Cape Deai
For a brief moment, the sun pierced through storm clouds, casting light on a patch of woodland on the southern slope of Cape Deai. This dramatic headland rises above the formidable waters of Suruga Bay, along the rugged western shoreline of the Izu Peninsula, approximately 150 km southwest of Tokyo, Japan.
Suruga Bay
The rocky shoreline of Cape Mihama is inundated with smooth boulders, shaped by relentless waves that crash onto the western shores of the Izu Peninsula. Under cloudy skies, forested headlands extend into Suruga Bay, about 150 km southwest of Tokyo, Japan.
Moroguchi Shrine
An ancient Shinto shrine with a traditional dark clay-tiled roof stands deep within a tropical woodland of evergreen trees and ferns on Cape Mihama, along the western shore of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Stone steps flanked by stone lanterns lead to the shrine’s worship hall bathed in the soft morning light of dawn, the scene is enriched by moss-covered surfaces and the serene ambiance of nature.
Waning Gibbous Moon
A waning gibbous moon shines over the choppy waters of Suruga Bay, along the western coast of the Izu Peninsula, approximately 150 km southwest of Tokyo, Japan.
Heda Lighthouse
Heda Lighthouse stands on the western coast of Cape Mihama on the Izu Peninsula, approximately 150 km southwest of Tokyo, Japan, overlooking the rugged shoreline and the vast expanse of Suruga Bay.
Ryūge-ji Temple
The main hall at Ryuge-ji Temple in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Japan—a historic site founded in 1189 in the Mutsuura mountains. After the original structure burned in 1499, it merged with two neighboring temples, forming the present-day complex. This tranquil Buddhist sanctuary has endured for over 830 years, blending spiritual heritage with the local residential urban landscape.
Bell Tower
A wooden bell tower in the courtyard of Ryuge-ji Temple, Yokohama, Japan. Built with stout corner pillars and an open design, it houses a large bell hung from a central beam. This style dates back to the 13th century. The thatched roof, once common, is now a rarity, with clay tiles more prevalent today.
Fudōmyō-Ō
A small vermilion shrine housing a statue of the Buddhist deity Fudomyo-O, or the Immovable Wisdom King. Although located within the grounds of Ryuge-ji Temple in Yokohama, Japan, the shrine’s architecture closely mirrors that of traditional Shinto hokora, blending the two traditions of Buddhism and Shintoism in a peaceful garden setting.
Sanmon Gate
A peaceful view of a stone-paved path bordered by a white wall with traditional roof tiles, leading to a large wooden sanmon gate with a gabled tiled roof. Here, visitors and worshipers pass from the secular world into the serene, sacred grounds of the Buddhist temple.