Photos by Scott Willsey — Photos

Power Down

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The light goes down behind a power station in Beaverton, OR, near the local nature park I had been walking through.

From the album Oregon.

Senso-ji at night

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo. This is Tokyo's oldest temple, completed in 645. That's the year 645.

From the album Tokyo.

Senso-ji pagoda with Tokyo Sky Tree photobomb

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Senso-ji may be the star of this show, but the Tokyo Sky Tree is not going to be ignored.

From the album Tokyo.

Senso-ji 5 story pagoda

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The beautiful 5 story pagoda at Senso-ji in Asakusa, Tokyo, at night.

From the album Tokyo.

Yoshino Park Palms

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I remember these trees from when I was little, but I think there were fewer of them, mostly around the perimeter of this little section of Yoshino Park. The little hill in the background is where the Sakurajima viewpoint is located.

From the album Kagoshima.

Yoshino Park still pond

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Yoshino Park has changed surpisingly little in the past 42 years, but this little pond with its stone lanterns and quiet footpaths postdates my childhood in Kagoshima.

From the album Kagoshima.

Yoshino Park Entrance

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

After 42 years, this simple park entrance was quite the sight. Yoshino Park in Kagoshima.

From the album Kagoshima.

Tenmonkan Dori by Yamakataya

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Yamakataya isn't really what it was before, but it was a fun department store with books and toys, along with the requisite boring adult department store stuff. Located in Kagoshima next to Tenmonkan Dori.

From the album Kagoshima.

Sakurajima from Yoshino Park

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Our visit to Yoshino Park was so wonderful for many reasons, high amongst them me being able to stare across the bay at Sakurajima for the first time in 42 years.

From the album Kagoshima.

Kagoshima Tram

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Public transportation in Japan is amazing, and Kagoshima's trams are just one of the many reasons why.

From the album Kagoshima.

The Tenmonkan!

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I don't know when it became described as THE Tenmonkan, but we knew it as Tenmonkan. Kagoshima's shopping highlight (and home to lots of good food)!

From the album Kagoshima.

Jyujiya Record Store

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I don't know if this is THE Jyujiya of our youth, but it's where Jyujiya is now. Jyujiya in Kagoshima had a multi-story record shop and a soundproof recording studio. It was amazing.

From the album Kagoshima.

Panini sandwich at Maeda Coffee in Kyoto

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Our first day in Kyoto, Olivia found this great little coffee shop called Maeda Coffee (https://www.maedacoffee.com), which had food and drink worth returning for (and we did).

From the album Kyoto.

Stone Pagoda and stone memorial markers at Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The stone pagoda and memorial markers at Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple in Kyoto.

From the album Kyoto.

Stone Figures at Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Little stone figures just inside the entrance of Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple in Kyoto.

From the album Kyoto.

Stone Figures at Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Little stone figures just inside the entrance of Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple in Kyoto.

From the album Kyoto.

Stairs at the entry to Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Stairs at the entry to Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple in Kyoto.

From the album Kyoto.

Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple Entry Sign

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The sign at the entrance in Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple in Kyoto.

From the album Kyoto.

Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Buddha Shrine

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The beautiful Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji temple Buddha shrine outside of Kyoto.

From the album Kyoto.

Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Bamboo Forest

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Olivia in the bamboo forest at Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple Bamboo Forest outside of Kyoto. Shot on my iPhone 16 Pro Max.

From the album Kyoto.

Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Temple Buddha

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The temple Buddha at Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji outside of Kyoto is surrounded by the memories of 8,000 people who died alone, commemorated in the form of stone markers.

From the album Kyoto.

Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Bamboo Forest

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Another photo of Olivia's of the Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Bamboo Forest.

From the album Kyoto.

Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Bamboo Forest

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Another photo of Olivia's of the Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Bamboo Forest.

From the album Kyoto.

Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Bamboo Forest

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Another photo of Olivia's of the Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Bamboo Forest.

From the album Kyoto.

Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji Bamboo

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Olivia took this wonderfully framed photo of the bamboo forest at Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji temple Buddha shrine outside of Kyoto on her iPhone.

From the album Kyoto.

Hot egg sandwich at Maeda Coffee in Kyoto

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Our first day in Kyoto, Olivia found this great little coffee shop called Maeda Coffee (https://www.maedacoffee.com), which had food and drink worth returning for (and we did).

From the album Kyoto.

Combo sandwich at Maeda Coffee in Kyoto

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Our first day in Kyoto, Olivia found this great little coffee shop called Maeda Coffee (https://www.maedacoffee.com), which had food and drink worth returning for (and we did).

From the album Kyoto.

Suwa-jinja Shinto Shrine

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Just east of old town Karuizawa rests a cute little Shinto shrine, Suwa-jinja. It was supposedly originally built in 1882.

From the album Karuizawa.

Suwa-jinja Shinto Shrine

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Suwa-jinja Shinto shrine east of old town Karuizawa. It was supposedly originally built in 1882.

From the album Karuizawa.

Karuizawa Yagasaki River Bridge

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Yagasaki River bridge northeast of old town Karuizawa.

From the album Karuizawa.

Karuizawa Yagasaki River Bridge

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Just east of old town Karuizawa, the Yagasaki River bridge takes us up towards the house where I lived as a boy. This view is looking back towards the town.

From the album Karuizawa.

Toge-Michi

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Just up above old town Karuizawa lies a nice little walk through the hills. My daughter Olivia and I wandered around up here for at least an hour one particular evening.

From the album Karuizawa.

Tokyo Sky Tree

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Our first full day in Tokyo, we walked around and happened to catch some views of the Tokyo Sky Tree across the river from Asakusa in Sumida.

From the album Tokyo.

Newport Lighthouse

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The iconic Newport Lighthouse standing tall against the backdrop of a hazy sky.

From the album Oregon Coast.

Sakurajima from Yoshino Park

Mon, 01 Oct 1979 00:00:00 GMT

We loved spending time in Yoshino Park when I was a kid, and its amazing view of Sakurajima was certainly part of the reason. This photo is my dad's. I'm not actually sure what year this was.

From the album Kagoshima.

Sakurajima from our Yoshino house

Sun, 06 Jun 1976 00:00:00 GMT

This is a view of Sakurajima from our house in Yoshino, exact year unknown. It would have been between 1975 and 1977, I think. Photo taken by my dad.

From the album Kagoshima.

Karuizawa in Winter

Fri, 12 Dec 1975 00:00:00 GMT

Looking down the hill at old town Karuizawa. I'm not sure of the exact date of this photo taken by my dad. I think it's either winter 1974 or 75 because I think we were in Kagoshima by winter 1976.

From the album Karuizawa.