Surprise in a Cemetery in Japan's Kiso Valley - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

For obvious reasons, I don’t seek out cemeteries in my travels. 😊 If I happen to be at one such location, I usually don’t make photographs, out of respect for the spirits that may be around.

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When we arrived at Kozenji Temple (興禅寺) in Kiso-Fukushima in rain, my legs followed my eyes to the cemetery in the back of the temple instead. While there, I found myself fighting the strong urge to photograph. In the end, the urge won.

Kozenji Temple was established in 1434 by the 12th Kiso lord Nobumichi (木曾信道), who himself was buried there, along with the 19th lord Yoshiyasu Kiso (木曾義康). It’s the name on the grave stone next to his though that gave away the family origin - Minamoto no Yoshinaka (源義仲), the last name that traces back to one of the four noble clans during the Heian period in Japan. It is from there I was able to learn the history of the family and the stories of this Kiso clan.

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By the time we left, we were covered in as brilliant of colors as those rain-saturated maple leaves. I couldn’t believe that I enjoyed photographing in a cemetery so much. I was even more nicely surprised to have happened upon one for people with stories from hundred of years ago.

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I hope I did the cemetery justice while respecting privacy.

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Perfectly Late in Narai-Juku, Japan - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

The sun was going down in Narai-Juku, Japan. By the time we arrived, most people had long said sayonara.

To walk on the road by which people traveled from Tokyo to Kyoto some 400 years ago had me giggle secretly.

An old lady and her dog came out to say hello. By the look on the face, do you think the dog sensed my secret?

Nonetheless, it was getting dark. I walked on…

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I’m a sucker for the amber glow that’s turned on at the turn of the dusk. I’m also such for the cooking smoke that comes from burning wood. When both culprits gang up to keep me around, I obliged.

I walked on… it was getting dark.

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Before the sun left with all its rays, it had to bath this historical post town of the Edo Period and its people in the most mysterious color of the day.

I couldn’t help but exclaiming “We are here, perfectly late!”

… …

I hope the dog’s not around anymore… 😛

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The Fall Season Has Arrived - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

Nature has a funny way of talking to us. The plants in my garden reminded me that, despite the warm temperatures, the autumn season has arrived. Finally, our seasonality catches up with where we are on the calendar.

Although, we’ve been mostly locked down/stayed at home this year, I felt that I have been so busy fighting different battles, emotionally, spiritually and physically. With the imminent falling of leaves, I realized, it’s time to remember to breathe.

With everything that’s going on around us, especially those of us in the US, please feel free to breathe along.

Whether you choose to be like this lady …

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… or these three amigos in the image below, it’s really up to your personal style. The most important thing is to remember to relax and take in the beauty that nature gifts us so generously.

What are you seeing as the signs of nature where you are?

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