26 January - 10 February 2007

January 2007 Pics

	26 January 2007 A very quiet Tokyo CBD late on Friday night. Nicely illuminated trees though.
	27 January 2007 Wares of Tsukiji market.
	27 January 2007 Wares of Tsukiji market.
	27 January 2007 Even this late in the day (was getting on for lunch time and we would shortly be having some very nice sushi) Tsukiji is still full of life. Note the small three wheeled bike here as a cyclist exits right.
	27 January 2007 Ginza was spotless a little devoid of character to be honest. Rather quiet too for a Saturday afternoon I think. Well - given this is supposed to be one of the main shopping areas.
	27 January 2007 Wondering back towards Tokyo station from Ginza took one through some interesting looking side streets.
	27 January 2007 Meganebashi (or Eyeglass Bridge) is apparently so named for its looks. Well - you can sort of see it.
	27 January 2007 Swanky looking cafe in Harajuku.
	27 January 2007 Shopping on a Saturday afternoon.
	27 January 2007 Shopping on a Saturday evening.
	27 January 2007 It's a colourful view walking in the thorough fairs of Shibuya.
	28 January 2007 Tokyo CBD (almost) deserted on a Sunday morning. One can still take a shortcut through this building though.
	28 January 2007 The 07:52 from Tokyo. Not that I'm into trains, but every country really could do with something as efficient as those we found in Japan.
	30 January 2007 What more can you say? Skiing in Shiga Kogen (this is the Ichinose area)... beautiful.
	30 January 2007 Rob & Pratiwi somewhere on the Yakebitaiyama piste.
	30 January 2007 Artsy fartsy tree ice shot

30 January 2007 Oh no! More crowds to battle through

30 January 2007 Views to the hills from Yakebitaiyama nearing dusk.
	30 January 2007 Rob & Pratiwi in a rather empty Mitsumi restaurant. Nice spread out front, something similar to which we gladly chowed down on each evening.
	30 January 2007 After dinner drinks in Mitsumi... cheers!

31 January 2007 Oh no! More crowds to battle through. OK - so there's one ski class up here with us, moving slalom posts
	31 January 2007 Someone likes to play in the snow

February 2007 Pics

	1 February 2007 The residents here at Jigokudani Yaen-koen don't seem to worried by all the attention they get. Have a rest in the spa... why not?
	1 February 2007 The residents here at Jigokudani Yaen-koen don't seem to worried by all the attention they get. Have a rest in the spa... why not?
	1 February 2007 This guy at Jigokudani Yaen-koen was getting a lot of attention. All taken in his stride too.
	1 February 2007 It's easy to get good shots here, even with a compact camera and half an hour to spare. The pros seem to like a bigger lens and to sit around for hours though.
	1 February 2007 You know who's the boss here. No, they won't move and you have to walk around as Pratiwi does gingerly.

3 February 2007 View from the top of Shibutoge - simply spectacular.
	3 February 2007 Gotta love skiing with these views between the trees.

3 February 2007 With views like this, even the odd mogul field is bearable. Ooh... my poor old knees
	3 February 2007 Even the comms towers up here make a sort of OK photo.
	3 February 2007 Ahhhh.... eeeee-naaaaayyyy. We love it
	4 February 2007 Cheesy indeed. Rob & Pratiwi having a break while skiing Yakebitaiyama.

4 February 2007 Last run of the day, last run of the holiday. Perfect to the last!

6 February 2007 View from our hotel room above the station in Kyoto. Don't start... it was a very convenient location.
	6 February 2007 We can't show you what's inside the hall here at Sanjusangendo, but the courtyard isn't so bad - check it out.
	6 February 2007 Many, many of these little fountains all over the temples here.
	6 February 2007 We can't show you what's inside the hall here at Sanjusangendo, but the courtyard isn't so bad - check it out.
	6 February 2007 We can't show you what's inside the hall here at Sanjusangendo, but the courtyard isn't so bad - check it out.
	6 February 2007 Dunno if that's the correct term for it, but there's a few trees around here clad in straw. Rather unusual no? This was in the grounds of a random temple, that happened to be closed (the temple that is - not the grounds - oh, you know what I mean).
	6 February 2007 Nishi Otani Cemetery and Mausoleum (or is that Nishotanihonbyo Temple?). Well, it's a bit unclear from the maps, although I know exactly where this one is - on the way from central Kyoto to Kiyomizu Temple one can wonder through this huge and interesting graveyard.
	6 February 2007 Not quiet sure what these small wooden pieces were meant to signify or mean. They were in a small area almost hidden away at one side of the Kiyomizu Temple complex.
	6 February 2007 Colourful ropes that lead to bells to be rung. This one was very thick and not in use.
	6 February 2007 As you see on the right, part of this place is built entirely on wooden supports strutting from the hillside.
	6 February 2007 A fountain here at Kiyomizu Temple. Visitors can catch and drink the sacred waters here.
	6 February 2007 Part of the Kiyomizu Temple complex. Usually very busy, managed to grab this at a quieter moment.
	6 February 2007 Entrance to the Kiyomizu Temple complex. Usually very busy, as you can see. Behind the camera is a small street bustling with tourists and souvenir shops.
	6 February 2007 Leading up to the Kiyomizu Temple (behind the camera) is a small street bustling with tourists and souvenir shops.
	7 February 2007 Controversial by design. The train station station here is very modern, setting it far apart from many of the historical buildings in Kyoto.
	7 February 2007 On a rather overcast day. That's the famous five storied pagoda in the background, so the drum with inscriptions makes a far better shot today.
	7 February 2007 OK - so the gate is obscured by a tree, but you get the idea. See the people walking through the gate, and the Todaiji Temple beyond.
	7 February 2007 Girls in traditional Japanese attire walk, at the Nandaimon Gate, Nara.
	7 February 2007 One of the huge supporting beams of the Nandaimon Gate, Nara.
	7 February 2007 The statues are the ones not moving... rather dark in here. The Buddha (Daibutsu) on the right here is the largest in Japan. This happens to be housed in the largest wooden building in the world.
	7 February 2007 The Buddha (Daibutsu) on the left here is the largest in Japan. This happens to be housed in the largest wooden building in the world.
	7 February 2007 The largest wooden building in the world... and that's after it was burned down and rebuilt in 1692 at only two thirds the original size.
	7 February 2007 Seems there are a few 'Great Bell's in the world. This is the view inside the one near to Todaiji Temple in Nara.
	7 February 2007 Seems there are a few 'Great Bell's in the world. This is the one near to Todaiji Temple in Nara.
	7 February 2007 Seems there are a few 'Great Bell's in the world. This is near to Todaiji Temple in Nara.
	7 February 2007 Even though spring is far away, there's still blossom to be seen, this in Nara Park.
	7 February 2007 A small statue within Nara Park.
	7 February 2007 Many, many of these stone lanterns are spread throughout the park in Nara.
	7 February 2007 Prayer blocks (I'm sure there's a more technical name) outside the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara.
	7 February 2007 Lanterns inside the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara.
	7 February 2007 Next to the more famous (it would seem) Taisha Shrine, Kasuga Wakamiya. Nice roofing.
	7 February 2007 We returned from the park via the very nice little Sagi-ike Pond, Nara.
	8 February 2007 Prayer papers inside Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto.
	8 February 2007 Lanterns inside Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto.
	8 February 2007 People worshipping inside the Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto.
	8 February 2007 Lanterns in Kyoto. The others we'd seen about were stone, but these are cast metal. Would that be bronze?
	8 February 2007 Here at Chion-in, apparently this is the largest bell in Japan... weighing in at 74 tonnes. That's Pratiwi there on the other side of the railing for size comparison.
	8 February 2007 The courtyard and main hall (right) at Chion-in.

8 February 2007 Rob & Pratiwi enjoy lunch at Asuka. It wasn't until we left that a sign was noticed outside - noting that this is a recommendation of Lonely Planet. Looking it up, we are told that this place has a great mixed tempura. That it does - as you can see from Rob's plate. Not bad at all, especially for Y1000.
	8 February 2007 Not the main building, but the entrance to Heian Shrine, looking back from inside the rather large courtyard (yes, there's a lot more of it right and behind the camera).
	9 February 2007 Colourful wares and keen shoppers - Nishiki Market, Kyoto.
	9 February 2007 Nishiki Market, Kyoto. A long strip like this that goes on for several blocks.
	9 February 2007 Colourful wares at Nishiki Market, Kyoto.
	10 February 2007 Stone fox statue at Fushimi-inari Taisha (shrine), Kyoto.
	10 February 2007 There are literally thousands of these red torii here at Fushimi-inari Taisha. As you see here, sometimes they are spaced so closely as to require lanterns to light your way.
	10 February 2007 Walking in the hills here at Fushimi-inari Taisha one passes through some lush forest.
	10 February 2007 Rob & Pratiwi on a pathway around Fushimi-inari Taisha.
	10 February 2007 Forest and torii here at Fushimi-inari Taisha.

10 February 2007 Kyoto city views from the hillside above Fushimi-inari Taisha.
	10 February 2007 Is this guy cast in Bronze?
	10 February 2007 Pratiwi snacks on quail kebab (bones and all) here in Kyoto.

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