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My 2025 Favourites – 5 of 8

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Today’s theme is Japan. I said Singapore was special to me. Japan isn’t special TO me, but it really is special. Amazing people, amazing landscape and some truly incredible treasures.

The second photo in this post is the only phone photo in this whole retrospective. It was taken in Kobe while we were just wandering from the hotel in search of dinner. Come to mention it, the nighttime castle shot was also just across the road from our hotel in Fukuyama. Beauty everywhere!

A golden Japanese temple reflected in a tranquil pond, surrounded by lush green trees and shrubs. The building stands elegantly with intricate architectural detailing, its upper stories covered in gold leaf, and the roof topped by a decorative ornament. The serene water in the foreground mirrors both the pavilion and the greenery, contributing to a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere. In the background, wooded hills rise under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Large wooden torii gate at the entrance of a Shinto shrine in Japan, adorned at the top with a row of white lanterns featuring Japanese kanji. Two traditional stone lion-dog statues (komainu) guard either side of the entrance, and a wide pathway leads further inside, where a second, bright-orange torii gate stands in front of the main shrine building, which is illuminated and richly colored. The scene is set during the early evening, with the sky transitioning to dusky blue. Green trees frame the area, and a few cars and a person sitting in the foreground are visible, giving the setting a peaceful, lively atmosphere.
Traditional Japanese-style castle illuminated at night. The multi-tiered structure features iconic upward-curving eaves with white walls and black-tiled roofs. The architectural details are highlighted by bright lighting, making the castle stand out against the dark sky. Some green tree foliage is visible at the bottom of the image, partially obscuring the lower part of the castle. The overall atmosphere is serene and majestic.
Japanese garden landscape with lush green lawns, winding paths, and a reflective pond. In the foreground, two people holding umbrellas stand by the pond, one dressed in black and the other in white. The path leads through the garden toward dense trees, traditional Japanese buildings with thatched roofs, and, rising above the trees in the background, a black castle with ornate rooftops—likely the Okayama Castle in Japan. The sky is overcast, with thick, dramatic clouds creating a moody atmosphere. The garden is serene and meticulously maintained, and a few more visitors can be seen walking in the distance.

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