JAPAN

March 29 - April 6, 2002

We visited Nagoya, Takayama, and Kyoto. Amy and Misaki at the Castle in Nagoya (built by feudal lords in 1612) The Castle through Cherry Blossoms (Reconstructed after WWII) Cherry Blossoms near the Castle The Roof of Nagoya Castle Topped by a Golden Shachihoko Amy Riding on a Replica of a Golden Shachihoko Green Tea Ice Cream (Cherry Blossom Ice Cream in Background) Green Tea Ice Cream Sandwich Eaten Later in Kyoto Bamboo Fence, Nagoya City Hall, Nagoya Anne, Misaki and Amy at the Osu-Kannon Temple in Nagoya Orchids in the Nagoya Orchid Gardens More Orchids Shopping and Restaurants in the Nagoya Subway Mie Prefectural Normal School at Meiji Mura Flower at Meiji Mura Main Entrance Hall of the Imperial Hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1916 His unique floatiing foudation survived an earthquake in 1923. He used Oya stone, a soft lava that was easily carved. Meiji Mura Panorama (Lake Iruka and the Rukugogawa Iron Bridge) A Japanese house seen from the train on the way to Takayama. The Hida Mountains or "Japanese Alps" (10,000 foot peaks near Takayama) Panoramic View of Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village Thatched Farmhouse at the Folk Village Dolls Arranged on a Typical Stand for the Doll Festival, Folk Village An Elaborate Shrine in an Old Home at the Folk Village The "Japanese Alps" Seen Through the Torii of a Shrine at the Folk Village The Ubiquitous Maneki Neko (Cat Charm) Beckoning Customers to Enter A Temple Bell and Cemetery in the Evening, Takayama A Restaurant in Takayama Tempura Dinner Served Beautifully at a Takayama Restaurant A box lunch/dinner.. See what was in those drawers! A Small Fountain in a Takayama Restaurant A Small Shrine in the Yard of Hida Kokubunji Temple, Takayama The Temple Dog The Miyagawa Morning Market Souvenir Hida Dolls, on Sale at Every Souvenir Shop in the Region Houses of Wealthy Merchants, Built in 1879 and 1908 A View from the Inner Courtyard of the Yoshjima Heritage House A Display of Modern Furniture in The Dining Room Yoshijima Heritage House A Doll Festival Display in the Same Merchant's House Takayama Festival Floats from the 17th Century and about 23 Feet Tall Detail of a Float Puppet Who Dispenses Confetti Prayer Papers in Front of the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine A Cemetery in the Takayama Temple District Carved Wooden Guardian Dragons over a Temple Door in Takayama A Buddhist Figure with Offerings in the Takayama Temple District A Handsome Japanese House in Takayama A Street in the Historic District of Takayama at Dusk A Shop in Takayama's Historic District The Next Morning in the Historic District A Sign in the Takayama Municipal Building A Very Helpful Receptionist at the Municipal Building Takayama Pachinko Parlor (Gambling Game) A Japanese Family in a Japanese-Style Hotel Room Special Toilet Slippers An Asian Toilet with Worn Spots Where People Squat The Toilet Tank with a Special Feature for Flushing... Big Flush to the Left, Small Flush to the Right A Typical Example of Japanese Improvements on a Western-Style Toilet Close-up of Indicator Lights for the Comfortably Warm Seat, etc. Wall Control Panel. The pictures tell the story. Fancy Hand Dryer Shinkansen Bullet Train from Nagoya to Kyoto (Maximum Speed 187 mph.) A Night Scene on Shijo Street, a Major Shopping Street in Kyoto Nighttime Lanterns at a Shrine off the Teramachi Shopping Arcade Typical Vending Machine in the Shopping Arcade (Mostly Coca Cola Brand Tea) Kinkakuji, Temple of the Golden Pavilion, 1390s, Restored 1987 The Bronze Phoenix (Leafed in Gold) on Top of the Golden Pavilion The Golden Pavilion as Seen from Its Gardens Waterfall in the Golden Pavilion Garden Golden Pavilion Gardens The Zen Rock Garden at the Ryoanji Temple (15th Century) Detail of the Zen Rock Garden Cherry Blossoms in the Ryoanji Temple Garden The Tea House in the Ryoanji Temple Gardens Guests Eating Lunch at the Tea House Lanterns at the Entrance to Chorakuji Temple, Kyoto Offerings at Chorakuji Temple Fallen Cherry Blossom Petals near the Chorakuji Bamboo Grove near Chorakuji Temple A Pagoda near the Kodai-ji Temple, Kyoto Two Young Women Walking up the Path to Kodai-ji Temple The Restored Roof and Eaves of the Kodai-ji Temple Building A Panorama of the Modern Rock Garden at the Kodai-ji Temple A Panorama of the Screens inside the Kodai-ji Temple Street Vendors near the Yasuka Shrine, Kyoto We bought some sweet potatoes from this vendor. An Illuminated Cherry Tree in Maruyama Park Eating and Celebrating in Maruyama Park at Night Charcoal Fire Suspended in a Metal Basket, Maruyama Park Lanterns at the Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto Yukichika, Amy, and Anne near Kiyomizu Temple Joel near Kiyomizu Temple A Small Building at the Entrance to the Kiyomizu Temple The Pagoda at Kiyomizu Temple Buddhist Figures Dressed in Colorful Clothes near Kiyomizu Temple Buddha of Love and Mercy in the Kiyomizu Temple Amy and Yukichika on a Shopping Street near the Temple A Woman with a Beautiful Voice Singing Old Japanese Songs Large Buddha Memorial to All Soldiers Who Died in WWII Chion-In Temple, Kyoto The Elaborate Interior of the Chion-In Temple The Torii of the Heian Shrine Part of the Heian Shrine, Built in 1895 for the 1,100th Anniversary of Kyoto A Panorama of the Heian Shrine Shinan Garden Scene, Heian Shrine Panoramic View of the Shinan Garden at Heian Shrine A Bridge and Reflections at the Shinan Garden Shinan Garden Scene