Taro district giving you the lesson to be remembered

Gutted but survived: the Taro Kanko Hotel

Scenic Hokuriku seashore at Taro

The Hokuriku Railway running; three cars were donated by Kuwait after the disaster 

Ryusendo limestone cave in Iwate

One of the greatest limestone caves in Japan. Known for its underground lakes whose colors are nicknamed the Dragon Blue.

HIROSHI Sugimoto presents Enoura Observatory

reception house

Gallery where Seascape by Sugimoto is exhibited

Out of the gallery

Stone bridge

Triangular Mound

Optical Glass Stage 

light magic

on top of the summer solstice alignment

Turtle !

inside winter solstice alignment tunnel

cultural asset from respective periods

morning light from sunrise will penetrate the stone gate

This art space recently opened to the public and requires reservation. Worth visiting. Two-hour stay is allowed, either in the morning or in the afternoon. The reception times are set. Free shuttle bus service twice a day between Nebukawa Station and the Observatory for the morning and afternoon visits, respectively. Still being developed. Another visit is already being anticipated.

Their official web site is as follows:

http://www.odawara-af.com/en/enoura/

Himeji Castle again blue sky

Imposing but graceful towers of Himeji Castle. The weather was perfect.

Miyajima when the tide is low

Interesting contrast of green algae and vermillion shrine buildings at Miyajima

sunset from chichu museum, naoshima

The iconic island is seen in a distance. Sunset seen from the rooftop garden of Benesse House or from outside the Chichu Cafe of Chichu Museum always makes you speechless.

Motomachi walking in port town HAKODATE

Hakodate surrounded by the sea on its three sides
seen from Hakodate-yama

Hakodate became an international port along with Shimoda after the friendship treaty was struck between the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan and the US in 1854. This ended a long-term self-imposed hibernation of this country when she enjoyed stability with limited access to things from abroad. 

Hakodate soon became one of the five treaty ports open to the five foreign countries. That was the way modern Hakodate developed.

The Motomachi district and the Bay Area are close to each other and can be enjoyed together. The whole district gives you a port city atmosphere. Japan's early modernization period when brick buildings and churches for foreign residents were built can be felt. The churches stand along with Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.

In addition to that, Hakodate-yama hill - 334 meters high- in the same district offers a magnificent view of the city. Aerial cable service is available and it's only three minutes from the bottom to the observation building on the top.

Here are some pics from the places above.

Russian orthodox church in Motomachi

Catholic  church in Motomachi

a local hamburger shop with their chicken burger so tasty
and a convenience store famous for their lunch box with pork