On New Years Eve we also went to the Hongakuji temple on our way back home. This temple is beautifully decorated with lighted lamps “akachochin” (red lamps) and “shirochochin” (white lamps). This is the Ebisu-do Hall built by the 1st shogun Minamoto Yorit ... Continue Reading
This is a special time in Japan and a lot of people take their days off to visit family and to go to the shrines and temples. Even banks and post offices are closed for several days, so, you have to be prepared. (We ran into this problem 2 years ago and in Japan a lot is paid by ... Continue Reading
After Nikko we traveled to Mashiko. We had to wait a while in the city Utsunomiya to transfer, where we did some shopping and sight seeing.We saw beautiful big neon signs: “Coca Cola”!!! And of course, we found some beautiful Japanese girls! After riding the bus for ... Continue Reading
The next trip was to Nikko and Mashiko. My youngest son and girlfriend had also arrived in Japan. The next day we left right away because for the Japanese this is a big holiday time too. A lot of places are closed and you have to check everything well before you go somewhere. Ove ... Continue Reading
Two days after going to Koya-san we traveled north-west to an onsen in some other mountains. It was a long trip, but reading, talking, eating, playing games and listening to music passes the time fast. The last ride was way up into the mountains by bus. This is the hotel/onsen w ... Continue Reading
This year we celebrated our holidays in Japan. We got a Japan Rail Pass and with our 2 oldest boys we traveled first to Koya-san, south of Osaka and about 6 hours of travel from Kamakura. Mount Koya, set amid black cedars at an altitude of 1000 m., is Japan’s most venerated ... Continue Reading
Today, I saw Mount Fuji again from our balcony. In the early morning or when the sun goes down behind the mountain, it is the clearest. But of course, far way and for my camera actually too far away. This picture was taken 2 years ago, when we just had moved here and a with a b ... Continue Reading
The last couple of days, I also walked around in Tokyo and you find the most beautiful amazing parks. The next pictures are taken at the Kitanomaru National Garden “Koen” at the Imperial grounds and the Yasukuni Shrine “Jinja”. Just incredible! This is pa ... Continue Reading
It is great to back in Japan. The temperature is really nice: in the night it cools off and you still sleep under your down cover. Last night we had a thunder storm and today, it is beautiful and sunny again. I rode my bicycle around town with all the beautiful cherry “SAKU ... Continue Reading
Spring in the hills where I live in the US is beautiful. Everything turns greens because of the rain, which is plentiful in this season. In summer it will all turn yellow where there are no sprinkler systems. Enjoy the following pictures: I feel very fortunate to be able to ... Continue Reading
