It’s that time of year again—cherry blossoms are popping up in every conversation, and Tokyo’s big sakura spots are packed with tourists. Domestic ones, sure, but lately, way more international folks too. After living in Japan for about a quarter of a century, we’re at the point where it’s just normal. Our cherry blossom pics…
Category: photography
Search for the creamy bokeh
My wife recently got the iPhone 7 Plus and one feature it had that my non-Plus iPhone didn’t have was the portrait camera mode, made possible by those dual lens at the back. Using this, the iPhone 7 Plus could take portrait shots that digitally blur the background, i.e. bokeh, making it look like it…
Sumida Fireworks 2016
You know it’s summer in Japan when there are fireworks almost every weekend. Last week it was the Adachi Fireworks, and this week, it’s the Sumida Fireworks. The good thing about Sumida is the fireworks are very close to the Tokyo Sky Tree. Here are some pics.
Azaleas of Minami-Senju
Not known to many people, but Minami-Senju is kind of a hidden gem, known among the locals and hobbyist photographers for azalea spring viewing. The blooms usually start after the sakura cherry blossoms season (mid-April), and last a couple of weeks until around the Japanese golden week (early-May). During this period, the sidewalks and the center…
Three Day Weekend in Kyushu
Last month during the three day weekend (March 19-21), my wife and I went on a trip to Kyushu, in particular in Fukuoka and Mount Aso in Kumamoto. Day One in Fukuoka Interestingly, the first thing people ask me when I tell them I am going to Fukuoka is, “What’s in Fukuoka?”. Aside from tonkotsu…
Yellow Tokyo
The other day, I took a day off from work to run some errands, getting my OEC from the Philippine embassy, and renewing my Japanese International Driver’s License, both in preparation for my visit to the Philippines. The weather was amazing with clear blue skies, so I decided to bring my trusty camera with me…
Blue Flowers of Ibaraki
While having lunch with friends from the office, one mentioned Hitachi Seaside Park (ひたち海浜公園) and how popular it is during spring time when the flowers are all blue. My wife and I have seen this place before during autumn, but considering how much she loves flowers, I figured it would also be good to take her…
Kyoto on a Weekend
Over the weekend, we went on an two day trip to Kyoto to re-live being tourists in Japan. It’s been years since I last visited this place and it is always a treat, especially since the weather was good and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom! Upon arriving at Kyoto station on Saturday noon,…
Where The Trains Park
Minamisenju is home to two rail terminals – the Hibiya Line Terminal and the Sumidagawa Freight Terminal. The Hibiya Line Terminal is located at the north of Minamisenju to the right of the Joban/Hibiya/Tsukuba train tracks and just below Sumida river. This is where they park all the Hibiya line trains when not in use….
Sumida Fireworks from Minamisenju
On Saturday, Tokyo Shitamachi celebrated it’s biggest event of the year — the Sumida Fireworks 2011. Minamisenju, through the Shioiri park riverbank, offers an amazing view of the fireworks and thus, hundreds of visitors, dressed in their summer yukatas, come to see the spectacle every year. I went over to buy some food at Lala…
Minamisenju on Flickr
There is a Minamisenju Flickr group that collects photos related to Minamisenju. It’s a small group of about 100 members and the people there are usually very generous with their comments… especially this one guy called “tradewinds”, who I think posts a comment on *every* picture added to the group. Being a resident of Minamisenju,…
Snow-capped Fuji
Snow-capped Fuji under a clear blue sky. Taken near Yamanaka Lake (山中湖) at a place called Panorama Observatory (パノラマ台). I’m actually impressed by the beauty and enormity of this volcano. Maybe I would reconsider my earlier stand never to go up Mt. Fuji.
Enrico in Tokyo 