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A last set of my Kyoto experience. Great city, that I will always remember. The next posts will be about Hiroshima, Miyajima and Kyushu. Hope you enjoyed. See you around for following updates

#Kyoto #golden temple #kimono #temple #shinto #nature #farming #garden #lake

Kyoto, Japan, May 2014

#kyoto #japan culture #Japan #nature #Forest #bird #Crane #garden #river

Kyoto, Japan, May 2014

#kyoto #japan culture #Japan #temple #shrine #shinto #nature #forest

Kyoto, Japan, May 2014

#kyoto #japan culture #Japan #temple #nature

Nara, japan

#nara #Japan #temple #Forest #japan culture #japan history

Nara, japan

#nara #Japan #temple #Forest

Spent 2 days in Kobe, the city were i spent 3 years of my childhood. I didn't recognize a lot because that was more than 20 years ago but i still felt a little feeling of closure. This city changed a lot in these last decades due to the great Kobe earthquake in 1995. Nevertheless it re-became a wonderful city with a huge harbor (that i couldn't visit due to time issues). However, i discovered this small hidden zen-buddhist monastery in the forest near the mountain. The monks accepted my presence without any problem but i saw on their faces that were not used to see tourists here because there is no remote sign or whatsoever of this place. Downtown, i visited a Shinto shrine called Minatogawa Jinja and also just walked around some residential areas and people would greet me in a very friendly way as i passed by. A old lady started talking with me in English because she was curious to know what i was doing here. I told her my past and that i lived here a long time ago. She was very grateful to hear that i wanted to see Japan again and we spent more than hour talking about everyday life in Kobe. She told me that my old school ''Canadian Academy'' still exists. I will come back to Kobe later this trip due to unfinished sightseeing. All in all, it was a great day.

#kobe #Japan #temple #shinto #buddhist

Sakura in season in Hikone, Japan. Beautiful city! On the top of the mountain, which the city surrounds, is a castle that is more than 450 years old. Around this castle were 2 gardens that were full of sakura trees. A wonderful scenario. If you are in Japan in Spring, Hikone is definitely the place to go to see wonderful sakura blossoms. It located near the Biwa Lake, which is the largest lake of Japan. You may also go for a swim (which i did) but it is still very fresh in april but you will feel reborn afterwards.

#sakura #spring #cherrry blossom #hikone #castle #Japan

Green sakura found in park in Nagoya. I was told that these flowers/trees are very rare in japan. I was really amazed to see that sakuras can also be green. They bloom later than the normal white and pink ones.

#sakura #green #spring #flower #Japan

Walk from Narai to Kiso-Fukushima using the old Nakasendo route. In Kiso Valley you are able to discover Japan the way it was 400 years ago. Most villages do not change and no skyscrapers are built. It was a really wonderful but long walk (it took me about 7-8 hours). To access Kiso-Fukushima to have to pass the Torii Pass to and this demands a lot of stamina because the way is very steep. However, the inhabitants of this region were very friendly and always wished my good look for the walk. They are not very used to see foreigners around here so i was a bit of an interesting subject for them.

#nakasendo #Japan #torii pas #kiso valley #hike #old japan