Archer

Statue of an archer in Otawara, Tochigi-ken.

Beautiful Stone Warehouse

Very nice stonework on this warehouse in Otawara, Tochigi-ken, Japan.

1000 Samurai in Nikko

This is the 1000 Samurai Festival from Nikko, Japan in 2004. It celebrates the great processions of samurai and daimyo to pay homage to the great Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu at his mausoleum at Toshogu in Nikko. Funny to see samurai wearing glasses and smiling. Very fun festival. I highly recommend it.

Pub Alley

Pub Alley, Otawara, Tochigi-ken

Quake toppled cemetery

Quake toppled cemetery in Otawara, Tochigi-ken, Japan.

Small Japanese Door

I posted this maybe last year but here it is again in black and white. I like this little door, maybe on 4 feet or 120 cm tall. This is from Otawara, Tochigi-ken.

Demon Face

I love the eyes of the demon (or whatever it is).

Demon

I'm not sure what this is actually but it looks like a demon. This statue was standing next to a shop entrance in Otawara, Tochigi, Japan.

Simple Stone Lantern

This simple yet beautiful stone lantern is at a Buddhist temple in Otawara Tochigi prefecture. 

Meditating Daibutsu

Haikyo House

Otawara Tochigi-ken

Flower Shrine

This an entrance to a small Shinto Shrine in Otawara, Tochigi-ken. I took this photo on my last trip there. 

Blooming Blossoms

Spring has sprung in Los Angeles. These photos are from two weeks ago. I think the top two photos are plum blossoms but I am not certain. The bottom one is from in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles.

Japan U.S. Mail Box

I found this house during a walk around Otawara, Tochigi-ken. I liked all the green vegetation around the entrance but what really caught my eye was the mail box. Sorry you can't make it out in the photograph but the mail box says U.S. Mail. The front door and little parking spot are a mere few feet from the road. I like how homes in Japan are closer to the roads, especially the quieter, narrower roads. It gives it a more intimate feeling for me.

Patient Dog in Japan

Look at this patient dog waiting at the front door of a home in Otawara, Tochigi-ken.

Look closer at the dog. It is actually a statue. I had to take a second look when I walked by the first time. :)

Nice Japanese Gate

Another gate I found in Otawara, Tochigi-ken. I really like this one because of the natural cut wood on the front of the gate. The gate enters into a very small entry way garden which I also like. 

Another Old Japanese House

Here is another old Japanese house I found while walking around Otawara, Tochigi-ken. This appears to have doubled as a work house or farm house due to the size and shape. But there is no farm land in the immediate area anymore. Of course there used to be a lot of farm land around here 40 or 50 years ago.

Old Japanese House

This is an old Japanese house in Otawara. I like the weathered look of the wood siding and the tile roof.

Old Style Japanese Gate

I love Japanese gates. This is one of my favorite that came across while walking around Otawara in Tochigi-ken. I'm not sure if this is an old style but it looks like it.

I particularly like this gate because it is not solid, you can see through the slats into the beautiful inner garden. Also, the wall on each side is not high and imposing, further allowing visibility into the inner garden.

Koyasan Buddhist Temple Los Angeles

A Fine Looking Alley

I found this fine looking alley during one of my walks around the Otawara, Tochigi-ken neighborhood.  What really caught my eye was the beautiful looking stone sidewalk or walkway. On one side was a fine looking wall that contained peoples yards or entryways.

Notice the interesting texture of the walkway with the white stone with red flecks and spots. Very pretty. On the left of the bottom photo is what is left of an older stone wall that collapsed during the March 2011 earthquake. The wall contains a cemetery.