My First Photography Post - Kyoto, Japan

Hi Everyone! This is going to be my first photography post of many. Beginning today, I plan to start publishing photos from some of my travels to date and all of my travels going forward.

Whenever I travel, my friends are always joking that the speed at which I do sightseeing is pretty much that of a glacier because of all the photos I take. Well, hopefully now that will all pay off, and I can share with the world some of the amazing travel experiences I've been fortunate to have.

I'd like to start with some photos of Japan, a country that has a special place in my heart. I first visited Japan back in 2012 when I spent 3 months doing research at Kyoto University. It was the first time I had been to Asia, and wow--what an experience! Between the way people act, the customs, food, and landscapes, eastern culture is just so different, and even within Asia, Japan is quite unique.

So, on to some pictures! For now, I will try to post less than ten or so photos at a time to keep things interesting and to try to avoid information/photo overload which has become a ubiquitous part of life these days.

This is Kyoto City. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over a thousand years from 794 until 1868. Today the city is known for its huge number of shrines and temples and one of the best places to experience traditional Japanese culture.

This photo was taken from Daimonji yama, a mountain (and lovely hike) to the east of the city. I know, not the greatest picture but to start off, one has to get an initial perspective from a bird's-eye view, right?

Kamo River. Probably one of my favorite places in Kyoto and really in all of Japan. In the summer and spring, this is a wonderful place to hang out, go for a bike ride or run, dip your toes in the water, read a book, and relax. As you can see, several people in the pictures feel the same way I do.

Kyoto City Streets
Kyoto has bustling, busy streets but also quiet, secluded ones as well.

Travel photos would not be complete without food photos, でしょ?

Sushi, fried chicken, and salad

Okonomiyaki (the exquisite Japanese pancake)

Deer with potatoes

You may have heard that vending machines are everywhere in Japan--it's true! It's awesome to be able to drop a hundred yen for a hot coffee pretty much anytime you want. Japanese vending machines (or vendos as I like to call them) typically have both hot and cold beverages.

In case you thought someone else was The Boss, just remember, Suntory BOSS is the boss of them all since 1992.

That's all for today! In subsequent posts I will take you through some other sights and experiences in Kyoto and elsewhere in Japan. Then we'll move on to other parts of the world.

Please feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts as I start out on this journey of posting about my travel experiences and photography. Feedback is always appreciated.

Thank you for viewing and for reading!