Japan
Japan Trip 2009-Part III-Ueno Temples
While the theme in Part II was “Subways”, Part III from our trip to Japan is mostly filled with Temples and Gardens.
Below is one of the many temples we saw at the large cemetary in Ueno Tokyo. I also have some images of different temples in Ueno from my previous trip to Japan here.
Ueno homes a massive 36 temples, as well as a few shrines, and it is most famous for Tokyo’s first public park Ueno Koen (Ueno Park).
There’s my Mom walking out from one of the temples.
Below is a picture of a part of a temple dedicated to children. Those statues represent kids.
Bike riding is big in Japan. You’ll often see bikes parked on the side of homes that also take care of small temples adjacent to their properties.
On the right, buckets used at the temples for carrying flowers.
One of the roads at the Ueno cemetery.
My Mom and I were hungry and tired after exploring the massive cemetery full of Temples. We stopped at an unassuming store-front with cat paraphernalia in the window. Being cat lovers ourselves, we were curious as to what this store sold. Upon entering, we discovered a cute little cafe and home for three cats belonging to the Cafe owner. No Health Department stopping the Japanese from loving their cats in Japan! Cats are considered good luck.
Can you spot the kitty below?
And now?
The old streets of Ueno were by far the most interesting to explore.
A small laundromat and my Mom on the right.
This Temple is located in the Ueno park surrounded by lotus plants…yes the same plants that make lotus roots served in Japanese restaurants.
The park and the crow.
The lotus plants.
More lotus plants.
Kitty at the park. Being the owner of four cats…I can’t resist.
There was a cute little flea market set up at the park on this particular day.
Part IV coming soon!
Trip to Japan
What’s the worst thing that could happen when you travel overseas? Your SLR camera breaks the second day you get to your destination. And then your point and shoot camera breaks. I guess I wasn’t meant to take pictures in Tokyo but I did manage to snap a few, though not much, before the unfortunate “incident”.
Back on September 19th, 2008, I had taken my Canon EOS 5D to Tokyo. Extremely enthusiastic about capturing my adventures, after “taking in” the city without my camera on the first day, on my second day, I set out to capture all the bustling and busy streets of Tokyo. At an intersection near Shinjuku Station, I took out my 16-35 2.8 wide angle lens and as I mounted it on the camera, I felt something strange as if the lens didn’t quite stop where it was supposed to. Next thing you know, my camera is dead. My Canon EOS 5D won’t turn on no matter what I do. I changed the battery, nothin’. Changed the CF card (just in case) and nothin’ again. In a panic, I spent almost the whole evening searching for a solution online and of course for the biggest camera store in Tokyo. My findings on the web only confirmed my suspicion that the camera had shorted. I was ready to buy a camera there. Who cares if I wouldn’t get a US warranty, I had to take pictures right? Unfortunately Bic Camera (where I managed to end up) had cameras priced well beyond the change I had in my lil ol pockets. Seems with the week dollar, and with the exorbitant prices in Japan, on average about three times as much as what I would pay here, I just couldn’t afford a camera. So my trip to Tokyo lives in my heart. Yes there was an attempt to take pictures with a disposable but that ended with me killing the disposable.
Upon my return, I sent my camera to CPS and turns out the stop screw on my lens was missing. The screw that stops it from rotating all the way down upon mounting. Indeed my lens rotated a little too far to the right and it shorted my camera. Canon took care of the camera as it was under warranty (only a few months old) and even took care of putting the stop screw on my lens! Go Canon. If as a canon shooter, you’re not a CPS member already, you should be!
Temple in Ueno Tokyo
At the Temple
Lunch at the Temple
Streets of Ueno
Stroll through Ueno
At the famous Fish Market
Ready for the kill at the Fish Market
Sharpening knife at the Fish Market
Dealin' fish at the market
Tasting at the market
