Afficiondos of sushi will be familiar with that green horse-radish-like paste called "wasabi" that always accompanies raw fish. Wasabi is the root of a plant that requires lots of clear, cold water to grow. Up here in the mountains of the Izu Penninsula, they still grow a lot of wasabi. This is a photo of an abandoned "wasabi-dana", or wasabi field. The carefully-constructed terraces that used to channel the water to the growing plants have fallen into disrepair, letting the waterfalls form where they will.
A waterfall pours mountain water into the ocean on the Eastern coast of Japan's Izu Penninsula.
Himjei Castle, also called the White Heron Castle, is considered the best-preserved castle in Japan. The original structure, more of a fortified building than a castle, was built in 1346. Further improvements were made after Toyotomi Hideyoshi was placed in charge of the castle. When the Toyotomi clan were defeated by Tokugawa Ieyasu around 1600, the castle was handed over to Ikeda Terumasa, who spent 9 years elevating the complex to its present form. Himjei Castle was designated as a National Treasure in 1931, and extensive restoration was performed between 1956 and 1964. In 1993, the Castle was placed on the list of UNESCO World Cultural and Heritage Sites. This photo was taken in early May during the height of cherry-blossom season.
