Category: Japan
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In Fushimi Inari Taisha at night…
… there’s almost no one ! Despite the shrine being open all the time, and the torii paths being all lit up. There are a few walkers and two or three cats left. The ghosts are also out and about, showing themselves to anyone willing to see them. The darkness and silence create a very…
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Loose pictures: March 2024
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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Sum41 at the Osaka Intex
Sum41 will soon cease to exist and their final tour is underway. The band is coming to Osaka for their last date in Japan. I arrive at the Osaka Intex around 3:30pm after a 2-hour journey. It is a complex of halls that isn’t very cheerful: large and clean but quite cold. The hall 5…
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Back on the Kyoto Trail
+500m / -580m / 13km I’m not working this Friday, and unlike the previous days, it’s not raining. I’m heading out for a rather “short” hike to enjoy the outdoors without burning myself. I initially wanted to walk south of Kyoto and pass by Yokoku-ji temple, but I prefer to avoid the crowds and opt…
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Uji
Uji is a small town south of Kyoto. It is home to a quite famous temple, as it is depicted on the 10-yen coins: the Byōdō-in. One of the phoenixes adorning the roof of the structure is also visible on the 10,000-yen bills. Matcha is a local specialty, and the shops in the area sell…
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Loose pictures: January / February 2024
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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Frozen
Or how to ski in 3 resorts, in 4 days, in the land of the Snow Queen. Day 1 It all starts with going to Osaka airport by train. Taking a flight to Sapporo, hopping on a bus to downtown, then changing buses to reach the 1st resort: Bankei (or “ban.K” for the insiders). Renting…
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Ski Jam
Leaving Kyoto around 6:30am for this weekend organized by my company’s Ski Club. I sleep a bit more on the bus chartered for the occasion. We stop twice at highway rest areas that strangely resemble each other. The final stop is in front of a rental shop a few kilometers from our destination. We leave…
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Halfway Setsubun
This year is no exception, Setsubun falls on February 3rd. I head to Rozan-ji temple to attend the festivities. The schedule includes demon dance at 3pm, bean throwing at 4, followed by a ritual fire at 5. Upon arrival, the dense crowd overflows from the temple grounds onto the sidewalk. The same scene repeats at…
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Hikone, Omi-Hachiman
I arrive in Hikone late in the morning to visit the castle, one of the 12 with a donjon still intact. It is also one of the 5 castles listed as National Treasures of Japan (the others being: Himeji, Matsue, Inuyama, and Matsumoto). It is located on Mount Konki and overlooks the city. Everyone walks…
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Bunagatake
+1250m / -1250m / 16km The sun is still behind the hills as I arrive at Hira Station to climb mount Bunagatake. It has been on my list for a while, and the weather forecast finally convinced me, even though it snowed last night. I got snow crampons yesterday, hoping not to need more (gaiters…
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Loose pictures: December 2023
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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Mount Atago
+1050m / -1100m / 19km I leave at night to take a bus 15 minutes from my place. I’m going east of Kyoto. I change buses and find myself at daybreak in Kiyotaki. I follow a small road that goes into a valley, then I turn left to get down to business. I hesitate for…
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Daigo-ji
I’m not working today. I’m off to Daigo-ji temple to take some pictures. Momiji season is almost over, and since it’s Monday, there’s hardly anyone around! It must also be said that this temple does not attract as much as the classics. Once there, the weather becomes cloudy quite quickly. I’ll deal with it!
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Back to the Live House Gattaca
I met Take-san at a meetup once month ago. He is one of the guitarist from Ninefall, a rock band based in Kyoto. And they are playing tonight at the Live House Gattaca! I get there just a few minutes before the show. I meet with Take-san and we have a drink. The first of…
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Mount Horai
+1180m / -1180m / 13km Get up at dawn to climb Mount Horai. This mountain overlooks Lake Biwa, and a gondola lift has been built close to the summit. A few ski slopes and a panoramic restaurant are to be found there. I join with a friend at 7am at Kyoto station and we leave…
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Loose pictures: November 2023
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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A day with WHO
I meet at 10:45 am at Mikumo Station in Shiga Prefecture, to walk with the WHO (Wonderful Hiking Organization) Meetup group. We wait a few minutes and then set off. There are 24 of us! We take a quick break in a kombini and leave quietly. We pass by the ruins of a castle and…