Japanese Sakura Sasaki kojiro and Miyamoto Muasashi

Kokura

Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamotomusashi

火星大接近 現在の星空

火星大接近　現在の星空 http://eco.mtk.nao.ac.jp/cgi-bin/koyomi/skymap.cgi …

Cat and Ultraman

SAKURA Japanese spring

Kokra

MIHAGINO park

ASUKA Nara MOVIE Japan Ancient Historical Mysterious Monolith IWAFUNE of MASUDA (Stone Ship)

No one knows when, why or who made this mysterious Monolith nor how it was moved.

Kokura, Kitakyushu Seijin Shiki (Becoming of Age) Ceremony. Unique Kimono and Hakama Fashions.

The Seijin Shiki (Becoming of Age) ceremony is held every year on January 8th.

Twenty year olds dress up in formal kimono and hakama but rearrange and add to them.

Itozu Hachiman Jinja Shrine Contains Unique Owl Statues and a Torii Gate. Kokura Kitakyushu Japan

There are many small shrines at the top of the hill surrounded by nature.

The steps are very steep, narrow and pretty tiring but the view was gorgeous.

This is the only shrine we have seen that has statues of owls.

The shrines are surrounded by nature.  The photos were taken January 3, 2018.  

YASAKA JINJA SHRINE Located next to the KOKURA CASTLE in Kitakyushu Kyushu Japan

This is a large shrine next to the Kokura Castle.

Chishakuin Shingon Buddhist Temple Panel Screen Paintings Gardens Flowers Trees Kyoto Japan

This temple is famous for its gorgeous gardens and its beautiful panel or screen paintings.

You can find a lot of information in English.

You can enter parts of the temple complex and take photographs.  Some parts are being renovated.

These photos were taken from the entrance.  We could not go inside this part.

We went to the temple December 14, 2017.  We recommend visiting here any season but winter.

Sanjusangendo Temple Kyoto Japan, 1001 Carved Wood Buddhist Bodhisattva Kannon Statues

Visitors are not allowed to take photographs so we used photographs found on the internet.

There are 1001 statues of Kannon in one room.  Restoration has been completed.

The Sanjusangendo Temple is a must see.  Two hours is not enough time.

You can smell incense, see majestic statues, hear gongs and chants.

TOJI Temple Kyoto Japan UNESCO Heritage Site Kobo Daishi Shingon Buddhism Pagoda Garden

You can easily spend 20-30 minutes taking photos of the entrance of the 1200+ years old temple.

You can find English explanations almost everywhere.

The photographs were taken December 14, 2017.

The main ground is open but some renovation is taking place.

The carved granite Buddhist grave markers are very old, very unique and quite detailed.

The pagoda is really impressive. (Below)

ASUKA Nara Japan Ancient KUMEDERA Shinto Shrine Temple Garden Unique Buddhist Statues

The KUMEDERA temple shrine is about 800 meters from the Kashiharajingu-mae train station.

Two Nio statues protect the entrance of the temple shrine.

The 2 lifelike Nio statues are a must see.

The flattened rocks below were the foundation of something large.

The water fountain spout below contains some of the most unusual figures we have ever seen.

The ancient carved stone water spout is a mixture of Buddhist, Shinto and fish figures.

There is plenty of stone work to see.

The photographs were taken December 13, 2017.

The garden has pagoda and many carved stones.

There are also many handmade Buddhist statues.

There are many things to see but the fountain spout is what really impressed us the most.

Who made the fountain spout, when was it made and why was it made are unknown.

It took 90 minutes to see everything and it is free.