would most recommend visiting not only since it's the biggest and all sorts of people (foreigners too) have plots there, but also for the varying styles and sculptures of each plot. (The dog, Hachiko's plot is also there) LAKE KAWAGUCHI Look closely, this is an actual photo I took of Mt. Fuji. Taken near lake Kawaguchi, this November shot is the clearest I ever saw the elusive giant cone. No snow had fallen on the top yet that year, but the mountain was still impressive. NIKKO This is a rainy shot of a five-story pagoda in Nikko. Nikko is a small, mountain town two hours north of Tokyo. Although I never captured it the way I wanted on film, I highly, highly, highly recommend that everyone visit Nikko. I went three times and could have gone many more. The temples there are the most gorgeous I have ever seen. NIKKO Here is a sample of some of the extraordinary detail present in all of Nikko's temples. I could stare for hours. TOKYO A sight from home, slightly tweaked. I took this picture early on before I realized that all the kanji and kana said was "Seven-Eleven: Open for Business" TOKYO: CHIYODA? Yep, Tokyo Disneyland. Now, if only they'd come up with Anime-land...