Welcome new visitors and followers! November is my least favourite month but unexpected news, a blog milestone, and a class have changed my perspective, at least for 2014. First Award Nomination JapanCanMix has been nominated for a blog award! It is fantastic to be recognized and is a great push to keep posting. 100th Post This post…
Stories behind the photos On our way down from exploring the low mountains above Onomichi, we walked through a cramped neighbourhood filled with cats. The humans obviously adored the creatures. There was a cat-themed tiny bar, cats made of rocks and cat signs. While koinobori (Japanese carp banners) are hung around Children’s Day in May,…
On our way to the train station to go to Kobe for a day trip from Kyoto, the shadows inside a lantern caught my attention. I thought the colour and contrast were gorgeous. My family was long gone by the time I played with the settings and took several photos. This Photo Friday post irks my…
Moving to Japan can be a great way to find and then unfind yourself, worship washlet toilets, and fill up on individually packaged ice cream treats every day. However, there are four far better reasons. (4) exemplary hair elastics Having long hair means hair elastics. Before Japan, hair elastics were a necessary evil that broke regularly and had…
Visiting Kakunodate in Akita prefecture was the first trip I made outside my new city after moving to Japan. My friend and I explored a small section of Kakunodate town before hopping on a bus to Dakigaeri Gorge to see the autumn leaves. “Any Weather’s PEPSI Weather!” During our stroll, I saw a few vending machines that…
This cross between a jizo (children’s guardian) and a good luck statuette is cute and peaceful. As for the Weekly Photo Challenge of refraction, I had to dig back into junior high science for the differences between refraction, reflection and diffraction. I thought this photo might fit and then wasn’t sure. Since relearning that refraction is light…
The sun slid above the lower reaches of Mount Tsukuba shortly after this photo was taken. The contrast was dreamy! My dreamy hubby dashes to catch up with his parents during our spontaneous hike. After living in Tokyo for some time, I realized I hadn’t explored much on my own. Spending days visiting parks meant I could…
The startling bells at the modest shrine likely scared off creatures of all sizes. Following the path around the back of the shrine led to this noble tree. Next was a tiny waterfall against a rock wall and the end of the trail. My manager took a few of us deep into the Shirakamisanchi region. It covers…
A large weathered trough on rotting feet holds its place outside one of the shrine buildings at Matsuo Taisha in Kyoto. Hundreds of discarded gomagi lie in a dishevelled nest. It seems unfit for these formerly treasured strips of wood to be tossed without care, but they have served their purpose. These signs of insurance are renewed as…
Reflected in the glass of a skyscraper at night makes the Tokyo Tower seem fragile. Even so, and despite the imposing Skytree, it will continue to evoke romance, nostalgia, melancholy, and pride.
