Trying (unsuccessfully, as it turned out) to escape Tokyo’s humidity, I headed north to Akita this weekend.
Pimp my ride Akita style
Here’s how the local surfer boys fix up the Tarago van to make a modern version of the shaggin’ wagon. These were seen parked in a row at Shimohama, near Akita.
Woken with a jolt
The earth moved last night. Around 12:30am, I was woken from deep slumber to find he bed shaking around and the walls creaking. The epicentre was up in Tohoku, where it was a M6 quake, and there was nothing much more than a rumble here in Tokyo. So it was hardly a talking point at… Continue reading Woken with a jolt
To no Take
With my new gear in tow, I got out of Tokyo for the first time this trip, and headed out early on Sunday morning on the Odakyu Line to a town called Shibusawa (Kanazawa Prefecture), about 75 mins south west of Shinjuku. From there, it’s a short bus ride to Okura, where some hiking trails… Continue reading To no Take
Jinbocho outdoor shops & Marine Day
I’ve only been in Tokyo for 3 weeks, and am already busily planning how to spend my holidays. Monday is Marine Day (Umi no hi), a public holiday, and I’m planning to go nowhere near the sea. Instead, I’m planning to spend tomorrow up in the Tanzawa mountain range, south east of Tokyo.
Sakuradamon Sunset
I had 15 mins up my sleeve before meeting someone after work tonight, so I took a walk to the moat around the Imperial Palace before heading back to the subway line. Here are two photos of the sunset from Sakuradamon. The Kokkaigijido (Diet) is visible in the first one.
Reunited with my things
My stuff’s here! My boxes of belongings have arrived at my apartment in Hachiyama-cho, Shibuya, Tokyo.
Surviving the company health check
I had to undertake the company health check today, down in the company’s health room. It consisted of a chest x-ray, height/weight measurements, sight and hearing tests, a cardiogram test, and a dreaded blood test. Here’s the evidence that my arm survived and am now recovering well. Those who know me well already realise that I… Continue reading Surviving the company health check
Utopia in Tokyo
Today I visited the Tokyo National Art Centre, in Roppongi/Nogizaka. At the moment, it houses an exhibition called “Utopia: the Genius of Emily Kame Kngwarreye”, which I learned about when I was in Alice Springs a few weeks ago. Emily Kngwarreye was an artist from Utopia, an outback settlement about 230 km north east of… Continue reading Utopia in Tokyo
Still living out of a suitcase
The storm clouds were building the other evening out to the north, just on sunset. This cumulonimbus had lightning flashing inside it, and was quite spectacular.