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30th Mar 2025: Cherry Blossoms at Koishikawa Korakuen

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Koishikawa Korakuen, located in Bunkyo City, Tokyo, is a stunning Japanese garden that dates back to the early Edo period. Originally created as a private garden for Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, it later served as an imperial garden for the shogunate and is now designated as a scenic spot by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Covering a vast area, Koishikawa Korakuen features picturesque ponds, hills, pathways, and rocks, allowing visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature throughout the four seasons. The cherry blossoms and autumn foliage are particularly popular among visitors. The garden also houses a tea room where events are sometimes held, allowing guests to savor matcha in a serene setting. This remarkable place offers a perfect opportunity to spend a quiet moment while appreciating its cultural background and beautiful landscapes. Despite forecasts predicting rain up until the day before my visit, I was prepared to photograph cherry blossoms in the rain. To my delight, the weather turned ...

22nd Mar 2025: Full bloom cherry blossoms in the UK

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Just before leaving the UK, I captured the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Although I had always associated cherry blossoms strongly with Japan, I found that those in the UK are equally beautiful and graceful. I hope that one day I will have the chance to see these blossoms in full bloom again. Taken with iPhone 14 Pro   Participating in the ranking If you think the content is good, please click and follow. 気に入っていただけましたら応援よろしくお願い致します。 にほんブログ村 にほんブログ村

11th Mar 2025: Saint Peter’s Basilica

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Saint Peter’s Basilica, the heart of the Catholic Church, stands as one of the most significant religious structures in the world. Located in Vatican City, its history dates back to the 4th century when the first basilica was commissioned by Emperor Constantine I. Built atop the tomb of Saint Peter—the first pope and one of Christ’s apostles—the original church stood for over a millennium before it began to deteriorate. By the 16th century, a grander and more magnificent basilica was deemed necessary. The construction of the present basilica began in 1506 and was completed in 1626. Some of the greatest minds of the Renaissance and Baroque periods contributed to its design and decoration, including Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, Bramante, and Maderno. Michelangelo’s towering dome, the highest structure in Vatican City, remains one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks. At the heart of the basilica stands Bernini’s breathtaking Baldachin, an ornate bronze canopy marking the tomb of Saint Pete...

10th Mar 2025: Roman Holiday in Rome

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"Roman Holiday" is one of my favorite movies. I have always wanted to visit this place, and I finally got the chance to make that dream a reality.  I was deeply moved to be able to visit places I had only seen in the movie, such as the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum.  My visits to there  took place at night, but they became wonderful memories for me. I found myself wondering if this was the spot where Princess Anne ate gelato and where Joe tried to borrow a camera from a student. I was also overwhelmed by the Colosseum, which was built over 2,000 years ago.  Although my time there was limited, it became an unforgettable memory. ​​​​Next time, I would like to visit slowly with my family. Spanish Steps At the top of the Spanish Steps is the Church of Trinità dei Monti, and the official name of the Spanish Steps is also the Trinità dei Monti Stairs, just like the church. Colonna dell'Immacolata The Column of the Immacullate Conception is a 19th cen...