@1northcoin said:
For this Friday's posting, here are the promised photos from this week's visit to Japan's Imperial Palace grounds in Tokyo.
By way of historical reference, the site of today's Imperial Palace which houses the Emperor was once Edo Castle, where the Tokugawa Shoguns ruling Japan during the Edo period resided. With the transformation of power to the Emperor when the Samurai Period came to an end, in 1868 Emperor Meiji brought the royal court here from Kyoto where the former Emperors had lived for over 1,000 years.
The Imperial Palace is surrounded by a moat and 8 gates. Entry through one of those gates requires invitation much like a visit to the White House. One can submit application and a lottery is held for reserved tickets. In addition some are allowed non reserved entry after a screening process that includes submission of one's passport. On days when visitors are allowed, the number are limited to 300 in the morning and 300 in the afternoon. We fell into the later category and it helped that there was less competition due to it being a rainy day.
The Imperial Palace was rebuilt after its 1945 burning during World War II although an administrative building on the grounds that had been built in 1935 survived and its third floor housed the Emperor until the rebuilding was completed in 1968.
First pictured below are views of Fujimi-yagura, the Edo period Keep and then Watch Tower, that is one of the older remnants of Edo Castle.
Extending from the Imperial Palace's Chowaden Hall is a structure reaching toward Fushima-yaguru, a keep that is claimed to have been moved to Edo Castle from Kyoto by a Shogun in the early 1600s.
Just below Fushima-yaguru is Seimon-tetsubashi Bridge. Standing on this bridge and looking over its iron work side, my photograph pictures a larger bridge known as Meganebashi or Eyeglass Bridge. The double arches create an eyeglass effect, especially when reflected in the water.
Of note, these bridges and the Fushima-yaguru keep can be seen without having to enter through a gate into the grounds of the Imperial Palace - although from the outside looking in, rather from the inside looking out as in my photo.
Taken @ the South Carolina State Museum, Columbia SC. It was the first total solar eclipse that crossed the entire continental US in 99 years. Also was on my birthday! Very cool & one of the most (if not the most) spectacular sights I’ve ever seen! At our location, totality was 2 minutes, 20 seconds. I shot this at about the 1 minute mark.
That is very cool! I took these pictures on that same day in Black Mountain, North Carolina. It wasn’t as direct of an eclipse there, but it was partially:
This one was shot through that dark filter held over my phone
Views from this past week of Mount Fuji as seen from Hakone:
First glimpse seen from the cable car as it rises to approach the steaming volcanic site of Owakudani:
Views from the steaming Owakudani Ropeway Station, a mountain site with venting volcanic steam:
Aboard a pirate ship on Hakone's Lake Ashi with views of Mount Fuji at disembarkation:
After a hike to the restored historic Edo era Tokaido Road Checkpoint (where toll taxes were collected from those traveling from Kyoto to Edo), Mount Fuji again comes into view:
Continued hike to the summit of Onshi-Hakone Park with its view of Mount Fuji:
Finally, the mountain is seen from the Mishima Skywalk, the longest suspension bridge in Japan:
Traversing one of the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridges, Hakone Seiroku Mishima Suspension Bridge. Built to maximize views of Mount Fuji and to provide access to a recreational theme park, its 2015 completion represents the most recently completed major attraction in Japan subsequent to the 2012 Tokyo Skytree, the tallest self standing tower in the world.
As Japan's and Asia's longest pedestrian suspension bridge at 400 meters (1,300 feet) it exceeds the once world's longest Kokonoe footbridge also in Japan. Switzerland and Portugal have slightly longer bridges but the Czech Republic lays claim to the world's longest at over 2,000 feet.
Marketed as the Mishima Skybridge it was built at a cost of 4 billion yen (26.4 million dollars.). Securely bolted into the rims of a canyon it can hold the weight of 70 Jumbo Jets.
This request is not directed to anyone in particular and I sincerely hope it does not discourage more of the great images found in this thread. These are two examples. I really enjoy the photos but I believe it is customary to provide a location at the least. This unsatisfied curiosity interferes with my enjoyment of the photo. If the photo is copied from another photographer a mention or a link to their original work would be nice so we can enjoy more of their images.
Lake Ashi in Hakone Japan is home to a Nine-Headed Dragon who legend has it once threatened the villagers. To appease the Dragon who was believed to be responsible for recurring natural disasters it was decided that a sacrifice must be made. A white feathered arrow was shot up into the air and on whichever house it landed the daughter of that house would be offered. To this day a common Japanese expression for making a choice by lottery is, "Send up a white feathered arrow."
Apparently a Monk intervened and cursed the dragon leading it to be chained to an underwater rock formation. Somehow this nullified the bad dragon and it became a good dragon offering protection to the villagers. In 1988, which like the current year, was the year of the dragon a shrine was erected and today offerings of steamed rice and red beans are offered to this protective spirit/diety.
In further homage to the Nine-Headed Dragon of Lake Ashi, the Dragon Castle was built in recent years. This 6-story structure is a caged adventure park/obstacle course containing rope bridges, nets, monkey bars, climbing trees, and even an extended walking beam with a bell to ring at its end. There is also a suspended picnic table on a top tier.
Lake Ashi, under whose waters the Nine-Headed Dragon allegedly dwells:
The Nine-Headed Dragon:
The Dragon Castle:
An adventure park ticket package that includes admission to multiple attractions including the Dragon Castle:
Comments
Who?
Is there really an owl that gets this large?
This is exactly why I hoard toilet paper.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Weird Science with Kelly LeBrock & Michael Hall. It is a funny movie too.
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Big brother looking after Little brother
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Air-conditioned Lawn mower
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Day 77 - Saint Lucia port entry.
No, I'm not landing here. Although the landing angle looks about right, this is my view looking down runway 09 from Deck 13 as we cruise on by.
fka renman95, Sep 2005, 7,000 posts
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"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Yes "Sundogs" , usually in cold, clear sky's from ice crystals...........
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Added:
Clara Bow
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The U.S.S. Enterprise looks different on "Star Trek".
Love that!
That is very cool! I took these pictures on that same day in Black Mountain, North Carolina. It wasn’t as direct of an eclipse there, but it was partially:
This one was shot through that dark filter held over my phone
This was just a normal picture:
My YouTube Channel
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Views from this past week of Mount Fuji as seen from Hakone:
First glimpse seen from the cable car as it rises to approach the steaming volcanic site of Owakudani:
Views from the steaming Owakudani Ropeway Station, a mountain site with venting volcanic steam:
Aboard a pirate ship on Hakone's Lake Ashi with views of Mount Fuji at disembarkation:
After a hike to the restored historic Edo era Tokaido Road Checkpoint (where toll taxes were collected from those traveling from Kyoto to Edo), Mount Fuji again comes into view:
Continued hike to the summit of Onshi-Hakone Park with its view of Mount Fuji:
Finally, the mountain is seen from the Mishima Skywalk, the longest suspension bridge in Japan:
INYNWHWeTrust-TexasNationals,ajaan,blu62vette
coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN
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I wonder what it's paved with.
a old black and white photo of my mom when she was younger (would of been 81 this year)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uNa4xS6eZkMdCtQq8
Good intentions, of course!
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
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I have been down that trail twice.
.
How many times did you come back up ?
.
Traversing one of the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridges, Hakone Seiroku Mishima Suspension Bridge. Built to maximize views of Mount Fuji and to provide access to a recreational theme park, its 2015 completion represents the most recently completed major attraction in Japan subsequent to the 2012 Tokyo Skytree, the tallest self standing tower in the world.
As Japan's and Asia's longest pedestrian suspension bridge at 400 meters (1,300 feet) it exceeds the once world's longest Kokonoe footbridge also in Japan. Switzerland and Portugal have slightly longer bridges but the Czech Republic lays claim to the world's longest at over 2,000 feet.
Marketed as the Mishima Skybridge it was built at a cost of 4 billion yen (26.4 million dollars.). Securely bolted into the rims of a canyon it can hold the weight of 70 Jumbo Jets.
Views from the bridge:
This request is not directed to anyone in particular and I sincerely hope it does not discourage more of the great images found in this thread. These are two examples. I really enjoy the photos but I believe it is customary to provide a location at the least. This unsatisfied curiosity interferes with my enjoyment of the photo. If the photo is copied from another photographer a mention or a link to their original work would be nice so we can enjoy more of their images.
A beautiful lady.
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Came back up on the elevator both times.
ND Malaysia 10 ringgit which i got in 1997 from my overseas trip in change
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uNa4xS6eZkMdCtQq8
The USS Kennedy CV67
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Japan's Loch Ness Monster and its Castle
Lake Ashi in Hakone Japan is home to a Nine-Headed Dragon who legend has it once threatened the villagers. To appease the Dragon who was believed to be responsible for recurring natural disasters it was decided that a sacrifice must be made. A white feathered arrow was shot up into the air and on whichever house it landed the daughter of that house would be offered. To this day a common Japanese expression for making a choice by lottery is, "Send up a white feathered arrow."
Apparently a Monk intervened and cursed the dragon leading it to be chained to an underwater rock formation. Somehow this nullified the bad dragon and it became a good dragon offering protection to the villagers. In 1988, which like the current year, was the year of the dragon a shrine was erected and today offerings of steamed rice and red beans are offered to this protective spirit/diety.
In further homage to the Nine-Headed Dragon of Lake Ashi, the Dragon Castle was built in recent years. This 6-story structure is a caged adventure park/obstacle course containing rope bridges, nets, monkey bars, climbing trees, and even an extended walking beam with a bell to ring at its end. There is also a suspended picnic table on a top tier.
Lake Ashi, under whose waters the Nine-Headed Dragon allegedly dwells:
The Nine-Headed Dragon:
The Dragon Castle:
An adventure park ticket package that includes admission to multiple attractions including the Dragon Castle: