This past summer, while interning as a web developer in Japan, I had the amazing opportunity to travel the country, taking photos along the way of the fairly uninteresting, the incredibly captivating, and the sights lying on the spectrum in between. Most of my time was spent in the hectic Tokyo metropolis, but every once in a while I ventured to more rural areas, enjoying some countryside relief from the bustling megacity. I couldn't capture every location I visited, but a selection of what I did capture is presented below.

Shibuya, Tokyo (渋谷区東京都)

A "Doctor T. J. Eckleburg"-esque ad spotted at the intersection of Shibuya's massive street crossing.
A manga depicting the life of Steve Jobs.
Yoyogi Park (代々木公園), Tokyo's largest public park, conveniently near where I lived.
A mural found in Yoyogi Park.
That day, there was an all day bazaar and festival being held in the park.
Another, more fantastical mural in the park.
A giant chandelier hanging from the ceiling of Tokyo's Camii Mosque (東京ジャーミイ).
The simple carpeting on the floor of the mosque...
...and the elaborate design on the ceiling.
The making of takoyaki (たこ焼き) in my apartment.
Playing cards in the apartment.
At a cat cafe (猫喫茶店).

Taito, Tokyo (台東区東京都)

The Kaminarimon (雷門) at the entrance to the bazaar in Asakusa (浅草).
Sensouji Temple (浅草寺) on a rainy day.
Another shot of the crowd outside the temple.
A statue of Saigo Takamori (西郷隆盛) in Ueno Park (上野公園).
A large public plaza, with the Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館) in the background.
Mascots of the museum. Many locations have cartoonish characters to represent them.

Sumida, Tokyo (墨田区東京都)

Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー), tallest free-standing tower in the world.
The grid-like streets as seen from Tokyo Skytree.

Chuo, Tokyo (中央区東京都)

Whole fresh fish at the Tsukiji Fish Market (築地市場).
Giant shrimp.

Kyoto (京都市)

Kinkakuji (金閣寺). Gold gold gold.
The four seasons (春夏秋冬) in stained glass in the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts (みやこめっせ京都市勧業館).
A crowd of tourists at the Kiyomizudera (清水寺).
A shrine across from the main balcony.
One of many kittens at Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社).

Nara (奈良市)

A deer in Nara Park (奈良公園).
A fierce Buddhist statue at Todaiji (東大寺).

Mount Fuji (富士山)

A makeshift lamp at a rest point, during our overnight ascent.
Sunrise from atop Mount Fuji.
A old shack buried under the dirt and rocks near the summit.

Himeji (姫路市)

Emerging from the subway onto the sweltering streets of Himeji.
A frontal view of Himeji Castle (姫路城) from the entrance.
Himeji Castle from within the park grounds.