Global Eye: Takaosan Buddhas
Photographer: Alan D. Newton, Samukawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Getting the Shot: The photograph was taken on Takaosan (Mount Takao), which is located in Hachioji City on the western end of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Mount Takao is a relatively rare natural area just about one hour by train from central Tokyo. There are a number of hiking trails, as well as a cable car to its peak, which is 599 meters (1,965 feet) above sea level. There is a Buddhist temple called Yakuoin near the peak.
The Details: On the day that I took this photograph, the temple was celebrating its annual Grand Autumn Festival. As part of this festival, the temple priests lead a procession up the mountain to Yakuoin Temple. As is typical with events of this type in Japan, there were numerous photographers jockeying for position to get the best picture of the Buddhist priests in their colorful ceremonial garments. As the procession neared the temple, I got a little tired of all the jockeying and wandered around the compound where I found this oasis of peace and quiet.
This photograph makes us want to find our own inner Zen. Have you got photos that are worth of Global Eye? Add them to our Flickr pool.
This is a great shot! Thank you for sharing it with us. As an amateur photographer I really appreciate the reminder to step aways from the crowds and off the beaten path. Everyone will have the same old photos but the ones that get noticed and stay in your memory are the ones like this one. I also live in Japan and one of my best shots was of a little fountain with a bamboo water scoop that was hiding behind a teahouse in Chiba.
Posted by: Shane | May 16, 2008 at 06:53 PM