東照宮 (Nikko, Japan)

My random, desktop image of the day is from the last time I was in Nikko, more than five years ago.

Posted on September 20th, 2015 under Japan. Tags: nikko, toshogu. Comments Off on Toshogu

Tenso Jinja (Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan)

After a 20-year gap in living in Japan, we went back to live in Tokyo for a year beginning in 2009. On our first night we headed to a Bon Odori at Tenso Jinja. That was a magical night for me.

Flash forward to 2013, and I hadn’t been to Japan for over three years. I wandered into my old neighborhood to find my local shrine getting ready for its annual Bon Odori. The vibe was bittersweet as I waxed nostalgic but also realized I would be heading back to the USA before the actual event took place the following week.

Posted on September 16th, 2015 under Japan. Tags: bon odori, lanterns, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, nishi-waseda, shinto, 天祖神社. Comments Off on Prepping for the Tenso Jinja Bon Odori

天狗 @ 櫛田神社 (Fukuoka, Japan)

Posted on September 15th, 2015 under Japan. Tags: fukuoka, kushida jinja, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, shinto, tengu. Comments Off on Kushida Tengu

江戸ワンダーランド

You don’t see ninjas everyday in Japan, unless you are at Nikko Edo Wonderland.

Posted on September 11th, 2015 under Japan. Tags: edo wonderland, nikko. Comments Off on Ninja

Posted on September 9th, 2015 under Japan. Tags: kyoto, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Kyoto Imperial Palace