Kii Retreats

Refresh & Retreat on the Kii Peninsula of Japan

About AlenaE

I am from East Germany and I have been in Japan for 15 years now. In July 2011 I moved out of Tokyo and to the south of Wakayama Prefecture, by choice! From the Japanese capital to the deep Japanese countryside - what a change!

Ajisai in the village in June

Posted on June 13, 2020 by AlenaE

Beautiful flowers make the raining season bearable.

Trees and Plants around Tamaki Shrine, south of Nara Prefecture

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Posted on May 26, 2020 by AlenaE

In my quest to study plants and trees, I had a look around Tamaki Shrine. I have found and studied some interesting species. Do you know these plants?

Tamaki Syncretism

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Posted on May 26, 2020 by AlenaE

What is now known as Tamaki Shrine used to be a shrine-temple complex until the the early Meiji period when Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples were separated by governmental degree. This is also true for the Kumano Sanzan, the Three … Continue reading →

Flowers in Fushiogami in May

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Posted on May 26, 2020 by AlenaE

This gallery contains 4 photos.

The Green Pheasant

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Posted on May 22, 2020 by AlenaE

This gallery contains 2 photos.

The Green Pheasant is Japan’s National Bird. I did not know that until now. It is an omnivorous bird, endemic to Japan. The bird featured in these photos is the “resident pheasant’ behind my house. It is a colorful male … Continue reading →