Another little collection from my 2025 Japan travels - this time from high in the mountains behind the gorgeous alpine village of Nozawaonsen.
Something from the Japanese Alps
in Architecture, Japan, Travel
esabroad
A little bit of temple and a lot of concrete wall
I spent over a week exploring Tokyo (barely scratched the surface) and of all of the areas I spent time in, I’m going to say Yanaka was my favourite. It’s part of Tokyo’s “Old Town” and known for the high concentration of temples (70 something in Yanaka.) This little collection of photos includes a small part of one of those temples but is about the gorgeous surrounding concrete wall..! I love it. If you’ve been following for a while or you scroll back a few years, you’ll know, or find, that it’s not the first time I’ve professed my love for a wall and a concrete one at that.
Arimasuton. Tokyo’s "Zombie Fish" Building
in Architecture, Construction, Fine Art, Fixations, Travel, Japan
You may or may not know that I jetted off to Japan for two weeks last year. As you can imagine, I took a lot of photos. How to share them with you has perplexed me a bit as there are many ways I could shape them into little collections. I still haven’t come to any great conclusion so I thought I’d just begin. And begin with something very unique!
This is Arimasuton, Tokyo’s "Zombie Fish" Building and a handmade, concrete masterpiece. Tokyo’s small scale, lesser known answer to Gaudí, if you like.
Architect Keisuke Oka is the owner and builder of Arimasuton, which can be found in Tokyo’s Mita district, a lavish and upscale suburb where the building stands out and strangely fits in too. For over twenty years Keisuke, along with friends, family, students and neighbours, has crafted the building by hand, from concrete.
Though finished in 2024 the surrounding buildings have been demolished making way for a large-scale development leaving Oka no choice but to shift, yes actually shift, the building back 10 metres away from the construction site, which is what is taking place in my images below. I did attempt to get closer but was quickly ushered away by the polite security guarding the site. I am looking forward to revisiting in the future to see it settled and likely dwarfed amongst it’s future giant neighbours!
More Paris
in Architecture, Travel
Still no words for Paris. It was autumn, the shadows were looong.
Paris
in Travel, Architecture
I have no words for Paris. Needless to say, there will be more than one post from Paris. Let's start with the views from Le Tour Eiffel.
Oxford
in Architecture, Travel
Oxford. A famous university city full of elegant, honey coloured buildings and a wonderful place to wander. I was there for less than a day but I could have spent many, exploring the narrow cobbled lanes and charming, bike studded university grounds. Next time.
The salt flats of Trapani
in Travel, Architecture
I can't tell you much about Trapani, except that I had an amazing bombolone alla Nutella at a bustling pasticceria on the way through. Trapani for me was about one thing. The salt flats. And they did not disappoint. Think shallow coastal waters, canals, windmills and mounds of snow-like, freshly harvested salt.
Cefalù
in Architecture, Travel
Arriving in Cefalù felt a bit like arriving in the Greek Islands, or maybe it's all in the name. A serene little town sitting pretty between its small bay on the Tyrrhenian Sea and the towering granite mountain of La Rocca.
Cefalù was all about colour for me. From dreamy pastel pinks, yellows and greens to the striking blues of the sky and sea, and its accompanying beach umbrellas.
It didn't steal my heart from Siracusa but a gorgeous little town nevertheless!
