August 2010
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Okayama, Korakuen
Okayama’s Korakuen has been in existence since the Edo Period and has entertained many important guests through the years. It is considered one of the three famous gardens of Japan and is designated as a Special Scenic Location under the Cultural Properties Protection Law.
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Doraemon in Tsukushima
Saw this Doraemon character when I was out eating okonomiyaki a while ago. Would…
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Izumo Soba
When visiting Izumo Taisha I tried the well known Izumo Soba. It was a…
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Konan in Miyajima
Konan, the detective was out in Okayama and Miyajima, when I visited, welcoming people…
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Rilakkuma in Hiroshima
While I was traveling in Hiroshima the other week I found this souvenir in…
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Ise Jingu, Naiku
Ise Jingu is made up of a large number of sites around Ise. The most well known are the Gekku and Naiku sites. You can get to Ise Jingu (Naiku) by train from Nagoya. Close by is Okagesama-dori, which has some wonderful old style shops.
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Anpanman Train
Snapped this shot from the train window the other day, showing an Anpanman train.
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Hiroshima Genbaku Dome
Hiroshima Genbaku Dome, the well known scene of the destruction caused by the first Atomic bomb dropped on Japan at the end of World War II. Every year in August a ceremony is held to remember the lives lost and to remind the world of the danger of atomic weapons.
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Tonari no Totoro
Ran across this Totoro in Dazaifu, Fukuoka while out looking at nature.
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Kachidoki Bashi
The night view of Tokyo is always quite colorful in a tasteful way. There…
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Digital Vending Machine, Tokyo
I came across this new vending machine at the station. It looks like its…
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Midtown Water Works
Midtown Water Works at Roppongi is a show that has been put on for the summer months, starting July 17 to August 23, 2010. I went there last night to see what the crowds were enjoying and got caught in the rain.
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Summer Matsuri
Summer is a time of festivals in Japan and also the time of Obon. I took these photos at a local matsuri in Chiba which included plenty of drum playing and obon dancing.
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Tokyo Daijingu
Tokyo Daijingu is located near Iidabashi Station in Tokyo. The Shrine is descended from the famous Ise Jingu Shrine in Mie-ken. Tokyo Daijingu is said to be a strong spiritual source for helping couples create good relationships and so has become a popular place for weddings. On week days it is often crowded, particularly with women, who line up to buy good luck charms and omikuji.
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Japan Travels
I have been traveling locally in Japan recently, in Nagoya, Kobe, Okayama and Hiroshima,…
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Shibuya Mural
There are many statues and art work displays at the stations in Japan. This…
July 2010
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Yoyogi
I took a trip out to Yoyogi on the weekend to capture some photos of this area which is located very close to Shinjuku. It is surprising how quiet and peaceful the area was given its proximity to the large business district nearby.
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Capsule Inn, Shibuya
Capsule Inns or hotels are well known in Japan for providing a place to stay the night at low cost, without taking up a lot of space. I stayed at one recently and thoroughly enjoyed my time. If you have never tried one I encourage you to give it a go.
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World Cup, Spain
This restaurant in Shibuya, Spain-zaka is celebrating the win!
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Hawaii Style Lunch
I was thinking of Hawaii at lunch time and decided to grab lunch at…
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Ginza Cats
On the weekends you can walk down the main street in the Ginza without any traffic. These cats took advantage of the quiet roads to get some time out on top of one of the street signs.
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Australia
I have been thinking about moving to Australia or the US recently. I took…
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Kiki
I am in Australia at the moment and have been visiting my cat, Kiki….
June 2010
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Conbini Monday Wk57
Had a few problems with the server yesterday, which required the data center installing…
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Kofu, Yamanashi-ken
Kofu is located about 2 hours West of Tokyo in Yamanashi-ken. You can catch an express train from Shinjuku that makes it an easy day trip. Summer can be humid since the town is surrounded by mountain ranges.
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Metro Trouble?
If you get into any trouble on the metro, just scan this bar code…
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Conbini Monday Wk56
It seems difficult to go into the convenience store and not find something new….
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Conbini Monday Wk55
Chibi Maruko chan has center stage at Lawson right now, with a big ‘Nostalgia’…
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Kutan, Narita Airport
Coming back from Australia, I found this character at Narita Airport, on standby for…
May 2010
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Conbini Monday Wk54
After being back in Australia for 10 days, it was nice to arrive home…
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Narita Airport Cleaning
I am in Australia this week and have been without internet coverage for a…
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Ladybirds, Tentoumushi, Ladybugs
Do you say ladybirds? or ladybugs? Or is it tentoumushi – these slippers are…
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Some Books for Teaching Artwork
Has anyone used this project book for teaching project work with recycling materials?
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Conbini Monday Wk53
There is a definite Ujicha theme at the moment. When i stayed in Kyoto…
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Gachapin campaign for TWR
The TWR, Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Line, is celebrating its 500,000,000th passenger, which…
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Momotaro Puppets
Teaching Japanese fairy tales to kids? This set of puppets from the Momotaro story…
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Yamashita Koen, Yokohama
Yamashita Koen in Yokohama is a popular place for people to relax and enjoy. Couples stroll up and down the waterfront, families picnic on the grass, children play. The park was formally constructed after the 1923 earthquake, but has a history back to the opening of the Port to the West over 150 years ago.
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Route 246
A reader, exclusivejdm, sent me this picture via Twitter, they took driving down the…
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Conbini Monday Wk52
This week’s Conbini Monday features a Happy Lawson store from Yamashita Park, Yokohama. As…
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Painting in Yamashita Koen
I took a walk around Yamashita Koen in Yokohama today after having lunch at…
