Pix4Japan

2025-03-09

Susaki Shrine

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

A Small Neighborhood Shrine in Yokohama: Susaki Shrine
横浜の住宅街にたたずむ小さな神社：洲崎神社

Located just an 11-minute walk from Kanazawa-Hakkei Station on the Keikyu Line — itself only about a 40-minute ride from Shinagawa Station in Tokyo — Susaki Shrine isn’t one of the grand tourist destinations that draw millions of visitors. Instead, it’s a quiet, everyday neighborhood shrine, the kind you can find throughout Japan, whether in bustling urban centers or tucked away in remote mountain villages. Shrines like this are woven into the daily lives of local communities.

I stumbled upon Susaki Shrine by chance, simply walking between the station and my client’s meeting site. After wrapping up my business meeting — one that, unfortunately, didn’t go as I had hoped — I wasn’t in a hurry to return to the office. Instead, I found myself wandering over to this peaceful spot, along with the temple next door, as a way to collect my thoughts.

Originally, the shrine stood in Nagahama, a coastal village about 4 km (2.5 miles) north of here. The exact founding date is unknown, lost to history after a tsunami swept the village out to sea in 1311. Survivors relocated, bringing the shrine with them to this area. Later, in 1914, the shrine was moved once more to its current location to make way for National Route 16, which now runs nearby.

The current worship hall was refurbished in 1838 and has been carefully maintained over the years. It survived both the devastating Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the air raids of World War II.

I visited with mixed feelings — curiosity paired with frustration. After weeks of effort, my business objectives hadn’t been met. But as I spent a few quiet moments focusing on photographing the shrine, I found unexpected relief. It wasn’t necessarily the spiritual nature of the place that offered comfort, but rather the simple act of slowing down, observing details, and creating something with my camera. By the time I headed back to the office, my mood had lifted, and I felt just a little more at peace.

Location: Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/01/09 17:07
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 1000 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/10
Classic Negative film simulation

References:

Gift Store | Become a Patron | Prints・Downloads・Licensing

Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.

Visit www.pix4japan.com to learn more.

Komainu

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

・Explore gifts and merchandise

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

References:

Gift Store | Become a Patron | Prints・Downloads・Licensing

Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.

Visit www.pix4japan.com to learn more.

2025-01-03

Fiery Horizon

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

・Explore gifts and merchandise

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

References:

Gift Store | Become a Patron | Prints・Downloads・Licensing

Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.

Visit www.pix4japan.com to learn more.

Nishihama Breakwater

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

・Explore gifts and merchandise

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

・Explore gifts and merchandise

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

References:

Gift Store | Become a Patron | Prints・Downloads・Licensing

Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.

Visit www.pix4japan.com to learn more.

Golden Hour

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

・Explore gifts and merchandise

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)

Gift Store | Become a Patron | Prints・Downloads・Licensing

Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.

Visit www.pix4japan.com to learn more.

Zuishinmon Gate

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

・Explore gifts and merchandise

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

References:

Gift Store | Become a Patron | Prints・Downloads・Licensing

Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.

Visit www.pix4japan.com to learn more.

2025-01-02

Marunouchi

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

・Explore gifts and merchandise

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

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

・Explore gifts and merchandise

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

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

・Explore gifts and merchandise

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

Bring this scene home, share it as a gift, or license it for your project:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

・Explore gifts and merchandise

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.

References:

Gift Store | Become a Patron | Prints・Downloads・Licensing

Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.

Visit www.pix4japan.com to learn more.

2025-03-09

A Small Neighborhood Shrine in Yokohama: Susaki Shrine横浜の住宅街にたたずむ小さな神社：洲崎神社

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

A Small Neighborhood Shrine in Yokohama: Susaki Shrine
横浜の住宅街にたたずむ小さな神社：洲崎神社

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