Todaiji Temple is so awesome. I remember the first time I went there. I had a professor in college (awesome guy btw) who told the class about his trip there when he was doing research and he told us how massive the temple was. He showed us a picture and pointed out how the people looked like ants in front of the temple. I believed him that it was large of course but I figured maybe it was just the photo's perspective making it look larger. Oh boy, was I in for a treat when I actually got to the temple. It was seriously MASSIVE and the incense burner that he mentioned was out front as well so it was cool that I got to experience all of the things that he was able to experience in the past. I guess that's one thing that makes historical places like this so extraordinary- being able to connect with the past without actually being there. I really loved all the small models there as well lol! I'll certainly never forget my trip to Todaiji and I'd love to visit Nara again when I get the chance.

雪の降った次の日の朝はテンション上がりますね。
新倉山浅間公園より。

早朝の新倉山浅間神社。
雪が降った後の富士山は美しい。

中山道六十九次の中で、東海道と共有する草津・大津宿を抜いた純粋な中山道六十七宿中（板橋から守山まで）、奈良井宿は江戸側の板橋宿から数えても京側の守山宿から数えても34番目に位置する、中山道の丁度真ん中の宿場町です。

木曽11宿の中では最も標高が高く、難所の鳥居峠を控え、多くの旅人で栄えた宿場町は「奈良井千軒」と謳われました。
町並みは国の重要伝統的建造物群保存地区に選定されており、往時の面影を色濃く残しています。

奈良井宿観光協会・奈良井宿についてより引用

長野県・奈良井宿
静かな宿場町に雪が降り積もる

上雪舞う中の松本城
長野県・松本市

長野県飯山市にて、かまくらの里へ。夕暮れ時の時間に見られるかまくらブルーが幻想的です。

I keep seeing pictures of the Shiroyone Senmaida Rice Terraces and I really just need to go and see it myself. I don't know what it is about rice fields but they're some of the most beautiful scenery you can find in my opinion. I think that's another thing I really love about places like Akita, Saitama, etc. It really just makes me wish summer was here already. I want to go outside and enjoy a barbecue at some park. Spring would be great too, I'd get some plum wine and eat some barbecue under the cherry blossoms. I always love seeing the rice field art too, so if I can see some this year I'll be really happy. I think I saw some in Akita but I didn't get a chance to see any in Saitama yet, so maybe I'll try and find some out there and go out for a visit.

今日は節分です。
恵方巻を食べましょう~
今年の方角は南南東です。?

今天是日本的節分日
除了有拿豆子丟魔鬼象徵消災解厄外，還有吃惠方卷，朝著該年度福神方向邊許願邊吃！

2021年1月に岩手県の平泉、中尊寺にて撮影。
金色堂前

Long day out today. Figured I'd check everyone's posts before bed and wow! I'd not heard of Mt. Yoshino, although I can see why Toyotomi Hideyoshi would have loved it. The scenery is truly beautiful here. I can't even imagine how beautiful the cherry blossoms must be if they're even more amazing than the snowy landscape in this photo. I suppose Kinpusenji Temple is the large building just to the right of the center of the photo. I'd love to give it a visit. It's Nara too, so hopefully I can see some deer during my visit. If not then I'll just have to stop by the park to watch people being chased for their crackers? Lovely place though, I'm interested in seeing what it looks like in Autumn as well. Japan never ceases to amaze me with it's colorful foliage so I can imagine Mt. Yoshino is no exception either!

Just beautiful. There's so much happening in this photo when you really look at it. The paper lantern is really the cherry on the cake for me in this one. I read an article a little while ago about the funaya in Ine and thought it was really interesting. It's awesome getting to see fireworks happening there as well, it's like I've discovered a new side of the area that I didn't know about before. I really enjoy fireworks over water too, and there's plenty of great fireworks festivals in Japan that do just that. I was already looking forward to being able to see the boathouses in Ine one day but now I'm looking forward to it even more. Going to line it up with the Ine Fireworks Festival if I can. The reflection of the fireworks on the water looks really awesome as well.

新倉山浅間神社の朝。
鳥居の中に富士山が入り、とても雄大な景色となります。

God the snowscapes of Japan just get better and better. I keep hearing and reading about Ouchi-Juku all over the place and it's really got me itching to visit. I really love these old post stations and their historic feel. The buildings are really rustic and just looking at them makes me feel comfortable and relaxed. I really love the thatched roofs as well. I can imagine enjoying some delicious soup and tea next to an irori and just letting all life's troubles be whisked away. Top it if with some hot springs and I can't even imagine a better way to relax. Apparently there's the hot spring Yunokami onsen about 15 minutes from Ouchi-Juku but I guess there's also a footbath in Ouchi-Juku itself as well? Or maybe it's in the same area as Yonokami Onsen, I'm not 100% sure on that. Hopefully it's heated either way ?

見慣れない雪景色に興奮し
寒さも忘れて夢中でシャッターを切りました

車が氷にコーティング。
自然の力はすごいです。

車にこんなにも立派なつららが。
雪国の脅威を知らされました。

山形県の銀山温泉の景色です。
ポストもすっかり雪化粧されてました。

山形県の銀山温泉の景色です。

山形県の銀山温泉の景色です。
圧巻の景色でした。

富士五湖の中で一番多く訪れている精進湖。
とても静かで気持ちの良い場所です。

ロビーではいつも薪ストーブを焚いています。みんなの憩いの場です。

北八ヶ岳のロープウェイより撮影。
この日は晴天だったので、ロープウェイに乗りました。
しかし、山頂に着いたらまさかの曇天、、。
山の天気は読めないですね。
なお山頂は-12℃ととても寒かったです。

夫婦岩✨
風情があるな^ ^

奥に見えるのが福島県金山町にある大志集落です。
只見川の横を走る電車と共に撮影しました。
雪のないシーズンは緑が綺麗なので、また行きたいと思います。

こちらは山梨県にある河口湖の湖畔にて撮影しました。
前日には雪が降り、この日の早朝はかなり冷え込んでいました。

そのため空気が澄んでいて、富士山がとても綺麗に見えました。

奈良県奈良市にある"ならまち"の雪の日の一枚です。奈良市はあまり雪が積もることがなく、数年ぶりに積雪し元から大好きな街並みが雪景色により更に魅力的になりました。

鳴沢氷穴！
やっぱり凄い綺麗だな?

日本の伝統的な温泉街での一枚です。雪がちらちらと舞う中、温泉の湯気も湧き出てき、季節の味とと観光地がうまく融合しました。

美瑛の朝日

天気予報は悪かったので覚悟していましたが、少し晴れ間も見えたのでスローシャッターで。