Matsumoto - bridge over what used to be a moat :)
Matsumoto, former moat (pic by DaveL)
dangerous looking frogs in Matsumoto (pic by DaveL)
not-so-dangerous looking frog in Matsumoto (pic by DaveL)
used book store in Matsumoto (pic by DaveL)
Matsumoto-jo (pic by DaveL)
Matsumoto-jo (Matsumoto Castle)
bridge to Matsumoto-jo (pic by DaveL)
Grounds of Matsumoto-jo. The black stones outline where the residential building used to be. (pic by DaveL)
myself & DaveL inside Matsumoto-jo (pic taken by our volunteer guide)
Matsumoto from Matsumoto-jo (pic by DaveL)
grounds of Matsumoto-jo (pic by DaveL)
Matsumoto-jo (Matsumoto Castle) at sunset
My room at Shimizuya Ryokan in Nagano
Hey, look, there's a temple somewhere this way...
Approaching Niomon (Deva Gate) Zenkoji, Nagano (They were having shichi-go-san events; you will see lots of little kids in kimono.)
Not sure what fruit these are. :( Persimmon, maybe? I saw a lot of these from the train, but this is the only one I saw close up.
Niomon (Deva Gate) at Zenkoji The shadowy figures inside the gate are guardian deities who subjugate enemies of Buddhism. The gate has been "pigeon-proofed" which makes it rather hard to take nice looking photos.
Daihongan, Zenkoji (Jodo sect temple; Nunnery & residence of the high priestess)
Naka-mise, Zenkoji souvenir shops & restaurants lining the path to the temple. It's similar in concept to Sensoji's Naka-mise, but nowhere near as big.
Sanmon (Temple Gate), Zenko-ji
Roku-Jizo (Six Jizo), Zenkoji. Jizo are guardian deities of children.
closer view of the Roku-Jizo
Dave, as proof that he was, in fact, in Japan!
Niomon, Zenkoji
The Zenkoji Main Temple
The smoke from this burner is said to bring health and good fortune.
trying to light the incense (pic by DaveL)
wafting smoke over myself for good fortune! (pic by DaveL)
Japanese girl playing playing with/feeding the pigeons. The pigeons at Zenkoji are part of the temple experience. They even sell pigeon food so you can feed the pigeons!
More people dressed up for shichi-go-san
kids in formalwear + pigeons = entertainment
Zenkoji's Main Hall
Kyozo (Sutra Repository), Zenkoji
Daikanjin (Tendai Sect Temple), Zenkoji
Zenkoji
Random things in Naka-mise, Zenkoji
Shrine Guardian? Or just funky artwork? Nagano
A shrine in Nagano
