Looking for sakura in Yoshino, NARA

[koji]

We went to see famous Yoshino's sakura in NARA one day, since many of
you know Kyoto at least by photos from magazines or something else.

So here is rather my view of Yoshino mountains and people's lives.
All were shot with D700 + AF-S NIKKOR 24mm F1.4G ED, processed
by C1 Pro Version 5.

We go to the destination of YOSHINO station (inside shot)


The front of this station, not JR (Japan Railway) but private railway


Mountain and sakura


Ditto, these sakura is different kind than city ones


There are lots of temples (this is the gate to the temple, both side have guardian statues: left one called UN, and the right on A <not "ei", pronounced "a!")


We had snak here in olden way.


I have never seen snack like this before, each costs $2. It maybe Yoshino style.


Traditinal Yoshino's house, quite similar to Kyoto style houses.


A shop for a traditional medicine for stomach ache (not chinese style medicine)


Its ads (somehow large 3 leg flog has something to do with the medicine!?)
An another shop for pickles (NARA is kinda famous for this pickles, normally use SAKE)


Another big temple


A shrine within that temple (Two guard dogs, called "KOMA-INU" the left one called UN, the right one is A).


We had to change trains to go back to Kyoto (YOSHINO is a very rural area).


Some of the above photos have bigger versions in here > http://www.pbase.com/kkawakami/nikkor_afs_24mm_f14g_ed

Sorry for not too many of mountain shots or sakura (cherry blossom)....

[Attila]

Many thanks for this guide! Japan is a fantastic place for most of us!

[visualopsins]

Thank you so much for posting these fine photos of wonderful place!

Mountains are too beautiful.

Frog is very very Lucky. Japan people so nice; see lady smile for camera?

The cucumber-tomato on stick make my mouth water; a favorite of mine. I must try combined with strawberry! Is that sesame oil and shoyu too. Now I am hungry....

[Esox lucius]

It is very harmful for me to see these photos I get travel fever and want to re-visit Japan

[Orio]

Thanks for sahring these trip photos, I love them much!
Does the Sakura have anything to do with the famous "Yoshino Cherry" (Prunus x yedoensis)?

[koji]

Thanks visiting Yoshino, siriusdogstar. Here is a pic. of three leg flog!



Esox lucius: that is my intension, though I never received a commision from japanese tourist beaulieu.

Orio: Yes, "Yoshino's sakura" was loved by many people especially generations
of japanese emperors. Their trip to Yoshino was called "Miyuki", means "going"
in a polite form only means "emperors trip to Yoshino" to see cherry blossom.
Those mountain sakuras are slightly different than city sakura (garden variety),
although there are over 600 different sakuras in japan today, but the origin is
in Himarayan area.

And always thanks Attila.

[Cobalt60]

Thanks a lot for bringing back memories from my own Nippon trips ...

Those devilish-red guards "rock" *g*