Himeji Castle is among the most famous Japanese castles, known for it’s brilliant white exterior, beautiful architecture, and the fact that the original structure still stands, though significant renovations have been done to maintain it.
I have visited the castle a few times — it is especially remarkable when the sakura (cherry blossoms) are in full bloom. However, nothing can quite compete with seeing the castle grounds practically deserted thanks to the swine flu scare. I’m putting up a few photos today to illustrate just how empty it was. I’ll put more up when I have time tomorrow. All images were with my D200 and Tokina 11–16mm f/2.8.
View from the top of the keep
If you look closely at that first picture at full size, you can see perhaps 4 people walking around the grounds below. I’ll try and put up a picture later of this view on a normal day.
The front of the keep, normally full of people
Bottom floor, no line!
Byodo-in is a very famous temple compound in Uji, Japan built in 998 CE during the Heian period. It’s featured as the image on the back of the 10 yen coin (basically a dime), and an image of one of the phoenix statues is on the back of the Â¥10,000 bill (~$100).
Phoenix Hall — D200 & Tokina 11–16mm f/2.8 @ f/8
The two iconic phoenix statues sit facing each other on either side of the roof. Of course, crows hold national treasures in no particular esteem.
Phoenix & Crow — Nikon S10 P&S
I wasn’t particularly thrilled with a lot of the photos I got here. The ultra-wide Tokina 11–16mm f/2.8 was a good lens to bring, but I need to spend more time with it. I think this photo would have been better if I had gotten lower so that the middle beam of the bridge’s handrail was in the center rather than the top one.
Byodo-in — D200 & Tokina 11–16mm f/2.8 @ f/8
On the other hand, I was very happy with this photo I took that day from my Nikon S10 Point & Shoot which I had brought to cover focal lengths i would miss with the ultra-wide. This shot was from a bridge just outside Byodo-in.
Boat Perch — Nikon S10 P&S ~35–350mm equivalent
A couple more photos I didn’t have time to put up yesterday. The first is of some boats lining the Uji river, the second of a side building at byodo-in, rather than the main Phoenix hall.
Boats in Uji — D200 & Tokina 11–16mm f/2.8
D200 & Tokina 11–16mm f/2.8
Mt. Koya/Koyasan (高野山）is the center of Shingon (真言) Buddhism, a major sect in Japan. The town on the mountain is packed with old temples and gates, but — perhaps morbidly — the most beautiful part is the graveyard situated amidst cedar trees.
Jizo Statues — D200 & Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4 AIS
I shot mostly with the 24mm f/2 AIS this day, and have a few thoughts on the lens. The boke is not particularly good, very busy, though this is the norm for wide lenses. It can, however, look interesting at times as in these couple close-ups from it.
Frog — D200 & Nikon 24mm f/2 AIS
Inchworm — D200 & Nikon 24mm f/2 AIS
It’s also very contrasty. This can be a positive or negative depending on situation and, on this day, it made things look rather ethereal.
D200 & Nikon 24mm f/2 AIS
D200 & Nikon 24mm f/2 AIS
A little bit away from the graveyard lies the mausoleum of Tokugawa Iemitsu, Shogun and grandson of the incomparable Tokugawa Ieyasu. This is easily one of the more ornate Japanese buildings I’ve seen, though still quite subdued compared to what I’ve seen in Taiwan.
D200 & Nikon Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4 AIS
D200 & Nikon Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4 AIS
Swine flu in Japan was still a big fear, having come into the country well after here in the US. Known simply as “The New Type of Influenza” (新型インフルエンザ) rather than swine flu, plane passengers had to fill out health questionnaires before being let off the plane, and many Japanese companies have been requiring people to wear masks into work.
The effect of this is that in some places well over half the people walking about were wearing masks. The other effect of this is that it makes for good pictures.
Aside from people in the metro and on streets wearing masks, tourist locations and airports were shockingly empty, especially when compared to how busy Japan normally is.
I got back last night around 9pm. Here’s a picture of the Jersey shore from the plane. I’ll have a lot of updates and photos of Japan in the next few days.
D90 and Nikon 50mm f/1.2 AI-S (both borrowed) @f/8
All content © Tai Shimizu unless otherwise indicated.
