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Clean Moat, Happy Moat
Japan's reputation for cleanliness is not unfounded. Here the groundskeepers at Hikone-jo pick debris out of the castle moat water. This must be one happy moat.
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Chatter Me Up
This shopkeeper saw me taking pictures of Hikone-jo at sunset and called me over to his store. He gave me some tea and a kind of bean-paste confectionery to sample, and showed me some of his own pictures (which happened to be hanging on the wall and for sale). Then he told me about his own travels through the American Southwest. It was around closing time, and his wife looked a little anxious to get me out of there, but the man had to finish his story. Good times.
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Hikone-jo at Sunset
Looking west across the moat towards Hikone-jo at sunset.
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Yukimi Doro
Yukimi doro (snow-viewing lantern) in Genkyu-en garden. Apparently it looks best when its wide brim (kasa) is covered with snow. Located next to the castle, Genkyu-en is also next in popularity, in terms of sightseeing, in the town of Hikone. Ii Naooki, the fourth lord of Hikone, built it in 1677 in the chisen-kaiyu style, which emphases the central pond.
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A View to Hikone
Looking out from the grounds of Nishinomaru over the city of Hikone. Next to Nishinomaru Sanju Yagura (Western Three-storie Tower) at Hikone-jo
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Rojin Club at Hikone-jo
Domestic tourism in Japan is usually enjoyed by two groups of people -- schoolkids on field trips, and the elderly. Japan boasts a high standard of living and a life expectancy to match it, maintaining the largest percentage of people 65 and older in the world. Upon retirement many of these elderly people (known as rojin) join Rojin Clubs. The club system is another staple of Japanese life. Extracurricular activities are a must from elementary school and all through college. Joining another club in retirement seems a natural progression. Here is one such group on the top level of Hikone-jo.
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Can We Help You, Gaijin-san?
Greeting the morning as I step outside my hotel. Despite the name, there are very few Americans in America-mura. One walking out of a hotel with a camera attracted the attention of a young Japanese family, back-grounded by typical America-mura boutique fronts.
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One of a Kind?
A teenager sports a typical teenager look in America-mura, Osaka.
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Nishinomaru Sanju Yagura
Nishinomaru Sanju Yagura (Western Three-storied Tower) at Hikone-jo. Nishinomaru means "western bailey" and Yagura is a compound of "ya" (arrow) and "kura" (storehouse), which hints at its original function. As in most of Japan, the population of ravens and their boldness is astounding.
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Monkey Time
The bell strikes three times at the Hour of the Monkey (1500) at Hikone-jo (Hikone Castle) in Shiga prefecture. It is also rung at 600, 900, 1200, and 1800 hours. This is one of the more famous castles in Japan in part because it is home to the famous Hikonyan (the distinction of National Treasure probably doesn't hurt either). Unfortunately the plushy critter wasn't around when I visited, causing tremendous disappointment in yours truly.
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Michael Ignatov has been a member since 10 January 2008 and goes by kumasan.
Currently in Tucson.
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You can also find Michael at www.flickr.com/photos/kumasan.
