Cloud-shaped Pond / Spring

Spring blossom at the Cloud-shaped Pond in Hibiya Park, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Grand Fountain / Hibiya Park

Fountain in Hibiya Park, the first municipal park in Tokyo. Located in the Chiyoda-ku district, the centre of business and politics. Chiyoda City, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Yurakucho Direct / Ginza

Sales outlets under a railway bridge, selling food from the Yurakucho District, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Kyoto Tower / 2024

Architect: Mamoru Yamada, 山田 守, 1964. Tallest structure in the height-regulated city at 131m (430 ft) including a 9 storey podium which includes a hotel. Kyoto, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Katsura Boats / Arashiyama

Boatmen punt flat-bottomed boats up and down the river at Arashiyama, while one couple enjoys a bento box lunch. Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Bamboo Forest / Arashiyama

Looking up towards the canopy of the bamboo grove at Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex) 

Bridge Tenryu-ji Precincts / 2024

At Arashiyama, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Togetsukyō Bridge Vista / 2024

View of the Katsura River from the west side of the 'Moon Crossing Bridge'. Arashiyama (lit. Storm Mountain) is a nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty. Saga, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Kaito-ro Bridge / Kyoto

Wooden bridge of the C19 with traditional gabled centrepiece. Shosei-en Garden, Kyoto, Japan.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Shinsetsu-kyo Bridge / Kyoto Tower

 

Arched wooden bridge over the Ingetsu-chi Pond, this view also including the Kyoto Tower, the city's tallest structure in the building-height restricted city. Shosei-en Garden, Kyoto, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Shinsetsu-kyo Bridge / Shosei-en

Arched wooden bridge over the Ingetsu-chi Pond, Shosei-en Garden, Kyoto, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Tekisui-ken Reception Hall / Shosei-en Garden

On the north side of the pond, this 1884 building is linked to the Rinchi-tei Reception Hall (on the left) by an open-sided roofed corridor. Shosei-en Garden, Kyoto, Japan.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Paper Lantern / Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Takase River / Kyoto

Blossom-lined Takase river seen from the intersection of Kiyamachi-dori Street and Matsubara-dori Street. With the rear of traditional buildings on Nishi-Kiyamachi-dori. Kiyamachi, Kyoto, Japan.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Matsue Castle / Shiroyama Park

Keep of Matsue Castle, much of it surviving from its original construction in 1607 to 1611. It remains of timber construction, which can be viewed inside over 6 floors. Listed as a national treasure. Shiroyama Park, Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Blossom / Matsue Castle

Tree in the grounds of Matsue Castle, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

San-in Godo Bank / Matsue

Tallest building in Matsue and headquarters of the San-in Godo Bank, a regional bank mainly operating in Shimane and Tottori Prefectures. Viewed over Lake Shinji. Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Kurashiki River / Night

Night view of part of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter where the river passes traditionally designed houses. Okayama Prefecture, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

No Uncaged Animals / Sign

Google translate produces "No Pets Allowed" which I expect is what is meant! Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Ohara Museum of Art / Annex

Art Gallery in Kurashiki established 1930. It was the first collection of Western art to be permanently exhibited in Japan. As well as a Greek Revival main gallery, there is this modernist annex gallery (believed to be by Shizutaro Urabe, 1961) set within a publicly accessible garden. Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Kurashiki River / Parasols

View of the Kurashiki River as it passes through the Historical Quarter. The parasols are illuminated at night with beautiful effect. Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Denim Street / Kurashiki

Shop selling denim clothes and other denim articles. The area has a history of cotton farming, leading on to the weaving and dyeing industries, eventually including the production of denim jeans. Now designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings in Japan. Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Lanterns / Ivy Square

Decorative, ground-standing lanterns in Ivy Square, Kurashiki, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Kurashiki / Ivy Square

Arched entrance to a hotel remodelled from the original Kurashiki spinning mill factory of the Meiji era (1868–1912). Honmachi, Kurashiki, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Okayama Korakuen / Tea House

Part of a private villa relocated to Korakuen gardens in 1888, although reconstructed in 1961 after WW2 destruction. Known now as Chaso-do Tea House. Korakuen Gardens, Okayama, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Torii Gate / Miyajima

Torii of the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, this current one dating from 1875. The island is properly known as Itsukushima, but gets nicknamed Miyajima (shrine island). Nr Hiroshima, Japan.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

慰靈 / Memorial Stone

Memorial stone near the Genbaku Dome (A-bomb Dome) inscribed with the characters "Consolation Spirit" (Solace). Hiroshima, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Black Rain / Hiroshima

The Genbaku Dome (A-bomb Dome), preserved as a solemn memorial to the horror of 6 August 1945. Originally an Exhibition Hall designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel, 1915. Part of the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

BBQ Sign / Osaka

I think this may be Chinese rather than Kanji, but the "BBQ" and the meat skewer works for Westerners! There are many restaurants in Osaka where you can cook meat at counter barbeques, sliced by a chef to order. The speciality is Kobe beef. Namba, Osaka. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Tombori River / Osaka

Night view from the Nihonbashi Bridge of Tombori River Walk, a bustling district in Namba with all kinds of street food and restaurants. Osaka, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Sumo / Osaka

2024 March Grand Sumo Tournament entrance ceremony. At the Edion Arena (Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium), Namba, Osaka, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Mt Fuji / from Nozomi

The spectacular view of Mount Fuji from the Nozomi Shinkansen. Excuse quality, just with a smartphone.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Fuji TV / Daiba

Architect: Tange Kenzō, 1996, in a "neo-metabolist" style including a massive titanium-clad sphere. In front of the Fuji TV Headquarters Building is a shopping mall and entertainments including Aqua City. Daiba, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Rainbow Bridge / Tokyo

Suspension bridge crossing Tokyo Bay, built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, 1993. It carries the Yurikamome light-railway as well as vehicular and foot traffic. Formally called the Tokyo Port Bridge, it was named the Rainbow Bridge by public participation. Here viewed from Odaiba Marine Park. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Ariake / Tokyo

View from the southwest of the Ariake water reclamation centre (left) and the incinerator tower. Koto City, Tokyo, Japan.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

CONRAD / Shiodome

Tokyo Shiodome Building a.k.a. Conrad Tokyo, seen from Hamarikyu Gardens. Mixed-use with a Hilton hotel on floors 28 to 37. Yasui Architects and Engineers, 2005. Tokyo, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Hinokuchiyama Hill / Hamarikyu Gardens

Landscaped hill feature in Hamarikyu Gardens, a traditional Edo (1603-1867) garden open to the public. Chuo City, Tokyo, Japan.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Water Gate / Hamarikyu Gardens

Lock gates used to regulate a tidal pond in Hamarikyu Gardens. The gardens date back to the C17 and have been a public park since 1946. The 47-storey residential towers behind are known as the Tokyo Twin Parks, completed in 2002. Chūō, Tokyo. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Kimono Rental / Asakusa

Billboard advertisement for kimono rental, traditional dress worn by some when visiting historical sites, in this case the nearby Sensō-ji temple. Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Ryoma / Sumida River

One of several Tokyo Cruise boats which operate on the Sumida river, seen here near Asakusa pier. Tokyo, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Skytree / from Asakusa

Vista across Sumida River from Asakusa, including the Skytree tower which reaches a height of 634m (2,080 ft). Designed by Nikken Sekkei in a "neo-futurist" style, completed in 2012. Tokyo, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Daikokuten Shrine / Ueno Park

One of the shrines located on an island in Shinobazu Pond, dedicated to the Daikokuten deity. Ueno Park, Tokyo.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Docomo Tower / from Meiji Jingu lawn

Architects: Kajima Design, 2000, in a postmodern style. 272m high (inc. antenna) offices and data centre. Seen from the lawn of the gardens surrounding the Meiji Jingu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Wedding Procession / Meiji Shrine

Wedding processional across the main Sanctuary of the Meiji Jingu, with Shinto priests and shrine maidens accompanying the couple. Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. 

(©2024 Images George Rex. All Rights Reserved, please do not copy, thank you)

Lantern / Meiji Jingu

Lantern detail seen in the Sanctuary of the Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine within a 70ha forest in the middle of Tokyo. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Torii Gate / Meiji Shrine

One of Japan's largest timber torii gates, in a style known as “Myojin”. The cypress wood has been left unpainted. Main gate to the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

Strawberry Fetish / Harajuku

Strawberry-themed confectionary shop at the west end of Takeshita Street in Harajuku, Tokyo. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

OIOI Ueno / 2024

Marui (○I○I) department store in Ueno, Tokyo, Japan. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

132-146 / Pullens Buildings

Typical entrance to Victorian tenements built by James Pullen, 1886-1901. Arch ornamentation is of terracotta with high relief keystone and capitals, possibly the work of the Jennings Pottery of Poole, Dorset. Now part of the Pullens Estate Conservation Area, although it took direct action by locals to save the buildings from demolition in the 1980s. Amelia Street, London Borough of Southwark. 

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)

1-8 / Pullens Buildings

Entrance to numbers 1 to 8 of Victorian tenements built by James Pullen & Son between 1886 and 1901. The estate is considered to be of special architectural and historic interest as a good example of a later Victorian speculative development by a local builder. London Borough of Southwark.

(CC BY-NC-ND - credit: Images George Rex)