JAPAN UNIFICATION OF JAPAN
Nara & Kyoto
Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Tomb
Location : Kyoto

Odu Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideoshi unified Japan. Toyotomi Hideoshi's Tomb in Kyoto was located at the top of an arduous staircase walk on a mountain.

Climb to Hideoyoshi's Tomb
Location : Kyoto

The long climb up to Hideoshi's tomb, a small mountain at the back of the national Art Museum

National Art Museum at Kyoto
Location : Kyoto

The national art museum had a Renoir exhibition when I was there Nov 2002

Paying Respects to Hideoshi
Location : Kyoto

People who climbed up with me to the stop of this mountain up to his tomb, would clap their hands loudly and bow. This was their way to pay respects at shrines. Dozens People made this long sweaty climb just to see this tomb. However, most of the people I saw were not at the tomb of the tomb, but rather in various stages of rest and climb to the top.

Osaka Castle
Location : Osaka

Osaka Castle dominated the landscape of Osaka. This was the residence of Toyotomi Hideoshi Visiting his looming castle residence at Osaka-Jyo was visually spectacular. The stone monster dominated the Osaka vista.

Osaka Castle Moat
Location : Osaka

I would not have wanted to try to lay seige to this castle with a vast and deep moat surrounding it. This was the main building of Osaka Castle.

Osaka Caslte Main Gate
Location : Osaka

The castle had a huge gate that was the main entrance to the castle. I arrived when it was nearly dark (at dusk) and had to set the camera to long time exposures later shotes , I nearly turned night into day blurring anything in motiong.

Castle Main Building
Location : Osaka

Kokoen Garden in Himeji Castle
Location : Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture

The Kokoen Garden is a beautiful garden located next to the Himeji Castle complex. It was built in 1992 at the site of the lord's west residence, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Himeji municipality. The garden is 3.5 hectares and has nine different gardens. Picture taken June 18, 2023

HokoJi Temple
Location : Kyoto
HokoJi Temple
Hokoku Jinja Temple
Location : Kyoto
Hokoku Jinja Temple
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Location : Kyoto
The Imperial Palace was one of the first capitals of Japan before the birth of modern Japan.
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Location : Kyoto
The beautiful garden at the Imperial Palace
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Location : Kyoto
The Main Hall
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Location : Kyoto
This is the Palace Outer Gate
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Location : Kyoto
This is the peotry exchange garden, where people would gather and share poems.
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Location : Kyoto
Shinkou Den
Rokanomitsu Ji Temple
Location : Kyoto
One of the Temples in Kyoto
Himeji Castle
Location : Himeji

Himeji Castle is largest castle Japan situated in the city of Himeji in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan. The castle is the finest surviving example of Japanese castle architecture, comprising of 83 rooms with defensive systems from the feudal period. It is known as Hakuro-jo or Shirasagi-jo ("White Egret Castle" or "White Heron Castle") because of its white exterior resembling a bird taking flight. In 1333 Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on top of Himeyama hill. The fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346 and then remodeled into Himeji Castle 200 years later. In 1581, Himeji Castle was remodeled by Toyotomi Hideyoshi adding a 3-story castle keep. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu gave it to Ikeda Terumasa for help in the Battle of Sekigahara. Ikeda rebuilt the castle from 1601 to 1609, expanding it into a large castle complex. Buildings were added by Honda Tadamasa from 1617 to 1618. For 700 years, it has remained intact, even through the bombing of Himeji in World War II, and the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake. Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan. It was registered in 1993 as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country. The middle moat is a Special Historic Site and 5 structures of the castle are National Treasures. Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, Himeji Castle are Japan's three premier castles.