Beomeosa – Busan, ROK

Posted on March 20th, 2014 under Korea. Tags: beomeosa, buddhist, busan, Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Telephoto Lens, Nikon D600, temples. Comments Off on Korean color

Ryōan-ji (龍安寺) – Kyoto, Japan

There is something unzenlike in a place like this when it is crowded with tourists, especially talking tourists. That said, I had always been underwhelmed by photos of Ryoanji, but I found actually being there to be quite amazing. Maybe it was just because it was humid, a million degrees, and one can view the rock garden from the shade. In any event, photos don’t do it justice, but try to get there when you can be alone (like I was able to at Ninnaji) if you can for best results.

Posted on January 22nd, 2014 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, kyoto, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, Ryoanji 龍安寺, temples. Comments Off on Ryoanji (龍安寺)

Higashiyama Walking Course (Takayama, Japan)

Posted on January 10th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, rain, takayama, temples. Comments Off on Temple Town (寺町)

Ryochoin (亮朝院) on New Year’s Eve

Most temples and shrines in Japan will have some sort of relatively low-key event planned for this evening. Unlike summer festivals, New Year’s Eve in Japan is usually celebrated by watching TV at home (maybe in part due to the temperature outside). However, most people will head out for Hatsumode (初詣) tomorrow or soon thereafter rather than participate in the ritual just after the stroke of midnight.

Today’s photo comes from the afternoon of New Year’s Eve 2009. We didn’t stick around our neighborhood Ryochoin to see what happened there. Instead, we went to the balloon release on the other side of Tokyo, an event that no longer happens. Ryochoin is decorated in New Year’s garb in today’s photo. For what it normally looks like, click here.

Posted on December 31st, 2013 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, nishi-waseda, shogatsu, temples, Tokyo. Comments Off on Tokyo temples on New Year’s Eve

Beomeosa (범어사)
Busan, Republic of Korea

Posted on November 13th, 2013 under Korea. Tags: beomeosa, buddhist, busan, Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Telephoto Lens, Nikon D600, temples. Comments Off on Beomeosa (범어사)