Rich? Not really... I only dont smoke, dont drink too much & I dont have a car.
So, I can travel without any problem.

I see that some like the street of Takayama.
There's 3 old streets like that, where some houses are designated as national important cultural assets, because it's a prime example of Meiji era architecture.(1875 A.D.). Those structure are mostly made of Japanese cypress. Here's a picture I took from inside one of those houses:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b112/Clafrance/Japan%202006/KusakabeHouse.jpg

j´adorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Me,and Meaty and Eve share the same favourite (heavy)....
..well Naïko is a japanese female first name overthere (i didn't know !)....
I'm completely found of Japanese culture.
Thx Claude

Superb pictures, most of them would've made wonderful daily pics...

awesome picts, Claude. My parents are there now visiting relatives. I'll share your picts with them when they return.

Thanks you all for your sweet comments!

Sage, your parents are there at the right time. I went there 2 years ago in May and it's
just the right time. The rice fields were kinda dry and the green not very green for my last trip, we went this time at end March to celebrate my wife birthday with her family, and because of her pregnancy. But the cherryblossoms were very spectacular... good to see it once.

wow, very nice pictures. thanks claf!

hmmm, I think I like the one with motion blurred train and the cherry blossoms in the background.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b112/Clafrance/Japan 2006/Ikebukuro-Shinjuku.jpg
I love the contrast of colors.
Thanks for sharing them with us.