I returned to Japan in the middle of December 2006,after an 8 1/2 year absence. I felt instantly at home and felt no "culture shock," rather I feel more at home here than I do in the U.S. For even more photos of Japan, click on "more" below!

For the February 07 photos of Nikko, a United Nations World Heritage site, see http://www.worldisround.com/articles/325412/index.html

For March 07 photos of Jogashima, a pretty island in Kanagawa, see http://www.worldisround.com/articles/325834/index.html

For March 07 photos of Sankeien, a famous Yokohama garden, see http://www.worldisround.com/articles/325836/index.html

For contrasting views of Tokyo, both nature and megapolitan, see http://www.worldisround.com/articles/326230/index.html

The first set of photos are from my first weekend excursion to the Hakone Area SW of Tokyo. I went to a geothermal area, Owakudani ("Hakone Big Hell" according to a souvenier shop bag), Yunesun-a hot spring in which I was unfortunately required to wear clothes, and to the top of Komagatake, which I don't have photos of as the weather was rather foul.

The second group is of the Odaru onsen area in Izu.

The next group is of the Tokyo area.

The fourth group of Odawara Castle and Ninomiya Shrine.

The next ones are of Boso no Mura, a folk museum in Chiba, Kawasaki, Enoshima and Kamakura, and once again, the Hakone area.