Uploads from Bucket2005

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:19:53 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

This was at our hotel after the Mt. Fuji tour. We were sopping we from snow melt and rain. Jen and I still look relatively happy but David... not so much.

Tokyo, Japan.

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:18:55 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

During our Hakone/Mt. Fuji tour, we took a pirate ship cruise on Lake Ashi. It was incredibly cold and due to the snow/ice we weren't allowed on the upper deck. But we still had fun.

Lake Ashi, Japan.

Fuji-san?

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:18:15 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

Me during our disastrous Mt. Fuji sightseeing trip. We took a guided tour to the Hakone area and Mt. Fuji. As you can see... it snowed. Mount Fuji was not visible. The sign behind me indicates what we would have seen on a clear day. I thought it was pretty amusing.

Tokyo Cityscape

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:17:07 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

Tokyo cityscape from atop the Park Hyatt hotel. We were in the New York Bar at the top of the hotel. This is where much of "Lost in Translation" was filmed. There was a jazz singer who was really good but it the whole experience was really expensive. Not only were the drinks expensive but there was a large cover charge to enter. However, the views were fantastic!

Tokyo, Japan.

Bright Lights in the Big City!

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:12:02 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

In Shibuya at night.

Tokyo, Japan.

Yikes!

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:09:34 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

Ginza at night. I was standing in the middle of the intersection for this photo :)

Tokyo, Japan.

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:08:47 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

Ginza by night.

Tokyo, Japan.

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:26:32 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:25:02 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

The rooftop robot atop the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, Japan. The robot appears in the movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky.

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:21:29 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

The rooftop robot atop the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, Japan.

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:21:00 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

Jen, David, and Sean relax on futons and drink wine during a peaceful evening at the ryokan. I think we had already consumed plenty of sake...

Matsuya Ryokan in Nagano, Japan.

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:19:26 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

David and Jen await the rest of their dinner while relaxing in the yukata provided for them.

Matsuya Ryokan in Nagano, Japan.

Tiny Squidy!

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:18:10 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

My friends and I stayed at Matsuya ryokan (a traditional guesthouse) in Nagano, Japan. They were amazing. They served us breakfast and dinner every day and there was an abundance of fresh fish. These tiny baby squid were served every day for dinner. I thought they were pretty tasty once you got past the mental hurdle about what you were eating.

Here I am about to chow down on my squid. Sean (off to the right) looks a bit skeptical...

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:47:49 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

I happened across these lovely ladies and one gentleman while walking with friends through Gion. We had just visited Yasaka Shrine and were on our way back towards the Kamo River. I speak very little Japanese but with a few words and gestures I asked them if they would allow me to take their photo. The graciously assented :)

EDIT: It has recently been pointed out to me that these people may not be real maiko but are tourists dressed up as geisha.

Kyoto, Japan

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:46:22 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

Second photo in this series. The maiko noticed me for this one. I smiled and gestured with my camera and did a little bow to which they nodded back and I took that for the go ahead to take their picture :)

These maiko were visiting with each other near a plum blossom grove not far from Yasaka Shrine. I had been searching for geisha in Kyoto for 4 weeks and had seen very few. But this day, I saw many! I can't tell you how excited I was. Don't they all look lovely together?

EDIT: It has recently been pointed out to me that these people may not be real maiko but are tourists dressed up as geisha.

Kyoto, Japan

Spring Sighting

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:44:13 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

These maiko were visiting with each other near a plum blossom grove not far from Yasaka Shrine. I had been searching for geisha in Kyoto for 4 weeks and had seen very few. But this day, I saw many! I can't tell you how excited I was. Don't they all look lovely together?

EDIT: It has recently been pointed out to me that these people may not be real maiko but are tourists dressed up as geisha.

Kyoto, Japan

Maiko

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:41:52 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

This is a close-up of this photo:

www.flickr.com/photos/bucket/4719074331/

Kiyomizu-dera

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:41:13 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

Kiyomizu-dera is one of the more popular Temples in Kyoto, Japan.

Nighttime Exploration

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:37:50 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo:

Fushimi-Inari is was one of my favorite places in all of Japan. These vermilion gates (torii) extend all the way up the mountain. There are thousands of them! It is very serene especially in the evening.

Fushimi-Inari

nobody@flickr.com (Bucket2005) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:35:45 -0700

Bucket2005 posted a photo: