Japan 2008 Day 9: Nara (奈良) Toudaiji (東大寺) Nandaimon (南大門)
Toudaiji is one of the Seven Great Temples in Nara and part of the World Heritage Site. We entered it via the Nandaimon (Great South Gate).
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Japan 2008 Day 9: Nara (奈良) Okumura Museum (奥村記念館)
Nara is the ancient capital of Japan. We begin our visit at the Okumura Museum, with an interesting earthquake simulator.
Japan 2008 Day 8: Kyoto (京都) Kyoto Gyoen (京都御苑) (Imperial Palace)
Kyoto Gyoen is a national park at the heart of Kyoto that features nothing less than an Imperial Palace, the former residence of the Emperor of Japan.
Japan 2008 Day 8: Kyoto (京都) Kinkakuji (金閣寺)
Kinkakuji , also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion", is so famous that it is the subject of the novel by Mishima Yukio.
Japan 2008 Day 8: Kyoto (京都) Nijou Castle (二条城)
Nijou Castle was commissioned by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu as the residence for the Tokugawa clan when they are in Kyoto.
Japan 2008 Day 8: Osaka to Kyoto via Shinkansen
Today we are planing to do a day trip from Osaka to Tokyo via Shinkansen. We hope to visit as many sights as we can in a day.
Japan 2008 Day 7: Osaka (大阪) Umeda (梅田)
Umeda ("plum field") is a major commercial, business, shopping and entertainment district, and the city's main northern railway terminus.
Japan 2008 Day 7: Tokyo to Osaka via Shinkansen
Our first trip on a Shinkansen (bullet train)! We travelled from Tokyo to Osaka, a distance of 515 km, in 3 hours.
Japan 2008 Day 6: Kamakura (鎌倉) Sasuke Inari Shrine (佐助稲荷神社)
Sasuke Inari Shrine is a Shinto Shrine full of inari sculptures residing in miniature village on a hill reached by a path of red Torii gates.
Japan 2008 Day 6: Kamakura (鎌倉) Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine (銭洗弁財天宇賀福神社)
Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine is nestled deep in a mountain completely surrounded by rocks, so it is totally invisible from the outside.
Japan 2008 Day 6: Kamakura (鎌倉) Kotokuin (高徳院) (The Great Buddha)
Kotokuin is a Buddhist temple renowned for The Great Buddha of Kamakura, one of the most famous icons of Japan.
Japan 2008 Day 6: Kamakura (鎌倉) Hasedera (長谷寺)
Hasedera, also called the Hase-kannon, is a Buddhist temple in Kamakura famous for its giant wooden statue of Kuan Yin.
Japan 2008 Day 6: Kamakura (鎌倉) Syuu Genji Temple (収玄寺)
We visited Kamakura, a historical town. We discovered the Syuu Genji temple near the Hase station and some quaint shops.
Japan 2008 Day 5 : Tokyo (PENTAX SQUARE)
PENTAX SQUARE is a mix of photographic gallery (Pentax FORUM), users's education facility (Pentax FOCAL) and user club (Pentax Family).
Japan 2008 Day 5: Tokyo (Back to Shinjuku)
From Shibuya, we took train back to Shinjuku and explored the south side, as well as the side closest to our hotel.
Japan 2008 Day 5: Tokyo (Shibuya 渋谷)
Shibuya is famous for the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, the statue of a loyal dog, and stylish fashion stores for young women.
Japan 2008 Day 5: Tokyo (Akihabara 秋葉原)
Akihabara is a suburb full of stores that specialise in electrical goods. Also known as Electric Town, it has everything an otaku wants.
Japan 2008 Day 4: Nikko (日光) Taiyuin Mausoleum (家光廟大猷院)
The Taiyuin Mausoleum honours Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604–1651), the third Tokugawa shogun, and is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Japan 2008 Day 4: Nikko (日光) Futarasan Shrine (二荒山神社)
Futarasan shrine enshrines three deities: Ōkuninushi, Tagorihime, and Ajisukitakahikone, and is part of the Nikko UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Japan 2008 Day 4: Nikko (日光) Toushouguu shrine (東照宮)
Toushouguu Shrine is the most famous shrine in Nikko and the final resting place for the remains of Japan's greatest shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Japan 2008 Day 4: Nikko (日光) Rinnouji Temple (輪王寺)
Rinnouji Temple is a Tendai Buddhist temple in the city of Nikko. It is part of the Shrines and Temples of Nikko UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Japan 2008 Day 3: Tokyo (Ghibli Museum 三鷹の森ジブリ美術館)
The Ghibli Museum is dedicated to the creative output of Studio Ghibli - an animation film studio featuring director Miyazaki Hayao.
Japan 2008 Day 2: Tokyo (Shinjuku at Night)
We had dinner at a ramen shop near the station. After dinner, we wandered around Shinjuku at night - particularly Electric Street (電気街).
Japan 2008 Day 2: Tokyo (Harajuku 原宿)
Harajuku has been epitomised in popular culture as a hang-out for rebellious Japanese teenagers with their own fashion style.
Japan 2008 Day 2: Tokyo (Hamarikyu Garden 浜離宮恩賜庭園)
The Hamarikyu Garden used to belong to a daimyo (feudal lord) during the Edo period and used for wild duck hunting and falconry.
Japan 2008 Day 2: Tokyo Shinbashi (新橋) / Shiodome (汐留)
Shinbashi ("New Bridge") was a bridge built across the Shiodome River (since filled in). Today, it is a railway hub and commercial centre.
Japan 2008 Day 2: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Tower (東京都庁舎)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎) is the tallest city hall in the world, with observation decks proving amazing views.
Japan 2008 Day 1: Tokyo (Shinjuku 新宿区)
Shinjuku is a major commercial and administrative centre with many skyscrapers, and the busiest railway station in the world.
Japan 2008 Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo (東京)
Our arrival in Tokyo from Sydney was early in the morning. The Qantas plane landed in Narita Airport, and we took the express to Shinjuku.
Lord of the Rings (LOTR) Tour of New Zealand 2004
We did a Lord of the Rings Tour of New Zealand in April 2004 as part of Red Carpet Tours and visited many of the film locations.
The “Action Figure” Version of the Lord of the Rings
The "Action Figure" Version of the Lord of the Rings features action figurines re-enacting various scenes from the movies during our tour.
LOTR 2004 Day 11: Queenstown to Auckland
Today is the "optional activities" day of the tour before we flew from Queenstown to Auckland. Some of us went on the Dart River Safari.
LOTR 2004 Day 10: Te Anau to Queenstown
We travelled from Te Anau to Queenstown, stopping by at Deer Park Heights, Arrowtown, Twelve Mile Delta, and Amon Hen.
LOTR 2004 Day 9: Te Anau to Milford Sound & back
Today is a LOTR free day, as we travelled from Te Anau to visit the famous Milford Sound, and then returned back to Te Anau.
LOTR 2004 Day 8: Cromwell to Te Anau
We left Cromwell to head off towards Mavora Lakes. In the afternoon, we arrived at the lakeside town of Te Anau.
LOTR 2004 Day 7: Twizel to Cromwell
We left Twizel for Ben Ohau Station, then a pine forest (Flight to the Ford). We also visited Bonspiel Station and finished up at Cromwell.
LOTR 2004 Day 6: Christchurch to Twizel
We left Christchurch to visit the Courts of Edoras (actually, Mt. Sunday). After that, we continued to Twizel via the beautiful Lake Tekapo.
LOTR 2004 Day 5: Wellington to Christchurch
Today we flew out of Wellington to Christchurch. After that, we wandered around and visited the Art Gallery and Botanical Gardens.
LOTR 2004 Day 4: Wellington to Featherston & back
We explored Wellington and Featherston today, including WETA, Dry Creek Quarry (Helms Deep/Minas Tirith) and Hutt River (River Anduin).
LOTR 2004 Day 3: Ohakune to Wellington
We left Ohakune to visit Mokai Gravity Canyon, then Mt Victoria and watched Return of the King at Embassy Theatre in Wellington.
LOTR 2004 Day 2: Rotorua to Ohakune
We left Rotorua and stopped at Wai-O-Tapu, Huka Falls, Taupo, Meads Wall, and finished in Okahune to sleep in Billy Boyd's bed.
LOTR 2004 Day 1: Auckland to Rotorua
We visited the Hobbiton Movie Set, and then stopped at Rotorua where we went to the Tamaki Maori Village for a traditional Maori Welcome.
LOTR 2004 Day 0: Auckland
We arrived at Auckland on Good Friday around 9pm. We spent Saturday around the city, and Sunday around Takapuna.