Today was Kyoto's Aoi Matsuri festival, but instead of enjoying that, Anthony and I went to the store to look at (but not buy) toys.

The most popular little toy cars in Japan are a line called tomika from the Tomy company ("tomika" sounds like the way a Japanese would say "Tomy Car"). They're about two inches long and well made, and at only 378 yen (about $3.15) each, they're a good value. They've been around approximately forever.

Over the years, Anthony has accumulated many. He has all manner of cranes, police cars, ambulances, busses, construction equipment, garbage trucks, dump [...]

While viewing the amazing cherry blossoms in northern Kyoto last month, despite all the attention on the blossoms, there were plenty of other botanical signs of spring, and I took a moment away from the blossoms to enjoy them as well.

In an earlier post, I showed some of Kyoto's brilliant spring colors, but those of today's posts are a bit more subtle. Among the weeds around the little river that flowed through the area were a number of different flowers....

Out of focus behind the white flower above were scraggly bushes with pink blossoms of some kind or another....

On our stroll through Kibune (hamlet in the mountains of northern Kyoto) last month, we came across the most impressive rain gutter and downspout I've ever seen. It was clearly made of solid copper, and looked as if it could withstand anything man, beast, or nature could throw at it.

I thought the flowers to the side were interesting as well, although my pictures didn't come out very well.

During our drives around the countryside on our recent trip to Hokkaido, I noticed a fairly large number of abandoned houses. I love them for their photographic opportunities, and because I find them to be quite intriguing.

I wonder who built the house? Who lived there? Were kids raised there? (How did they like it, and where are they now?) Why did someone leave it? What's happened to it since? Who owns it now, and where are they?

Mostly, I wonder about who might have lived in it first, when it was new. How wonderfully peaceful it must have been, [...]

I love the little sprig of blossoms nestled in the bark of the tree.

I thought I'd post some more photos from the really pleasant visit I had to the Yodogawa Kasen Park a month ago, at the start of the cherry blossom season.

If you'll recall, it's a mile-long raised berm with a path in the middle, lined with hundreds of flowering (but not fruiting) cherry trees.

The area to either side has pathways as well, and eventually rivers (it's at a spot where three rivers come together). I wouldn't be surprised if the lower areas flood during the [...]