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#sightseeing

3 posts1 participant0 posts today
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Steve McCarty 🇯🇵

My wife went with me to Sakura no Miya near Ōsaka Castle where the river is lined by sakura cherry trees. The Ōsaka Mint (大阪造幣局の桜の通り) by the river features several varieties of sakura (most of these photos).

I was concerned that the need for a mobile phone barcode to enter the Mint could exclude most foreigners. This was the only crowd control I've seen this year. If they do that in Kyōto with constant loudspeaker warnings, people won't find the peacefulness they came there for.

My wife looked up the Ōsaka Mint Website on the spot and got the barcode, so we could get in. She took some photos of me, so you can see how I look in my old age, shortly after the catheter operation that fixed my irregular heartbeat. I could walk for over four hours, feeling great since returning home!

Open access publications: japanned.hcommons.org

Sakura tree-lined river in Osaka viewed from a bridge.
Looks like early yaezakura. I decided to leave in the photobombing by a young Japanese woman with bleached blonde hair in order to show some local color.
Cherry blossoms close up
A variety of sakura and yours truly Prof. Indy Jones.
#Japan#Osaka#cherry
Public
Steve McCarty 🇯🇵

A basic walk in Kyoto is from the Kawaramachi Station area along shops to Yasaka Shrine, then Maruyama Park (first photo). But instead of turning right toward the traditional shops along the slope and reaching the world heritage temple Kiyomizudera, I sometimes turn left and go along the slope to Chion-In (other three photos), the national head temple of a Pure Land Buddhist sect. Pure Land Buddhism has the most adherents in Japan, and this is a very large-scale temple for parishioners and members nationwide, rather than a sort of outdoor museum or monument like Kiyomizudera and most other major tourist attractions.

Everywhere in Kyoto and other prefectures is gorgeous during the fleeting cherry blossom viewing season, so any walking route with a lot of cultivated nature is rewarding to experience now.

Iconic weeping sakura in Maruyama Park in Kyoto
The huge gate to Chion-In
Pagoda area of Chion-In during the brief cherry blossom viewing season
The huge bell of Chion-In that is rung on O-Bon for returning spirits in August, and it rings in the New Year on national TV.
#Japan#Kyoto#travel
Public
Steve McCarty 🇯🇵

I've just retired from 40 years in Japanese higher education. I'm happy, however, because I'm completely healthy. I just had a catheter operation that fixed the irregular heartbeat that was concerning for several months.

I still belong to the EU-Asia digital partnerships grant project, and a long presentation on Japan to students from California is scheduled for May.

I'm already back to outdoor activities, as you can see with these photos of sakura cherry blossoms in the castle ruins park near our house.

Sakura cherry blossoms
The last plum blossoms passing the beauty crown to cherry blossoms
Sakura closer view
Sakura closest view
#retirement#Japan#university
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