Digihito

Man walking dog, Okayama castle grounds, Okayama, Japan.

Taking your dog for a walk by bicycle is quite a common sight in Japan.

Small breeds of dog are also much more popular than larger dogs here, due to the very small, or non-existent yards in many residential properties. It is much easier to keep small dogs indoors.

It is also much more common to see women with small dogs than men, who seem to be the walkers of the few larger breeds that you do see here.

The basket on the front of the bicycle is to put the dog in when it gets tired, or when in heavy car traffic.

Station attendant, Kotahira station, Kotaden line, Shikoku, Japan.

This station attendant is collecting tickets from people who are going to attempt to climb the 800 odd steps to the main building of the Kotahira shrine, which is said to bestow good fortune if you can make it.

It is quite a climb, taking about an hour or so, and if you feel good when you get to the main building, you can attempt the other four hundred odd steps to the very top.

All Japanese railway stations are attended when in use, the railway companies realizing that good customer service is not forsakable just to reduce costs.