Monthly Archives: February 2012

2nd February: Nara – Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji

Posted on February 14, 2012 by

This was my first morning in Nara, staying at the very welcoming Sakuraya Guesthouse, in the old quarter of town.  Nara was the first capital of Japan, before Kyoto, for nearly 100 years. I couldn’t resist photographing this vehicle near … Continue reading →

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1st February – From Kanazawa to Nara

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

This was mainly a travel day.  I didn’t take any photographs in Nara but here are two from Kanazawa before I left.  Not the best season for cyclists, perhaps, and some may have been caught out by unexpectedly cold weather.

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31st January: Kanazawa – Kanazawa Castle

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

From the Kenrokuen Gardens I walked to the nearby Kanazawa Castle. This is the entrance from Kenrokuen Gardens, including a bridge over a road. The castle is very large and there are several layers of fortification. This is one of … Continue reading →

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31st January: Kanazawa – Kenrokuen Gardens – Upper Level

Posted on February 8, 2012 by

After spending some time in the lower garden around the Hisagoike Pond, I ventured to the upper level.  Here there were a great number of people though you might not think so from most of the images. There were now … Continue reading →

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31st January: Kanazawa – Kenrokuen Gardens – Hisagoike Pond

Posted on February 7, 2012 by

I got up early in the morning and headed to the Kenrokuen Gardens, the primary purpose of my visit to Kanazawa. At first it was clear, though there was quite a lot of snow around … … but before too … Continue reading →

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30th January: Kyoto to Kanazawa

Posted on February 3, 2012 by

It had been snowing in Kyoto each day, but only for a few hours each day and melting when it hit the ground.  Almost as soon as I left Kyoto on the train heading north for Kanazawa, there was snow … Continue reading →

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29th January: Kyoto – The Philosopher’s Path – Ginkakuji (The Silver Pavilion)

Posted on February 3, 2012 by

Finally, at the end of the path, I reached the Silver Pavilion.  This was built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the grandson of the shogun who built the Golden Pavilion (Ashikaga Yoshimitsu).  It was planned in 1460 but due to the Onin … Continue reading →

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29th January: Kyoto – The Philosopher’s Path – Honen-In

Posted on February 2, 2012 by

On the way from Nanzen-Ji to Ginkakuji along the Philosopher’s Walk, I also dropped into Honen-In Temple which does not allow photographs inside the buildings.  However, I was particularly taken with the thatched gate leading to the temple past two … Continue reading →

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29th January: Kyoto – The Philosopher’s Path – Nanzen-Ji

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

Today I walked the Philosopher’s Path from south (Nanzen-Ji) to north (Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion).  Eminent Kyoto-based philosopher Nishida Kitaro used to walk it every day in the early 20th century. First port of call is the delightful Tenjuan Garden, … Continue reading →

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