No peeping photos (盗撮) sign @ Shakujii River near Oji Station in Tokyo

After taking photos of kids playing in the river I saw this sign telling me not to take photos of kids in the river. I had left my hat, sunglasses, and mask at home, though, so maybe I was OK.

The Japanese like rules. The rules are posted all over everything, even though it’s tough to imagine them doing the things the signs say not to do. In addition, the signs are frequently an eyesore; they tell people to keep things pretty when the scenery would in fact look prettier without the sign.

Posted on May 21st, 2015 under Japan. Tags: oji, signs, Tokyo, water walks in the suburbs of tokyo. Comments Off on No peeping photos

View from Fukuoka’s Hilton Sea Hawk Hotel of Fukuoka Tower (福岡タワー)

I thought about wandering over to the Fukuoka Tower for an aerial view of Fukuoka, but the view from the top of the Sea Hawk was similar, uncrowded (just me!), and free.

Posted on May 19th, 2015 under Japan. Tags: aerial photography, fukuoka, Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR G ED N, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Fukuoka Tower

Kashima Honkan‘s genkan (玄関) Fukuoka, Japan

I’m currently reading Gail Tsukiyama‘s The Samurai’s Garden, and while the book is generally enjoyable, her frequent references to the genken (sic) will be really annoying to anyone who understands Japanese.

Posted on May 16th, 2015 under Japan. Tags: fukuoka, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR G ED N, Nikon D600. Comments Off on pick a slipper

らーめん横丁 七福人 大豊

While looking for Koba, I stumbled upon this alley filled with ramen shops. I passed on them at the moment with the intent of going back if I couldn’t find Koba. However, I found Koba, ate there, and so ramen of the Seven Lucky Gods will have to wait for another trip.

Posted on May 15th, 2015 under Japan. Tags: hiroshima, lucky gods, night photography, Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D nikkor lens, Nikon D600, ramen, signs. Comments Off on Hiroshima’s ramen alley

Shukkei-en’s (縮景園) Seifukan (清風館) (Japanese tea house in Hiroshima)

Everything, except for one tree, in Shukkei-en was wiped out by the atomic bomb in August of 1945. In 1964 this tea house was built in the same place and style as its predecessor that had existed from the 17th to the 20th Century.

Posted on May 13th, 2015 under Japan. Tags: hiroshima, Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D nikkor lens, Nikon D600, 縮景園 Shukkei-en. Comments Off on 50-year old teahouse