Your Japan Photos -- National Geographic

Geisha, Kyoto
Photograph by Evan Williams, My Shot
I shot this photograph on the way to the Silver Temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan. Beautiful culture, beautiful country, and beautiful people.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto
Photograph by Dina Franchi, My Shot
Traveling in Japan we set off for Kyoto and visited the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion).
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Sumo, Tokyo
Photograph by Alastair McLean, My Shot
While in Tokyo I attended the sumo wrestling world championship. It was amazing, the moment the sumo wrestlers threw the ceremonial salt into the air. The power, grace, and agility of these massive men was mesmerizing.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Early Morning Tokyo
Photograph by Andrea Caldera, My Shot
Tokyo, 5 a.m., from the 27th floor of the Park Hyatt Hotel Shinjuku
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Bamboo, Arashiyama
Photograph by Nico Pepito, My Shot
Bamboo trees in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Train, Tokyo
Photograph by Chris Jongkind, My Shot
The rear conductor surveys the platform before signaling to depart on a Sobu Line train, Tokyo.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Alley, Kyoto
Photograph by Devin Stoll, My Shot
Through Japan's modernizing efforts, large department stores and traffic-packed roadways have eclipsed the nation's traditional image and ideal. Here, narrow back alleys of downtown Kyoto are still very active, providing the area's finest in traditional cuisine. This local "salaryman" selects an evening meal and contributes to the preservation of Kyoto culture.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Taiko Practice, Saitama
Photograph by Konstantin Volke, My Shot
This girl is going through her final practice for a taiko drum contest in the Saitama Prefecture.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Monks
Photograph by Lawrence Taube, My Shot
As I was waiting outside my hotel, three monks walked by. They were in a kind of monk formation. I was lucky enough to be holding my camera. The hotel was on a side street/alley. I think the monks wanted to be unnoticed. They walked by me and I just kept shooting.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Snow Monkey, Nagano
Photograph by Richard Kelley, My Shot
This shot was taken on a visit to the snow monkeys near Nagano, Japan, in February. This young monkey suddenly found himself out of the hot springs and alone next to the tourist.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Mount Fuji
Photograph by Kean Poh Chua, My Shot
Serene sunrise with Mount Fuji, Japan, from Lake Motosu. Sunrise during the spring is as early as 4:30 a.m. and one has to wake up very early to enjoy the "golden moment" of the day.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo
Photograph by Chris Jongkind, My Shot
This is Shibuya crossing in Tokyo, rumored to be the busiest pedestrian intersection in the world.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Geisha, Kyoto
Photograph by Justin Kelly, My Shot
A geisha in Kyoto, Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Bagpiper, Tokyo
Photograph by Gareth Ohara, My Shot
This bagpiper joins the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Omotesando, Tokyo, Japan.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Man, Rural Japan
Photograph by Dave Weekes, My Shot
I spotted this old man scraping bark off a stick when I took a walk to a small temple/graveyard in rural Japan where I currently reside.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Red-Crowned Crane
Photograph by Phui Ying Thong, My Shot
Red-crowned crane, the largest crane in Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Tokyo
Photograph by Agnieszka Maciejewska, My Shot
Tokyo is an amazing combination of traditional and modern Japan where everything is in place, like sounds in a perfect symphony.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Lights, Shiga
Photograph by David McCurrach, My Shot
Park lights in Shiga, Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Taxis, Sendai
Photograph by Juan Jose Acevedo, My Shot
An army of perfectly aligned taxis queues up outside the central train station in Sendai, Japan.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Bandai Volcano
Photograph by Shantanu Madge, My Shot
The view after climbing into the explosion crater of Bandai Volcano. Today this is a serene place, with blooming flowers. However, this is the site of the massive 1888 phreatic eruption at Bandai. The pond is called Akanuma, because of its red color, which derives from the dispersed iron minerals. In fact, the rocks get their deep orange color from deposited minerals.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Ohuri Park, Fukuoka
Photograph by Jason Teale, My Shot
Located behind Ohuri Park in Fukuoka, Japan. This garden serves as a quiet escape from the hurried Japanese life.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Temple, Nikko
Photograph by Vinh Luu, My Shot
This picture of a temple was taken shortly after a rainstorm in Nikko, Japan.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Photograph by Chris Jongkind, My Shot
Crowds of people and signs in the bustling area around Shinjuku Station, Tokyo
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Lamps, Miyajima
Photograph by Sean Mercer, My Shot
Lamps in a store on the island of Miyajima in Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Prayers, Tokyo
Photograph by Benjamin Taggart, My Shot
Prayer messages at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Bride, Tokyo
Photograph by Jaimie Ho, My Shot
I was at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo's Harajuku ward when a bridal procession entered the main square. In an instant, hundreds of tourists and Shinto followers converged around the procession in polite, but eager silence. There was a tense air as tour guide commentary was muffled by locals gossiping. I was taken by the strong and confident expression of the bride as she seemed unfazed by the attention, and continued to stride through the ogling crowd, escorted by a priest.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Yamagasa Festival, Fukuoka
Photograph by Alfend Elias, My Shot
Yamagasa Festival in Hakozaki Shrine, Fukuoka, Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Lotuses
Photograph by Karina Saavedra, My Shot
This photo was taken in Japan, in an ancient lotus park. In this photo I had the feeling of being very small in a different world.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Tenjin Matsuri, Osaka
Photograph by Paul Whitton, My Shot
This shot shows the color, excitment, and movement of the Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka, Japan.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Landmark Tower, Yokohama
Photograph by Hassibi Mora, My Shot
I took this picture on a day trip to Yokohama, Japan. My main purpose was to go to the Yokohama Museum of Art, but it was closed. Near the museum you can find the Landmark Tower, the tallest building in Yokohama, and in front of it, a very modern metallic sculpture. I thought it was interesting to take the picture from under the sculpture and at the same time to have in the frame part of Landmark Tower, which literally is the landmark of Yokohama.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Umbrella, Kyoto
Photograph by Bon Taguiling, My Shot
Resting under the shade of a traditional Japanese umbrella in Kyoto, Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Snow Monkey, Yamanouchi
Photograph by Melvin Orr, My Shot
While on leave this past Christmas, I visited my old high school photography teacher and he suggested visiting the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Yamanouchi while I was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. I visited as soon as I could and I was surprised to see how photogenic these monkeys were. Some of them, including this one, seemed like they were posing for all of the tourists visiting.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Swans, Hokkaido
Photograph by Takeshi Ishikawa, My Shot
Swans in a lake in Hokkaido, Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Equinox Flowers
Photograph by Danuta Lacka, My Shot
Higanbana ("equinox flower"), as they are called in Japanese, bloom during the equinoctial week and indicate the coming of autumn. Higan also means "nirvana" in Buddhism, highly attainable during this one moment of sunshine in a cloudy day.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Hachiman Festival, Takayama
Photograph by Peter Marshall, My Shot
Shot at the Hachiman Festival (fall festival) in Takayama, Gifu prefecture, Japan, in October 10. The dragons perform a dance to scare off evil spirits at the entrance of homes, shops, and other sacred places, like shrines and portable shrine resthouses.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Buddha, Kamakura
Photograph by Maggie Magee Molino, My Shot
This bronze statue of the Great Buddha was cast in the year 1252 and is located in Kamakura, Japan. It is 44 feet high and weighs 100 tons. Originally this statue stood in the middle of a great hall. In 1945 there was a huge tsunami that destroyed the hall and swept the statue away. Since that time Amida Buddha has remained outside and remains facing the ocean. It is truly an imposing and an amazing sight.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Geishas, Tokyo
Photograph by Flavia Colonnese, My Shot
I was going back to my hotel in Tokyo and I was lucky enough to see these beautiful geishas crossing the street. Perfect timing for a quick picture!
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Geisha, Kyoto
Photograph by Peter Marshall, My Shot
Another shot from the geisha period festival Jidai Matsuri in Kyoto, Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Fuji TV Building, Tokyo
Photograph by Amritashu Bardhan, My Shot
This picture is of the Fuji TV building, an intriguing piece of architecture in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Mount Fuji
Photograph by Shoaib Younas, My Shot
I took a trip to Japan in October 2009. On October 26, I took a bus to Hakone and Mount Fuji. Due to bad weather all day, I could only see the eighth station of Mount Fuji. Legend holds that the goddess of Mount Fuji, Konohana Sakuya Hime, is protective of the mountain, moody, and doesn't show it to everyone. The next morning, I woke up very early with a passion to catch a glimpse of the mountain. The goddess seemed to be in an excellent mood and allowed me to see the mountain with my own eyes. A great sight!
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Canal, Nagahama
Photograph by Dmitry Panchenko, My Shot
A canal near Kurokabe Square in Nagahama, Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Buddhist Monks
Photograph by Mike Hollman, My Shot
Buddhist monks filing back to their quarters after service
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Turtle, Kasaoka
Photograph by Sarah Millar, My Shot
This turtle happened to swim by as I was looking for fish from a bridge in Kasaoka, Japan.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Buddha, Nara
Photograph by Michael Hattori, My Shot
The massive Buddha statue in the immense Todaiji Temple, Nara, Japan
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Matsumoto Castle
Photograph by Gavin Colins, My Shot
Here the artist is creating a watercolor of the view of Matsumoto Castle, a most famous stronghold that has endured for 700 years.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)