Menu:
AUGUST 2006 : KANSAI, JAPAN
Traditionally attired couple on the banks of the Kamogawa river, Kyoto
Bar sign in Kyoto's Gion entertainment district
A restaurant in Gion
Another bar in Gion
The streets of Gion, filled with foreigners looking for those elusive geisha shots
Restaurant in Pontocho, Kyoto
Riverside restaurants in Pontocho
The money shot - maiko (apprentice geisha) go off to work in Pontocho
Byodoin's "Phoenix Hall" in Uji
More stuff from Byodoin
Casks of sake, at Daigoji
A Buddhist priest, heading home after performing a fire ceremony at Daigoji
The names of those who have donated money to Daigoji's upkeep, with some nicely-coloured portable toilets in the background
Statue to Lady Murasaki, writer of "The Tale of the Genji" in front of the ancient bridge (1996!) at Uji
A memorial for deceased pets, Ujikami Shrine, Uji
Quaint hygene instructions for the young ladies, Ujikami Shrine
A believer dongs the Ujikami Shrine bell, whilst in the background the Shinto priest has difficulty keeping awake
Mossy shrine roof, Ujikami
Thatched building in Isuien garden, Nara
Isuien garden, with the 'borrowed' scenery of Todaiji temple in the background
Isuien garden
Thatched roof detail, Isuien
Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara, famed for its lanterns
Orange is the traditional colour of Shinto shrines
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Brass lantern detail, Kasuga Taisha
Patriotic banners, Kasuga Taisha
Surrounding the shrine are thousands of old lanterns of the stone variety
Turtles in the Sarusawa-ike pond, Nara
A tour guide puts a brave face on it, Kofukuji temple, Nara
Nigatsudo hall, Nara
On the veranda of Nigatsudo
Todaiji temple's 'Great Buddha Hall', the largest wooden building in the world, with a height of 48.74m (159.89ft)
Maintaining the incense burner at Todaiji
A closer look
Lesser deity flanking Todaiji's 'Great Buddha' statue
The daibutsu or 'Great Buddha' himself, cast in the 8th century and sitting 14.98m (48.91ft) tall
A young Japanese family burn incense before entering the 'Giant Buddha Hall'
Todaiji temple, Nara, including one of the many deer who roam about the town
Yoshikien garden, Nara
Another view from Yoshikien
Eikando temple, Kyoto
Eikando, seen from the hillside pagoda
Eikando gardens
The same
...and more
Raked gravel garden at Ginkakuji, Kyoto
Mossy glade at the little-visited Honen-in, Kyoto
Detail, Honen-in
Buddhist monk at Honen-in
Monks passing through the main gate at Honen-in to visit a sub-temple
Stone inscription outside Honen-in
Back in Kyoto's Gion entertainment district
Entrance to an expensive restaurant, Gion
Zen stone garden, Nanzenji temple, Kyoto
Detail, Nanzenji
Osaka's happening 'Dotonbori' district
The famous giant mechanical crab in Dotonbori
A restaurant specialising in fugu, or blowfish
Another view of Dotonbori
Tofukuji temple, Kyoto
Tofukuji again
The mighty Himeji castle
A closer look at Japan's finest original castle, built in the 16th century
Himeji town, as seen from the castle
Kobe's port area
Installation, Kobe port
Temple buildings on Koyasan mountain, Wakayama
Lantern and pagoda, the Garan temple complex, Koyasan
The Garan again
Stone garden in Kongobuji temple, head of the esoteric Shingon sect of Beuddhism, Koyasan
Bizzarre tombs in Okunoin temple grounds, Koyasan: this one commemorates workers of the UCC coffee company
A somewhat grotesque jizo effigy at Okunoin
Even more creepy, a whole ziggurat of 'em!
Colourful banner in the Okunoin cemetery
Two scary-looking things, Okunoin
All images © 2008 Andy Lightfoot: no unauthorised reproduction without the author's prior consent. Enquires to that effect should be directed here.
01/2010 : Ujina, Hiroshima
01/2010 : Recent Pictures
09/2009 : Spain
05/2009 : Kyoto, Otsu and Shiga, Japan
03/2009 : Hokkaido, Japan
09/2008 : Britain and France
04/2008 : Chubu, Japan
10/2007 : France
03/2007 : Kyushu, Japan
10/2006 : Norway
08/2006 : Kansai, Japan
03/2006 : Australia
09/2005 : Czech Republic
08/2005 : Tokyo, Japan
03/2005 : Australia
01/2005 : Hiroshima and Kyoto, Japan
09/2004 : Britain, Finland and Germany
03/2004 : New Zealand
09/2003 : France and Switzerland
03/2003 : New Zealand
12/2002 : Hiroshima, Japan, Denmark and Sweden