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The mystic wisteria flowers of Kawachi Fujien in Kitakyushu. During the epidemic, some cities opted to cut down the blooms to prevent gatherings. As a result, this is the first time I’ve seen a full wisteria bloom. Adding to the unique atmosphere is the sweet, honey-like aroma of the flowers, which is so strong it’s almost overpowering. It’s really incredible! - - - - - #河内藤園 #藤 #北九州市 #kawachi #wisteriaflowers #wisteria #spring #kyushutravel #kyushuambassador #kyushuphotoclub #kitakyushu #seattlephotographer #pnwphotographers (at Kawachi Wisteria Garden) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cre_nkuv9Sc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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A Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 fighter at MCAS Iwakuni. Recently, the JSDF, US Marine Corps, and USAF hosted a special Friendship Day, which is a cultural event offering airshows, tours of vehicles, fun activities, and great food! I enjoyed getting a close look at some of the latest and greatest military aircraft. The F-2 pictured is a unique Japanese take on the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon with an even larger airframe and the iconic teal-blue paint. - - - - - #自衛隊 #mitsubishi #三菱重工 #mitsubishif2 #jsdf #岩国市 #iwakuni #mcasiwakuni #山口県岩国市 #fighterjet #sonyalpha #fukuoka_camera #travelphotography #seattlephotographer #usmarinecorps (at MCAS Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CrcwngTPFdz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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A wild Mejiro, or Warbling White-Eye, on a plum tree. One of my favorite activities has been observing the wide variety of unique plants and animals found in Japan. Mejiro are fun little birds that seem to enjoy munching on Plum blossoms. They have charming birdsong you’ll often hear while hiking. They’re also surprisingly bold and let me get very close! #mejiro #japanesewhiteeye #warblingwhiteeye #birdsofinstagram #birdsonearth #japanbirds #naturephotography #naturelovers #travelblogger #fukuoka #kyushuambassador #seattlephotographer #jetprogram (at Omuta, Fukuoka) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpJrTqhPrv9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Christmas light flower at Hakata. Some of the prettiest things to see in Japan are the various Christmas light displays. Hakata and Tenjin stations in Fukuoka are among my favorite, with Tenjin having a giant circle of golden lights around a small park, and Hakata having giant floets and even shooting stars. #hakata #hakatastation #chrismas #christmaslights #fukuoka_cameraclub #sonyalpha #sonya6400 #christmasworld #christmas2022 #flowers #flowersofinstagram #japanlife (at Hakata Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnyUu_gv1oD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Mt Fuji as seen from Haneda Airport. It was cool to finally see Mt Fuji from Tokyo itself. When I first arrived in 2019, the summer haze was so bad that I couldn’t make it out. #mtfujiphoto_ig #mtfuji #hanedaairport #haneda #airportlife #japanairlines #sonyalpha #sonya6400 #tokyo #traveljapan #2023 (at Haneda Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnyTNQ4PpGM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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The Ariake Sea at low tide. Accounting for as much as 40% of Japan’s tidal flats, the Ariake Sea is an interesting biological zone with a variety of migrating birds, mudskippers, mud shrimp, and fiddler crabs. It’s also the home of some absolutely gorgeous sunsets. #ariake #ariakesea #fukuoka_camera #nagasakigram #kumamotogram #japansunset #sonya6400 #naturephotography #tidalflats #japantravel #naturelovers #seattlephotographer (at آراو) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnvp8oJPAko/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Happy New Year! It’s been awhile since I last posted! Why did I go dark? Why, I ended up going back home for the first time since 2019! While I had always intended to try and go back home while I live in Japan, the pandemic made it nearly impossible. Finally being able to come back was an amazing blessing, and I can’t thank my big sister enough for her help with that! It was a grand adventure, and I’ll be sharing some photos from the trip! For now, here’s a photo of Mt Fuji, which I finally succeeded in climbing this August! #mtfuji #mtfujiphoto_ig #japantravel #japanairlines #christmas2022 #travelphotography #homewardbound✈️ #japanlife (at Tokyo, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CncJDsFv55d/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Fireworks at Mitsui Greenland. Some of the fireworks displays in the area are truly incredible. I’d really like to see the displays at the Chikugo River, Yatsushiro, and the Kaimon straits someday! #greenland #mitsui #mitsuigreenland #arao #kumamoto #kumamotogram #hanabi #fireworks #travelphotography #travelgram #sonyalpha #kyushuambassador (at آراو) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmEh3SByJcO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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A haunting sunset across the Ariake Sea. The Ariake Sea is a large body of water in Kyushu bordered by Nagasaki, Saga, Fukuoka and Kumamoto prefectures. It has a number of interesting features, including the bizarre mudskipper fish, which perch themselves like frogs on rocks and hop around the beach. This area is also known for the mysterious “Shiranui” ghost lights that are said to appear during special conditions, evidently a form of mirage. #ariake #ariakesea🇯🇵 #nagasaki #saga #fukuoka #kumamoto #kyushutravel #kyushuisland #kyushuambassador #sonya6000 #optoutside #seattle_igers #seattlephotographer #sunset #japansunset #instatravel (at Kyushu) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClhfM7byU_a/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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During the last week of July, the city of Omuta hosts the famous Daijiyama dragon festival with more than a dozen dragon floats. From what I’ve pieced together, local legend holds that there was once a battle between a dragonsnake and a crab on nearby Mt Miike. The crab defeated the dragon, creating 3 (healing?) ponds, of which one still exists today. During this festival, people are held up to the mouth of the dragons, which is believed to bring protection from illness. If you ever get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it! #daijiyamafestival #omuta #jabow #dragonfestival #japantravel #japan #japaneseculture #japanigram #fireworks #dragonfloat #parade #traditionaljapan #sonyalpha #fukuoka_camera #seattleigers (at Omuta, Fukuoka) https://www.instagram.com/p/Clhav95ykmr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Above the famous Dazaifu shrine at Tenjin lies the beautiful Mt Homan trail. A winding mix of many features, it was the first mountain I climbed in Japan and has been a favorite of mine since I arrived three years ago. One of my favorite spots is the old overgrown torri gate that marks the transition to the higher trails. #mthoman #dazaifu #dazaifutenmangu #naturalbeauty #hikingadventures #pnwphotographer #seattleigers #fukuoka_camera #toriigate #sunlight #sonya6400 #instajapan (at Dazaifu, Fukuoka) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClgcWbYSxsl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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One of the old sailing ships of Nagasaki. For hundreds of years, Nagasaki has been an important port city. Prior to the complete opening of Japan, it acted as a gateway to Asia and later Europe. Even today, the city’s design and culinary culture have strong European influences. #nagasaki #nagasakigram #nagasakicity #sailing #sailingship #meiji #portcity #crosscultural #japanphotographer #seattlephotographer #travelblogger #japanhistory https://www.instagram.com/p/Cle7EnsSVOM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Sunset at Kamado Shrine, Fukuoka. Coming from an area famous for rain and constant gloom in the PNW, I’ve enjoyed capturing the frequent clear sunsets in this part of Japan. #sunsetphotography #goldensun #gold #naturalbeauty #nature #travelphotography #travelgram #travelblogger #skyphotography #fukuoka_camera #fukuoka_cameraclub #seattle_igers #seattlephotographer #kamado #dazaifu (at Dazaifu, Fukuoka) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cldwf8-SdZE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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A shrine owl at Miyajidake Shrine, home to the famous “Path of Light”. Hoping to get out and about more! #greathornedowl #owl #shrine #shinto #shintoshrine #nature #birdofprey #japan #travelgram #fukuokanow #miyajidake #miyajidakeshrine #pathoflight #kyushu #japanlife #sonya6000 (at Miyajidake Shrine) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVdMIXOBhnL/?utm_medium=tumblr

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A cute cat at the monument of Thomas Edison in Kyoto. I’ll have to dig up the story, but during my spring trip to Kyoto I was shocked to discover that a local shrine, Iwashimizu Hachimangu, was actually the source for bamboo filament Edison used in the first 1,000 hour lightbulb. It’s really interesting what kind of history one can dig up simply by going on random adventures here! #catsofinstagram #japanesecat #kyotocat #kyoto #kyototrip #japanigram #iwashimizuhachimangu #shintoshrine #thomasedison #didyouknow #japan #travelphotography #traveltheworld (at 石清水八幡宮) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSriJl7Frzh/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Made it to the top of Homanzan, but what a time to climb. Talk about a sweat bath. Can’t wait for fall hiking. #hiking #mountainclimbing #pnwhikers #pnwhikersandclimbers #hikersofinstagram #climbersofinstagram #optoutside #exploreoutdoors #dazaifutenmangu #dazaifu #fukuoka (at Omuta, Fukuoka) https://www.instagram.com/p/CScQhQvBmVM/?utm_medium=tumblr

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A wild Chestnut Tiger Butterfly on Mt Unzen. Was very surprised how much it resembles a Monarch Butterfly! Kyushu has a wealth of beautiful insect species, and this is no exception. #butterfly #butterflies #naturalbeauty #insectsofinstagram #butterfliesoftheworld #japanigram #traveljapan #nagasaki #mtunzen #sonyalpha #nagasakiprefecture #nagasakigram (at Mount Unzen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSCYHVrlG6R/?utm_medium=tumblr