In late October and early November, 2003 I made a two-week business trip to Japan (mainly in Kawasaki and Tokyo). I managed to squeeze out a couple of excursions during the weekends there. It was my first visit to Japan and even though my time was limited, the impression is lasting.

(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)

I stayed in Kawasaki (川崎市) most of the time I was there. Kawasaki is a rather nondescript industrial city, but it was convenient to get from here to Tokyo and other destincations, thanks to Japan's most advanced train and subway systems. The following picture was taken from my hotel room.


Kawasaki

The first weekend I took a day trip to Kamakura (鎌倉市). To date this was still my best trip in Japan by far (in fact the next year I made a second trip there). This is the most delightful and quintessential coastal town in Japan, I think, and it has a heavy Buddhist flavor. There are many temples, large and small, with various Buhhist statues and carvings throughout.


Buddhist Statue


Buddhist Statue


Buddhist Statue


Buddhist Statue


Buddhist Statue


Buddhist Statues

But the most striking -- and justifiably famous -- of all the Buddhist statues is the Great Buddha of Kamakura (大仏). I have seen many Buddhist statues in my life, but this is one of the most serene of them all.


Great Buddha of Kamakura


Great Buddha of Kamakura


Great Buddha of Kamakura


Great Buddha of Kamakura


Great Buddha of Kamakura

The town itself is also very charming -- as I said, quintessential Japanese coastal town.


Kamakura

The second weekend I made a trip to Tokyo itself, spending most of my time around the Imperial Palace and Ueno Park (上野公园), unfortunately, this was a rather dreary day with heavy clouds and later rain.


Ueno Park(上野公园)


Ueno Park(上野公园)


Ueno Park Big Buddha(上野大佛)


Boy feeding ducks in Ueno Park

Around dusk, I walked to the Asakusa(浅草) district, where the famous Sensoji Temple(浅草寺) is.


Sensoji Temple(浅草寺)


Sensoji Temple(浅草寺)


Lanterns inside Sensoji Temple(浅草寺)


Statue inside Sensoji Temple(浅草寺)

The next day -- my last Sunday in Japan -- I decided to make a run for the Fuji Yama, or Fuji Mountain. I would not have time to actually climb it, but I wanted to at least get a closer look. While waiting for my bus, I snapped a few pictures of the streets of Tokyo.


Tokyo Street Scene


Tokyo Street Scene

After much delay (there was a huge traffic jam on the way to my destincation), I arrived in Kagaguchi-Ko(河口湖), one of the five Fuji Lakes. Unfortunately, this one is very commercialized, with boat rides, etc. I then took the cable tram to Kachi Kachi Yama(天上山), or "Mountain in the Sky". The fall foliage still lingered.


Kagaguchi-Ko(河口湖)


Kachi Kachi Yama(天上山)


Kachi Kachi Yama(天上山)

Finally, at around sunset, I had a view of Fuji Yama itself. Still hazy, and light was fading, but I finally got an unobstructed view of the famous volcanic mountain.


Fuji Yama(富士山)


Fuji Yama(富士山)


Fuji Yama(富士山)

That pretty much concluded my sightseeing on this trip. I stayed on for more work, and one day I even managed to have a glimpse, though not very clear one, of Fuji Yama again from my hotel room (I did not even realize I could see it; Tokyo and its surrounding cities are notorious for their hazy skies).


Kawasaki(川崎市)

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