Enoshima Peak

There is a newly remodeled Shinto Shrine at the top of the island. The freshly cut lumber used for the shrine was beautiful!

This is the offertory box where you throw coins or any amount of cash to make an offering prior to making your wish or offering a prayer.

Was surprised to see such a tiny little shrine on the top of the moss-covered rock. I guess the rock hold some significant meaning for the faithful of the shrines on this island.

Have no idea what the flags say, but my best guess is that they are announcing an upcoming festival or special event.

Love the crimson red used for the railings of the various bridges crisscrossing the island.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Enoshima Final

At the very top of the island, there is a beautiful, nice, old Shinto Shrine.

I really enjoyed the visit to the island. The weather was nice and warm with just enough cloud cover for taking pictures free of the sun's glare.

Of course, the moon is fake. Just playing with some photo editing apps on the iPhone. ;-)

We can often see these big vases that can hold close to 15 or 20 gallons of water. Some people put plants inside of them, some people put goldfish inside of them. I couldn't figure out what that little round things are. They look like porcelain eggs, but are floating!

The shrine had a beautiful wooden fence around it with cutouts in the shapes of stars and hearts.

Although most shrines are not painted, this one has lots of reds, greens, and dark colors.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Crutches

Broke my foot the other day. Still didn't stop me from heading out to see some of the cherry blossoms after work. 

Sidewalk carpeted with cherry blossom petals at a park on the edge of Tokyo Bay.

Chill

Patiently waiting for me to get my prescription filled. 

Kind of hot morning. Bored and chilling out.

Flower Steps

Shot of some huge, old steps laid a long time ago in a nearby cemetery taken during evening dog walk.

Was able to find some flowers in the pitch dark night.

First Snow

Smooth black pebbles are often found at the base of the water fountain where you cleanse your hands prior to making your approach to a Shinto Shrine.

The local Shinto shrine just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from home.

Intricate wood carvings of dragons and various motifs near the roofline of the shrine.

Offertory box where you make cash donations (usually a 5-yen coin) prior to ringing the bells and offering your prayers.

A small group of bamboo at the bottom of the hill where the shrine is located.

Love how even in the dead of winter we can still see some trees and bamboo flourishing.

Top of the roof of a nearby Buddhist sanctuary typically used for funerals.

Poor blossom buds are frozen in the first snow of the season.

Some citrus fruit come into season during this time of the year.

Visited the pond at the local park to try to enjoy the virgin snow before the kids arrive to "mess" it all up.

Thin layers of ice started forming on the pond. 

A small creek in the park offered a wonderful mirror image of this tree.

Spring blossoms struggling in the first snow of the year.

Allergy

Some tree caused my allergies to hit me with full force during an evening run.