by mijville
Next day was a trip the The Hakone Shrine. It is the custom to go there in January to pray for a good year. The shrine was magnificent nestled in amongst huge pine trees. The Landmark Shopping Centre & Tower. Spectacular views of Tokyo and Yokohama from the 69th floor that is reached by the fastest elevator in Japan. Advertisements
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: Hakone, Hakone Shrine, Landmark, Yokohama
by mijville
We were picked up by our friends Mike san & Mariko san and taken to the Isuzu Guest House. The house is fabulous with great rooms and lovely gardens and we are very lucky to be invited to stay. Settled in, took the onsen and then had a huge delicious dinner that was beautiful presented. Mariko san made us traditional Japanese Tea and then Kareoke. Interesting as David and I can’t sing but it is always fun….after a few drinks. […]
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: Hakone, Japan
by mijville
This man drew the short straw – his job to trim the trees above the falls. Just tied to a post with a rope.
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: Harajiri no Taki, Japan, Kyushu, Waterfalls
by mijville
It is beleived that Oka Castle was originally built in 1185 by the general Ogata Koreyoshi. The ruins of the castle are very interesting with fabulous views. It gave me a better idea of how and where these castles were built. On the way to the castle we came across this weird little place that had hundreds of trees trimmed into animals. There were also deer that you could feed.
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: Japan, Kyushus, Oita, Oka Castle, Taketa
by mijville
Mt Aso National park is located in the Kumamoto Prefecture and is one of the largest calderas in the world. It is 17 Km across from east to west, 25 km north to south and has an area of roughly 350 square km. The group of five volcanoes in the centre of the caldera, that includes Mt Taka, Mt Eboshi, Mt Kijima, Mt Neko and the still very active Mt Naka is referred to as Mt Aso. There is no […]
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: caldera, Japan, Kumamoto, Kyushu, Mt Aso, Mt Naka
by mijville
Tatumaki – jigoku – “Water Spout Hell” This is a geyser that reaches over 50 metres high but to protect the surrounding area a rock enclosure was built ( the mind boggles at building this during the quiet period) The geyser is very reliable going off every 30 to 40 minutes and lasting 6 to 10 minutes. I have forgotten the name of this Jigoku. It was a small mud spring that once had a shrine.The shrine was destroyed in […]
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: Beppu, hot springs, Japan, Jikogu, Kyushu
by mijville
We went to 4 hot springs over two days but I thought I would put them all together. These are the first 2 of Beppu’s 8 Hell of Hot Springs. jigoku means hell in japanese Chinoike-jigoku “Bloody Hell” The red colour comes from acidic iron & magnesium filled clay that bubbles up from 200 m the temperature is around 78C Umi-jogoku – “Sea Hell” Iron sulphate colours this 98C water an amazing blue. Also at Sea Hell was another […]
Categories: Uncategorized
by mijville
Usa Hachimanju Shrine Nakatsu Castle – impressive black castle in use from 1587 – 1871 Aono-domon Tunnel built by the Buddhist priest Zenkai. Took him over 30 years to build the 185 metre tunnel with chisel and hammer. Yabakei stone bridge – the longest arched stone bridge in Japan
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: Beppu, Japan, Kyushu, Oita
by mijville
Left snowy Kyoto to spend a couple of days in Hong Kong This is the building in Hong Kong that David finished building in the late 80s. Still looks good. “I Love Donut” Exhibition of ceramic work by Korean born US based artist Jae Yong Kim.
Categories: Uncategorized
by mijville
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: Gion, Japan, Kyoto, Ryozen.Kiyomizudera
