The Korean government required foreigners to renew their work visa outside of Korea. The rules have now changed. However, I was able to get in a free trip to Japan, paid for by my employer, before the new immigration rules changed. So, I found myself visiting Japan once more!
OSAKA
A castle just outside of the city proper.
OSAKA
A castle just outside of the city proper.
Zen garden in front of the castle.
Looking over the moat & through a willow tree.
I'm always amused by these convexed blind spot mirrors. If you look towards the top of the cement gate, you can see another mirror that showed me taking the picture.
Modern Japanese houses; and notice the size of these vehicles.
This is an area in the city called Namba, and it's the hub of activity in Osaka.
A common folding commuter bike.
A ship restaurant in the Dotonbori area of Namba.
Dotonbori River
I'm still not sure why these monks were so interested in this clown with glasses, but hoping someone might inform me. I'm guessing that they may have visited from China.NARA
Todai-ji (Eastern Great Temple) is estimated to be the largest wooden building in the world. It contains a large bronze Buddha statue & is the most famous temple in Nara.
Yes, that's a real deer posing for the picture!
The deer walk freely amongst the tourists. They are considered to be either messengers from the Gods or heavenly animals to protect the city.
While they roam freely, they are not exactly tame, nor are they exactly wild. I was nudged by one; I guess I was on his turf and he wanted me to feed him some of the deer biscuits that are sold by vendors.
Nara Park
A different temple located above the city.
Lanterns outside of the temple.
The path to Kasuga Taisha Shrine.KYOTO
Kyoto is an incredible city with an amazing amounts of temples & traditional housing.
Traditional housing & restaurant.
The eastern part of the city is filled with traditional housing & newer areas that replicate the same style.
A pathway through a Kyoto traditional area.
One of the main pathways or streets.
Although, I'm 95% sure that I saw one only minutes before!
She gently & delicately floated by me as she magically declined my gestured photo request with a gentle nod & subtle motion of her hand. I was only three or four feet from her! I've never been so impressed with elegance, grace, beauty, dignity, gentleness, softness or an appearance like this before! After she passed by, she made no signs of communication, but stopped all traffic on the street! It was as if time stood still for her... Ever so charmingly & wittingly, she nodded in an unimaginable flow of elegance to thank every man, woman, child, bicycle & car for stopping for her.
She gently & delicately floated by me as she magically declined my gestured photo request with a gentle nod & subtle motion of her hand. I was only three or four feet from her! I've never been so impressed with elegance, grace, beauty, dignity, gentleness, softness or an appearance like this before! After she passed by, she made no signs of communication, but stopped all traffic on the street! It was as if time stood still for her... Ever so charmingly & wittingly, she nodded in an unimaginable flow of elegance to thank every man, woman, child, bicycle & car for stopping for her.
More of the traditional areas.
Alongside a stream.
A different region of housing & restaurants along the stream.
Wooden pagado near Gion Shrine or also referred to as Yaksaka Shrine. 
The pagado stands five-stories tall.
Traditional men & womens' yukata.
Kamo River
Many restaurants line the river bank.
I think the older generation ride these style bikes, but I'll have to confirm this. 
