Kita-in Temple (喜多院) | Kawagoe (川越市), Japan

Kita-in Temple (喜多院) in Kawagoe

entrance to the temple

traditional dance

hanami

Kawagoe (川越市), Japan

Kawagoe (川越市) is a town just north of Tokyo where many buildings from the Edo period are still preserved today.
Getting there takes about 30 minutes on the Tobu Tojo Line express train from Ikebukero Station in Tokyo and costs 450 yen each way. However, a discounted round-trip ticket is available for only 700 yen. It's intended only for foreigners, though they didn't check passports when we purchased it.

Bell of Time (時の鐘 Toki no kane), built 350 years ago and still rings four times a day

Kawagoe Castle

interior hallway

Kawagoe Castle garden

Meguro River (目黒川) | Tokyo, Japan

Meguro River (目黒川) hascherry blossoms located right outside Nakameguro Station, which extend for almost a kilometer north. There are many restaurants and street vendors along the sides, though not much space for sitting.

lanterns illuminate the cherry blossoms in the evening

嵐山, 京都, 日本 (Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan)

Arashiyama (嵐山), Kyoto (京都), Japan (日本)

Oi River

Togetsukyō Bridge

somewhere outside of Sagano?

Sagano Bamboo Forest

Sagano Bamboo Forest

scenic train that runs along the Hozu River

(which later becomes to Oi River, and then becomes the Katsura River)

Rice paddy in Takai, outside the Torokko Kameoka Station トロッコ亀岡 on the otherside of the mountain

京都, 日本 (Kyoto, Japan)

Kyoto (京都), just North of Nara, was the former capital of Japan so there's lots of history to see there, including 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Here's a few I was able to visit while there.

Byodo-in (平等院), but over a thousand years ago as a country-side retreat but is now a Buddhist temple.

different angle

somehwere.... i forget where...

The main hall of Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺), one of the most well-known Buddhist temples in the country.

Otawa Waterfall as seen from the wooden deck in the previous picture.

The people are lined up to drink from the water. Each of the three streams is suppose to bring different benefits.

Kiyomizu-dera, from a different angle

a niomon by the Kiyomizu-dera temples

small street by the shops next to Kiyomizu-dera

東大寺, 奈良, 日本 (Todai-ji, Nara, Japan)

Todai-ji (東大寺) is a Budhist Temple complex and consists of several temples and shrines.  A great place to visit for those who are interested in Japanese history and culture, but probably not as interesting for others. The site is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

stone marker outside the entrance

the main entrance gate

central gate that leads to the main temple

 

Great Buddha Hall (大仏殿 Daibutsuden)

Didn't have time to get interior shots :(

This is the world's largest wooden structure until the 1990s

Deer are considered sacred protectors and many tame deer wander around the area

large bronze bell