mrwunrfl

The short version of that post is: definitely use the JR East website for information about Resort Shirakami or other JRE scenic trains.

tripplanner001

mrwunrfl, thank you. And yes, Enko-ji is a true hidden gem as are Kurodani and Shinnyo-do. When we return to Kyoto, we'll probably stay away from the well-worn temples and shrines and go to the undiscovered places. With 1,600 temples, I know there are other interesting finds waiting to be discovered.

yestravel

I envy you seeing the temples at night with the lights -- timing didn't work out for us. Enkoji Temple is where we saw the gardens. We skipped on the temple itself.

progol

Enkoji looks lovely - if we ever get back, that looks quite special. The pebble and rock garden is wonderful.

tripplanner001

Scenes from Himeji Castle and Koko-en

tripplanner001

Select Photos from Okayama Castle and Koraku-en



Momotaro, or Peach Boy (the mascot of Okayama)

mrwunrfl

Nice fall colors.
That last photo is a fire hydrant cover..

tripplanner001

mrwunrfl, thank you.

tripplanner001

Kurashiki: A Small Slice of Venice in Japan



Kurashiki Streetscape

Ohara House

Ohara House

Ohara House

Swans on a Kurashiki Canal

Kurashiki Canalscape

Kurashiki Canalscape

Kurashiki Canalscape

Evening in Kurashiki

tripplanner001

Sweet Seaside Tomonoura

I don't know if how much we fell in love with and enjoyed our time in in the seaside village of Tomonoura by the Seto Inland Sea as well as on one of the islands came across in my report. I hope these photos does the place some justice.



Islands in the Seto Inland Sea from Enpuku-ji

Tomonoura Harbor

Lighthouse

Ota House

Ota House

Courtyard Garden, Ota House

Sake Barrels inside Warehouse, Ota House

Sake Barrels inside Warehouse, Ota House

Temple at Io-ji

Stone Buddha Marker on Trail at Io-ji

Another Stone Buddha Marker on Trail at Io-ji

View from Top at Io-ji

Tomonoura Ferry

Sensui Island

Sensui Island

View from Sensui Island

Sensui Island

Sensui Island

Sensui Island

View of Benten Island from Sensui Island

progol

tp, I can see why you fell in love with Tomonoura! It’s lovely - very beautiful and blessedly crowd-free. I could see staying there for a while and just relaxing into the place.

Kurashiki looks charming and very quiet. I thought it would be busier.

tripplanner001

progol, had we known, we would have based in Tomonoura for 2 or 3 nights and explored some of the other islands and nearby places. There was a ferry to Onomichi, which I believe takes about an hour. The Bikan quarter of Kurashiki was busy for a couple of hours in the afternoon but that was it; the rest of Kurashiki was busier, not with tourists but locals, and looks like every other Japanese city.

tripplanner001

Hiroshima: A Vibrant Phoenix



Along Peace Boulevard

Along Peace Boulevard

Peace Memorial Museum

Peace Memorial

Eternal Flame

Children's Memorial

Memorial Clock

A-Bomb Dome

Student Memorial

Hiroshima Castle

Gokoku Shrine

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Shukkei-en

Evening Illuminations Along Peace Boulevard

Evening Illuminations Along Peace Boulevard

Evening Illuminations Along Peace Boulevard

Evening Illuminations Along Peace Boulevard

Evening Illuminations Along Peace Boulevard

Evening Illuminations Along Peace Boulevard

tripplanner001

Scenes from Miyajima



The Great Torii

Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine

Pagoda near Itsukushima Shrine

Lantern at Itsukushima Shrine (you can see the infamous one-hour line to the right)

Itsukushima Shrine

The Great Torii

The Great Torii

Noh Theater Stage at Itsukushima Shrine

Bridge at Itsukushima Shrine

Koyo at Momijidani Park

Koyo at Momijidani Park

Deer

Main Gate, Daisho-in

Stone Figure, Daisho-in

Stone Figure, Daisho-in

Buddha, Daisho-in

Tibetan style Buddha, Daisho-in

Buddha, Daisho-in

Buddha, Daisho-in

Kannon, Daisho-in

Kannon, Daisho-in

Kannon, Daisho-in

Looking towards the Sea from Daisho-in

The Great Torii, Up Close

The Great Torii, Up Close

The Great Torii, Up Close

The Great Torii, Up Close

The Great Torii, Up Close

The Great Torii, Up Close

Itsukushima Shrine and the Great Torii from the Sea

progol

It’s interesting seeing the diversity of sights at Hiroshima - the feeling from your photos is of a place with a lot to offer. And the night illuminations are a lot of fun!

Miyajima doesn’t look nearly as crowded as I had expected - no 1-hour line for a photo by the Torii! Lovely photos - it looks like you took photos at different times of the day. You managed to get a wonderful shot of the torii surrounded by water.

tripplanner001

progol, thanks. Even though Hiroshima is a large city, it didn't feel that way and there is more than the World War II era sites. Miyajima was definitely crowded for most of the day. We were there from roughly 9:00 or 9:30 until around sunset. We went out on the sea floor as the tide started to rise, so we were able to enjoy the dry land as well as the gate surrounded by water.

tripplanner001

And here's my final installment of photos. Hope this report has been enjoyable to some, useful to others, or both. Happy to answer any questions.

An Assortment of Osaka


Osaka Castle

Replica of Items Adorning Osaka Castle

View to the North and West from Osaka Castle

View to the South from Osaka Castle

View to the North from Osaka Castle

Hokoku Shrine

Old and New in Osaka

Namba Shrine

Daimaru Department Store Entrance Ornamentation

Dotonbori

Advertisement for Kani Doraku crab restaurant in Dotonbori

Advertisement for Meiji snacks in Dotonbori

Sashimi Anyone?

Umm...let me guess? This restaurant serves...gyoza.

Could it be...takoyaki?

Tower in Shinsaibashi

Hmm...you must serve sushi! Shinsaibashi restaurant advertisement

Another restaurant in Shinsaibashi

Fugu (blowfish) restaurant in Shinsaibashi

Abeno Harukas building, the tallest in Osaka and second tallest in Japan

View of Tennoji area from Abeno Harukas

Shinsaibashi from Abeno Harukas

Osaka Castle and environs from Abeno Harukas

Looking at Abeno Harukas from inside out

Dotonbori advertisement

Dotonbori restaurant - How about eating sushi in a restaurant that doubles as a giant ferris wheel? Wonder what Japan will come up with next?

Glico Man advertisement in Dotonbori

Osaka Aquarium

King and Gentoo Penguins, Osaka Aquarium

King Penguins, Osaka Aquarium

Gentoo Swimming, Osaka Aquarium

Whale Shark, Osaka Aquarium

Another Whale Shark, Osaka Aquarium

Wait, this is not California. Did we take a wrong turn somewhere in the Pacific? - Seals from Monterey Bay, Osaka Aquarium

Ray, Osaka Aquarium

Crabs, Osaka Aquarium

Arctic Seal, Osaka Aquarium (love how it is lounging next to the ice; "Hey, ain't I cool? Get it? Cool.")

Thank you for joining me on this discovery of Japan and all its colors.

yestravel

Thanks, tp -- I enjoyed all of your TR. Fun to see parts we visited through your eyes and to learn about some new places. Your photos are fabulous. I know it takes a lot of time and effort to put these TRs together and appreciate you doing it.

tripplanner001

yestravel, thank you. I'm very much enjoying your Taiwan TR as well.

mrwunrfl

>> Thank you for joining me on this discovery of Japan and all its colors.

Thanks for taking us along.

Your Osaka restaurant photos reminded me of the saying that Kyoto-jin spend their money on fashion and Osaka-jin spend their money on food.

Good to see the photos of Hiroshima. I need to go back there (for the 5th time) to see a Carp game at their new-to-me baseball stadium. I hope they still have the old-time streetcars running.