2006 Greece or Japan?, a photo from Tokyo, Kanto

Photographer's Note

So... I all of a sudden decided to interrupt my reminiscences from Japan with a photo from Athens...

Only joking! This is Yunohama - hot springs complex built in the style of Greek ruins. Against what many people expect, in Japan you will find not only traditional Japanese and modern, westernised architecture but also elements of other cultures, including ancient Greece. I suspect the word “Yunohama” comes from the name of the mythical Greek goddess Juno, but, like with many things Japan, I may be wrong.

I think this is the first photo from Niijima Island, and from the whole Izu Islands archipelago on TE. Or at least I couldn’t find any. It’s a bit strange as the islands are very close to and accessible from Tokyo. In fact, they are situated in the very Tokyo Prefecture.

I took the morning ferry from Takeshiba Pier and arrived at my minshuku – a traditional Japanese inn just before midday. I have already mentioned the world “minshuku” in the note to this post and showed the hospitality you encounter in that sort of accommodation here. Having just stayed in one of those family-run guesthouses in Hakone I didn’t think another one would surprise me with anything.

I was greeted by a smiling lady who bowed some ten or twenty times before she handed me a pair of slippers. I knew I was in a traditional Japanese house. I dropped my backpack in my room and started looking for the bathroom. To my surprise all I found were toilets but no bath or shower. “That’s impossible; this is a hotel,” I thought. Desperate to discover where the bathroom was, but too embarrassed to ask, I spent the afternoon standing by my bedroom door, pretending I was just about to walk in, so I could watch what other guests were doing. In the early evening they all started leaving. They reappeared at dinner time all wearing yukata – a casual form of kimono that is often worn after bathing. I realised what they had been up to. The Izu Islands are located inside a volcanic belt and famous for their onsen - hot spring baths. So, it being a budget minshuku there simply was no bathroom; the guests were supposed to go for a dip in the hot waters of one of the many onsen instead.

In WS a photo of Yunohama in daylight and an image showing a real temple – traditional Japanese Shinto shrine.

pajaran, PaulVDV, photographer_sg, jemaflor, Royaldevon, alvaraalto, macjake, fotka has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (95964) 2019-07-27 4:52

Hello Kasia,
The question asked in the title wasn't really so difficult...;-)But are these ruins really some kind of Las Vegas deliberate copy of a Greek temple, or a genuine Japanese ruin that happens to look Greek when you see the silhouettes at sunset? Never mind, the columns look great in this light and the persons complement the view perfectly. The WS are nice too, although #1 looks a bit blue. But are you supposed to use a soap and shampoo in a common for all onsen?
Kind regards,
Gert

Tue (85166) 2019-07-27 7:57

Hello Kasia,
A great shot of those silhouettes, which do give the impression you were in Greece rather than Japan. The people are well included too. Everything stands out pin-sharp from the beautiful sky.
Lars

Nicou (193806) 2019-07-27 8:27

Hello

On se demande quel ciel et vue quelle couleur et douceur fantastique image et ce découpage des élément ce temple ces personnes fantastique image
Bravo et amitié
Niocu

mesutilgim (0) 2019-07-27 10:15

Hello Kasia,
On thumbnail my first impression was, it's a captrue from Greece.
Very good scenery, captured with perfect pov and ligth. Nice graphism and many good and usefull notes.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

PaulVDV (57175) 2019-07-27 12:50

Hello Kasia,
This could be a picture from Greece and from many places in the Mediterranean world.
But I would not have immediately thought of Japan.
Many beautiful silhouttes with a background of a sky ranging from orange at one side to blue at the other side.
Best regards, Paul

Silvio1953 (210541) 2019-07-27 13:01

Ciao Kasia, fascinating sunset with fantastic silhouette of okd architecture, splendid light and wonderful colors very well done, my friend have a good weekend ciao Silvio

lousat (132411) 2019-07-27 15:05

Hi Kasia,in effect it seems to be in Greece,in this pic and in the classic daily view in the WS,i like your idea to take this backlight playing with the dark silhouettes of temple,interesting memories from your trip there. Thanks a lot for the small star for my last pic and have a nice SUnday,Luciano

PiotrF (52342) 2019-07-27 15:28

Cześć Kasiu
To samo miejsce pokazane na zupełnie inne sposoby. To dowód ną to że fotografia i emocjami z nią związanymi można manipulować ☺
Ciekawa prezentacja
Pozdrawiam
Piotr

jimmyjimmy (5864) 2019-07-27 18:52

Hello Kaisa

Something about silhouettes that bring much study. The two dimension appeals to many. My favorite way to paint in my youth. You can really make a statement this way. I guess it leaves interpretation to the one viewing such a work. Your image is no different. Funny, without looking at the location I saw Japan. I lived their for six years. Maybe the body structure of the people told me Japan. Very little obesity there. Your notes are fantastic with a sense of being there. Kasia you are well traveled with a spirit of adventure....never lose it. People around the world are more accepting of someone who is genuine. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Jimmy

abmdsudi (90829) 2019-07-27 21:24

Hi Kasia
Gorgeous clean capture against the rising sun which seems to take us back to Greece! The silhouetted 'ruins', human presence and the points of light behind them make this an extremely stand out photograph. Spot on in every way nicely positioned in the frame. Superb composition, enjoy reading your narratives as always. My compliments!!
Best regards

photographer_sg (6059) 2019-07-27 23:04

Hello Kasia
A lovely atmospheric silhouette photograph of the "Greek" ruins and the people that nicely complement the main subject. The WS pictures are nice too, especially the shrine against the backdrop of the hills.
Cheers!
Satya

jemaflor (138871) 2019-07-27 23:35

Hi Kasia,
Beautiful rendering with the silhouette of the ruins and this warm light in the sky, well managed and funny presentation with the choice of the title, tfs.

emka (153616) 2019-07-27 23:57

Witaj Kasiu, Jak zwykla fascynująca notka. Jak jest różnica między ryokan i minshuku? Wydaje mi sie, że my zatrzymałyśmy się kilka razy w ryokan. Bylo to niesamowite przeżycie. Spanie na podlodze, jedzenie bardzo niewygodne, yukaty w wyposażeniu. Gdzies był nawet minionsen. W prawdziwym onsenie tez byłysmy kilka razy, jeden nawet szczycił sie tym, ze tam kiedys odwiedził go cesarz. Po mieście chodzili ludzie w tych tradycyjnych strojach i z koszyczkami na mydło itd. Tak więc znam cały ten rytuał. Może kiedys zajrzę do mojego archiwum.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie Małgorzata

Royaldevon (79736) 2019-07-28 5:24

Hello Kasia,

This is a very atmospheric photograph, the ruins and the figures, pictured against the golden, evening sky, like some giant, shadow puppet theatre. Just beautiful!

I loved reading your notes and smiled inwardly at your explanation of how you pretended to be entering your room, to observe what other people were doing regarding bathing! There must be so much to learn about other cultures and practices when you travel far from home!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

rychem (72179) 2019-07-28 8:02

Nabralem sie rzeczywiscie na dowcip :)
sylwetki na tle nieba sa naprawde greckie w ksztalcie, swietne zdjecie a kolory jak na zamowienie
pozdrawiam Ryszard

alvaraalto (42410) 2019-07-28 22:32

Hello Kasia
I have previously seen photos of the Japanese copying habits of European buildings, such as the Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands. A bit exaggerated, but now also to reconstruct ruins ....
But yes, we also recreate Japanese gardens in Europe.
Excellent presentation
Have a good week, groet Rob

macjake (97222) 2019-07-29 3:52

Hi Kasia
thanks for the WS's, they help out a lot and are vital to the main post. well, i have to give you credit for your honesty haha, standing at your doorway pretending to enter haha. Oh the things we do eh? another fun story to accompany the main post. excellent silhouetted shot too. cheers
Craig

GyurMaster (22646) 2019-08-09 9:51

Hello Kasia,

Fascinating photo with an interesting background story as always. Do you have photos of the onsens? They must had been an interesting photo-topic too. And the million-dollar questions: are you still that shy or you became more self-confident in the past 13 years and dare to ask the question a in a similar situation? :)

Best Wishes,
Gy.

ChrisJ (164664) 2019-08-09 12:17

Hello Kasia,

In answer to your question I would not rely on any of the exif data stated by Trekearth. It's been unreliable and inaccurate for a few years now. More like 1/30 sec than 30 seconds! Fantastic silhouettes here with good sharpness and nice sunset colours. Tfs!

fotka (7932) 2019-08-13 5:21

Witaj Kasiu,
Zauwazylem ze mniej podrozujesz tego roku poniewaz publikujesz mniej nowych zdjec na TE.
Bardzo podobaja mi sie kontury ruin greckich oraz ludzi na tle zachodzacego nieba. Ciekawe zdjecie dobrej jakosci.
Pozdrowienia,
Zbigniew

mkamionka (64846) 2019-12-19 1:16

Czesc Kasia,
a to niespodzianka rzeczywiscie.
Ale wszystko dzieki zachodowi slonca ktory w cieniu pozostawil szcegoly podkreslajac sylwetki.
W swietle dnia efekt jest juz zupelnie inny i o wiele mniej atrakcyjny.
Same ruiny przypomnialy mi Cap Sounion na poludnie od Aten gdzie kiedys oczekiwalem zachodu slonca.
Swietny pomysl i zdecydowanie trudno byloby odgadnac location tego zdjecia.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie,
M