Winter Blue Sky

This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Daffodil Field

This is Kuroiwa Daffodil Field in Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture. Now it is in the midst of winter, but daffodil has started to bloom in the steep hillside.

This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Taketomi Island

 

This is Taketomi Island, ten minutes by high-speed craft from Ishigaki Island. The islanders are proud of its tradition and lifestyle. They have preserved their housing tradition. As you see above, it is characterized by its red roof tiles and  coral limestone walls. And every house has a very attractive decoration called Shisa on the roof. It is regarded as guardian.
This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Ishigaki Island

 I visited three southern islands of Okinawa Prefecture. They are Ishigaki Island, Taketomi Island and Iriomote Island. Today I show you the pictures of Ishigaki Island.

Kabira Bay
 

This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Red Bull X-Fighters Osaka

This is really eye-catching. Today I found it at the Osaka Castle Park. The big motocross competition was held these two days. It must be exciting.

"International Freestyle Motocross World Tour - The biggest and most respected freestyle motocross tour on the planet!" (from the website www.redbullxfighters.com/)

This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Golden Pavilion with Iris

Now iris flowers are in bloom.  New leaves come out and I love to see different green colors.
This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Skywatch Friday

This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Skywatch Friday

Today is winter solstice. Today's sunrise time is 7:02 and sunset time is 16:52 in Osaka. In Japan, there is a traditional custom to eat pumpkin and take a yuzu-bath on the winter solstice. Yuzu is a Japanese citrus and we put several citruses in the bath to enjoy the good smell.

Arashiyama

This is the sky at Arashiyama in Kyoto. Beautiful color variation.
This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Skywatch Friday

My favorite season has come with beautiful colors. Can't stop going out with my compact camera-Canon PowerShot S95.
This is part of Skywatch Friday.
Have a good weekend!

Skywatch Friday

This was taken just in front of Kyoto Station at sunset. When I look up, a long, clear jet stream caught my eye. You can see the Kyoto Tower on the right. Have a nice weekend.
This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Mt. Fuji 2

                      Mt. Fuji with more clouds through Lake Kawaguchi

                            the view of Lake Kawaguchi from the ropeway

                                             leaves color is proceeding                   

                                          This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Mt. Fuji

This is Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan. (3776m) I took this picture at the top of another mountain near Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi Prefecture. I was knocked down by its beauty.
This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Cosmos Field

Cosmos flowers are dancing in the strong wind of the coming typhoon.

 

 

This is part of Floral Friday Fotos and Skywatch Friday.

 

Morning Sky

The morning view from my room a few days ago.
This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Kobe Bay Cruise

This is a view at the pier of Kobe port. How about going for bay cruise on this boat on such a beautiful day?
This is part of Skywatch Friday and Scenic Sunday.

Kobe View

The views from the Kobe Port Tower. Kobe is a narrow city sandwiched by the mountain and the sea.
Like the reflection on the large office building.
In the second picture you see a lot of containers on the ground. They are used as the galleries for the Kobe Biennale 2013, which is an art competition held every other year and will open from Oct. 1 to Dec.1.

This is part of Weekend Reflections and Skywatch Friday.

Sunset Reflection

 

I took these pictures from the 9th-floor terrace of the Grand Front Osaka yesterday.
This is part of Weekend Reflections and Skywatch Friday.

Skywatch Friday

In Miyajima Island. This five-story pagoda and the left hall are standing on the hill. I was taking pictures from the stairs to the hill.
This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Rainy Season

Rain, rain, rain! It's been raining heavily for two days in Osaka.
This is part of Skywatch Friday.