Structure & Strangeness

 

Japan - Spring Break 2005

For Spring Break 2005, I flew to Japan with the intention of exploring my first country from the Asian continent. Destinations were Tokyo, Kyoto and Miyazaki; friend Chris Salzberg, whom I met at the Santa Fe Institute's Complex Systems Summer School in June 2003 is getting his PhD from U. Tokyo in artificial life, while friend Jenn Louie is in her final year of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program based in Miyakonojo on the southern island of Kyushu. Jenn leaves Japan at the end of the summer, so I decided I'd better go while I had multiple friends in the country.

As with most of my travels, I took an annoyingly large number of pictures, most of which are available here. Enjoy, and stop by the blog entries to read about my adventures.

Tokyo: capitol and megatropolis [blog entry]


Tuna auctions, Tokyo Fish Market


Chopping block, Tokyo Fish Market


Slicing tuna, Tokyo Fish Market


Destined for sushi, Tokyo Fish Market


Sue and Ann, new friends, Tokyo Fish Market


'ema', at the Shrine


Akihabara Confucian Shrine


Myojin Shrine entrance, Akihabara


Traditional Japanese wedding at Myojin, Akihabara


Bride and groom of wedding, Myojin in Akihabara


Tokyo National Museum, behind Ueno Station


Bronze fish, Tokyo National Museum


Samurai armor, Tokyo National Museum


Eagle drawing on screen, Tokyo National Museum


A very large lantern, Senso-ji Asakusa


Crowded main square, Senso-ji Asakusa


Wafting smoke for good luck, Senso-ji Asakusa


Five story pagoda, Senso-ji Asakusa


Five story pagoda (closer), Senso-ji Asakusa


Offering box (also for good luck), Senso-ji Asakusa


Touristy shopping avenue near Senso-ji in Asakusa


Harajuku girls, and me


Harajuku boys


Harajuku shopping avenue


Harajuku weirdness


More Harajuku weirdness


Main square of Shibuya


Tokyo skyline detail


Tokyo city panorama from one of many skyscrapers


Philadelphia in... Tokyo


Mecca... er, the Tokyo Applestore


Friend Chris Salzberg

 

 

Kyoto: historic center and shrine city [blog entry]


Choin-in main entrance


Sub-shrine in Choin-in


Calligraphy class, Choin-in


Colorful Buddhist statute, Choin-in


Temple bell


Dragon washing fountain


In case of earthquake (a public notice)


Traditional Japanese grave


Main square, Japanese Tomb of the Unknown Soldier


Shrine to Allied soldiers, Japanese Tomb of the Unknown Soldier


Names of Allied soldiers who perished, Japanese Tomb of the Unknown Soldier


Random five story pagoda


Entrance building at Kiyomizu-dera complex


Cherry blossom season, Kiyomizu-dera


School group at Kiyomizu-deras


One of the many buddhas, Kyomizu-dera


Main temple building, Kiyomizu-dera


Kind of like fortune cookies, Kyomizu-dera


Explanation of 'ema', Kyomizu-dera


The love stones, Kiyomizu-dera


Kiyomizu-dera skyline


Buddha with hat, Kiyomizu-dera


Fountain of long life, Kyomizu-dera


Random temple


Random shrine in the middle of urban concrete jungle


To-ji gardens and pagoda


To-ji pagoda and me


Hostel friends


School group enjoying the cherry blossoms


Entrance to Nijo-jo


Nijo-jo skyline: sky, mountain, city, castle


Nijo-jo moat


Rosa on Mt. Hiei


Mt. Hiei and me


French impressionism... on Mt. Hiei


Main temple building at Enryaku-ji, Mt. Hiei


Monument to some ambassador, Enryaku-ji Mt. Hiei


Sushi bar


Ryoin-ji bridge over untroubled waters


Ryoin-ji Zen fountain


Famous Ryoin-ji rock garden


Not-so-peaceful, Ryion-ji


Meditative, Ryion-ji


Kinkaku-ji in the sunlight


Kinkaku-ji again


Kinkaku-ji and me


Offerings to Buddha, Kinkaku-ji


Shinkansen to Beppu

Kyushu, mountains and onsen [blog entry]


Kagoshima, volcano


Kagoshima onsen


Aoshima coastline


Rice paddy reflection


Picturesque Japanese cloud enshrouded valley


When love hotels meet Engrish


Chou-hi and me, at Joyfull (a diner)


Devil's Washboard, Aoshima


Aoshima island and me


Aoshima island shrine


Cave shrine main entrance


Cave shrine, side arches


Cave shrine, looking down


Cave shrine


If you get a pellet in the puddle, luck for having children


Jenn throws at the puddle


Shidax, the 24-hour karaoke palace


Karoako #1


Karaoke #2


Karaoke #3


Karaoke #4


Karaoke #5


Karaoke #6


Young archers receive blessing, Festival/Archery Competition


Adults prepare, Festival/Archery Competition


The procession before the competition


Elder archer (note the hat)


Cherry blossom-lined track


Elder archer run #1


Elder archer run #2


Journeyman archer run #1


Apprentice archer run #1


Apprentice archer run #2


Archer run movie #1


Archer run movie #2


Archer run movie #3


Jenn, me and the cherry blossoms


Kojima island, home of very smart monkeys


Shore by Kojima island


Kurakowa onsen lobby


Kurakowa, on the Black River


Onsen passes, hung at the shrine for good luck


Cuddly Dominion, Kyushu


Random Japanese oversized cuteness

 

 

 

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© Aaron Clauset

updated 04.10.05