Shinjuku Gyoen In Spring
Some photo excursions start out one way, and end another. The cherry blossoms were foretold to bloom in mid-March, brought earlier and earlier by the advent of Global Warming. Yet, as I strode through Shinjuku’s National Garden in search of that coveted Japanese subject, there was little to be found, so inspiration was sought elsewhere in the trees.
Yamanakako Ice Candles Festival
Ice molds are, both literally and figuratively, cool. Put a couple thousand of these in a field with candles inside, and you’ve got the makings of a great winter festival. This was the scene at Lake Yamanaka, one of the most scenic areas that surrounds Mt. Fuji.
Kusatsu Onsen
Strikingly simple, strikingly charming, and with a natural musk that my sinuses will never forget. Yes, this town is graced with an overwhelming presence of sulfur from the volcanic outflow that the water draws its heat from. And it was here, at the town’s center called the Yubatake, that all the action happened.
Tokyo Mobility Show 2023
There were arguably two debuts this year that caused the biggest interest among sports car fans: the Nissan Hyper Force concept, and the Mazda ICONIC SP concept. Will we see a new GT-R and a rebirth of the RX line in production one day? Time will tell, but one thing is clear: there is a lot of excitement at the prospect of each.
Kyoto’s Kinkaku-ji Temple
Kyoto is an incredible city, filled with culture, heritage, and beauty. Many of the experiences are interactive, walking through a pathway of gates or washing your hands in purified water. Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, is all about the eyes. It is stunning in every sense of the word, and holds its allure year after year without ever aging or decaying.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Arashiyama is one of those gems, like many in Kyoto, that is forever stuck in time. Natural and historic, the bamboo trees stretch up for what seems like miles, obscuring the rest of society from your mind. While the grove is much smaller than the forest name might suggest, it is always worth the visit.
Sensoji Temple & Asakusa
It was cold, and warm, and fragrant on the December afternoon that I visited this wonderful temple and its surrounding district. For all the bustling, modern, developed metropolis that Tokyo is, there are still pockets of history that feel untouched. This one remains a gem in that sense, and its atmosphere was something to behold even as COVID’s shadow lingered in the background.