Spiral Staircase, Shinsaibashi Apple Store - Osaka, Japan

Many of the flagship Apple Stores feature glass staircases. If memory serves, this one in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, Japan maybe the first curved glass staircase. It is one year since the passing of Steve Jobs. This is my Apple tribute.

Osaka • Japan • Shinsaibashi • Apple Store • Spiral Staircase >> Show in Gallery

Keihan Limited Express Train - Kyoto, Japan

Taken at a train station in Kyoto, Japan. The Keihan Limited Express train loading passengers for its trip to Osaka. The Limited Express is the fastest and the fanciest train on this Keihan line. The middle car, shown here has a double decker design.

Kyoto • Japan • Keihan • Limited Express Train • Train Station >> Show in Gallery

Kaho and Koume, Shijo Dori Bridge - Kyoto, Japan

Taken on the Shijo Dori Bridge in downtown Kyoto, Japan, Kaho and Korme pose for a candid street portrait. Like yesterday's Street portrait, these ladies also seem to be promoting a bar but with a distinctively less of a Cosplay feel. Apparently, the 60's have never completely left Japan, the peace hand gesture is widely used when posing for a photograph in Japan.

Kyoto • Japan • Shijo Dori Bridge •Portrait • Candid >> Show in Gallery

Cosplay Girls, Aya, Miyako and Mao - Kyoto, Japan

Taken in the downtown shopping area off Shijo Dori in Kyoto, Japan. These three were promoting some kind of Cosplay club or bar, most likely. Cosplay is short for Costume Play where women are typically dressed in School Girl uniforms, like these three, or French Maid outfits or Anime charcters. I've been told at these bars, the women talk, have drinks and eat with the patrons. I wasn't interested in going to a bar but was more interested in taking a street portrait. I was pleasantly surprised when they agreed. I found many people in Japan are more shy and are less likely than in the United States to allow street portraits.

Kyoto • Japan • Cosplay • School Uniforms • Portrait • Candid >> Show in Gallery

Taxis at Night, Shijo Dori - Kyoto, Japan

Shijo Dori is a major street and shopping district in downtown Kyoto. I like how the lights reflect off the row of black taxis. The ambient light at night in Japan's bigger cities are great for capturing the glow of the nightlife the reflections of a bustling city.

Kyoto • Japan • Shijo Dori • Night • Taxis • Reflections • Shopping District >> Show in Gallery

Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine Closeup - Kyoto, Japan

Here is a closeup of the Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine which is located in downtown Kyoto, Japan. This small shrine is located just off a shopping arcade and the entrance is between two stores. Unlike some of the larger, well known temples and shrines which tend to close earlier, this one is open and nicely lit up at night. You can see a view of the entire structure in yesterday's post.

Kyoto • Japan • Shrine • Nishiki Tenmangu • Architecture >> Show in Gallery

Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine at Blue Hour - Kyoto, Japan

As you walk though the entrance located between two stores within a shopping arcade, you see this little jewel of a shrine. Located in downtown Kyoto, Japan the Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine has been standing here since 1587.

Kyoto • Japan • Shrine • Nishiki Tenmangu • Architecture >> Show in Gallery

Entrance, Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine - Kyoto, Japan

As seen on Shinkyogoku street one block east of Teramachi Dori. An ancient shrine sits nestled between two modern stores. This scene in Kyoto, Japan reminds of this image taken in Delhi, India. Not all places of worship are grand places set apart from the rest. These two examples show how they are woven into the fabric of everyday life.

Kyoto • Japan • Shrine • Nishiki Tenmangu • Urban Landscape >> Show in Gallery

Teramachi Arcade - Kyoto, Japan

Many of the downtown shopping areas in Japan have these covered structures that make them into shopping arcades. The are still outdoor spaces but the roof keeps much of the weather at bay. The roof also creates a unified look that adds continuity to a shopping area. Teramachi arcade is located in downtown Kyoto that runs perpendicular to Shijo Dori.

Kyoto • Japan • Teramachi • Shopping Arcade • Urban Landscape • HDR >> Show in Gallery

Ancient Restaurant - Kyoto, Japan

I came up this ancient looking restaurant in the central business district in Kyoto, Japan. I have no idea how old this building is but it certainly looked like something from a different era. I heard that this is an old shopping district and some of the stores can be hundreds of years old.

Kyoto • Japan • Restaurant • Ancient • Urban Landscape >> Show in Gallery

Urban Mural, Kyoto Alleyway - Kyoto, Japan

A mural, a glowing wall, and bicycles. Just and interesting alleyway in downtown Kyoto, Japan taken during blue hour.

Kyoto • Japan • Downtown • Mural • Urban Landscape • HDR >> Show in Gallery

Shijo Dori, Evening - Kyoto, Japan

Shijo Dori is a major street and shopping district in downtown Kyoto. The covered arcade gives a unified look at street level but higher up there is a mix of old and new buildings and a jumble of architecture that is common in modern Japan.

Kyoto • Japan • Shijo Dori • Evening • Shopping District • HDR >> Show in Gallery

Evening Canal, Pontocho - Kyoto, Japan

In the Pontocho area of Kyoto there is a picturesque canal that runs through a busy urban area. It is remarkably clean and in the evening with the greenish glow, it takes on a mysterious and almost spooky appearance. This image was created just north of Shijo along Kiya-machi Dori.

Kyoto • Japan • Pontocho • Canal • Evening • HDR >> Show in Gallery

Store Window, Framed - Kyoto, Japan

A framed store window in the Pontocho area of Kyoto, Japan. As i walked down the alleyway, as seen in the last 2 posts, I turned into an even smaller alley. I turned back and saw a glowing store window, framed within an old doorway. There is a nice contrast in textures, wood on the left and stucco on the right, that I believe adds additional interest to this image.

Kyoto • Japan • Pontocho • Back Alley • Store Window • Dusk • HDR >> Show in Gallery

Back Alley #2, Pontocho - Kyoto, Japan

Another back alley image from the Pontocho area of Kyoto, Japan photographed at dusk. This one was take a bit north on the same alleyway as yesterday's post. I love the mix of lights and the contrast between old and new all on this narrow street. Lots of great details to look at.

Kyoto • Japan • Pontocho • Back Alley • Restaurants • Dusk • HDR >> Show in Gallery

Back Alley, Pontocho - Kyoto, Japan

A back alley from the Pontocho area of Kyoto, Japan photographed at dusk. I love these traditional lanterns, the soft, warm glow and the narrow path through an area of restaurants.

Kyoto • Japan • Pontocho • Back Alley • Restaurants • Dusk • HDR >> Show in Gallery

Kamo River and Distant Mountains - Kyoto, Japan

As seen from the Shijo Dori Bridge in Kyoto, Japan. In addition to the plentiful traditional architecture and stylish stores, Kyoto has a lot of natural beauty. I love the Kamo river that runs through the city and the view north towards the distant mountains.

Kyoto • Japan • Kamo River • Mountains • Landscape >> Show in Gallery

Store Lighting, Dusk - Kyoto, Japan

As night begins to fall in Kyoto, the stylish stores take on a warm glow. The ambient light at night in Japan's urban centers is remarkably high. The glow from the lights in the city are some of my favorite things to photograph. A nice modern contrast to all the historical postings from Kyoto so far.

Kyoto • Japan • Store Lighting • Dusk • Observation >> Show in Gallery

Pedestrians, Shijo Dori Bridge - Kyoto, Japan

Another view of Shijo Dori bridge, this time from on top of the bridge. Shijo Dori is a major road in Kyoto and this bridge separates the modern central business district from the historic temples on the east side. Kyoto is a picturesque city with the Kamo river and the mountains to the north.

Kyoto • Japan • Shijo Dori • Bridge • Rush Hour • Pedestrians >> Show in Gallery

Rush Hour, Shijo Dori Bridge - Kyoto, Japan

Shijo Dori is a major road in Kyoto and this bridge that spans the Kamo River separates the modern central business district from the historic temples on the east side. This image has been processed with HDR techniques and converted to black and white to give an etched effect.

Kyoto • Japan • Shijo Dori • Bridge • Rush Hour • Pedestrians • Black and White • HDR >> Show in Gallery