Large and often very colorful carp are a very common sight in Large and often very colorful carp are a very common sight in the rivers and ponds of Japan.the rivers and ponds of Japan.

Carp in a Lily PondCarp in a Lily Pond

Lush green rice plants in the foreground of the Sousenkyo Lush green rice plants in the foreground of the Sousenkyo mountain gorge in Yamanashi Prefecture.mountain gorge in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Mountain Rice PaddiesMountain Rice Paddies

Stone torii gate, that marks the entrance to every shinto Stone torii gate, that marks the entrance to every shinto shrine, in Ishikawa Prefecture. The rope hanging from it is shrine, in Ishikawa Prefecture. The rope hanging from it is

typical of those used to mark sacred objects, including treestypical of those used to mark sacred objects, including trees..

Torii GateTorii Gate

A cherry tree blooms next to a river in Takayama, A cherry tree blooms next to a river in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture.Gifu Prefecture.

Spring RiverSpring River

The five-The five-tier tier

pagoda of pagoda of Sojiji Sojiji

temple in temple in Ishikawa Ishikawa

Prefecture Prefecture is visible is visible through through

the trees.the trees.

PagodaPagoda

Twin Twin waterfalls waterfalls cascade cascade down the down the

mountainside mountainside in the in the

Daisetsuzan Daisetsuzan National Park National Park in Hokkaido.in Hokkaido.

WaterfallsWaterfalls

Barrels of sake line a corridor in the Toshogu temple Barrels of sake line a corridor in the Toshogu temple complex in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Sake is used in complex in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Sake is used in

many holy rituals.many holy rituals.

Sake BarrelsSake Barrels

Cherry blossoms cross the whole country in a wave of pink Cherry blossoms cross the whole country in a wave of pink for just a few brief days every spring. Their transience for just a few brief days every spring. Their transience

provides a metaphor for our own brief existence.provides a metaphor for our own brief existence.

Cherry Blossoms Cherry Blossoms

Raked gravel Raked gravel and rocks tell a and rocks tell a tale in this small tale in this small

Kyoto temple Kyoto temple garden.garden.

Rock GardenRock Garden

Traditional Japanese buildings often have these Traditional Japanese buildings often have these corridors running round the outside, blurring the corridors running round the outside, blurring the

boundaries between inside and out.boundaries between inside and out.

Temple CorridorTemple Corridor

A temple set amidst a desolate landscape.A temple set amidst a desolate landscape.

Temple Desolation Temple Desolation

Tuna marked up and ready for sale at the Tsukiji fish market. The market is one of Tuna marked up and ready for sale at the Tsukiji fish market. The market is one of the biggest in the world. Various cuts of tuna, such as maguro and toro, are the biggest in the world. Various cuts of tuna, such as maguro and toro, are

popular staples for sushi and sashimi. Tokyo.popular staples for sushi and sashimi. Tokyo.

Tsukiji Fish Market, TokyoTsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo

Giant chunks of tuna in a freezer at the Tsukiji fish market. Giant chunks of tuna in a freezer at the Tsukiji fish market. The market is one of the biggest in the world. Tokyo.The market is one of the biggest in the world. Tokyo.

Tsukiji Fish Market, TokyoTsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo

Rice paddies are cut into the mountainside. With over Rice paddies are cut into the mountainside. With over 70% of the country consisting of mountainous areas, 70% of the country consisting of mountainous areas,

necessity is the mother of invention.necessity is the mother of invention.

Rice Paddies Rice Paddies

Two sumo rikishi (wrestlers) prepare for the tachiai (face-off). Two sumo rikishi (wrestlers) prepare for the tachiai (face-off). Both rikishi must start behind a white line and not attack until Both rikishi must start behind a white line and not attack until

their opponent has touched the clay surface. The gyoji or referee their opponent has touched the clay surface. The gyoji or referee (left) wears a traditional costume and calls the rikishi to prepare (left) wears a traditional costume and calls the rikishi to prepare

to fight. to fight.

Sumo Tachiai, TokyoSumo Tachiai, Tokyo

A priest A priest begging for begging for

alms beneath a alms beneath a huge red huge red chochin chochin

(lantern) in (lantern) in Asakusa.Asakusa.

Priest Begging for AlmsPriest Begging for Alms

A procession of Buddhist monks in colorful robes at Narita-A procession of Buddhist monks in colorful robes at Narita-san Shinso-ji Temple. Chiba Prefecture.san Shinso-ji Temple. Chiba Prefecture.

Buddhist Monks at Shinso-ji Temple, ChibaBuddhist Monks at Shinso-ji Temple, Chiba

A traditional stone lantern with the Great Buddha of Kamakura in A traditional stone lantern with the Great Buddha of Kamakura in the background. The Buddha used to be housed in a temple, the background. The Buddha used to be housed in a temple,

which was washed away by a tidal wave in 1495. which was washed away by a tidal wave in 1495.

Great Buddha (Daibutsu), KamakuraGreat Buddha (Daibutsu), Kamakura

A cap-like cloud forms over the summit of Mt. Fuji. Cloud A cap-like cloud forms over the summit of Mt. Fuji. Cloud formations over Japan's tallest mountain often indicate formations over Japan's tallest mountain often indicate

upcoming weather patterns.upcoming weather patterns.

Cloud Over Mt. FujiCloud Over Mt. Fuji

Winter snows cover one of the shrines at Winter snows cover one of the shrines at Toshogu in Nikko. Tochigi Prefecture.Toshogu in Nikko. Tochigi Prefecture.

Toshogu Shrine, NikkoToshogu Shrine, Nikko

This is the famous carving of three monkeys above the entrance This is the famous carving of three monkeys above the entrance to the sacred stable at Toshogu shrine in Nikko. It is the source of to the sacred stable at Toshogu shrine in Nikko. It is the source of

the saying 'Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.' Tochigi the saying 'Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.' Tochigi Prefecture Prefecture

Three Monkeys, NikkoThree Monkeys, Nikko

A wooden statue A wooden statue of a guardian of a guardian

diva king at the diva king at the entrance to a entrance to a

shrine in Nikko, shrine in Nikko, Tochigi Tochigi

Prefecture.Prefecture.

Devi King, NikkoDevi King, Nikko

Kinkakuji, the Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Temple of the

Golden Pavilion. Golden Pavilion. The original 15th-The original 15th-century temple century temple

was destroyed in was destroyed in an arson attack an arson attack and rebuilt in and rebuilt in

1955. 1955.

Kinkakuji, KyotoKinkakuji, Kyoto

The three-turreted keep of Matsumoto Castle behind a veil of The three-turreted keep of Matsumoto Castle behind a veil of willow trees. The castle was built around 1595 and is one of the willow trees. The castle was built around 1595 and is one of the finest originals of its kind. Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.finest originals of its kind. Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.

Matsumoto Castle, NaganoMatsumoto Castle, Nagano

Niju-bashi, one of the access bridges across the moat Niju-bashi, one of the access bridges across the moat of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The palace is only of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The palace is only

open to the public on the Emperor's birthday open to the public on the Emperor's birthday (December 23rd) and January 2(December 23rd) and January 2ndnd..

Imperial Palace, TokyoImperial Palace, Tokyo

A lantern stands in front of a giant wooden torii gate at A lantern stands in front of a giant wooden torii gate at Tokyo's Meiji Jingu shrine. The shrine is one of the most Tokyo's Meiji Jingu shrine. The shrine is one of the most

popular in the city.popular in the city.

Meiji Jingu Shrine, TokyoMeiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo

The Narita-san Shinso-ji The Narita-san Shinso-ji Temple is one of the most Temple is one of the most popular in the Kanto area popular in the Kanto area for hatsumode, the first for hatsumode, the first

visit of the New Year. The visit of the New Year. The temple attracts millions of temple attracts millions of visitors over a period of a visitors over a period of a

few days each year. few days each year. Narita, Chiba PrefectureNarita, Chiba Prefecture

Narita-san Shinso-ji TempleNarita-san Shinso-ji Temple

The pagoda at Narita-san Shinso-ji Temple. The temple attracts The pagoda at Narita-san Shinso-ji Temple. The temple attracts around ten million visitors a year. Narita, Chiba Prefecturearound ten million visitors a year. Narita, Chiba Prefecture

Narita-san Shinso-ji Temple PagodaNarita-san Shinso-ji Temple Pagoda