Uohama Ameyokoten
Colorful izakaya storefront of Uohama Ameyoko-ten, a traditional Japanese pub in Ueno, Tokyo, where paper lanterns signal its classic style amid the many eateries of the bustling Ameya-Yokocho shopping district.
Marishiten Tokudaiji
New Year visitors pass through the entrance steps of Marishiten Tokudai-ji Temple in Ueno, Tokyo, where red railings, lanterns, and prayer banners frame a moment of calm within the bustling Ameya-Yokocho shopping district.
New Year’s Eve
A home-style Japanese New Year’s Eve meal centered on toshikoshi soba, served in a light soy-based broth with kamaboko and green onions, accompanied by kakiage tempura, inari sushi, tamagoyaki, and pickled vegetables.
Penny Lane
Warm amber streetlights glow against rain-wet benches at Penny Lane Bakery, a Beatles-themed retreat in the highlands of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, during a gentle summer rain.
Kinomata River
A tranquil stretch of the Kinomata River in Tochigi, Japan, showing clear freshwater, lush forest vegetation, and soft summer light in a quiet mountain setting.
Aoki Villa Allée
A long, shaded lane lined with tall, old cedar trees leads to a white, German-inspired historic villa in Tochigi, Japan. Bright red scarlet sage flowers and lush green foliage frame the entrance, with sunlight filtering through the trees onto the gravel path.
Aoki Villa
German-inspired villa built in 1888 in Tochigi, Japan, commissioned by Viscount Aoki, one of Japan’s first overseas ambassadors. Now a designated historic landmark, the residence attracts wedding photographers and tourists interested in the lifestyle and architecture of Meiji-era aristocrats.
Doryū Falls
Doryū Falls (吐竜の滝・Doryū-no-Taki) cascades gently through moss-covered rocks along the Kawamata River in the Yatsugatake Highlands of Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan, where underground spring water emerges from the mountain slopes to form thin, silky streams resembling a dragon’s breath.