Photography

Japan Photo of the Week: Furano

If you are looking to escape the heat and humidity of Japan, Hokkaido is the place to be in the summer. There are many places worth visiting and summer time is the perfect time for a lot of these places. This week I am sharing with you Furano.

This photo was (obviously) taken at Farm Tomita, a famous flower and herb farm. If you like flowers (and open space) going to Furano is a must in the summer. Like most places in Hokkaido, getting around by public transportation isn’t exactly easy, so I recommend renting a car for this area. For more photos and information check out the Japan Photo Guide or the gallery.

This photograph was taken by Evan Pike.

Japan Photo of the Week: Going to the Chapel…

Actually, I am not going to the chapel, or the Buddhist temple, or even a Shinto shrine, but instead, today I am going to a hotel where I am getting married (thanks in advance for your congratulations)! Now I could go on and on about the wedding “system” here, but today is suppose to be a happy day, so I am not going to get into how I think that the wedding services here in Japan financially take advantage of those getting married beyond belief. OK, kind of got that out of my system! In any case, I set this post to publish at the time my ceremony is starting so obviously I cannot use a photo from my wedding, but here is one I took at my friend’s wedding.

The only other thing I have left to say is I really hope I didn’t jinx the wedding by posting this!

***Shameless plug***

Oh and, if you are looking for an affordable wedding photographer in Tokyo, let me know.

***Shameless plug over***

This photograph was taken by Evan Pike.

Japan Photo of the Week: Toyako

If you are looking to escape the heat and humidity of Japan, Hokkaido is the place to be in the summer. There are many places worth visiting and summer time is the perfect time for a lot of these places. One place that will be publicized this year is the hot spring resorts of Toyako, where this years G8 Summit will be held July 7th-9th.

This photos was taken just after sunset and just before the daily “festival” that they have during the summer. If you make the trip to Hokkaido, it would not be a waste of time to check out Lake Toya. For more photos check out the Japan Photo Guide or the gallery.

This photograph was taken by Evan Pike.

Japan Photo of the Week: Sapporo Pose

The rainy season. Three words I have come to hate in the past few years. To be honest, it isn’t the rain that is bad, it is the humidity. Now I am no stranger to humidity, having grown up in North Carolina and going to college at the University of Miami, but the difference is that in the states, I would drive everywhere and everywhere has AC (that works and is always on). In Japan, I walk everywhere and very few places like to use air conditioning (places that I frequent anyway). So what is the solution? Hokkaido, Japan’s most northern prefecture that pretty much has no rainy season and is far less humid than the rest of Japan in the summer. Also, where I took this photo:

More specifically, this was taken in Odori Koen in Sapporo. I was walking through the park when suddenly these three college students starting going topless and ran up on the statue. To say they were happy when I showed them the photos I took and told them I would email them to them, is an understatement. They acted as if they had just completed a lifelong accomplishment. Anyway, they were nice guys.

This photograph was taken by Evan Pike.

Japan Photo of the Week: Just a Little Bit More…

I was atop Mount Misen, on the island of Miyajima, when I found this boy who really wanted to use the binoculars. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t realize that he just wasn’t tall enough.

When he pulled them down towards him, all he could see was the sky, but if he pointed out towards the ocean and islands, the view he wanted to see, he just wasn’t quite tall enough. It took him a couple times to figure out that he couldn’t do it by himself and then he figured out a better solution, “Dad, pick me up!”

Happy Father’s Day.

This photograph was taken by Evan Pike.

Japan Photo of the Week: View From Mount Fuji

I have a list of things I want to do before I leave Japan. On the top of that list is climbing Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji. Summer is approaching which means the best time to climb the mountain is near.

This photograph was taken from the 5th stage of Mount Fuji, the highest point you can drive up to on the mountain. The view was spectacular, but I can only imagine that the view from peak of the tallest mountain in Japan has to be amazing. Anyone who has done it got some advice for me?

If you would like more information about Mount Fuji, check out the Japan Photo Guide. If you would like to buy, see more or larger photos take a look at the gallery.

This photograph was taken by Evan Pike.