Thank you

To those 1030 people who visited my blog, whoever you are..

THANK YOU!

I hope you've enjoyed my photos and have found the explanations somewhat interesting or useful, I'll do my best this coming year to post more regularly!

Please don't hesitate to leave comments, suggestions, thoughts.. they're always very much appreciated!

Happy New Year!

よい お年 を!☆

CXXVIII - Kyoto

This small charming waterfall is called Sengetsu-sei (洗月泉- "moon watching fountain") because the small trickle of water is designed to create ripples which run across the water of the pool below, pleasantly distorting the silver reflection of the full moon.

CXXVII - Kyoto

A saisen bako (賽銭箱, "offerings box").

Always located in front of a shrine, it is used to collect money that worshippers wish to offer, and the noise of the coins hitting the wooden bottom is believed to attract the kami (神, "spirits"), who will then listen to the worshipper's prayer.

CXXVI - Kyoto

In the gardens of the Ginkaku-ji temple.

That bit of raked sand you can see at the bottom is a tiny corner of the beautiful Ginshaden ("Sea of Silver Sand"), a dry garden that covers 1.75 acres of the temple grounds. The straight lines of white sand are meant to be viewed at as a calm expanse of sea, and have to be re-raked daily by a great number of gardeners. The best view of the Ginshaden is said to be had on cloudless, moonlit nights — and I wish someday to have the chance to see it for myself.

CXXV - Kyoto

Another detail from Ginkaku-ji.

~~~

This is my entry for the 7th edition of Show Me Japan. Please check it out!

CXXIV - Kyoto

Detail from the grounds of Ginkaku-ji.

CXXIII - Kyoto

The entrance to Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺, "Temple of the Silver Pavilion") on a bright sunny day.

Also known as Jisho-ji (慈照寺, "Temple of Shining Mercy"), this temple belongs to the Shokoku School of the Rinzai Zen sect of Buddhism, and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

CXXII - Kyoto

Sunday morning, a street leading up to Ginkakuji temple (銀閣寺).

CXXI - Kyoto

CXX - Kyoto

Kyōto-tawā (京都タワー, Kyoto Tower) is Kyoto's observation tower. Its steel spire is 131metres tall and stands atop a 9-story building, making it the tallest structure in the city.

The building stands right opposite Kyoto Station and also houses restaurants, stores, a spa, and a 3-star hotel, Kyoto Tower Hotel, where we stayed for four nights. If you don't mind the somewhat-80's-vibe coming from the hotel furniture, I'd recommend it, as the location is incredibly convenient in terms of catching public transport, the central bus station being right between the hotel and the train station.

Plus, you get a free ticket for the tower's observation deck!,

CXIX - Tokyo

Another tasty bento! This time it's a vegetarian one, bought at Tokyo station while waiting for the shinkansen to take me to Kyoto. Little rice balls flavoured with shiso furikake (紫蘇ふりかけ, a purple-mint seasoning), tasty grilled vegetables and a few slices of fresh fruit... oishii (美味しい, "delicious")!!

CXVIII - Tokyo

... you knew this was coming, right? The (in)famous Japanese toilet.

This futuristic piece of bathroom technology allows the user to choose between a light sprinkle and a heavy-duty squirt of water to cleanse their nether-regions, naturally both in the exact temperature of their choice.

CXVII - Tokyo

Nightlife in Shibuya.

CXVI - Tokyo

Billboards, somewhere in Shibuya.

CXV - Tokyo

The shamisen (三味線) is a three-stringed fretless musical instrument which is played with a large plectrum called a bachi (撥). It is a very traditional instrument, dating back to the 16th century, and is probably best known to us gaijin as one of the instruments which maiko (舞子) learn as part of their training to become geiko (芸子) — or geisha (芸者).

I was pleasantly surprised to find this talented young man playing rock tunes on his shamisen at one of the exits of Shibuya station!

CXIV - Tokyo

Kani Doraku (かに道楽, lit. "crab indulgence") is the name of the best known crab restaurant in Japan.

There are many outlets throughout the country, each of which is marked by a huge mechanical crab moving its pincers, legs and eyestalks!

Pictured is the Shinjuku one.

CXIII - Tokyo

... and again!

CXII - Tokyo

More neon signs.

CXI - Tokyo

Neon signs in Tokyo.

CX - Tokyo

A view of Tokyo's famous レインボーブリッジ (Rainbow Bridge), taken from the terrace of a restaurant on the artificial island of Odaiba (お台場) in Tokyo Bay.

You can also see the 東京タワー (Tokyo Tower) in the background!

CIX - Tokyo

Taken from Shinbashi Eki (新橋駅, Shimbashi station) at nighttime.

CVIII - Tokyo

No visit to the acquarium is complete without watching the dolphin show!

CVII - Tokyo

The aquarium celebrated the release of Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated film, Gake no Ue no Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ, "Ponyo on the Cliff"), by setting up special tanks with fishes and toys from the movie.

CVI - Tokyo

More penguins!

CV - Tokyo

Penguin show :D

CIV - Tokyo

An enormous sawfish shark seen from below, in Epson Aqua Stadium's underwater tunnel.

CIII - Tokyo

One of the tanks in the Epson Aqua Stadium, I think it was the tropical one...

CII - Tokyo

Isn't the merry-go-round pretty? I was sorely tempted!

CI - Tokyo

The fancy sea-life décor at the entrance of Epson Aqua Stadium.

Epson Aqua Stadium is located in Shinagawa Prince Hotel (品川プリンスホテル), a couple hundred meters from Shinagawa Station. While it isn't the largest aquarium in Tokyo, it probably is the easiest to reach, and provides great entertainment for people of all ages. The entrance to the aquarium also gives access to pirate-themed restaurants, a sea-life-themed merry-go-round (and apparently a roller-coaster too!), and even a multiplex movie theatre.

C - Tokyo

Pretty lights along the road leading to Shinagawa Epson Aqua Stadium (エプソン品川アクアスタジアム).

XCIX - Tokyo

In the subway.

Being only 5'1'' myself, I love how low the safety handles are on public transport in Japan.

XCVIII - Tokyo

An underpass near Shibuya station. Right behind that tree in the middle is the statue of the famous dog, chūken Hachikō (忠犬ハチ公, "the faithful Hachiko").

XCVII - Tokyo

...And one more!

It's the last one, I promise!

XCVI - Tokyo

... And another one.

XCV - Tokyo

Another view from my window.

XCIV - Tokyo

The spectacular Tokyo skyline as seen from my Shibuya hotel room one August evening.

XCIII - Tokyo

XCII - Tokyo

One of the beautiful kittens in the café, I believe this is the one named Matsuri (まつり).

XCI - Tokyo

The Shinjuku branch of Calico (or きゃりこ) Cat Café is located on the 6th floor of the Fuji Building on Yasukuni Dori; for those who want to visit, here's a handy map.

The entry fee is about ¥900 (7€), and allows you to relax in a room full of supercute kittens for an hour.

For those of you who are concerned about the welfare of the kitties, don't worry: there are strict rules of conduct for the customers.

Once you enter and pay the fee, you are handed a list of instructions which you must follow, including removing your shoes and bags, placing them in a locker, and sanitizing your hands.

Only then are you allowed in the presence of the cats, who will most probably be pretending to nap in the most improbable and difficult-to-reach places: another rule states that customers cannot disturb the cats if they are sleeping, cannot pick the cats up, and are only allowed to play with them and stroke them only if and when they are willing to. Children are not allowed in the café either. Fair enough.

Most of the cats when I visited were very little amused by all the people shaking feather wands in their direction hoping to attract them to come and play. They were quite comfortable napping away and allowing the occasional pat on their head, and who could blame them?

XC - Tokyo

Feline lovers have a tough time in Tokyo, since pets are forbidden in most of the tiny city apartments they have to live in.

So what are they to do to fulfill their cat cravings? Why, visit a Cat Café of course!

LXXXIX - Tokyo

Almost all Inari Shrines feature at least one kitsune (狐, "fox") statue, usually flanking the altar.

The foxes often hold symbolic items in their mouths or paws — jewels and keys, rice, scrolls, or fox cubs are all common to find. Many worshippers place small offerings (such as sake or rice) in front of the fox statues, since kitsune are believed to be messangers who can plead with Inari on their behalf.

LXXXVIII - Tokyo

A small Inari Shrine right in front of Hanazono-Jinja, Shinjuku.

LXXXVII - Tokyo

When one arrives at a Shrine, the correct etiquette requires one to ring a large special Shinto bell, called suzu (鈴), by pulling on one of the ropes hanging in front of the altar, such as these. The bells are used by the visitors to announce their presence to the deity of the Shrine before bowing, clapping their hands, making their offering, and praying.

Miniature bell charms named omamori (お守り) are sold at shrines, and are considered to bring good luck.

LXXXVI - Tokyo

A businessman praying at Hanazono Jinja (花園神社), a Shinto shrine founded in the mid-17th century, which is now a peaceful oasis amidst the skyscrapers in one of the busiest areas of the city.,

LXXXV - Tokyo

Minute Maid's Aloe & White Grape juice: THE most delicious drink ever invented by mankind.

With its sweet yet refreshing flavor and its little juicy bits of aloe floating around, I'd honestly be fine if I had to only drink this for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, it's one of those flavors (together with matcha -green tea- and sakura -cherry blossom-) which are only produced for the Asian market, and are almost impossible to find elsewhere.

LXXXIV - Tokyo

Noren (暖簾) are traditional Japanese fabric curtains with slits (to make passing through them easier) hung in doorways or in windows. They are usually used by restaurants and shops to protect the entrance from sun, rain, wind or dust, and to advertise their wares. Their presence means the shop/ restaurant is open, as they are always pulled down at the end of the day.

LXXXIII - Tokyo

A cute penguin with a crown winking from the top of a building along Yasukuni Dori.

Does anyone know why it's there? Is it the mascot of a company?

LXXXII - Tokyo

A view of the buildings on Yasukuni Dori (靖国通り, "Yasukuni Street"), Shinjuku.

LXXXI - Tokyo

, Kaiten-zushi (回転寿司, "revolving sushi") is a very popular kind of restaurant in Japan, where food is set on small plates placed on a rotating conveyor belt that winds through the restaurant. Customers are usually seated on counter seats all the way along the belt, and simply pick their food as it passes by. The colour of the plates determines the price of the sushi on it ― usually the simpler the plate colour or design, the cheaper it is.

Most gaijin will probably be pleasantly surprised by how affordable kaiten-zushi is, compared to how pricey Japanese restaurants abroad are: this one had plates starting from 130円 (1€), compared to the average 4€ each plate costs back home. As can be seen in the photo, some plates only contain cards ― they represent dishes which should be served hot, and therefore must be ordered to the waitress, or directly to the chef.

The first time I ate in a kaiten-zushi was quite embarassing, due to the fact that I was the only non-Japanese, the only female, and the only person under 35 years old. This is because this kind of restaurant usually caters to Japanese businessmen who don't have time for a proper meal during their lunch-break. Moreover, I didn't know how to ask for water, so I forced myself to drink the complimentary boiling hot green tea provided even though it was at least 40°C (104F) outside!

I did manage to ask for miso shiru (味噌汁,, "miso soup") though..

LXXX - Tokyo

A view of Tokyo's rooftops from the Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu, a gorgeous hotel where we spent three nights during our stay in the city.

The hotel occupies the top floors of the Shibuya Māku Shitī (渋谷マークシティ, Shibuya Mark City Building), a 99.67 mt tall building located right in front of Shibuya-eki (渋谷駅, Shibuya Station), the fourth-busiest rail station in the whole of Japan, with an average of 2.4 million passengers daily.