When a high school student of mine said he had never seen a waterfall, I decided to take him to Akame Shiju-Hattake (Akame 48 Waterfalls) -- the lovely hiking trail that straddles a stream riddled with waterfalls (not quite 48 in number, as many people have noticed). I posted photographs of these waterfalls in a previous blog.
Picture-wise, This time I concentrated on the moss covered rocks and trail.
Otsu, a small city on the southern side of Lake Biwa and a short train ride from Kyoto, hosts one of the best hanabi matsuri (firework festivals) in the Kansai area. Despite having far less fireworks than the big Tenjimbashi festival in Osaka, the fact that they explode over open water with no tall buildings nearby means that you and the other thousands of spectators can enjoy expansive unobstructed views. This is especially good for photographers.
I arrived two hours early to get a good spot on the bank, reading a book as the sky reddened and then darkened before the fireworks began. I used a small manfrotto tripod, no taller than 30cm, propped up on the water's edge. Thankfully, the cute little girl who sat beside me didn't kick it into the water.
See more pictures of "Fireworks" at my an-fi photo gallery.
See more pictures of "Fireworks" at my an-fi photo gallery.
Walking the full length of the Tottori Sand Dunes, I came to a short strip of wind-swept trees.
Just after taking this shot I stripped down to my shorts, laid my clothes on the log and went for a swim. It is a great thing, swimming in the open sea. 
A large sand pile exists in western Honshu and I thought it was just the thing I needed to see to remedy a fit of wanderlust that hit me during the summer holiday break.
Measuring 16km by 2km the Tottori Sand Dunes lie just northeast of the city of Tottori on the Japan Sea coast, about three and a half hours by bus from Osaka.
I arrived in the late afternoon on a Saturday and slept in my tent at a free public campsite on the edge of the dunes. I woke up before sunrise and set out over the dunes, enjoying a a gorgeous day and a thrilling experience walking over the sand taking pictures.
See more pictures of "Tottori Sand Dunes" at my an-fi photo gallery.
See more pictures of "Tottori Sand Dunes" at my an-fi photo gallery.
One of the oldest shrines in Japan, built in the 3rd century and located in southern Osaka. 
Osaka is not as scarred with graffiti as most Western cities I know. But someone out there probably wants to change that. 
Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Koen in northern Osaka is a massive city park that was host to the International Garden and Greenery Exposition in 1990. There is a large pond, expansive fields with many trees and walking paths, and other recreational facilitires. Tucked away in a corner is the old site for the Expo with many of the old pavilion lots and signs intact. The Japan and Korean sites particularly caught my eye.
Shodoshima is an island gem in the Seto Island Sea, accessible by ferries from Osaka, Kobe, Himeji and other coastal cities nearby. A few regular buses run along the coastline and into the interior bringing you to a number of beautiful spots from which you can admire the sea and surrounding islands.
I went camping there with a small group of friends. It was a wonderful time and it must be even better in the summer. There is one spot in particular I recommend: just west of Kusakabe Port is "Olive Town", a clump of buildings showcasing Shodoshima's most interesting feature -- it's olive trees, first planted in 1908.
In addition to the olive groves, there is a herbal garden, a museum, a windmill and a spa -- all in a Greek architectural style. Just north of the area is Dutch Pancake Camping, a privately-run campsite with a scenic view, friendly owners and a lovely patch of grass (read: not gravel) to pitch your tent -- a rarity in central Japan.
A two hour bus from Osaka brought me to Awaji island, where I spent the day testing some new hiking shoes.
