Sunday, September 30, 2007

In front of a lumber shop

In front of a lumber shop, Kyoto, Japan
This was taken in front of a shop selling lumbers for housing and used to be one of typical scenes in Japan. Wooden was very popular material for making houses and constructing buildings. Passing through such shops, the good scent of raw wooden pleased our noses. But today, wooden has replaced with steel and concrete. So such shops are becoming less in the street. I miss the scent!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

a greened room, at Koto-in of Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

a greened room, at Koto-in of Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto
The surrounding green outside make even the inner space look rather green.

Have a nice weekend!!

Friday, September 28, 2007

Netsuke part2

Netsuke part2, Kyoto

Here is the previous post about Netsuke

Thursday, September 27, 2007

A clay and wooden bridge over a pond at Katsura Imperial Villa, Kyoto

A clay and wooden bridge over a pond at Katsura Imperial Villa, Kyoto, Japan

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Shu-syu no meigetu, a day for the moon in the middle of autumn

Shu-syu no meigetu, a day for the moon in the middle of autumn, Kyoto, Japan
Today is Shu-syu no meigetu(中秋の名月), the year's most suitable day for enjoying seeing the moon all over the year. It is now not hot and humid so much and the air is becoming clearer than that in summer.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Elaborate details under the roofs, at Kofukuji Temple in Nara

Elaborate details under the roofs, at Kofukuji Temple in Nara

Sunday, September 23, 2007

An ordinary scenery in Kyoto

An ordinary scenery in Kyoto
Kyoto is one of the most popular sightseeing spots even among Japanese. Washing rooms for women near popular sightseeing spots are always crowded, with women queuing in front of them. On the other hand, the toilette for men is not so croweded perhaps because of the speedy.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

The beauty of Bonsai 2

The beauty of Bonsai 2, Kyoto

Friday, September 21, 2007

some ripples on white gravels, at Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto

some ripples on white gravels, at Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Squared stones are about to sink in a sea of mosses, at Tofukuji Temple, Kyoto

Squared stones are about to sink in a sea of mosses, at Tofukuji Temple, Kyoto

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Ceder trees over the maple leaves

Ceder trees over the maple leaves

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

The beauty of tile roofs, at Toji Temple, in Kyoto

The beauty of tile roofs, at Toji Temple, in Kyoto

Monday, September 17, 2007

Some layers of tile roofs at Tofukuji Temple, in Kyoto

Some layers of tile roofs at Tofukuji Temple, in Kyoto

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Lively picture, at Ohara Hosen-in in Kyoto

Lively picture, at Ohara Hosen-in in Kyoto

Saturday, September 15, 2007

A lantern decorated with the pattern of maple leaves at Ohara in Kyoto

A lantern decorated with the patterns of maple leaves at Ohara in Kyoto

Friday, September 14, 2007

Parallel stripes as a design tool, at Shisendo Temple, in Kyoto

Parallel stripes as a design tool, at Shisendo Temple, in Kyoto
This is a view from the inside a house at Shisendo Temple. The striped pattern connected the outer with the inner. The stripes of tatami mats goes well with the stripes of the ground outside, patterned by blooms.

The continuity of the pattern makes the inside feel larger than it is and such connection of the outer with the inner is one of the features of Japanese traditional architecture.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Maple leaves on the tile roofs of the outer wall, at Eikando Temple in Kyoto

Maple leaves on the tile roofs of the outer wall, at Eikando Temple in Kyoto, Japan
Excuse me not for posting the photo yesterday! I was unable to post it because the PC, where I put many photos, was not in use.

Now it is OK and I hope you will continue to enjoy this photo blog!!

By the way, I confess that this photo was shot in November last year. September is too early to enjoy the foliage season of maple leaves. We will enjoy them in November and the foliage in Nov., as well as cherry blossoms in April, attracts many tourists and one of the seasons I prefer.

Umm, I miss the season!!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

A building for ringing the bell, at Todaiji Temple, Nara

A building for ringing the bell, at Todaiji Temple, Nara

Monday, September 10, 2007

A part of Horyuji Temple, Nara

A part of Horyuji Temple, Nara, Japan

Sunday, September 09, 2007

The orderly pillars and tile roofs, at Horyuji Temple in Nara

The orderly pillars and tile roofs, at Horyuji Temple in Nara

Saturday, September 08, 2007

The 400th post! :a pine tree at the end of the paved path, Katsura Imperail Villa, Kyoto

a pine tree at the end of the paved path, Katsura Imperail Villa, Kyoto
This pine tree is planted just at the end of the path just close to the entrance of this Villa, Katsura Imperial Villa. Beyond the tree is stretching a pond, arranged in the center of the garden and surrounded with carefully placed trees and spatially-arrayed stepping stones, connecting a few rustic houses. Over the tree is the combination of beauty, made up with several elements, such as trees, houses, and stones around the pond.

The tree is positioned as if it would keep guests from enjoying the vista of the whole garden.

Why does it prevent us from seeing the scenery? Because it was there for guests to appreciate the changes of the scenery of the garden fully.

Without it, we would be able to see the whole garden very easily as soon as we enter the garden and take a few steps on the paved path. Viewing the whole garden is one of the most enjoyable things in the garden. Enjoying the whole scenery without any walk, "antipasto" for guests, would be just as we enjoy main dishes without antipasto or listening a symphony without the first movement.

Limiting the view is needed to appreciate the change of the view in the garden.

Friday, September 07, 2007

Well balanced architecture, Jingoji Temple, Kyoto

Well balanced architecture, Jingoji Temple, Kyoto

Thursday, September 06, 2007

The beauty of the twisted tree (2/2), near Kyoto Imperial Palace

The beauty of the twisted tree (2/2), near Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kyoto

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

The beauty of the twisted tree (1/2), Saihoji Temple, Kyoto

The beauty of the twisted tree (1/2), Saihoji Temple, Kyoto

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

A well-balanced garden with raked pebbles, a pond and surrounding trees, at Ninnaji Temple, Kyoto

A well-balanced garden with raked pebbles, a pond and surrounding trees, at Ninnaji Temple, Kyoto, Japan

Monday, September 03, 2007

Another view of Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto

Another view of Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto
This is Kiyomizu Temple, famous for the extended veranda of the main building and its great vista from it. This is the main building and was taken from a small hill.

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Maiko dancing

Maiko dancing, Gion, Kyoto

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Theme day : street light or sign board



I chose street light.

This is something of a street light and a paper lantern. It is hang on the outer wall of a building along the main street at Gion district in Kyoto. Gion district is famous for Maiko and Geiko. This lantern is hang for "Miyako Odori", also known as "Cherry Dance".

This photo was actually taken in April and during April holds "Miyako Odori" every year, when all the Maikos and Geikos in Gion district dance and sing on the stage elegantly.

This month 105 City Daily Photo blogs participate in this theme day. Do pay them a visit but remember that due to time difference you might not see the proper photo.

Seattle (WA), USA - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Singapore, Singapore - Boston (MA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Kajang (Selangor), Malaysia - Mainz, Germany - Evry, France - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Sequim (WA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Nottingham, UK - Toulouse, France - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Manila, Philippines - Mumbai, India - Montpellier, France - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - Moscow, Russia - Paris, France - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Lyon, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Hyde, UK - Hong Kong, China - Joplin (MO), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Chandler (AZ), USA - St. Louis (MO), USA - Arlington (VA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Sydney, Australia - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - San Diego (CA), USA - Bandung (West Java), Indonesia - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Nelson, New Zealand - Quincy (MA), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Bend (OR), USA - Wellington, New Zealand - New Orleans (LA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Detroit (MI), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Selma (AL), USA - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Arradon, France - Sheki, Azerbaijan - New York City (NY), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - North Bay (ON), Canada - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Tenerife, Spain - Auckland, New Zealand - Forks (WA), USA - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Chateaubriant, France - Madison (WI), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Ajaccio, France - Baltimore (MD), USA - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Budapest, Hungary - Lyon, France - Saarbrücken, Germany - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Le Guilvinec, France - River Falls (WI), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Naples (FL), USA - London, UK - La Antigua, Guatemala - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Paris, France - San Diego (CA), USA - Trujillo, Peru - Haninge, Sweden - Prague, Czech Republic - Oslo, Norway - Grenoble, France - Shanghai, China - Toronto (ON), Canada - Durban, South Africa - Zurich, Switzerland - Cape Town, South Africa - Singapore, Singapore