The eye is naturally drawn to the Geisha, Maiko, Geiko, tourist, or whatever you want to call her, but this picture includes some other interesting looks and gazes as well. Be sure to check them out once you are done looking at her.

Posted on June 8th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: geisha, japan pictures, kyoto. Comments: 1

See yesterday’s entry for the location of this resting, marble Buddha.

Posted on May 23rd, 2009 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, kyoto. Comments: None

I stumbled on this place quite by accident while walking from Maruyama Koen (円山公園) into the Gion District in Kyoto. This shrine is actually quite close to the Gion Temple (祇園寺). I found 龍池山大雲院 to be marvelously peaceful, with striking wood and marble.

Tomorrow I’ll show you a close up of the marble Buddha you can see lying down in the distance in this picture from the gate.

Posted on May 22nd, 2009 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, japan pictures, kyoto. Comments: None

When you are hungry and walking home after a long day of work (or play) few things look as good as this on a Japanese street. So inviting, so mouth watering, so enticing. “Enter me,” it seems to say. “Let me fill your stomach and quench your thirst,” it beckons. “Come and put your cares aside for a while and enjoy life.”

You smile.

And enter.

By the way, in case you don’t know, yakitori is skewered chicken cooked over a fire, possibly after being marinated in a sweet, teriyaki sauce of some sort. Next to a bowl of rice, more dipping sauce, and a cold beer you are good to go.

Posted on May 7th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: buildings, food, japan pictures, kyoto, night photography. Comments: None

These are the ema (prayer plaques discussed here previously) at the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto. The god that grants these desires is 不動明王 who you can also gain favors from across town at Fushimi Inari Taisha.

Posted on April 28th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: ema, japan pictures, kyoto, 金閣寺. Comments: None