Pix4Japan

2025-03-09

Komainu

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Komainu at Simple Shrine in Yokohma Suburb

住宅街で小さな神社の狛犬

On my way back to Kanazawa-Bunko Station in Yokohama, I happened upon a small Shinto shrine in the middle of a suburban neighborhood after meeting with a client nearby.

The shrine, Susaki Shrine (洲崎神社), was not visually notable in any particular way. It was a quite simple shrine with the standard torii gate and a pair of komainu (狛犬). Komainu stand between the shrine’s worship hall and the torii gate to protect the grounds of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples from evil spirits.

Typically, the komainu on the right has its mouth open, as if pronouncing “a,” the first syllable of the Sanskrit alphabet. The statue on the left, as shown in my photo, is typically carved with a closed mouth, as if pronouncing “um,” the final syllable of the Sanskrit alphabet. Together, these two syllables form the sacred Sanskrit word “aum,” meaning the beginning and the end or alpha and omega.

In my experience, the komainu on the right, a male, sometimes has one paw raised and resting upon an embroidered ball. Here, the komainu on the left, a female, is seen sheltering a komainu cub with her paw.

What caught my eye was how detailed and relatively new this komainu appeared. And to be honest, I don’t recall seeing many such statues with a cub under the paw — or maybe I just never noticed it before.

It was a reminder that even the simplest shrines hold quiet stories and details worth noticing — if I only take the time to stop and look.

Location: Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/01/09 17:06
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 2000 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/10
Classic Negative film simulation

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2025-01-03

Fiery Horizon

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Dramatic Skies Over Enoshima at Sunset
江ノ島のドラマチックな夕焼け空

Spending the sunny afternoon exploring Enoshima Island with my border collie—what seems to be my 16th or 18th visit over a 40-year period—I returned to the shore of Katase-Nishihama Beach to wait for the sun to break through the cloud cover.

As the afternoon light softened, I made my way to the West Promenade, a jetty that also serves as a breakwater, protecting the small fishing boats of Katase Fishing Port. This jetty, often overlooked by casual visitors, offers a peaceful vantage point away from the crowds. Reaching it is easy; from Katase-Nishihama Beach, it's just a short walk along the coast. Those arriving by train can take the Odakyu Line to Katase-Enoshima Station, which sits conveniently close to the beach and the pedestrian bridge leading to the island.

Stepping onto the jetty, I found myself slightly closer to Enoshima, with a higher vantage point above the water than from the shore. This allowed me to capture a different perspective of the island, framed by the open sea and shifting sky.

As the sun dipped lower, the slight winter breeze grew sharper, encouraging many evening strollers to retreat inland. With fewer people around, I could set up my tripod without worrying about blocking foot traffic. I welcomed the solitude; it gave me the freedom to focus on the changing light.

In this shot, the interplay of colors and textures caught my eye—the cool tones in areas where the cloud cover was absent, the fiery orange glow igniting the horizon, and the deep shadows cast upon the water’s surface by the heavy clouds. The scene felt like a living canvas, where light and shadow wove a mesmerizing tapestry across the sea.

Each visit to Enoshima brings a new experience, shaped by the season, the weather, and the ever-changing play of light over land and water. This evening was no exception—a quiet, reflective moment shared with my loyal companion, under a winter sky briefly warmed by the setting sun.

Location: West Promenade Breakwater, Fujisawa, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/01/03・16:37
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
28 mm ISO 800 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/8

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Nishihama Breakwater

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Golden Horizon, Cool Blue Waters: A Winter Evening at Breakwater
片瀬漁港西防波堤の海景：冬の夕暮れ、黄金の光と青の海

After exploring nearby Enoshima Island, I returned to the shore of Katase-Nishihama Beach in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, off the coast of Shonan Bay, Japan, hoping the sun would break through the cloud cover for a seascape shot.

Using the breakwater as a leading line, I watched as the sun sank closer to the horizon, casting brilliant golden light across the sky. The cooler blue tones deepened over the smooth waters of Shonan Bay, a striking contrast on this cold winter day.

In that fleeting moment, as the last rays pierced through the clouds, I felt a quiet sense of stillness—the kind that only the sea at dusk can offer. It was a gentle reminder that even on overcast days, beauty has a way of finding its way through.

Timestamp: 2025/01/03・16:22
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
48 mm ISO 100 for 3.0 sec. at ƒ/8

Timestamp: 2025/01/03・16:34
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
45 mm ISO 800 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/8

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Golden Hour

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Golden Light and Silent Silhouettes at Katase-Nishihama Beach
片瀬西浜の海景：黄金の光と静寂のシルエット

Being a cold winter day, the beach was fairly empty, but a few couples and young families still enjoyed a stroll along the boardwalk despite the overcast sky.

Finally, in the late afternoon, the sun pierced through the clouds, casting a brilliant spotlight onto the smooth waters of Shonan Bay. This fleeting moment allowed me to capture the silhouettes of visitors against the golden glow of the horizon.

I was pleased with the balance of light—warm enough to paint the horizon in golden hues yet bright enough to cast my subjects into striking silhouettes.

Location: Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/01/03・15:22
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
105 mm ISO 200 for 1/400 sec. at ƒ/11

References:

Google Maps: Katase Nishihama Beach (片瀬西浜)

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Zuishinmon Gate

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Zuishin-mon: A Portal to Enoshima Shrine’s Mythical Past
瑞心門：江の島神社と龍宮伝説をつなぐ門

A visit to Enoshima Island, off the coast of Shonan Bay in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, led me to a grand gate marking the entrance to a complex of Shinto shrines atop the island. Stone stairways wound their way up through the lush hillside, adorned with rows of chochin paper lanterns set out in celebration of the New Year’s holidays.

The Zuishin-mon Gate (瑞心門) is designed in the style of Ryūgū-jō (竜宮城, Dragon Palace Castle), the mythical underwater palace from a famous Japanese folktale. According to the legend, a fisherman rescues a sea turtle and is invited to Ryūgū-jō as a reward. There, he is entertained by Princess Otohime, only to discover upon returning home that what felt like a few days was actually 100 years.

The name Zuishin-mon roughly translates to “Pure Heart Gate.” It was given this name with the hope that visitors would find spiritual renewal by offering their prayers here.

Surrounded by lush greenery, the gate’s imposing presence creates a distinct boundary between the sacred and the secular worlds.

Beyond the gate stands a stone sculpture of Benzaiten (弁財天), the patron goddess of water, eloquence, music, and knowledge. This statue was dedicated to commemorate the establishment of Enoshima Shrine in the year 1450, which sits atop Enoshima Island.

Location: Enoshima Island, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/01/03・14:07
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
37 mm ISO 200 for 1/500 sec. at ƒ/11

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2025-01-02

Marunouchi

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Location: Marunouchi District, Tokyo
Timestamp: 2025/01/02・13:45
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/450 sec. at ƒ/2.5
Astia/Soft film simulation

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Location: Marunouchi District, Tokyo
Timestamp: 2025/01/02・13:46
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/450 sec. at ƒ/2.8
Classic Negative film simulation

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Location: Marunouchi District, Tokyo
Timestamp: 2025/01/02・13:46
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 320 for 1/950 sec. at ƒ/3.6
Astia/Soft film simulation

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Location: Marunouchi District, Tokyo
Timestamp: 2025/01/02・13:46
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 320 for 1/750 sec. at ƒ/3.6
Pro Negative High film simulation

A Geometric Tapestry of Offices: Marunouchi, Tokyo
幾何学模様のオフィス街：東京・丸の内

The sight of multiple modern high-rise buildings competing for space and natural light caught my eye while visiting Kitte Garden, a rooftop oasis near Tokyo Station in the heart of the Marunouchi financial district.

Kitte Garden sits atop what was once the central mail sorting facility of the Tokyo Central Post Office, originally a five-story building designed in 1931. While the historic exterior of the post office has been carefully preserved, a modern 38-story skyscraper now rises above the former mail sorting section. Completed in 2013, the building houses retail and office spaces, seamlessly blending history with contemporary architecture.

Spanning approximately 1,500 m² (16,146 ft²), the rooftop garden is a lush and relaxing space offering panoramic views of JR Tokyo Station. Its tranquil atmosphere makes it a popular spot for tourists, photographers, and trainspotters alike.

For me, the best part is that access to the garden is free, and it stays open until 23:00 on weekdays. I hope to return soon to try my hand at long-exposure nightscape photography the next time I am in Tokyo on business.

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Yaesu Central Tower

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Yaesu Central Tower: Centerpiece of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Project
八重洲セントラルタワー：東京ミッドタウン八重洲の中心

Opened in 2022, Yaesu Central Tower provides a striking contrast to the rails, power lines, and platforms of Tokyo Station, which first welcomed travelers 108 years earlier in 1914.

Its sleek steel and glass facade reflects the crisp blue winter sky, standing as the centerpiece of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu development project.

My first visit to the Tokyo Station area was back in the late ’80s on a Hato Bus Tour with my friend’s mother. She had originally bought two tickets expecting to go with her son, but he, being a bit spoiled and uninterested in visiting Tokyo Station or the Imperial Palace with his mom, asked if I would take his place. I was more than happy to oblige! At the time, Hato Bus Tours were quite trendy, and the tour came with a free lunch—an added bonus! What started as a spontaneous day out turned into a long-term friendship with my friend’s mother, which continues to this day.

Back then, the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station looked entirely different. Standing on the eastern Marunouchi side, I could barely see any of the office buildings or hotels beyond the station—only the top floors of the Daimaru department store, which occupied the old Railway Kaikan Building (more commonly known as the Yaesu-guchi Station Building・八重洲口駅ビル). At that time, Tokyo Station itself was still just two stories high, before its 2012 restoration brought it back to its original three-story structure.

For years, Tokyo Station has merely been a transit point for me—somewhere I passed through while commuting to client meetings in the city or transferring to the bullet train for business trips to Nagano. I never considered revisiting the area for leisure.

But on this particular day, after visiting the nearby Imperial Palace, I finally took some time to explore the surroundings. I sought out a few quieter spots, avoiding the more crowded areas, and allowed myself to take in the changes.

It had been over 30 years since I last visited this area as a tourist rather than a salaryman. The transformation of the Yaesu side was staggering—I could hardly believe how much the skyline had changed over the decades! I asked myself, “How did I miss all this development?” Then I realized—just as people today are glued to their phones, I was likely buried in my newspaper during my commutes, never bothering to look up and take in the city evolving around me.

Location: Tokyo Station, Tokyo
Timestamp: 2025/01/02・13:41
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 320 for 1/950 sec. at ƒ/4.0
Astia/Soft film simulation

Location: N700A Series Shinkansen Bullet Train departing Tokyo Station
Timestamp: 2025/01/02・13:41
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/680 sec. at ƒ/3.6
Provia/Standard film simulation

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2025-03-09

Komainu at Simple Shrine in Yokohma Suburb

住宅街で小さな神社の狛犬

2025-01-03

Dramatic Skies Over Enoshima at Sunset江ノ島のドラマチックな夕焼け空

Golden Horizon, Cool Blue Waters: A Winter Evening at Breakwater片瀬漁港西防波堤の海景：冬の夕暮れ、黄金の光と青の海

Golden Light and Silent Silhouettes at Katase-Nishihama Beach片瀬西浜の海景：黄金の光と静寂のシルエット

Zuishin-mon: A Portal to Enoshima Shrine’s Mythical Past瑞心門：江の島神社と龍宮伝説をつなぐ門

2025-01-02

A Geometric Tapestry of Offices: Marunouchi, Tokyo幾何学模様のオフィス街：東京・丸の内

Yaesu Central Tower: Centerpiece of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Project八重洲セントラルタワー：東京ミッドタウン八重洲の中心

Dramatic Skies Over Enoshima at Sunset
江ノ島のドラマチックな夕焼け空

Golden Horizon, Cool Blue Waters: A Winter Evening at Breakwater
片瀬漁港西防波堤の海景：冬の夕暮れ、黄金の光と青の海

Golden Light and Silent Silhouettes at Katase-Nishihama Beach
片瀬西浜の海景：黄金の光と静寂のシルエット

Zuishin-mon: A Portal to Enoshima Shrine’s Mythical Past
瑞心門：江の島神社と龍宮伝説をつなぐ門

A Geometric Tapestry of Offices: Marunouchi, Tokyo
幾何学模様のオフィス街：東京・丸の内

Yaesu Central Tower: Centerpiece of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Project
八重洲セントラルタワー：東京ミッドタウン八重洲の中心