Cats love to nap in the sun. Bright warm sunshine looks perfect for a napping cat. Sun-warmed cat's fur is also perfect for burying my face into. My boy, Honu feeling blissful in the sun. 02-23-2022 猫は日なたが大好きだし、日なたがよく似合…

I read stewed kumquat in sugar is good for cough, so I made this for the first time. I didn't realized kumquats are available here in USA. I found lots of recipes for making jam. Another discovery: eating kumquat fresh is surprisingly deli…

マウント・レーニエとマウント・セントへレンズ マウント・レーニエ レーニエ、セントへレンズ、アダムズの山々（左から） Breathtaking view of PNW mountains from the airplane before landing in PDX. Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams sit on…

For my flight back to USA, I always book window seat on left side of the airplane, so I may have a chance to take a last look of Mt. Fuji. Recalling fun sweet memories during my stay and being unsure when I will be able to come back for ne…

いつも楽しみにしている駅弁 京都へ向かう新幹線車内でTrain lunch I enjoyed in a Bullet train heading to Kyoto 下鴨神社境内で頂いた甘酒Amazake, sweet fermented rice drink, at Shimogamo Shrine, Kyoto 清水寺散策後のコーヒーA cup of hot coffee a…

I made a stop in Sapporo just because I may have a chance to see Ezomomonga. Well, I found out I have to wait for next chance. It was still a nice stroll in snow covered Maruyama Park. Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. 02-13-2020 もしかしたら野生…

After leaving Kushiro, next stop was Sapporo. My stroll in Maruyama Park led me to Hokkaido Jingu (Shrine.) Shrine Gate had impressive Shimenawa (The Sacred Rope) with beautiful details and the Shrine Chamber sits behind this gate. This Sh…

After watching Tancho Cranes, I walked to a coffee shop across Tancho Crane Sanctuary to take a break. In theri warm sitting area, I found a fieldscope on a stand. Shop's owner told me "you can watch National Treasure bird, Steller's Sea E…

Breathtaking sunset veiwed from Nusamai Bridge over Kusihro River after watching Tancho Cranes all day with unexpected warm temperature. I wish I found Ezo Deer during my stay... probably next time? Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan 02-12-2020 丸一…

Tancho Cranes share their winter home with Swans. While swans are relatively large birds, they look small compare to tall Tancho Cranes. In Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan. 02-12-2020 タンチョウヅルの越冬地には、白鳥もやって来るようです 争いもせ…

タンチョウの幼鳥 Several years ago, I found YouTube videos that are showing beautiful Tancho Cranes in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan. Immediately, I fell in love with their elegant courtship dances and their distinct beautiful loud calls that e…

Sea ices crowded together on surface of Kushiro River. During the coldest time of winter, you will see "Lotus Leaf Sea Ice" that is a large round shape sea ice created by movements of waves and other floating ices. Kushiro, Hokkaido 02-11-…

Catching Express Super Hokuto at Hakodate then transfered to Express Oozora that goes to Kushiro, I finally arrived in Kushiroa. It was about 7 hours of train ride and Kushiro is the furthest East destination in Hokkaido for me to visit. F…

Mountains viewed from JR Hokkaido, Express "Super Hokuto" (currently called Express "Hokuto") To name each mountain correctly, I need to search by Google Map. View from JR Hokkaido, Express "Super Hokuto" 02-11-2020 函館から釧路へ向かう最…

Beautiful night view of Hakodate-city from Mt. Hakodate, I watched with my auntie who lives there. For this 2020 Japan trip, I visited my mother's hometown, Hakodate-city to reunite my auntie for the first time in 20 years. It was super co…

Impressive icicles I found in Morioka. Iwate prefecture, Japan. 02-06-2020 こんなに立派なつららを見たのは、初めてです 盛岡にて

I never get tired of watching this most famous and beautiful mountain in Japan, Mt. Fuji. Photos taken through a window of Shinkansen (Bullet Train) 02-05-2020 何度見ても、見飽きることがないのが、富士山 新幹線の座席は、富士山が見える側を選…

I stayed at a hotel that is located near Kiyomizu Temple, so I decided to have early morning stroll to beat tourists. Both temple grounds and gardens are quiet with few visitors. I enjoyed quiet soritaly time. After my leisurely stroll, I …

Kamo River runs through world-famous ancient city, Kyoto. It is also the habitat for a number of native wildlife and a place of rest and relaxation for humans. Time for sure goes by slower here, compare to "merry-go-round" Tokyo. Kyoto is …

Alcove in a traditional Japanese room where art or floweres are displayed. Minimalism represents graciousness; the spirit of samurai families. While we rarely find these recesses in modern condominums, I still remember the one in the house…

I found a Japanese Wagtail in a little creek on the grounds of Shimogamo Shrine. Kyoto, Japan 02-02-2020 境内に流れる小川で見かけた、セグロセキレイ 日本特産種だそうです 京都 下鴨神社にて

This is a ready-to-assemble and relocatable house owned by Kamo no Chomei, a Japanese author, poet and essayist (B1155-D1216) How amazing...! Tadasu no Mori in Shimogamo Shrine, Kyoto この時代に、組み立て式の家って、すごくないですか？ 今で…

These wooden stilts are just sitting on foundation stones to support entire shrines or temples. These time-tested structures have survived countless natural disasters such as huge earthquakes... Just amazing. Shimogamo Shrine, Kyoto 石の上…

Shimogamo Shrine is designated a World Heritage Site. I happened to visit there on its special ritual day when they burn old Shinto talismans and charms in a sacred boundary. Very unique and very powerful. Kyoto, Japan 02-03-2020 下鴨神社…

Every time I pay close attention to Japanese traditional architectural style, like this Kitano Temmangu, I feel stunned about its artistic yet precise details. I'm totally impressed and deeply admire time-served Japanese traditional crafts…

飛梅 Beautifu Japanese Apricot flowers in Kitano Tenmangu, Kyoto, Japan. A bit early for full blooms but still lovely. Kyoto, Japan 02-01-2020 満開には少し早かったんですが、北野天満宮へ梅の花を見に行きました 有名な菅原道真の飛梅は、まだつ…

別の方向へゆく旅客機 成田空港へ着陸態勢 Since I was a kid, I always love to watch view from a train and I still do. For this flight, I lifted a shade while it was still supposed to be shut, then saw the Northern Territories for the first t…

貴重な写真なので、枚数がとても多いです After numerous flights over 20 years between USA and Japan, this was my first sight of the Northern Territories from the airplane. 01-27-2020 過去20年、何度も飛行機で往復しているこの空域 2020年1月、成…