The last photo shared in 2013

The last photo shared in 2013, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

This is the last photo to be shared with you in the year of 2012.
At this opportunity, I'd like to express my sincere appreciation for all of your viewing and kind comments that I have always been encouraged throughout the year.
I'm looking forward to view your amazing photos in the coming new year as well.
Wishing you all peaceful and happiest New Year!!!!

coin purses in a showcase

coin purses in a showcase, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

The image above was taken at Otaru, Hokkaido when I visited there last summer. These are coin purses actually, but, it can be used in several ways, for example, some women use it for lipsticks instead of putting coins.

Merry Christmas to you all !

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Nothing happened!!!!! and Merry Christmas!

Nothing happened!!!!! and Merry Christmas!　, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

Though the 2012 phenomenon (the Eschatology based on Maya calendar) had been whispered among some people and the media reported it jokingly, 12 o'clock mid-night on 21st December passed very peacefully and tranquilly in Japan.
Anyway, we are now going to be in peaceful and happy Christmas weekend.
Wishing you peace and happiness at Christmas.

The photo was taken at the lower viewing deck, about 1100 feet above the ground, of the Tokyo Skytree.

A snap shot at Sensou-ji Buddhist temple in Asakusa

A snap shot at Sensou-ji Buddhist temple in Asakusa, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

The Sensou-ji Buddhist temple in Asakusa was so crowded even on weekdays.
Isabella Bird described in her book titled Unbeaten Tracks in Japan. "Every day is a festival-day at Asakusa." Asakusa is always crowded as shown in this photograph. Because, it is one of the major tourist spots in Tokyo. We can hear various languages like Mandarin, Cantonese, English, German and etc. etc. The temple will be more crowded by a lot of people on first three days in the New Year. People pray for their safety, good luck and prosperity throughout the year.

The photo above was taken from the main hall of the temple.
Better looking is in lightbox.
Thank you for your viewing and I wish you a wonderful day!!

Sir, How is this? We can offer best price, sir.

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Sir, How is this? We can offer best price, sir., originally uploaded by photoholic image.

This is a scene of the Hagoita fair held from Dec. 15th to 19th at Sensou-ji Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Tokyo.
The Hagoita fair gives a poetic touch to the end of the year at downtown Tokyo.
The Hagoita is wooden paddle shaped tool for the Hanetsuki that is the battledore and shuttlecock which is similar to Badminton.
The Hanetsuki became popular among the people in the Edo period and it was played by mainly girls at the New Year. However, nowadays, the Hanetsuki has died out, and only the Hagoita remained as the ornamental purpose.

Japanese people support nuclear power policy.

Returned to flickr after an interval of two weeks., originally uploaded by photoholic image.

The general election campaign over a period of two weeks was finished the day before yesterday and the vote was held yesterday. The voting result is that the opposition party, The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), won a sweeping victory over the governing party called Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).
As the result, Japanese people had chosen the nuclear power policy, the conservatism swing and the economic disparity. Especially, as for the nuclear power policy, The LDP will take another look for new energy policy that means the new government seems to rely on the nuclear power.

frosted

frosted, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

This morning, I decided to get late rising and stayed in bed until nine o'clock. Because, there was a keen frost Sunday morning. The photo above was taken in the late morning around 11 o'clock.
The frost was still left in the shade. Winter is really here.　

You can touch the frost in lightbox with full screen (press F11)

I wish you a peaceful Sunday and wonderful week ahead!!!

Autumn in a Zen Temple

Autumn in a Zen Temple, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

The photo above was taken in the garden of an old Zen (禅) temple in the suburbs of Ashikaga.
The autumnal colour of Japanese maple leaves were past their best when I visited there last Thursday. But these were still good enough to take photo as shown the image above.
The large house seen in front is the Zen meditation hall of the temple.

The lightbox is best to look the image.
Thank you for viewing. I wish you a happy weekend.

Autumn in the precincts of old Buddhist temple

Autumn in the precincts of old Buddhist temple, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

This is an autumnal scene in the precincts of old Buddhist temple called Ban-na-ji (鑁阿寺） founded in 1196 by Ashikaga Yoshikane. The temple has been designated the Important Cultural Property of Japan since 1950 based on the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. The structure shown in the image above is the bell tower or belfry that is also one of the Important Cultural Properties of Japan. I love the town of Ashikaga that is tasteful or atmospheric town like little Kyoto. However, unfortunately, there are no Maiko in Ashikaga.
More clear view is in the lightbox.
Thanks a lot for viewing and have a wonderful weekend!

Autumn Coloured Ginkgo Tree

Autumn Coloured Ginkgo Tree, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

There is a huge ginkgo tree in the front garden of the historic Buddhist temple in Ashikaga-shi, Tochigi Pref. Japan where is about 20 miles away from my town.
According to a botanist's opinion, the age of this ginkgo tree is estimated to be over 500 years old. The height of the tree is 100 feet and a trunk of the tree is 25 feet around in girth.
This tree is called The Tree of Matchmaking. Because, it is said that young men and women had marriage meetings under this tree in the Edo period.
By the way, this historic Buddhist temple was founded in 12th century by Ashikaga Yoshikane.

Better view is in lightbox with full screen (press F11).

Thank you for looking and I wish you all a wonderful day!!

for your relaxation

for your relaxation, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

I found flowers in a park when I took a stroll in my neighbourhood. The flowers were already past their best to view. But, I tried to take a photo of such flowers. These are still beautiful flowers enough!

Best looking is in the lightbox with full-screen (F11).

Appreciating for your viewing with any comments. Have a great Wednesday!!!

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illuminated autumn leaves

illuminated autumn leaves, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

This photo was taken in the park just beside of curved road. I took this photo when the maple tree was illuminated by the headlights of a car.

Best looking is in lightbox.

Thank you for viewing and wishing you all a wonderful Tuesday!

I found such a small autumn!

I found such a small autumn!, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

Autumn has come to such small leaves, too!!
Thank you for looking and have a wonderful Monday!

Wild flower in autumn

Wild flower in autumn, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

I found wild flowers called Gentiana scabra or Japanese gentian in a thicket when I strolled around a park.
We called it "Rindou" in Japanese and it's a typical autumnal flower in Japan. Normally, it starts to bloom from end of August to end of September. However, the flowers of Gentiana scabra are still in bloom. As for the flowering of the Gentiana scabra being late, heat in September and October is thought to be a reason. According to the information from the Meteorological Agency of Japan, the average temperature of September and October in my area was 1.8 degrees Celsius higher than the past years.

Best looking is in lightbox with full-screen (F11).

Have a great day and all the best to you all!!!

An old man who sketches Tokyo Station

An old man who sketches Tokyo Station, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

I'm now addicted to street snapshot since I bought a 12mm (equivalent to 24mm on 35mm camera) of single focal length lens with an exceptionally compact design and f2.0 aperture.
The compact lens just fits with compact body of Olympus Pen E-P3.

Enjoy to look powerful perspective image in lightbox with full-screen (press "F11").

Thank you for looking and have a wonderful Monday!!

Autumnal colours in Japanese Garden

Autumnal colours in Japanese Garden, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

The image had been edited by Aviary that is a software to enhance the image.
Incidentally, the turtle head can be seen in the photo above. Which part is it?
Can you find it? Click the image for answer!

The best viewing is in the lightbox with full-screen (F11).

Wish you all a wonderful day!!!

A Regal and Noble Presence of the Rolls-Royce

A Regal and Noble Presence of the Rolls-Royce, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

It would be so nice if I could ride such gorgeous car at only one time in my lifetime.

The photo above was taken at The Peninsula Hotel, Tokyo by Olympus Pen E-P3 with Foigtlander Nokton 25mm F0.95.
The lightbox provides best looking.

The Routemaster in Tokyo

The Routemaster in Tokyo, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

Supposedly, such an old double-decker called Routemaster can't be seen in London anymore.
I used to ride on upper deck, and I loved to look around the city of London.

Autumn in Tokyo, part-1

Autumn in Tokyo, part-1, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

Ginkgo leaves have just started to turn yellow in the central of Tokyo. The photo above was taken between the Imperial Palace and the Tokyo station. The red brick coloured building in centre front is the Tokyo station that it has been completed the restoration work to its the original state last month.

For more clear view, click here.
Have a great week ahead and all the best to you all!!!

Lighted up five-story pagoda and audiences of open air concert

Lighted up five-story pagoda and audiences of open air concert, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

In order to promote the tourism to the UNESCO World Heritage in Nikko, the two shrines and a temple are lighted up from November 1st to 3rd. The lighting ceremony and concerts were held at the Toushou-gu shrine on Nov. 1st. The five-story pagoda, built in 1818, is one of the building in 42 buildings of Toushou-gu shrine.
It is now best time to see autumnal colors surrounding area of the shrines and temple.

Click here for better viewing.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Autumn colors with cirrus clouds

Autumn colors & cirrus cloud, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

It was unforgettable autumn scene that I was fascinated with the deep blue sky with white cirrus clouds and autumn colored foliage. I'm happy to share with you the image of my beautiful memory when I spent a wonderful day in the highland of Nikko few days ago.

I'd like to recommend you to look the photo in BLACK with full-screen (press "F11") for awesome view.
All the best to you all!!

Autumnal colour of Katsura（桂） leaves

Autumnal colour of Katsura（桂） leaves, originally uploaded by >photoholic image.

In the photo above, you can see yellow and round shape of leaves that are Katsura's leaves. The leaves give off distinctive sweet scent like cinnamon or Earl Grey tea after leaves turned yellow and fallen to the ground in autumn.

Looking in the lightbox with full-screen (press "F11") is recommended for better view.

Wishing you all a happy weekend!!

sweet or astringency? Kaki Persimmon

sweet or astringency?　Kaki Persimmon, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

It doesn't matter sweet or bitter, I was attracted to the pattern on the leaf.
I wish you a wonderful day!

Larch's autumnal colour

Larch's autumnal colour, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

The tree shown in above is Japanese Larch which is native to Japan and one of species of Larch.
It grows wild in the sub-alpine zone of central Honsyuu island of Japan.
In autumn, the trees of Japanese Larch become most beautiful, the needle-like leaves shine in golden colour by the bright sunlight.

Looking in BLACK with full-screen (press "F11") is recommended, please try it!!
I wish you a wonderful day.