Japan Galleries

Oita City : Oita is a beautiful city, slightly larger than Nakatsu :)

Oita City

Oita is a beautiful city, slightly larger than Nakatsu :)

Updated: May 20, 2007 8:18pm PST

Koga 2007 : On the drive from Fukuoka to Nakatsu, we stopped at Koga rest stop.

Koga 2007

On the drive from Fukuoka to Nakatsu, we stopped at Koga rest stop.

Updated: May 20, 2007 4:12pm PST

Nakatsu 2007 :

Nakatsu 2007

Updated: May 20, 2007 3:13pm PST

Yufuin 2007 :

Yufuin 2007

Updated: May 20, 2007 2:42pm PST

Ajimu 2007 :

Ajimu 2007

Updated: May 20, 2007 2:23pm PST

A Day with the Gotou Family : The Gotou Family are my good friend Miyuki's Aunt Hidemi, Uncle Takayuki and cousins Hiroyuki and Ayako. I spent two lovely days sightseeing with them (all except Ayako, whom I've only met on the phone, she goes to uni in Fukuoka) and they invited me into their home. They are the warmest, kindest, most generous people ever and I love them. This album shows photos from our first day with the Gotou Family. We visited a lovely Fuji (Wisteria) Garden and The Oita Prefectural Museum of History in Usa. Then, we had a delightful lunch at a local Usa restaurant, famous for "unagi" (eel). Later, we were welcomed into their home, where Hidemi dressed us in kimono and taught us Japanese tea ceremony. (Sidenote: The photos of us in kimono and of the tea ceremony can e found in the "Turning Japanese" gallery.) We ended our day with a delicious barbeque, prepared by the whole family. Sugoi tanoshikatta!

A Day with the Gotou Family

The Gotou Family are my good friend Miyuki's Aunt Hidemi, Uncle Takayu ...

Updated: May 20, 2007 2:03pm PST

Takasakiyama 2007 :

Takasakiyama 2007

Updated: May 20, 2007 1:12pm PST

Beppu 2007 :

Beppu 2007

Updated: May 20, 2007 11:34am PST

Fukuoka 2007 : Re-visiting Fukuoka with Mike's family (and Marky) was great fun! I had never been to Fukuoka Tower, so that was really cool. Tanoshikatta!

Fukuoka 2007

Re-visiting Fukuoka with Mike's family (and Marky) was great fun! I ha ...

Updated: May 20, 2007 9:51am PST

Nakatsu City 2004 - 2005 : Well...there may not be much to see in Nakatsu, but this was my home for a year and a half, so it's special to me. Natsukashii!

Nakatsu City 2004 - 2005

Well...there may not be much to see in Nakatsu, but this was my home f ...

Updated: Nov 10, 2005 7:04pm PST

Sanko Village : Sanko is only 4.5 km from Nakatsu City. In fact, this village merged with Nakatsu City in May 2005 along with the towns of Honyabakei, Yabakei and Yamakuni. A couple of months before my departure, Nova opened a second branch at Jusco in Sanko, so I commuted there quite often. My first visit to an onsen (hot spring) in Japan was at Kanairo Onsen, situated at the base of Mt. Hachimen in Sanko Village.

Sanko Village

Sanko is only 4.5 km from Nakatsu City. In fact, this village merged w ...

Updated: Nov 07, 2005 12:08pm PST

Kokura : I did my initial Nova training in Kokura. It's about a half-hour from Nakatsu by train. There is a theme park there called Space World.

Kokura

I did my initial Nova training in Kokura. It's about a half-hour from ...

Updated: Nov 07, 2005 10:35am PST

Nagasaki : Mum and I visited historical Nagasaki together in April 2005. I visited Nagasaki again with Miyuki, Kumiko, Lyndsay and Tony in the summertime, but only took a couple of pics of the Urakami Cathedral, since I had seen everything else.

Nagasaki

Mum and I visited historical Nagasaki together in April 2005. I visite ...

Updated: Nov 06, 2005 10:08am PST

Yabakei : Just a few kilometeres from Nakatsu City you will find Yabakei, one of the most scenic places on Kyushu. Just two days into the New Year of 2005, my dear friend Kazue took me, Janet and Fiona to Yabakei to do some sightseeing. You will also find a couple of photos of Yabakei from May 2005...equally scenic in the springtime!

Yabakei

Just a few kilometeres from Nakatsu City you will find Yabakei, one of ...

Updated: Nov 06, 2005 9:47am PST

Mum in Nakatsu : Mum enjoyed our little town of Nakatsu...and Nakatsu enjoyed Mum! She was dearly missed once she'd gone.

Mum in Nakatsu

Mum enjoyed our little town of Nakatsu...and Nakatsu enjoyed Mum! She ...

Updated: Nov 05, 2005 9:34pm PST

Fukuoka 2004 - 2005 : Fukuoka has been ranked the number one city in Asia for quality of life in surveys published by AsiaWeek. Fukuoka's openness to new things has translated into its position as a trendsetter in the areas of fashion, architecture, and the arts. I always thought of this city as the Montreal of Japan, only cleaner...because it is Japan after all.

Fukuoka 2004 - 2005

Fukuoka has been ranked the number one city in Asia for quality of lif ...

Updated: Nov 05, 2005 8:28pm PST

Takasakiyama & Umi Tamago 2005 : In Oita prefecture, you can visit the famous Mount Takasaki, where two distinct troupes of wild macaque monkeys make regular visits to the feeding grounds there, which were initially established to entice the monkeys away from raiding the region's fruit crops, a behaviour that brought them into conflict with farmers. The wild macaques ignore the small crowds that gather at these feeding sessions, and may be observed at close quarters. At the base of the mountain, you can visit a marine park called Umi Tamago (literal translation: Sea Egg.)

Takasakiyama & Umi Tamago 2005

In Oita prefecture, you can visit the famous Mount Takasaki, where two ...

Updated: Nov 04, 2005 11:15am PST

Beppu 2005 : Beppu is considered the hot springs capital of Japan. There are two kinds of onsen in Beppu: the ones for bathing and the ones for sightseeing. The latter is typical of Beppu and they are called "the Hells" or jikoku.

Beppu 2005

Beppu is considered the hot springs capital of Japan. There are two ki ...

Updated: Nov 04, 2005 10:35am PST

A Day with the Tad : Mum and I spent a wonderful day of sightseeing in Oita and Kumamoto Prefectures with one of my students (against Nova rules) Tadatoshi and his lovely wife.

A Day with the Tad

Mum and I spent a wonderful day of sightseeing in Oita and Kumamoto Pr ...

Updated: Nov 04, 2005 9:26am PST

Aso : Mum & I went to the town of Aso where we visited Mount Aso - the most active volcano in the world!

Aso

Mum & I went to the town of Aso where we visited Mount Aso - the most ...

Updated: Nov 04, 2005 6:00am PST

Osada Park : I saw my first sakura (cherry blossoms) in April 2004 with Janet and Fiona at Osada park.

Osada Park

I saw my first sakura (cherry blossoms) in April 2004 with Janet and F ...

Updated: Nov 03, 2005 6:05pm PST

Osaka : Just a couple of pics from my trip to Osaka with Dan in August 2004

Osaka

Just a couple of pics from my trip to Osaka with Dan in August 2004

Updated: Oct 28, 2005 9:26pm PST

Miya-Jima : Home to the famous Itsukushima Shrine, whose red torii standing in the water is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful sites in all of Japan. This sacred island is a spiritual, enchanting place that I will never forget.

Miya-Jima

Home to the famous Itsukushima Shrine, whose red torii standing in the ...

Updated: Jan 11, 2005 8:36am PST

Hiroshima : A few days into the New Year (2005) I took a trip to Hiroshima. Visiting this historical city was truly unforgettable.

Hiroshima

A few days into the New Year (2005) I took a trip to Hiroshima. Visiti ...

Updated: Jan 11, 2005 8:29am PST