I just returned from a one week trip to Japan. Since it was such a short trip I did not do any sightseeing to places such as Kamakura or Nikko. I enjoyed the trip nonetheless and took many walks around a small neighborhood in Otawara in Tochigi prefecture where I took a number of photos which I will post over the next few weeks. I apologize for the quality of some of the photos. I am very much a novice photographer and I took these with my Android phone.
One of the things I like about Japan are the walls that surround most Japanese homes. They come in many different styles and sizes and are made with interestingly textured stone or cinder block. Below are some photos I took of some walls in the Otawara neighborhood during the last week of August.
Below is a newer wall surrounding a relatively new house. I prefer the older heavier looking Japanese stone walls versus this more modern wall but it still looks nice and a lot better than most walls I see around Los Angeles.
Below is my favorite type of stone. I love the texture and naturalness of the stone used in this wall as well as the cap stones placed along the top.
Maybe my favorite type of Japanese walls are like the one below topped with the tile roof. Very traditional looking. There must be a name for this type of style but I don't know what it is.
I love the old wood storehouse behind this wall.
This door is maybe only about 4 feet tall (1.2 meters).
Below is a newer wall. I don't like the newer walls as much as the old heavier looking walls.
I love the small columns on top of this wall below.
The simple style of the windows on this wall below really make a difference. Beautiful.
Nice post topic. Unexpected & very enjoyable. Each time I saw a different picture, it was like, Oh yeah...
ReplyDeleteI do like that last one too.
Thanks. Haha
DeleteGood one - sometimes when you know you don't have time to do big things, you can more easily find the joy and beauty in the small things.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the modern houses are (like every where) tending towards modern, cheaper materials. Still, there's such a variety there - and good design. I'm a sucker for stone myself...
Hope your trip went well (and not too hot)!
What a cool photo subject. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. Hopefully next time I'll have even more time to find these "little" things to photograph. :)
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ReplyDeleteHi Tornadoes,
ReplyDeleteI see that you like oya stone. Me too. That's a very distinct Tochigi feature.
Oh, and the other guy asking you to write a guest blog, he's just looking for free advertising for his flight booking site. Don't bother, not worth it. If he wants to place a text link on your blog, he should pay for it. He's infamous in the travel blogging community and I guess now he's looking for other ways to get himself a higher PR rating.
What happened to you?
DeleteThanks Anna for the stone info. Very interesting. And thx for the heads up on the travel site. I will delete the comment. I did not contact them anyway as it seemed fishy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a unique blog post. I was surprised when I saw it. But I do also think about walls, as I see them all the time.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Not only do I like the well known aspects of Japan such as temples and shrines but I also appreciate the little things.
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