New Years Sunrise Lake Biwa Japan
The sun rises over Lake Biwa for the first time of the new year. Shiga Japan.
Railway line from Kyoto Station through Higashiyama leads towards Lake Biwa
A railway line from Kyoto station through the hills of Higashiyama leads towards the Lake Biwa area. The afternoon sunset brings spring color hues.
Spring Silhouette of Kyoto
During a brisk cold spring afternoon in Kyoto a tree fans out into the sky gathering warmth for its coming blossoms.
Kenroku-en 兼六園 Garden in Kanazawa 金沢 is thought of as one of the best in Japan.
Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa
Kenroku-en 兼六園 means Six Attributes Garden. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. It was developed from the 1620s to the 1840s. Kenroku-en contains about 8,750 trees, and 183 species of plants in total.
Lake Biwa in Shiga Perfecture 琵琶湖
View from Ono Station Platform
Lake Biwa is Japan’s largest freshwater lake. Lake Biwa is of tectonic origin and is one of the world’s twenty oldest lakes, dating to almost 4 million years ago. The Shiga area is great for outdoor actives such as fishing, swimming, and hiking in the various mountainous areas.
The Oboke Gorge on the island of Shikoku is one of Japan's hidden jems.
The Yoshino River is one of the clearest and non-polluted rivers in Japan. The area is surrounded by rugged mountains and countryside farmland. River rafting is also popular here to get a cool bath from the heat and humidity.
Serene Pleasure Deep in Kyoto's Forests
Kyoto’s bamboo forests cover the hillsides in a green blanket of splendor. Hiking these serene areas is one of Kyoto’s unique spots and mostly free of tourists. Many are easily accessed via bicycle. Wondering this forested place one will hear bird calls echoing through the dense forest. Your path will be shaded from the sun by the tall bamboo stalks that sway beautifully in the wind making a most relaxing sound.
Misty mountains
A river slowly flows from the mountains down through Kyoto’s old streets. Bicycling or hiking the outskirts of Kyoto has many rewards not found via bus tours. Kyoto Japan is more than temples and shrines, one just has to wonder just a bit further.