Photos from our trip to Japan, enjoy! 🙂

Bikers are all around in Japan, it’s only a matter of time (or will) to have them in a nice frame. What better than a traditional kiosk in Sumiyoshi Taisha Park?

Beautiful nature surrounding a bridge reflected in the water canal. The color contrast between bridge-nature-sky is my favorite here. Also it’s a bit of a minimalist portrait since I placed my model there (thought it would look good). All this in the amazing little park and Temple Sumiyoshi Taisha, Osaka, Japan.

This huge temple houses a gigantic statue of Buddha, thus the size. I think it’s the biggest temple I have seen.

This enormous statue of Buddha in Tōdai-ji東大寺, Nara, gave me a hard time to find the right angle for the photo. Its size and surrounding columns give very little room for a correct frame. It is the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha. I believe by having people in the frame I give an idea of the gigantic proportions. Nara, Japan.

Mothers in Japan really impressed me! Their lifestyle was unlike anything I’ve seen in other countries, often taking their kids on their bicycles to/from school, or at shopping, or just for a ride. The benefits of this are in so many levels I can just think a few: Saving the environment from unnecessary emissions, saving the city from traffic and noise, saving on energy, giving them a great workout which improves their health and saves on healthcare system, enjoying their surroundings more, interact with their environment, enjoying time with their family, giving their kids a strong example towards this lifestyle. I took a lot of these photos while walking, and maybe I disturbed them a bit, but this was my way of showing how amazed I was by this beautiful sight. Osaka, Japan.

This couple turned around their bike in order to take a better look at me, or to pose for me, I’m not sure. What I know is that I love this photo and mostly I really like the hidden smile of the girl. Himeji, Japan.

This is me, looking at this magnificent Itsukushima Shrine. The size of this Gate is incredible. The low tide allows for some dry photos in comparison with the high tide which submerges the lower part of the Gate in the water giving the impression that it was actually built on water. Great place for photography. Hiroshima, Japan.

A scene common in Japan, cooking takoyaki at a food kiosk. I have tried it, it’s DELICIOUS! Described in wikipedia: Takoyaki is a ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special moulded pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion.

I’m not a big fan of keeping animals in captivity, but at that moment I was amazed by all these sea animals living together. Diver giving some snacks to little sharks, in a huge water compartment at Osaka Aquarium, Japan.

Nobody said airport meals have to be fast, right? Chef during the preparation of our Amazing Meal just before we leave this wonderful country. As in most restaurants we’ve seen in this country, I really love how they position the preparation area IN the eating area, makes it feel like home. Until next time Japan! Kansai Airport, Osaka, Japan.