Snowy Tokyo and Hachiouji...

Wow, check out the snow in Tokyo!!!

On NHK's Ohayo Nippon news...I saw this area below, outside of Hachiouji Station...only thing being...it was snowing!!!

I could tell it was Hachiouji becuase when I went to Japan last year, I took this pic in front of this unique looking titanium rainbow sculpture, and during the new cast, they showed a portion of the rainbow, and of course, because I picked up "Hachiouji" in the telescast...

While snowy there, my friends who live in Hachiouji missed the snow and are in Hawaii instead...missing out on some beautiful snowy weather???

Hachiouji snowbirds blog: http://blog.goo.ne.jp/toshihiko94ma/

Deep Fried Crunchy Goodness...

On every trip to Japan I always end up wanting to eat all the different kinds of katsu and/or croquettes and/or tempura they have there. So on my way back from the Government Building in Shinjuku, I wondered around the train station shops trying to find the best looking one's I could find...pretty hard cause they have many many types (e.g., ebi, ika, imo, pork, kabocha, fish, hamburger, and anykine) and they all look so good...

As I had just eaten at very late lunch at a sushiya in Shinjuku, I bought these two pieces for a dinner snack. I bought stuff that I've never had before...one was a fancy sort of Hokkaido milk and mashed potato katsu, and the other was a hamburger type katsu...mmmmm...

But it wasn't the ultimate in...mmmmm...cause it was all cold already...these must be awesome when HOT...next time...

Lookin Up...


Walking back to my hotel I snapped this pic looking up at the 60 story Sunshine60 building with my hotel on the left.

View From the 45th Floor...

On Tuesday...after eating breakfast, I decided to get in some free entertainment.



On my last 2005 visit to Japan, I stayed at the Keio Plaza in Shinjuku and had a direct view of the magnificent Tokyo Metropolitan Governement Buildings, twin towers actually. But back then, I didn't know that it was the government building and that there was a FREE observation deck on the 45th floor.

One thing for sure...Shinjuku Eki (新宿駅) was still VERY confusing as ever...and even though that was my "base station" last time, I got lost and wondered around looking down all the "valleys" between the other tall buildings for the distinctive look of the Government Building.


Here's a よんじゅうごかい Photostitch view from one side of the building, looking East. The Keio Plaza's two buildings are there on the left and Shinjuku Eki is sort of center left, just in front of the park in the middle. This is what I would call a concrete jungle...no wonder it was so hot...


Looking down into the buildings large ground level open plaza...note the orange spire...it's in the top picture too...

On the 45th floor, there's a cafe...that takes up about one-third of the viewing area...you need to pay to get in. The next time I go back there...I'll probably go at night to see the lit up skyline...and to enjoy a cup of that great Japanese kohi...and perhaps some good company...

Lots and Lots of Walking...

While in Japan I did this walk about 2 times a day...1/2 mile (minimum) each way, not counting walking around while lost and while lugging around some star sharks in my roller luggage...and in 90+ degree weather too...

The main portion of the walk was along a couple block long pedestrian mall with lots and lots and lots of people...going to and from the station in the morning and at night...

Gmap: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1220568

No wonder everyone in Japan is so skinny...

Momonga Coffee Shop

On Tuesday morning, still being on Hawaii time, I woke up pretty early...like before 8am JST.

I was hungry and wandered around the Sunshine City for a while looking for places to eat breakfast...the only problem being, not much eating places were open that early.

I ended up leaving the mall and looking for somewhere to eat outside...when I found this quaint neighborhood coffee shop called Momonga Coffee Shop just a stone throw from my hotel.





I ended up eating the モーニングサービス　"Morning Service" breakfast on two days of this trip. For just 480 yen, I got scrambled eggs and a Japan arabiki, two big thick toasted slices of excellent Japan pan, a cup of the always strong Japan kohi, and a nice slice of sweet cantaloupe. What a great start to your day! The friendly owner could also speak some Eigo and was nice enough to direct me to what I would be looking for this day, a good bike shop.

I know for sure, if I ever live in Ikebukuro, I would eat breakfast here quite often...

The Color Blue...

After taking in the view at the top, I was getting tired, but I wandered around the Sunshine City mall checking out this huge 5 or 6 story shopping complex for a bit. It was pretty empty as most of the stores were already closed. Outside the entrance I saw this blue building that deserved to have its picture taken...cause I like blue...but not being...



It was still VERY hot out and I ended up drinking a ton of these blue bottled Nike Swooshed Aquarius drinks that they only have in Japan...but maybe at Shirokiya here in Honolulu too...maybe...

I noticed that they had both round bottles and square ones - both 500ml I think...maybe to accommodate different types of vending machines???

Aquarius ended up being my favorite drink and one thing's for certain...when you get into that kind of heat and are not used to it, and, you have to do a LOT of walking, you can gulp down one of these bottles in one or two or three big swigs!!! Gotta keep those mineral levels in balance you know...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarius_(sports_drink)

The サンシャイン 60 Observatory

The Sunshine 60 Observatory at the Sunshine City - Below is a high ISO 6 shot? Photostitch from 240 meters high looking towards the lit up Ikebukuro Eki (池袋駅) . The always busy Express Way is on the right hand side.



It was Monday, 9 pm JST, and 2 am MONDAY, Hawaii time...but I like to stay up late and sleep in late too...so I still felt OK that evening. I decided to take in the sites at the 60th floor observation deck at the Sunshine 60 building.

I wasn't sure if it was free or not...it wasn't...620 yen please...for a ride up what is suppose to be the fastest elevator in Tokyo.

The nite view from the top was really spectacular as you can take in all the lights of Tokyo from the 360 degree viewing floor. I didn't know till after I left, that I could have gone upstairs to the top of the building for an open air view...bummers...would have been really hot...but nice...

This is the view looking DOWN onto the 36? story Sunshine City Prince Hotel that I was staying in. I was in room 2926, facing away from the Sunshine 60 building.

Below is a view straight down from another side of the observation floor...looking at the Express Way below.




Below is one of my favorite pictures of the trip, if a picture could sum up how you feel at the moment...

Outside, Looking In...

This was taken looking South, towards Shinjuku's skyscraper studded skyline. For me...this picture makes you realize what a place Tokyo is...in a different land with a different language, it was hard for this "local boy" to comprehend that there are millions and millions of people down there interacting and going about there lives in this 24/7 city...even knowing that...it was a melancholy Monday night there...outside, looking in...it's all relative...

いま ときょう に います。。。I'm In Tokyo Now

(Posted about 10 pm JST - Monday August 6th)

So on a whim I decided to take a short vacation to Tokyo before my brother comes back...



Luckly for me, although booked at the last possible second, the JALways flight was very empty with just as much stewardeses as passengers...


I heard from my brother and my friend Ats that it would be VERY hot and humid in Japan...and the second you stepped off the plan it was as if you walked into a hot shower room...

Tokyo is a multi faceted and multi layered city, and seeing the perpetual intertwining of steel and concrete overpasses, roads, bridges, walkways and waterways is a perfect example of how connected...but how very different all the people and areas and traditions of this city coexist...
My room and the view out after the 1hr 50min ride from Narita to Ikebukuro's Sunshine City...

While walking around, I passed by this park with the most unreal sound I've ever heard...think buzzing locusts...ON STEROIDS!!! Super loud...like a pack of 2 stroke Yamaha RD400s revving up to 10,000rpm!!! I think it was these LARGE moth looking things...

Had some awesome Miso Ramen at Kairaku...the bamboo shoots were the best I've ever eaten, chewy but crunchy at the same time...