Looking down on Tokyo? Only from the Sky Deck of the Mori Tower at Roppongi Hills, which at 270 metres above sea level, offers some better than ordinary vistas of the megatropolis skyline. I had some complimentary tickets to the observation deck (thanks Masakatsu!) that were due to expire the next day, so whatever the… Continue reading Looking down on Tokyo
Waterways of Osaka
Who knew that Osaka looks so much better from the water? I revisited some old favourite places during the Silver Week holiday but saw them from a whole new angle. And the significance of the giant rubber duck? I have no idea; it was just floating on the river near Tenmanbashi.
Sunny Sannomiya
Kobe has always been high on my list of places to visit, by I’ve never quite made it there in the past. This was put to rest during this year’s Silver Week holiday, when I spent a fleeting, but sunny, day exploring around Sannomiya and its bustling Chinatown, historical elegant districts, history of foreign contact as a… Continue reading Sunny Sannomiya
Sumo – visiting Kokugikan on day 7 of the September basho
A day at the sumo is one of the most exciting experiences in Japan. My Swedish friends, who were sumo newbies, asked me to help them get tickets and go along with them. It’s not hard to accept an invite like that one.
Local festival in Nakameguro
Sunday was a sunny day in Tokyo, which was good for a lot of local festivals that were being held around my neighbourhood. In nearby Nakameguro, I came across a small festival based around a jinja (Shinto shrine) called Kitano Jinja.
Madeline the micro cafe in a Citroen
A lot of things in Japan are compact, including this French style retro micro-cafe inside an old Citroen car called Madeline.
Chocolate Yamanote Line train
The Yamanote Line is the central nervous system of Tokyo’s transport system, looping around the city joining 29 stations. To commemorate 100 years of the Yamanote Line, Japan Railways (JR) has released one train in an apparently original chocolate brown colour, instead of the normal silver carriages with the light-green stripe.
A morning mission to Takao-san
Takao-san is a popular mountain to the west of Tokyo with a number of hiking tracks and Yakuoin temple, and I’d never been out there. This is surprising given that it’s only an hour from Tokyo and easy to get to, quick to climb, and (supposedly) has views across to Fuji-san. I think what had deterred… Continue reading A morning mission to Takao-san
Tokyo micro car parks
Micro car parks with only a few car spaces are popping up over Tokyo as fast as old buildings are demolished. I’ve noticed a few blocks of land near my office where it seems that there’s a building one day, and a two-space car park the next.
Beware of chikan with claws
Even though Japan is generally such an orderly country, there are many warning signs telling people how to be careful and how to behave. I found this sign at the entrance to Kita-in Temple in Kawagoe last weekend. It says to be careful of chikan (perverts) and bag snatchers – but apparently, only the ones with sharp claws. … Continue reading Beware of chikan with claws