Rain @ Daisho-in on Miyajima

Daishoin is famous for its maple leaves in autumn. However, I thought they looked pretty good on a rainy day in June.

I have been to many temples all over Japan, but my experience at Daishoin may have been my favorite. Probably because of the rain, I was about the only person there so that may have had a lot to do with the wonderfulness. Kobo Daishi (弘法大師) founded the place so it was interesting to see Daishoin during the same summer in which I spent a night on Koya San.

Posted on October 27th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, Daishoin 大聖院, japanese maple, miyajima, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, rain. Comments Off on Fall colors during rainy season at Daishoin (大聖院)

Kamo Shrine (賀茂神社) gate

I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again, but some things are best experienced alone, at a time when the tourists are gone. Such was the case on this evening in Kyoto. Other than myself, there was no one around except a high school couple (probably waiting for me to leave so they could make out). There were also crows, and they were the ultimate reason I left. Japanese crows don’t like me. I have been attacked by them before.

Moments after I took this photo, a thunder cracked so loud that when I glanced at the young couple, they looked at me as if to say, “the three of us aren’t long for this world.” I smiled and headed for my bike. That’s when the crows started doing their thing, and I split before the rain came down in buckets.

Posted on October 21st, 2013 under Japan. Tags: kyoto, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, Shimogamo-jinja 下鴨神社, shinto. Comments Off on The Tower Gate (Ro Mon or 楼門)

Posted on October 19th, 2013 under Korea. Tags: baekyangsa temple, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Baekyangsa (고불총림 백양사)

京町屋ゲストハウス　まくや Makuya (Kyoto, Japan)
cheap ryokan

While in Kyoto this past August, I spent a couple nights at a very inexpensive minshuku in the middle of the city. While Makuya isn’t walking distance to any sights, it is biking distance to everything. The bikes are free to use while you stay there. I rode all over town, including trips to Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, Shugakuin Villa, Gion, and closer places like Nijo Castle and the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

The facilities are nice for the price. The place looks almost new. Normally when you go budget pricing in Japan you end up at a place that is old and run down. Not so at Makuya. The owner is super nice and helpful too.

They don’t really have a site in English yet, but you can probably get by with Google translate and their Japanese site here.

Posted on October 17th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: kyoto, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, reviews. Comments Off on Kyo Machiya Guest House Makuya (inexpensive lodgings in Kyoto)

Yakult Swallows walk-off victory
中村 悠平 with the hit
山田 哲人 scores the game winner

I must admit to having become totally uninterested in the 2013 MLB post season. Once my A’s lost there hasn’t been another team that has compelled me to watch a game. I don’t even know who is winning between the Tigers and Red Sox or Dodgers and Cardinals. Four top-ten payrolls battling it out for bragging rights means nothing to me. Too bad the A’s didn’t get past the Tigers. If the Pirates or Rays had made it another round I could have still cared.

Today’s photo is from a sayonara RBI in the bottom of the 9th inning by the Swallows‘ Nakamura back in August. Yamada scored the game winner. What a fun game it was.

Posted on October 17th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: baseball, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, sports photography, Tokyo, yakult swallows. Comments Off on Walk off hit (サヨナラ打)