QUEST JAPAN 2016 TOUR IMAGES
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Approaching Oyunohara, site of Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine before it was badly damaged by the Kumano river flooding in 1889.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Hozuki, physalis or Chinese lantern cherry.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour 2016
Roadside stall selling satsumas, persimmon, pickled plums, and dried strips of daikon radish.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Along the Nakaheji trail, one of the old routes to the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Cosmos in bloom along the path.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Deer in Nara Park.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
The tunnel to the Miho Museum. Architecture based on the Chinese folk tale Peach Valley.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Ryoko blends in with autumn on Mount Koya.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
The Miho Museum in Shigaraki.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Bamboo forest near Arashiyama in Kyoto suburbs.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Knives made by clients at sword-smith's forge.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Sword blades.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Sharpening knife made in Gifu sword-smith's forge.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Traditionally forged Japanese knives.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Sword-smith in Gifu.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Ryokan dinner. First of ten courses!
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Day learning how to forge a knife with a sword-smith in Gifu.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Heading for the maiko dance at the Miyagawa Kaburenjo theatre in Kyoto.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
In a Japanese garden. The Silver Pavilion in Kyoto.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
At the Miyagawa Kaburenjo theatre in Kyoto.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Two-person electric vehicle for sightseeing.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Two-person electric vehicle for sightseeing.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
In a Japanese garden. Nara.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Mount Koya.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Mount Koya.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Roof top with traditional tiles and shisa.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
A little lesson in how to play the sanshin.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Beach on Miyakojima.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
View from Higashi Hennazaki lighthouse. The extensive shallow lagoons here, surrounded by coral reefs, are an environmentally important marine zone.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Our lodging on Miyakojima.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
View from Higashi Hennazaki lighthouse. The extensive shallow lagoons here, surrounded by coral reefs, are an environmentally important marine zone.
Yaeyama Island & Kyoto tour 2016
Himeji Castle.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Taking dinner to Kobo Daishi, believed to be in eternal meditation in the Okunoin inner sanctuary on Mount Koya.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
The Kii Mountains from Mount Koya.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Kongobuji Temple rock garden, Mount Koya.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Fresh, delicious ingredients for breakfast. A Japanese - Western fusion!
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
Vegetarian Japanese dinner.
Imperial Pilgrimage Route tour Autumn 2016
At the start of the Kumano Kodo trail.
