the view from japan » james a. jack

yamabushi taking the train

james a. jack — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:00:21 +0000

A Shugenja (Yamabushi) on his way to Kyoto.

city of the living, city of the dead

james a. jack — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:00:03 +0000

Kyoto cityscape as seen from a Buddhist graveyard.

yatai

james a. jack — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:00:22 +0000

Tanabata festival in Daito, Shimane prefecture.
A young boy is waiting in anticipation for the fried potatoes he just ordered at a “yatai” street vendor.

miyajima sunset

james a. jack — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:00:05 +0000

Sunset over the floating tori gate of Itsukushima shrine, Miyajima.

izumo taisha

james a. jack — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:00:31 +0000

Izumo Taisha, “The Grand Shrine of Izumo” in Shimane prefecture is the largest and most ancient Shinto shrine in Japan.
The Izumo area has a very rich history and many of Japan’s ancient legends and folk tales take place there.
All 8 million gods of Japan gather in Izumo for their annual meeting in October (lunar calendar).
For this reason while in the rest of Japan this month is called kannazuki (”the month without gods”) in Shimane it is known as kamiarizuki (”the month the gods are there”).
Izumo Taisha’s “taishazukuri” architecture is specific to Shinto shrines in the Izumo area.

magical mushrooms

james a. jack — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:00:46 +0000

Bright orange mushrooms contrast with a patch of green moss.

yufuin onsen

james a. jack — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:00:17 +0000

A “rotenburo” outdoor bath at an onsen (volcanic hot spring) in the town of Yufuin, Kyushu.

snowcapped daisen

james a. jack — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:00:23 +0000

Mount Daisen is often called “The Fuji of the Izumo region” and for good reason.
This extinct volcano is home to some of the best ski centers of the San-in area, and offers great hiking trails when the snow has melted.
The city in the foreground is Yonago.

red tori

james a. jack — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:52 +0000

Red tori (shinto gates) at an inari fox shrine in Shimane prefecture.

moss covered tori

james a. jack — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:00:36 +0000

A moss covered tori (gate to a shinto shrine) at Mount Daisen, Tottori prefecture.