Geoff's Photos

You can browse Geoff's travel photos with examples from Himeji, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Miyajima, Munich, Nara, Osaka, Salzburg, San Diego, Seoul, Tokyo, Toronto, etc.

Alternatively, you can return to Geoff's home page.

Kyōto

Probably my favorite city; a wonderful blend of the ancient with the ultramodern. The fact that it is about 15 minutes away from Osaka via the Shinkansen can be startling when one is used to the relatively plodding pace of train service in the US Northeast corridor.

Kinkaku-ji: The Temple of the Golden Pavilion is probably the most well-known site in Kyōto. The gold leaf exterior is stunning in the sunlight; its beauty is dimmed only by the realization that this is a modern feature applied after the original building was destroyed by arson in 1950 and subsequently reconstructed in 1955. The remainder of the temple grounds are OK, but I find them to be some of the least compelling amongst its peers.
Ginkaku-ji: The Silver Pavilion is an interesting compliment to Kinkaku-ji. The sand tables are amazing and the representation of Mt. Fuji is famous. The impermance of human works is driven home by watching a rain shower slowly dissolve the apparently flawless precision of the patterns that have been molded in the sand. If I had been able to achieve such a good looking result, I would have sprayed it with epoxy to lock everything in place...and thereby demonstrate I've failed to understand a key part of the meaning. The grounds have a nice moss garden.
Philospher's Path: While often referred to as the Philospher's Walk, the alliteration of Philospher's Path is more appealing in English. In contrast to the engineered beauty and daily upkeep found in most temple and shrine grounds, this canal-side path is just there and that's probably why it's one of the places I find most interesting. It's hard to see more than a block ahead due to the density of branches reaching out over the canal; in cherry blossom season, one could be forgiven for thinking the clouds had descended to be just over your head.
Heian Jingu: While the oldest buildings are only a little over 115 years old, the intentional beauty of Heian Jingu is breath-taking. The explosion of color in cherry blossom season almost defies description: the northwest corner of the grounds contains so many trees that it appears that one is in a cathedral of blossom branches. The remainder of the grounds have varied and compelling views oriented around a large pond.

Ryōan-ji: The Ryoan-ji temple is most famous for its dry rock garden and many people take the time to sit and ponder the view. The outer grounds include a large pond with a walking path, moss gardens and a forest of pruned evergreens.
Kiyomizu-dera: The Kiyomizu-dera temple complex is a favorite of many and the origin of the phrase "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" (even referenced in the Pandora's Box episode of Lucky Star when they visited the site). The three streams of the Otowa waterfall are a popular draw and one will have to decide whether to be greedy and drink from all 3 streams or be more selective. One of the best possible souvenirs is the 100 yen blessed water bowl; there are special holders available for the bowls in addition to the normal ultraviolet light-sterilized cups-on-poles. This complex should be visited both during the day, when everything is opened (such as the Jishu Shrine with its focus on love and good matches), and at night, when the grounds are illuminated and the atmosphere is magical. If you're trying to minimize costs, coming around dusk might be best.
Nanzen-ji: The Sanmon at Nanzen-ji is famous for its assocation with the execution of Ishikawa Goemon by boiling. If you pay an admission fee, one can climb to the second story of the main gate and walk around the outside deck. I'd recommend doing this, as the opportunity to actually go inside a Sanmon is rare and the views from the outside deck have appeared in many paintings.The Lake Biwa aqueduct also traverses the grounds and you can climb a short hill that enables you to walk over the top of the aqueduct.
Sanjūsangen-dō: The extreme length of the main hall at Sanjusangen-do is used to hold 1000 statues of the Thousand-Armed Kannon in 10 rows of 100 statues. One is not permitted to take pictures inside the hall, which no doubt increases the must-see nature of the facility. That said...there are too many statues for a photograph to capture; you really have to see it and slowly walk the length of the building to experience its impact. There are two spectacular, but very small ponds (so small as to be quite viable in the corner of an average backyard) on the periphery of the grounds. Archery contests have been held on the grounds since the 1600's; now they are held on the second Sunday of January. A sample of roof rafters embedded with arrow shafts is on display and looks much like a wooden porcupine.
Ninna-ji: The Ninna-ji complex has several interesting buildings and is quite attractive. I use a photo of the Shinden's north garden as a background on my checks. It's actually a very large complex and it takes some time to see the bulk of what it has to offer, which helps ease the sting of the entrance fee. Incredibly, there is an awesome Ninna-ji English language blog with a wealth of information and photographs. While I have never been treated rudely at any shrine or temple, my experiences with Ninna-ji are notable because the staff has seemed to practice active kindness. For example, while visiting in a downpour, my party was offered the use of an umbrella when purchasing our entrance tickets. When we attempted to return the umbrella after our visit, we were politely refused and enjoined to retain it as we continued our travels.
Maruyama Park: The Maruyama Park is between the grounds of the Yasaka Shrine and the Chion-in temple. The weeping cherry tree that dominates the center of the park is famous, but the pond and stream are also attractive. When the place is filled for cherry blossom viewing parties, the walkways are lined with vendor stalls selling food and offering some simple games. I haven't seen goldfish scooping (sorry Mikuru), though.
Chion-in Temple: Just north of Maruyama Park, the large grounds of the Chion-in temple complex hold several secrets and the main gate is the largest surviving Sanmon in Japan. It's best to be aware of these hidden features, like the nightingale floor boards or the umbrella and rice paddle hidden in the rafters, before traversing this large site. Access to the top of the complex is via a series of very long, very steep steps...
Yasaka Shrine: Alongside the western edge of Maruyama Park, the Yasaka Shrine is probably most famous for location and hosting the Gion Matsuri festival. It's small, old (dating back to the mid 600's), and probably more of a place that sightseers pass through rather than a destination in itself. No admission fee.
Fushimi Inari Taisha: The Fushima Inari Taisha complex is huge, encompassing the side of a mountain. Probably most famous for the thousands of torii gates that line its pathways. One could easily spend the day wandering the mountain paths.
Kamo River: The banks of the Kamo River hold walking paths that allow pedestrians an unobstructed view of the river. It's probably about a 2-to-3 hour walk between the Kamigamo and Shimogamo shrines.
Kamigamo Shrine: Probably the most famous imagery of the Kamigamo Shrine is that of the two sand mounds called Tatesuna and Saiden. No admission fee required.
Shimogamo Shrine: The sister of Kamigamo Shrine, Shimogamo Shrine is found to the south. Archeological research has been undertaken at the site to unveil ancient artifacts. No admission fee required.
Hozu River: The Hozu River winds its way in an S-shaped loop alongside the west side of Kyōto, changing its name at the Togetsukyō bridge in Arashiyama to the Katsura River. There is a boat ride across the road from Kameokoa Station that eventually drops you at Arashiyama. The valleys are deep enough that it's hard to get at least 3 GPS satellites in view at a time.
Iwatayama Monkey Park: The Iwatayama Monkey Park is on top of Mount Arashiyama. One can feed the Japanese macaques (snow monkeys), but in a role reversal, the humans are in the cage while the monkeys roam free outside.
Nonomiya Shrine: The Nonomiya Shrine is a small shrine mentioned in the Tale of Genji; it lies within the bamboo forest in Arashiyama.
Kyōto Station: The Kyōto train station is a well-loved hangout. Lots of food and shopping is to be found in the lower level and there is a very cool computer-controlled water fall (operates like a dot-matrix printer). The building had a prominent role in Gamera: Revenge of Iris (Konata reminded me).
Kyōto Cinema: The Kyōto Cinema is a small cinema in the center of town on the third floor of the Cocon Karasuma building. I saw The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya here.

Tokyo

Big. Really big. An ultramodern infrastructure ties together disparate neighborhoods that have unique styles.

Sensō-ji: The Senso-ji temple is popular due to its location in Asakusa at the end of Nakamise-dōri.
Kaminarimon: The Kaminarimon is commonly known as the Thunder Gate, a famous entrance gate located at the start of shopping area on Nakamise-dori.
Hōzōmon: The Hozomon is the innermost entrance gate on Nakamise-dōri. The Treasure House gate has 2 large sandals hung on the outside.
Asakusa Shrine: The Asakusa Shrine is a small Shinto shrine next to the Sensō-ji temple; it is often overlooked by visitors to the Sensō-ji grounds.
Akihabara: The area of Akihabara Electric Town is a much-loved destination for the otaku crowd seeking more product and as a place to find new computer-related components. Animate probably gets most of my business (even if it is annoying to have to buy items on the floor where they were displayed) with the Tokyo Anime Center in the UDX building coming in second.
Harajuku: If you're interested in extreme fashion, head over to Harajuku and stroll down Takeshita Street. The ability of some of the store assistants to rapidly display and re-fold piles of shirts must fill their girlfriends with a warm glow of happiness.
Odaiba: The area of Odaiba is famous for its beach, amusement park, Fuji TV, museums and shopping. Sadly, the service at one of the restaurants in the Little Hong Kong section of Decks is among the worst in the world. For a change of pace, take the Sumida River Line water bus from Asakusa down to Hinode and take the Yurikamome line train over to Daiba station.
Shinjuku: The Shinjuku area lays claim to being the busiest train station in the world. The First Kitchen restaurant dominates the intersection near the train station and has nice views out the windows on the upper level dining levels.
Shibuya: The famous loyalty of the dog Hachiko is remembered by a statue in front of the Shibuya station. The scramble crossing in front of the station is well-known for stopping traffic in all directions and the incredible sea of people—standing room only indeed.
Tokyo Tower: Once the tallest artificial structure in Japan, Tokyo Tower was surpassed by the Tokyo Sky Tree in March of 2010; I managed to photograph the Sky Tree (and Tokyo Tower) six days after the event. Nice views from the observation decks.
Roppongi Hills: Another option for good views is the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. One of the Maman spider sculptures is nearby.
Ginza: The Ginza district is known for being upscale and thus really expensive. The Godzilla statue is a few blocks south of the Koban structure; it's merely people-sized.
Kabuki-za: The Kabuki-za theater was torn down a few days after I took a photo of it in April of 2010. We'll have to see what the new one looks like in 2013.
Tokyo Imperial Palace: One can observe the Imperial Palace, but the grounds aren't open to the casual visitor. The Imperial Garden Theater is across the moat to the southeast; the window washers rappel down the side of the building with buckets affixed to their belts.

Nara

Nara is an old city, not very oriented towards tourism, though some progress was being made for the 1300-year celebration in 2011. Typically one takes the train in from Kyoto, visits for the day and then return back to Kyoto.

Nara Park: Considered large due to its more than 500 hectares (more than 1200 acres), Nara Park is definitely ruled by the Sika deer that roam its environs. One can buy a package of crackers to feed these animals...but beware, as they are devoid of the manners one normally finds permeating Japanese society. If you have a cracker, you will be aggressively pursued and may even have your legs bruised by being hit with antler nubs if the more pushy (pun intended) of the herd attempt to get your attention. On the other hand, once the crackers in your hands are gone, their attention will be diverted almost immediately to the next potential source of goodies.
Tōdai-ji: Despite having been reduced in size over the centuries, the main temple building at Todai-ji is the largest wooden building in the world and holds the largest statue of the Buddha Vairocana, which is more than 49 feet tall (almost 15 meters). One of the supporting pillars has a hole which is supposed to be the same size as one of the Daibutsu's nostrils...if one is able to squeeze through it, something good is supposed to happen. Sources conflict as to what that will be: some say you will be blessed with enlightenment in your next life, some say you will gain health in your current life. Adults that can pull it off typically go through on their side (that's how I did it).
Nigatsu-dō: The Nigatsu-do temple is subcomplex of the larger Tōdai-ji complex. There are good views of Nara from the top of the hill.
Hōryū-ji: The Horyu-ji temple complex contains one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world. The site also maintains a climate-controlled museum in which numerous treasures are displayed. This is a reasonably large complex and admission is broken into 3 distinct sections. If you push it, you can make it through in about an hour, but it's worth spending more time. Free English-language tours are available and it's definitely worth accepting the offer as these staff members are able to shine flashlights upon key points of the buildings and on some of the treasures in the museum, thus illuminating (pun intended) your understanding of the artwork. For example, it's almost inevitable that one would miss the remaining flecks of beetle wing casings that used to serve as the enamel on an item in a display case, but it's very easy to see with a light catching the iridescent reflection.
Yakushi-ji: The Yakushi-ji complex is well-restored (e.g., the main hall was rebuilt in the 1970's); however, one of the pagodas dates from the 8th century. My belief is that it's the west pagoda which is the old one, but a few online sources claim it's the east pagoda.

Osaka

More of a New York City feel than Tokyo due to its smaller size, but made interesting by the numerous rivers and canals which criss-cross the area, resulting in more than 800 bridges.

Dōtonbori: The Dotonbori is a major tourist destination in Osaka. Even if you have not the slightest interest in people watching, it's hard not to be fascinated/horrified by the hordes of men that swarm women on the Ebisubashi. The Tsutaya store invariably reduces the amount of currency in my wallet. The Glico running man sign may be the most notable landmark of the area, but the animatronic crab of Kani Doraku is a close second.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: Like the Georgia Aquarium, the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan has whale sharks on display. A very nice aquarium with a not-unexpected focus on regional waters.
Tempozan Ferris Wheel: It's impossible to miss the Tempozan Ferris wheel and the Tempozan Harbor Village next to the Osaka aquarium; whether you partake of the experience is another question. The Tempozan Harbor Village includes a store devoted to the works of Hayao Miyazaki (Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro are probably my favorites) and a "ninja" maze. The Ferris wheel's height of more than 360 feet yields unobstructed views of Osaka's harbor region.
HEP Five: The shopping center of HEP Five also has a nice Ferris wheel which provides views of the center of the city. Shopping, video games, motion simulator rides and good restaurants are present within this single complex.

Himeji

Between Osaka and Hiroshima lies Himeji, a modern city of more than 500,000.

Himeji Castle: While Himeji was bombed during World War II, Himeji Castle had the fortune to survive as it has for more than 400 years. It is arguably the premier example of Japanese castles. A massive restoration effort began in 2010, causing crowds to become almost unbearable as folks attempted to visit before the castle keep was covered up. Quite a contrast to earlier visits. I lost count of how many elderly Grandmother-types just pushed their way in front of me while working one's way to the top of the keep; I had never experienced such behavior before. This site always has visitors due to the quality of the grounds, but something flipped the manners bit off some of the people visiting in 2010.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park: The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is arguably the most important site in Hiroshima as it is devoted the memory of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
Children's Peace Monument: The Children's Peace Monument is surrounded by display cases filled with paper cranes made by people from across the world who continue to keep the memory of Sadako Sasaki alive.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial: The most recognizable symbol of Hiroshima is probably the A-Bome Dome, the ruins of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is devoted to explaining the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Free WiFi access if you register your email address.

Miyajima

Itsukushima Shrine: The torii at Itsukushima Shrine is one of the most famous images of Japan. The rice spoons of the shrine are well-respected. The character of the shrine varies depending on the tide as the buildings are on piers. Low tide drains the sea out past the torii itself, which enables visitors to walk up to it. High tide causes the shrine itself to be surrounded by water.
Momijidani Park: The Momijidani Park is famous for its maple trees. Makes for an interesting walk/hike as one approaches the base of Mount Misen.
Mount Misen: The slopes of Mount Misen on Itsukushima hold several temple buildings and shrines scattered throughout the heights. Mount Misen also has good views of the Seto Inland Sea; one can see Hiroshima from the summit. I inadvertently, albeit successfully, tested the abrasion-resistance of my Mountain Hardware jacket when I fell during the descent.
Daishō-in: One of the extraordinary features of the Daisho-in complex on Mount Misen is the temple of the eternal flame, which has been burning since its foundation over 1200 years ago. I would not like to be the person who forgot to restock the wood last night and let it go out after it had been burning for more than 438000 days straight.

Munich

Marienplatz: The Marienplatz is the center of Munich. Dating back to the 1100's, it hasn't changed much in the past two decades. The most prominate building is the Neus Rathaus, whose Glockenspiel clock is a major attraction.
Nymphenberg Palace: The grounds of Nymphenberg Palace are huge and beautiful, but only a tiny fraction of the main palace complex is open for viewing (the main building). A very nice place to visit for free walks on the grounds, but it's easy to be disappointed by the very limited amount of rooms and furnishings on display for those who pay the admission fee.
Münchner Residenz: The Munich Residenz is a stark contrast to Nymphenberg Palace: pressed upon by the city on all sides, it is the rooms and treasures on display that take one's breath away, not the outside gardens. The Residenz is huge with over 100 rooms on display. For a separate admission fee, one can visit the Treasury and view a mind-boggling array of treasure from all parts of the world. The statue of Saint George is spectacular, leaving no doubt as to why it was chosen as the symbol of the Treasury. If one doesn't devote at least half-a-day to this amazing palace, you're cheating yourself.
Frauenkirche: The twin towers of the Munich Frauenkirche are visible throughout much of Munich and are a well-known landmark. From the location of the Devil's Footstep, one cannot view any windows.
Theatine Church: The Theatine Church is a Baroque-style building on the Odeonsplatz across from the Feldherrnhalle.
Deutsches Museum: The Deutsches Museum is one of the best museums in the world devoted to science and technology. Unfortunately, the sheer extensiveness of the collection and the constrained real-estate imposed by being located on an island in the middle of the Isar river has required that key segments of the collection be relocated to distinct sites. That's a net loss, unless one is able to make the effort to seek out and visit those alternate sites.


Königsplatz: The Königsplatz area is now surrounded by art museums and is known for its Greek-style buildings and usage during World War II.
Alte Hof: The Alte Hof is an old palace probably best known for the tall tale of the monkey having kidnapped the baby king Ludwig and carried him up into the windows of the Monkey Tower. Of course, it would help if the windows actually existed back then...

Dachau

Konzentrationslager Dachau: The Dachau Concentration Camp is a different experience now than it was two decades ago ( it was redone in 2003). The normal entrance is now from the west through the gate with the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" phrase. There is arguably more information presented, but they may have unintentionally made the experience more clinical.

Salzburg

A favorite of most who have been fortunate enough to visit, Salzburg is a small, beautiful historical town made world famous by serving as the backdrop of The Sound of Music. Undoubtedly worth a day trip, it's small enough that most folks will feel they had walked through the entire place within 3 days.

Mirabell Palace: While not huge, Mirabell Palace has a very beautiful arrangement of flower beds. The fountain and steps appeared in the The Sound of Music.
Hohensalzburg Castle: High upon a mountain in the middle of the valley lies Hohensalzburg Castle, an incredible engineering feat. You can take a long, steep walk or ascend via a 2-rail funicular. There is a museum devoted to marionettes, which is often found to be a bit creepy and is easy to avoid visiting.
Residenzplatz: The largest baroque fountain in Europe lies in the Residenzplatz and one can pay for a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city; both were featured in The Sound of Music.

Toronto

Toronto is usually quite clean, even when the sanitation workers are strike, but little sticks out as being notable amongst the world's cities. The CN Tower is now merely the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere...but it's still quite tall.

Ontario Science Centre: Surprisingly, the Ontario Science Centre is much as it was when it opened in the early 1970's. One could argue that's because elementary physics itself hasn't changed. The time-sharing computers with the glass TTY terminals are long-gone, though, as they would be relics compared to even the cell phones people carry today.
Casa Loma: The height of Niagara Falls made them attractive for hydroelectric power generation and Sir Henry Pellat built Casa Loma, the largest private residence built in Canada, using the fortune he was making bringing electricity to Toronto. When the government took away his businesses, he lost it all.

New York City

New York Stock Exchange: The New York Stock Exchange is typically decorated with lights in the pattern of an American flag.
Wall Street: Although famous for financial firms, you'll be hard-pressed to find many on the actual street.

Last Modified: April 27, 2012

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