Visions of Japan in Summer

Summer is the season for festivals and fireworks. This is Tokyo Bay with Odaiba is in the background. The rockets are fired from boats and the lights reflect on the towers. Funny firework displays I saw this year included explosions shaped like smileys, Hello Kitty and Doraemon, as well as stars and hearts.

In Okazaki, Aichi prefecture, thunderstorm, heavy rains and power outages are not enough to cancel the fireworks. As planned, they started at 7:00pm to stop at 9:20pm. So did the rain, strangely enough.

The traditional yosakoi dances are full of energy and a great exercise! (here in Ube)
Behind those masks are cute girls, actually.

Four times a year there is a flea market in Tokiwa park. People sell or give away everything: clothes, toys, electronics, hand-made whatever, sports equipment, music... Also for sale are fruits and vegetables, tea and coffee, honey and kakigori (shaved ice with syrup) and more. A great way to spend a Sunday morning.

The famous Kintai-kyo bridge of Iwakuni; 300¥ to climb and descend the five arches. The original bridge dates from 1673, this is a reconstruction.

This doll museum in Takahama shows an onsen (hot spring) of the Edo period, complete with voyeurs. A series of dioramas also displays the history of Japan from its creation to the 1945 bombings. Other rooms recreate festivals or historical events at different scales. The last room presents the wedding of the current emperor with life-size dolls.