Japan in the Springtime

I'm back from my trip to Japan and working to get back into the swing of beading. I'm working on writing a couple of beaded bead patterns before the big push to get ready for the Bead & Button Show. In the meantime, I thought I'd share a few photos from my trip. We were lucky to visit Japan while the sakura were in bloom, which I've always wanted to see, and I certainly wasn't disappointed:

Sensoji Temple in the Asakusa area of Tokyo

A reconstruction of a former Japanese palace administrative building at the Hikone Castle museum. Rather cold on a rainy day.

At the Genkyuen Garden in Hikone on a rainy day

The Okunoin Temple grounds in the Koyasan mountains, the center of Shingon Buddism, an important Buddhist sect in Japan.

A maiko at a photo session in the bamboo grove of the Arashiyama district of Kyoto, along with the inevitable throng of onlookers.

Fuji-san on a rare clear day, taken from the Tokaido Shinkansen.

The Nishinomaru Garden on the grounds of Osaka Castle, with its blossoming cherry trees illuminated at night.

Osaka Castle and illuminated cherry blossoms.

Full bloom at the Expo '70 Commemoration Park just outside Osaka.

Hanami parties at the Expo '70 Commemoration Park

Sakura close-up!

One of several couples getting wedding portraits taken while the cherry trees were in bloom.

With my hubby at Koshien Stadium, the home of the Hanshin Tigers and the most fanatical fans in all of baseball. A Tigers game at Koshien is an experience, to say the least, and if you're into baseball I definitely recommend checking it out.

I also got a chance to feed my washi addiction while in Japan, but that's a subject for another post.