 | | So Yumi picks me up at the airport and we see some sights on the way. Errr... though sightseeing is the last thing on my mind after a transpacific flight the sights of Tokyo are an experience only a local can show you.
Tokyo, Japan
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 | | This is as crowded as they normally get. I've seen worse, and so have you on the news, but those are uncommon in most locales.
Tokyo, Japan
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 | | Yumi in her 'hood. She and her hubby have a apt/condo nearby.
Tokyo, Japan
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 | | The cherry blossoms were just starting to come out when i visited...
Tokyo, Japan
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 | | One of the famous temples(Sensoji). When you're following someone you really don't know where you are or where you are going.
Tokyo, Japan
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 | | Nerd alert! Yumi took me out to lunch before dropping going to Akihabara.
Tokyo, Japan
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 | | The famous mile long fish market. I'd see the insides on my next trip.
Tokyo, Japan
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 | | Tokyo Tower
Tokyo, Japan
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 | | View of the skyline
Tokyo, Japan
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 | | Ha! The cop is trying to get away from me and the camera! Hahaha...
Russian Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
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 | | This is what gaijin think of Japan... only downtown Tokyo though.
Tokyo, Japan,
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 | | Nighttime at the bullet train station. It's full of career business types in suits.
Shinkansen Station, Tokyo, Japan
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 | | Series 800 Trains.
Tokyo, Japan
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 | | Um... they seemed to have booked more passengers than seats... dammit. I copied this fellow and sat on the floor, but i couldn't zonk out like he did.
Somewhere in the middle of Japan
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 | | The elementary school where my folks dropped me off for 3rd and 6th grade during summer break. I had a blast learning new things and I'm sure my folks were glad to get rid of me : )
Kanie, Japan
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 | | A familiar sight for me, the local train station. I used to come here a lot with my mom/grandma going places. Public transport is de riguer in Japan.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Darned beam. The apt in the background blocked by the steel is where i spent most of kindergarden and 1st grade.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Japan is a very clean and orderly country. Nothing is out of place. Even the traffic flag wavers wear matching uniforms all snappy-like. Not the big belly budweiser guzzling we're used to.
Nagoya, Japan
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 | | Yoshizuya- this store is bigger than 1/2 dozen walmarts and sells everything! It's amazing. And the big dept stores in Nagoya make this look podunk. Amazing firework section : )
Kanie, Japan
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 | | A crane in flight.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Nagoya Castle. I'll get better with my framing!
Nagoya-jo, Nagoya, Japan
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 | | Ok perverts- they really to have school girls dressed up like sailor moon. I'm not going to jail for you so this is the best you'll get. If i only appreciated such things when i was little...
Nagoya-jo, Nagoya, Japan
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 | | So following my uncle around on one of his business trips i saw this sign. And being spontaneous in a future sort of way i decided i wanted to go to this. So I did. I just had to wait a few years...
Nagoya, Japan
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 | | My uncle- he just fetched me out of this little center. I tend to wander where i feel like going...
Nagoya, Japan
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 | | In my quest to get just the right set of sake cups my uncle pulled out all the stops. He asked everyone, we even went to this artists colony/school to see if they had anything. Nope, but they had some cool shit in their dumpster...
Japan
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 | | 'Burbs of Nagoya
Japan
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 | | Just a parking lot i suppose, but it holds meaning to me : ) That shitty rusted out van from the 50's or whenever became part of a the warehouse for the family pharmacy...
Kanie, Japan
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 | | My uncle entering his store...
Narita-san's store, Kanie, Japan
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 | | Sorry Oba-chan (aunt) about this absolutely terrible shot!
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Downtown Kanie around 5am. I'm heading to Kyoto for the day and want to get the most of my day.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | The train ticket guy. Most tickets are automated though.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | See anyone? Nope! It's around 7am, before all the tourists come. I would come back in a few years and this place would be packed!!!
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | Just a person heading off to work...
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | Kiyomizu
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | Kiyomizu
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | On the platform of my favorite temple- Kiyomizu
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | THE classic shot of Kiyomiza, too bad it was all overcast.
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | There are many many building in the Kiyomizu complex, it's massive place.
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | Little shrines along the foot path
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | I just walked up and took a drink from Otowa-no-taki waterfall. Try that in the summertime!
Kiyomizu, Kyoto, Japan
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 | | The entrance to Kinkakuji. I bought a packet of postcards and showed them to whatever taxi driver i could find to take me there. Suboptimal route selection of course, it seemed like everytime i picked a site it would be on the other side of the city. I spend $200+ on taxi's that way, and much time. It was a break from the walking though...
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | Kinkakuji- the last remaining building. The rest burnt down (so did this one but it was rebuilt). I just ran through this area snapping pictures....
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | Drop a coin(s) in, clap-clap to summon the god(s), and make a prayer.
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | Inside the Imperial Palace i think.
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | View from above the castle moat.
Imperial Castle, Kyoto, Japan
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 | | More shots of the imperial complex
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | So i saw a cool postcard and gave it to the taxi driver. It was a UN heritage site and the pics looked cool. F*K. You have to a) ask to come via postcard months in advance, b) signup for the church, and c) be allowed in. Err... shit...
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | So i made the best of the situation and instead of taking another $50 taxi ride back i wandered off to look for some cool stuff. I huddled under this gate for a bit because it was raining!
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | There isn't much to do when it's raining so i ran into the rain to see what i could see...
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | I found this interesting old house/?
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | Being all tired from no sleep, running around, and being rejected by the UN i headed back...
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | Series 600 trains i think
Kyoto, Japan
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 | | Everyday Japan passed on the other side of the window...
Japan
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 | | See? Even Gaijin can make their way around Japan! No need to signup for a tour group to be led around like sheep...
Nagoya, Japan
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 | | I spent soooo much time in this little park when i was a kid. Blew up bugs, played tag, just being a kid. Memories...
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Obachan's (grandma) street
Kanie, Japan
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 | | My Grandma's house.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Nerdo with his uncle about to go to the airport!
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Pachinko Parlor. No neon or other bits, it's early in the morning.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | WTF! It's like 7am on a sat morning or something. What are these guys doing gambling? Maybe it's still friday night for them... damm...
Kanie, Japan
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 | | With this little johnny can decide between a lager or coffee.. they have everything in vending machines there. Mostly various soda drinks, but the occasional beer or porno machine can be found.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Looking up the train tracks..
Kanie, Japan
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 | | I'm not sure what the shrine is for but all the folks coming out to clean it caught my eye. I think they come out every week- a good communal activity where the old folks get out, get exercise, meet others, and do good. You won't that often in the states...
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Full service in Japan is full service like 1950's USA.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Local train service crossing over a bridge.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | My attemped juxtaposition of new and old, tradition and technology. It didn't quite work out...
Kanie, Japan
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 | | The family pharmacy.
Kanie, Japan
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 | | I wouldn't have called them the projects back then but now they're getting a bit run down...
Kanie, Japan
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 | | Nagoya city hall i think. Much more impressive than the San Diego or even LA building...
Nagoya, Japan
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 | | My uncle strolling around...
Nagoya, Japan
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 | | I think my uncle thought i was a bit trigger happy with the camera : )
Nagoya, Japan
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