Japan is a silent country. No, that was not a typo. Even though it has the most densely populated cities, you will hardly hear the sounds of people talking to each other on the streets, the trains are quiet, even the ones filled with young kids. No is calling out for anyone aloud, the vehicles are silent to an extent that you will even hear the buzzing of the numerous cycle chains. Other than the occasional drunk friends who are laughing within their own group, or Panchinko – loud entertainment joints with pinball, video game machines, or the constant announcement at train stations, everyone is quiet, considerate, minding their own thoughts.
Maybe that is why, even with all the crowds of locals and foreigners for the sakura (cherry blossom) season, I felt connected to place I was in. There was a little bit of magic that I could sense in each place, because of either the nature, the people, the architecture , the precision, the diligence or sometimes even the crowd itself. I guess I could never really pinpoint on the reason for the magic. There it was nonetheless. Now that it has been a few months since I am back from my travel, I miss Japan like I would miss a person. Here are the images of some of those magical moments.
It would be lovely to know which picture connected with you!
Entrance to yochiin, Koyasan
Shinjuku Gyoen
Fushimi Inari Torii
Bamboo grove, Arashiyama, Kyoto
Driver of the Randen Tram line, Arashiyama, Kyoto
Sensoji Temple entrance
Shikarakawa sosui Dori, Kyoto & Park surrounding kinkaku-ji
Lanterns at Meguro River, Tokyo & Hanami at Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo
Doorway to Meiji Shrine, Tokyo
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto
From top of Kyoto station
Antique store, Takayama
Okunoin cemetery, Koyasan
Sake, Ramen and Anmitsu
Sensoji temple, Tokyo
Edo period houses, Takayama
Philosopher’s path, Kyoto & Tennoji temple complex, Yanaka, Tokyo
Shukubo, temple lodging at Koyasan
Kiyomizu dera, Kyoto & Okunoin cemetery entrance, koyasan
View of Ginkaku-ji
Walk down ninenzaka, kyoto
Who said anything about no vegetables? Yasai and packaged goodness
Koyasan
Omikuji , fortunes (mostly bad fortunes) tied to the tree
Walk down ninenzaka, kyoto
Somewhere in Kyoto
Weeping sakura tree against the light, Tokyo
Entrance to Yoyogi Park, Tokyo
Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto
Little girl and her mom, Kiyomizu dera, kyoto
Streets of Gion, Kyoto
Streets of Takayama
Yummy pumpkin Hoto noodles, Kawaguchi-ko
First view of Osaka Castle, Osaka
In Harmony, Yoyogi park, Tokyo
5 Comments
Nice collection of photos. I like the Bamboo Grove photo
Thankyou Bhanu!
Hey Swetha! Lovely pics cannot imagine how beautiful to would be to see it live! My favourites are bamboo grove and kinkaku-ji, Kyoto. Hard to pick one!
Thankyou Chetana :)! Very happy to hear from you. Do visit there to see it for yourself!
Hiiii Swetha… amazing photographs.. and loved the writing along.. keep telling your travel stories I will be always looking to read.. and I am sure many will.. way to go yaar 🙂
Best wishes..