Michael

Comparisons with present day Japan might be interesting.

I copied my slides to a digital format. The trips were taken in 1979 and 1981. Several things struck me about Japan. I was attracted to the construction of the traditional buildings, and yet had the nagging feeling that they must have been colder than the European houses of the same era partly because the indoor spaces were so much larger (and attractive) and because the only heating element was an open fire pit. Thatch may be “warm” but only if it has heat to retain. I was also struck by the difference between official spaces (temples and their gardens, palaces and their gardens, outdoor museums) and the jumble of the commercial streets. I was also surprised that Takayama’s main farmer’s market was as small as it was considering the population of the city: 60,000. Let me know if there are errors in the labeling.

Tokyo & Nikko: http://tinyurl.com/5hwx7x

Kyoto & Nara: http://tinyurl.com/5meqk6

Takayama - Kanazawa - Matsumoto: http://tinyurl.com/5smsvb

rkkwan

Nice pics. Thanks for sharing.

I'm surprised to see a Wendy's sign in one of the photos.

Also, a few slides were flipped. 112, 117, 24, 88

Michael

Thanks for the corrections.

Michael

rkkwan,

Are you sure about 88? I thought that Japanese vehicles had the driver's side on the right, which is why one would not see a passenger door on the bus.

WillJame

Very interesting--thanks for sharing these. How little some of these places have changed in 30 years (or, I suppose, 300 years). Byodoin is usually considered in Kyoto, though it is en route to Nara at Uji.

WillJame

And in the same Kyoto-Nara sequence, #4 and #5 are at Byodo-in rather than Heian Shrine (no water there). The Phoenix Hall at Byodo-in is unique. Check the 10-yen coin pictured at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_yen#Coins

kappa1

Interesting photos.

> Are you sure about 88? I thought that Japanese vehicles had the driver's side on the right,

I think rkkwan meant 088 (Osaka Subway). I see ad signs above that look flipped.

Why surprised to see Wendy's sign?

For me, it's intersting to see they dropped " For " from the 007 movie "For Your Eyes Only" in the Japanese title. They must have considered the full title too long for the Japanese. The movie also shows the time when these photos are taken, intersting. According to imdb, this 007 movie was out in 1981. The theater also shows porno movies (Japanese soft ones?) obviously in the same building.

kappa1

> And in the same Kyoto-Nara sequence, #4 and #5 are at Byodo-in rather than Heian Shrine (no water there).

They do look like Heian Jingu to me. The inside garden (where you have to pay admission), there are ponds.

A shot of Heian Jingu garden. With Ho-oh (the Japanese phenix at the top of the roof - like Uji Byodo-in)
http://www.genthar.net/Heian%20Jingu2.JPG

kappa1

I wrote the Japanese phenix at the top of the roof - like Uji Byodo-in)

But the shape of roofs are different. Byodo-in's is flat and has two phenixes at the top.

http://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/bunshi/c...22/isan-h0.jpg

kappa1

Oops, smiley was not intended. It should have been simply : (the japanese phenix)

WillJame

Oops, very sorry. How do I issue my retraction, Kappa1? You're right on about the roof differences and the two phoenixes. I've never been to that part of Heian Shrine, and was comparing the photos with what I remembered of Byodo-in, but without looking closely.

Michael

Re 88. My error. My original holding had the two photos reversed in number.

As for the Heian Shrine, I do believe that it has a large pond on the grounds.

I am fairly certain about most of the Kyoto pictures, with the exception of a few between the Gold Pavilion and the Zen Shrine.

Michael

I moved the pictures to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623059098754/

kja

You're making me want to go back! Thanks for sharing your wonderful images.