PICTURES AND POEMS

Pictures and haiku poems written over the last few years on Hike Japan tours

Trees, leaves, temples and shrines
A beautiful timeless place
Hike Japan calls us back

Deslys Hunter Imperial Pilgrimage Route May 2008
Iwaki Shrine
Hear nightingales’ call
As we walk through the palace
Engineering ‘feet’

Mignon Marks Imperial Pilgrimage Route May 2007
Imperial Palace Kyoto
Sunrise at Nachi
Flowers falling silently
Camellia tree

Bob Heffill Early Spring Imperial Pilgrimage Route April 2008
Nachi Grand Shrine
Philosopher’s walk
Stringing beads of memories
Onto threads of thought

Sue Fraser Mountains of Central Japan September 2005
Kiyomizudera Kyoto
November morning
Leaves turn red, first snow falling
Will the winter be cold?

Stephen Wentworth West Japan Explorer November 2005
Daisen Temple
Jizo guiding souls
To world of nothingness
And eternal happiness

Juliana Post
Early Spring in the Heart of Japan 2004
Jizo snow
Temple bell calls us
Six o’clock meditation
High on Mount Koya

Bob Heffill Imperial Pilgrimage Route September 2007
Great bell Garan
Long-eared bronze Buddha
Promising enlightenment
What can you teach me?

Ruth Greenham Mountains of Central Japan September 2005
Todaiji Temple Nara
Matsumoto heat
Was it only yesterday
We froze on the peak?

Simon Hein Moutains of Central Japan September 2009
Matsumoto Castle
Millions of children
The temple stands serenely
Japan’s Disneyland?

Mike Keesee Imperial Pilgrimage Route May 2007
Kinkakuji The Golden Pavilion Kyoto
Cycling in Asuka
Old and new stones, danger awaits
Golden nature shines

Chie Lee Mountains of Central Japan September 2007
Cycling Asuka
Walking through the woods
Just me and my endorphins
Japan mountain high

Richard Thaler
Early Spring Imperial Pilgrimage Route April 2008
Azusa River flowing Kamikochi
Hiking in Japan
Every step, each new pathway
Brings new surprises

Bonni Lee West Japan Explorer November 2008
Tateyama Kamikochi Alpine Route path
Spearing through the clouds
We reach Yari’s peak at dawn
Breathless and in awe

Sion Edwards
Mountains of Central Japan September 2005
Yari piercing clouds
Hokkaido’s challenge
Asahidake conquered
Hike Japan again

Stephen Wentworth
Hokkaido and North Main Island September 2006
Fumaroles below Asahidake
Joy full in Japan
Climbing Mount Aso with you
My heart beats faster

Stephen Wentworth
West Japan Explorer November 2005
Mount Aso crater
First signs of autumn
Mellowing colours and fruit
Picking blueberries

Bob Heffill Mountains of Central Japan September 2009
Picking blueberries
All five elements
Hatred, jealousy, sorrow, want
Peace I find in void

Wen Chuan Imperial Pilgriamge Route October 2009
Resting en route to Yari
Coming from afar
Winding around the mountain trail
Going nowhere fast

Jonathan Said
Mountains of Central Japan September 2007
Walking North Alps
Urban plains reveal rural peaks
Steep pine and cedar slopes to scramble
Exertion rewarded with stunning vistas
...

Les Sturch
Mountains of Central Japan July 2008
On Mount Jonen
Autumn colours set apart
Maples, bamboo, and mountain ash
Yet hide the shy monkeys of Kamikochi

Neil Phillips Mountains of Central Japan September 2004
Walking autumn colour below Tsubakuro
Kumano Kodo
Fall has arrived here softly
Yellow brown red green

Wen Chuan
Imperial Pilgrimate Route October 2009
Wen Bob Kumano path
Ancient sculptured stone
Zigzag pattern on a rock
Gillian’s footprint

John Vernon Imperial Pilgrimage Route May 2007
Another wayside stopping place stamp passports Promised Land
Friends made, blossoms viewed
Sweat, tears, struggling up steep hills
Fond memories made

Agnes Thaler Early Spring Imperial Pilgrimage Route April 2008
Yunomine hot spring
Inaccessible
Unformatted images
Ingrained memories

Ali Ford West Japan Explorer November 2008
Sunset in Asuka
The weather was warm
The babbling brooks heard nearby
In the countryside

Natasha Lehane
Early Spring in the Heart of Japan May 2008
Off to local hot spring baths in Shirkawago
Walking in wonder
Sharing these moments in time
New friends grow closer

Bob Heffill Inperial Pilgrimage Route October 2009
The Water Boys
Japanese gardens
Trees clipped into submission
Rocks, moss, water, peace

Ruth Greenham Mountains of Central Japan September 2005
Garden Nijo Castle
Take a closer look
Autumn red may not linger
Lonely monk whispers

Wen Chuan Imperial Pilgrimage Route October 2009
Monks Koya
Meet the mountain monk
His conch, he blows, we listen
Generous to all

Steve King
Imperial Pilgrimage Route October 2004
Gyoja mountain monk performing traditional ceremony group
Golden fields of rice
Frogs, splashing herons stalking
Harvest time arrives

Neil Perry Mountains of Central Japan September 2004
Japanese farmer stacking rice Wakayama
Peaceful ryokan
Paper walls, tatami mats
Shuffling feet on floors

Sylvia Eldridge Imperial Pilgrimage Route May 2004
Traditional elegance warm greeting Kyoto
Bob san is the man
He knows all about Japan
But can’t produce geisha

Martin Thompson Imperial Pilgrimage Route October 2003
Konpira Shrine festival
Neat and orderly
That's the way they do it here
Better geta life

Bob Heffill Recollections
Red geta
It makes you wonder
If there's no name, whether
They'll find their geta

Bob Heffill Recollections
Lacquered geta
Time and time again
Same design, different patterns
Cute, tartan tabi

Bob Heffill Recollections
Trendy tabi
Sad Japanese lady
Performs the ancient ritual
Bowing gracefully

Judy Wenban-Smith West Japan Explorer November 2005
Retail therapists Takashimaya department store Kyoto
A strange place, Japan
You reside on high tech throne
Yet eat, sleep, on floor

Patrick Squire
Early Spring in the Heart of Japan March 2004
Tokyo Forum
The toilet hot seat
Unaccustomed luxury
I think I'll steal it

Dermot Nelis
Early Spring Imperial Pilgrimage Route March 2005
Toilet seat
Up, up, up, up, up
Down, down, down, to hot cedar baths
Delicious food served

Penny King Imperial Pilgrimage Route May 2004
Uni green beansm an sashimi
Leaf pressed in clay
Negative to positive
Potter’s miracle

Alan Wenban-Smith West Japan Explorer 2007
Tajimayaki
History lives on
In their imaginations
Their fighting spirit

Bob Heffill Recollections
Getting act Kyoto
Below Iwaki
Where the magic apples grow
Hirosaki Neputa

Bob Heffill Recollections
Hirosaki Neputa festival
Beyond the mountains
Lotus matrix world secrets
Reflections on life

Bob Heffill Recollections
Yari Peak at sunrise
Recycled knickers
Shochu and sake, that’s the way
To Yarigatake

Alexander Machlachlan Mountains of Central Japan September 2008
Sunset from Yarigatake

Quest Japan Tours and Other Walking Adventures

PICTURES AND POEMS