Japan

Japan

There was so much to see in Japan I don’t even know where to start. In true local fashion my family had us booked almost down to the minute. We started in Tokyo to sightsee and meet up long distance family.

Paradise with a morning coffee, Ropponghi
Paradise with a morning coffee, Ropponghi
The Imperial Palace, Tokyo
The Imperial Palace, Tokyo
Mother and guide, as excited as we are
Mother and guide, as excited as we are

We then traveled to Toyota, Aichi Prefecture to see the Toyota Motor Corporation factory. Seeing the future of Japanese transportation was impressive to be sure.

Future cars, Toyota City
Future cars, Toyota City
Musical robot, Toyota City
Musical robot, Toyota City
Hospitality, Toyota City
Hospitality, Toyota City

From there it was a long train ride to get a more historical view of the country. Nara and Kyoto both were a whirlwind of temples, palaces, and so many incredible details I just won’t try to describe.

Spiritual freeloaders, Kyoto
Spiritual freeloaders, Kyoto
Water and blessings, Nara
Water and blessings, Nara
Buddha, Nara
Buddha, Nara
Guardian, Nara
Guardian, Nara
Ancestral lanterns, Nara
Ancestral lanterns, Nara
Golden Palace, Kyoto
Golden Palace, Kyoto
Details, Kyoto
Details, Kyoto
800 years old and looks brand new, Kyoto
800 years old and looks brand new, Kyoto

Things slowed down considerably when we left for Suzu, we took a bus along the western coastline. We took the opportunity to go to some markets, meet some kids from a local grade school, and take a tour of the only sake brewery I’ve ever been to. It was an incredible way to end the trip.

Rainy day shopping, Suzu
Rainy day shopping, Suzu
Western coastline, Suzu
Western coastline, Suzu
Sogen Sake Brewery barrel room, Suzu
Sogen Sake Brewery barrel room, Suzu
Kudzu blossoms, Suzu
Kudzu blossoms, Suzu
Mitsukejima Island, Suzu
Mitsukejima Island, Suzu

There was even enough energy to take down some sketches during travel time or right after seeing something I couldn’t photograph. Included is what I now understand of the samurai power struggle1, an imperial sconce detail2, and the depiction of carving3 that separated two rooms in a 2,000 year old home of the lord around that time.

japan_sketch_koi japan_sketch_samurai japan_sketch_sconce japan_sketch_seperator