Irohazaka road Nov 22, 2021

Irohazaka road

If you"ve ever wanted to learn written Japanese, a joy ride on this undulating road offers an unexpected tutorial. The hairpin turns in our photo are just a few of the 48 curves you"ll negotiate on your way up one part of Irohazaka road and down another—together they make a scenic loop in the highlands outside the city of Nikkō. That"s one switchback for each of the 48 hiragana symbols in an ancient Japanese writing system, with each marked by a sign showing one symbol. Not a bad visual aid for the still-learning visitor!

© LightRecords/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Nov 22, 2018Tom Turkey takes Manhattan
Nov 22, 2019The Cutty Sark turns 150
Nov 22, 2020Birds of the Drömling
Nov 22, 2022Red fox in the Netherlands
Nov 22, 2023Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Nov 22, 2025Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan, China

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 15, 2025Happy Fathers Day!
Jan 22, 2024Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California
Jun 20, 2023American Eagle Day
Aug 4, 2018‘Fringe’ takes center stage as Edinburgh celebrates the arts
Sep 7, 2024National Hummingbird Day
Oct 12, 2022Fossil Day
May 14, 2020Green fields of grain
Nov 8, 2018Manatees rebound
Oct 22, 2022Guilin and Lijiang River National Park, China
Jan 11, 2022Porcupine
Jul 21, 2026Santa Catalina Arch, Antigua, Guatemala
Mar 17, 2026Happy St. Patricks Day!
Jul 11, 2021Why, aloe there
Dec 31, 2022New Year s Eve in Sydney, Australia
Oct 5, 2022World Teachers Day
Feb 21, 2025Champaka Sarasi, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
Aug 18, 2024Huntington Beach Pier, California, at sunset
Oct 28, 2019A night on the (ghost) town
Jan 25, 2021Struck by Southwestern beauty
Apr 30, 2022International Jazz Day
Apr 13, 2020Floating temples in the Land of Smiles
Jul 12, 2019The ‘Night of Nights’
Feb 11, 2022harlem
Apr 16, 2020Bridges to the past
Jul 28, 2025World Nature Conservation Day
Jul 4, 2018Let’s celebrate
Sep 8, 2020Victory Day in Valletta
Jun 16, 2022Seonam Temple, South Korea
Apr 19, 2018Craig Goch Dam in the Elan Valley of Wales
Mar 18, 2026Cherry blossoms at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Oregon