夏の空

It was a blisteringly hot summer in Japan this year - loved it - and there were some correspondingly amazing skies.

田舎 - 栃木

Camping at the Nakagawa in Tochigi. We pitched our tents in a clearing next to the river, the cool water a beautiful antidote to the summer heat. There was some beautiful wild and not so wildlife, and when the hiking had finished, fire and food. And who needs a cooler when you have the river!

田舎 - 千葉

Yoro Keikoku in Chiba Prefecture. Its location is close to nowhere, but the inconvenience of getting there is totally outdone by the absolute quiet and beauty of the place, and by the fact that the train that gets you there takes you back to the 1950s at the same time. A very much recommended day trip!

桜、花見、The Season for Sakura and Hanami

Every year around late March/early April the Cherry Blossom trees bloom. They are everywhere in Japan, and huge numbers of people head to the parks, paths and riverbanks to admire what can often be absolutely stunning views. The hanami season also leads to much high spirited, often very drunken revelry. Huge groups of people stake out the best spots with huge blue sheets, and party under the trees until the early hours. The season is brief, but this cold year it has lasted a little longer, as it took the blossom a long while to get into its stride. There is a beautiful tree outside my apartment still in full bloom. The pictures below were taken in Ichigaya, Yasukuni and Chidorigafuchi in Tokyo., and are sandwiched by more Abiko sky and lake shots.

Around Abiko

The pictures below were taken on a wandering weekend, first through Tokyo, the next day round Teganuma, my local lake. There's a colony of cats who live between a fish pond and a chicken farm (who says cats are not smart!) They seem to live a pretty contented life. Incidentally, I just found out that Abiko translated into English means "my grandson". So I live in my grandson. How nice.