Museum Piece

Shot this picture in the upstairs rest area of the Tokyo National Museum, the one facing the back of the property (you know!)…
I found it funny that a more-or-less “ancient” piece of technology would find itself in use in (ironically enough) a museum of antiquities.  It was still plugged in, so I assumed it was [...]

Asakusa Side Street

Taken on a Saturday afternoon on a side street leaving Senso-ji.  Just a few feet away, literally hundreds of people were mulling about the Senso-ji complex and the covered market streets.
I thought this scene captured a bit of that tranquility in the middle of the ocean of people….

Creepy Statue Guy

If I remember correctly this guy was watching from the awning somewhere around Senso-ji.  Did a double-take to make sure it wasn’t actually a guy sitting there.  Takes gargoyles to a whole new level, don’t you think?

The Weight of the World

My wife noticed these grumpy little guys holding up a stone altar in one of the temple/shrine areas in Ueno Park.  You have to wonder what was going through the builders’ minds when they made these!
Were they just having a bad day?  Trying to be funny?  A representation of “the weight of the [...]

What is This Called?

OK, calling on all you experts out there…  Does this display have a particular name in Japanese?  And what is the significance?
This large “gift basket” looking thing was in the lobby of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building (as of early July anyway.)  I see the maneki neko, the target with the arrow, the small “twin [...]

Konbini Food | コンビニの食べ物

Much like here in “the States”, you can run down to the local convenience store, or “konbini” (コンビニ) in Japan, and grab some food.  Now, I’m not going to go off on the “OMG Japan’s konbini food >> everything” tangent.  I’ve had some pretty damn good food from the local QT before.  OK, maybe not [...]

Hydrangeas, aka Ajisai (紫陽花)

It doesn’t take long as you walk around, well, pretty much anywhere in Japan in July, to notice the many, many bushes filled with blue or purple flowers. These gorgeous plants are Hydrangeas, if you didn’t know. And yes, they are everywhere.
Native to Asia, there are lots of different varieties, but the type [...]

Japanese Cars

If, like me, you grew up in America, you’re used to one thing: Big Frickin Cars(tm), and an endless sea of hulking pickup trucks and SUVs.
The situation is quite the opposite in Japan, as pretty much everything on four wheels is considerably smaller.  Take for example this VW Minibus replica spotted in Enoshima…
OK, so Volkswagen [...]

Don’t Feed the Monkeys!

On Mt. Takao, you’ll see these signs every so often along the trails…
What’s it say? (You can probably guess the top part)
サルや野生動物にエサを与えないで下さい
ゴミは待ち帰りましょう
この看板は、高尾山を訪れる人たちに安心して自然を樂しんでもらうため、八王子市追い払い駆除隊。(社)
八王子青年会議所。高尾山を活動の拠点とする八王子森林パトロール隊。ボランチィアが協力し設置したものです。
八王子市農林課
(whew)
Please don’t feed the wild monkeys.
Let’s take  our trash with us.
This sign is to give peace of mind and enjoyment to Takao-san’s visitors, from the Hachioji _____ Organization (Company).  (The missing part doesn’t make [...]

School Field Trip?

My wife couldn’t resist snapping this photo of a gaggle of kindergarten-age schoolgirls looking like they’re on a field trip.  かわいい！

If memory serves this was on the platform at the strangely Swiss-themed Gora station, part of the “Hakone Loop”, which you can read all about on Day 8 of the Journal….