I took this picture near the Asakusabashi station.

A lot of houseboat are at anchor.

You can enjoy sumida-river cruise from here!

You can walk from Akihabara, why don't you drop by here!

Yasu

Date: July 27, 2009

This place is Shinjyuku gyoen located on the back of the busy street.

If you want to escape from the bustle of the big city, I recommend you to visit here!!
Everyone relaxed on the grass!!

I like this shot!! The skyscraper stands at the back of nature!!

Yasu

Date: July 13, 2009

Do you like animation?
If so, you can enjoy this place ( tokyo animation center ) located in Udx building in Akihabara.

You can sometimes see the dubber recording of animation under your eyes.
Of couse, you can buy a lot of goods!!

Yasu

Date: July 10, 2009

I like to see (Bonsai) ming tree because I can feel a history from details of tree!!

This ming tree is small but It's age is 100years old!!
It takes a very long time to magnificently grow!!
We have to do a lot of things to grow ming tree.
The work needs care and patience!!
I think this is a art which has to be taken over from generation to generation!!

Yasu

Date: July 5, 2009

This place is Shinobazunoike which is pond located in Ueno park.
There are so many lotus growing!!!

Here is a good place to wander!!

Yasu

Date: July 3, 2009

I went to china town!!
This is my favorite scene!!

There are many paths between big streets.
I usually go to a restaurant which is located in like this path.
We can enjoy chinese atmosphere there!!

After tring out the food at one place after another, why don't you take a break like this small park?

This street is big street, most people visit there!!

Yasu

Date: June 29, 2009

I saw a dolphin show at a Shinagawa aquarium!!

They are so cute!!!

This dolphin is carring box by using a tail fin !!

They can jump too high!!

Be careful!! If you take a front seat, you will be splashed by dolphin !!
But you can get a thrill and a good memory!!
Just in case, towel is available for the people who get wet!!

Yasu

Date: June 23, 2009

I found a miniature which reflects good old age.

This age is High-growth period of Japan.
At the same time, Tokyo tower was built!!

A couple years ago, the movie which is stage for these ages hit among the people who lived these ages!

Japan has surely changed a lot compared to previous age!

Yasu

Date: June 19, 2009

I found a unique shape of bottle!!
This shape expresses the Tokyo tower!!

Yasu

Date: June 17, 2009

I took a picture from top of Tokyo tower!!

I have been unconscious of this great view for a long time!!
I have lived in Tokyo since I was born and I usually see Tokyo tower.
That's why I haven't cared!! But this time I have a chance to go up and I was impressed!!

The sky color changed gradually!!

I recommend that you visit evening!!

Yasu

Date: June 17, 2009

I took this picture the other day.

We usually see like this ad car in town..
We can surmise mood of the area by this ad!

I saw this ad car near the Harajyuku.
The people who are there like music, especially like this visual band.

A lot of people took a picture of this car!

I thought , this is a good marketing!

Yasu

Date: June 13, 2009

There are two sides of atmosphere in Harajyuku.
One is fashionable, the other is traditional.

The Meiji Shrine stands at the back of Harajyuku station.
Whenever we are tired of a dense crowd, we can visit here and have a break.

Inside is totally different from modern street and we can feel as if we went to far away!!
We can enjoy smelling fresh green this season!!

Yasu

Date: June 12, 2009

I saw a Japanese style wedding inside Meiji Shrine!!

Many people took a picture and I was tempted to take a picture!!
I suddenly worried about my future!!
When does my wedding day come?!

I have to find a girl freind first!!
Where is she?!!

Yasu

Date: June 11, 2009

This area is well known as the epicenter of fashion.

This street is Omotesandou-street which are lined with many shops.

Walking along this street from Harajyuku station, it crosses with Meiji-street.
H&M and Forever21 opend at Meiji street recently and are croeded with people every day!!
I had to wait more than 2hours to enter there on the opening day!!

Harajyuku station↓↓

People who are in this area love fashion and wear a variety of clothes!!
I once shot a film with artist who came from Amsterdam to make a Gothic movie.
He was excited to see Japanese fashion and we did a lot of guerilla interview especially with Gothic lolitas!!

You can sometimes find that old men pretend to be a Gothic lolita!!!
If you have courage, why don't you ask them to take a picture togerther!!

Yasu

Date: June 11, 2009

I sometimes find Japanese style teahouse with a nice garden.

This teahouse is located on the top of enoshima which is a small island.

After going up a steep hill , here is a good place to have a break!

We can see a beautiful dock on the way to going up.

Here is a mecca for wind surfing.
The many people visit here everyday, especially in summer!

Yasu

Date: June 6, 2009

I went to Tukishima to eat monjya yaki !!

Tukishima is well known for monjya yaki and have a more than 200 monjya restaurants!!

Do you know monjya yaki ?
It's similar to Okonomiyaki but dough is more liquid than Okonomiyaki.
We put a lot of ingredients in dough.
My favorite one is mixed with small rice cake and spicy cod eggs !!
We use a small metal spatula and eat it directly off the grill !!

Monjya yaki is a style of Kanto region so If you visit Tokyo you might as well try this !!

Yasu

Date: June 3, 2009

After surfing, I usually go to grandmother's house!!
She has grown a lot of vegetable.
It's fresh and good taste and totally different from what I usually eat in Tokyo !!

I pulled radish today.
I made salad and miso soup by using this !!

Yasu

Date: May 30, 2009

I came to Tatado beach which is known for mecca of surfing !!

This beach is very beautiful !!
The transparency of water is amazing!! We can see the bottom of sea and a lot of fish !!

There were small waves but I was able to enjoy surfing barely.
I'm usually in Tokyo so this ocean refresh me!!

The weather was like a summer !!
I can hardly wait for summer any more!!!

Yasu

Date: May 29, 2009

The sky finally cleared!!

The final destination is almost!!

YASU

Date: May 27, 2009

After passing the Atami, next place is Izu highland which has a lot of museum.

Now is the season of fresh green!!
How beautiful !!

There is a lake.

When I open window, fresh air came into !!

Yasu

Date: May 27, 2009

I arrive at Atami !!

There is a herb garden opposite to cliff .

Here is a good point to take a break !!

The wind from sea takes away tiredness of drive !!

Yasu

Date: May 27, 2009

I went surfing again!!

I usually use Tomei freeway which connects Tokyo and Nagoya.
And I change to Odawara-Athugi toll road at Athugi tollgate.
Once I get in that toll road, I can see a lot of mountain and river.
I drive for a while , there is a big curve.
Turn that curve I can see a ocean on my left side!!

This is my first point, I get excited!!!

I drive around 30minutes, I reach Atami which is known for Onsen place !!

Yasu

Date: May 27, 2009

Do you like Japanese confectionary?

These are erasers which are made like a traditional confectonary!!

The details of this eraser is amazing !!
It looks like real !!

You can buy these at a Tokyu hands department.

These will be a good souvenir!!!

Yasu

Date: May 24, 2009

I went to Imahan which specializes in Beef.
I ordered Sukiyaki, stake, sushi.

This is a Sukiyaki. ↓↓↓

We soak a beef in sukiyaki sauce and then soak it in raw egg.
The sukiyaki sauce is based on the soy taste with sake and other seasoning.

This restaurant offers a good beef!!

It was so tender!!!

This is stake ↓↓↓

And This is my favorite one, Sushi↓↓↓

This is a raw beef not tuna!!
On eating this, it melts in the mouth !!!

I recommend that you once try this!!

Yasu

Date: May 22, 2009

This is a tea ceremony tool.

The blue one is made 1800years ago!!!!!
These are in value.

And cups which are used are also in value.
That's why we appreciate the cup after we drink green tea.

I also like cakes served with green tea!!

It gose well with green tea!!

Yasu

Date: May 20, 2009

I participated in tea ceremony!!

The people who were there is elegant and courtesy.
We can learn a lot of manners which are already forgotten through the tea ceremony!!

After finish the ceremony, I could stood in an upright position and I felt that I got a gentle spirit!!
The problem is , my legs were numbed by having folded my legs under myself..............

Yasu

Date: May 20, 2009

We can find a lot of food stands at a festival site.
Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, Yakitori are popular.
I especially like to eat a shaved ice in summer!!
You can also find a Kingyosukui( Goldfish scooping ).
This is japanese traditional game!!

Why don't you wear Yukata and go to festival!!

Yasu

Date: May 17, 2009

I went to Sanjya festival which was held at Asakusa!!

There were so many people there!!
People carryed a lot of Mikoshi ( portable shrine )

I think, we can get a power from this kind of festival !!
People shouted Washoi-Washoi carrying Mikoshi !!

We have a lot of festival in summer.
If you have a chance, why don't you visit!!

Yasu

Date: May 16, 2009

This is one of my favorite food !!

The labiate and cheese are rolled up!!

You can find this restaurant at department store!
They also sell lunch box , I usually go to a picnic in the park with this restaurant's lunch box!!

Yasu

Date: May 14, 2009

I found a good restaurant !!

This steak lunch costs only 790yen!!

They mainly deal in Japanese food (Sashimi, tempura, sushi etc..) at a reasonable price!!
Of course, taste is very good !!!
You can find this restaurant in Ginza and Ueno.

Just try it !!

Yasu

Date: May 13, 2009

I bought a Taiyaki today!!
This is very famous Taiyaki shop in Ikebukuro!

Taiyaki is a fish shaped cake which is normally filled with sweet beans past.

I like this taste from early childfood !!
These days, custard ,chocolate and whip cream is put inside!!
I think , this is japanese style pancake or waffle!!

Just try this !!

Yasu

Date: May 10, 2009

This house is designated as world heritage.
This is the biggest rafter roof house in Japan!!

This house is located in back of Udon restaurant which I introduced yesterday!!

Yasu

Date: May 9, 2009

I went to Udon restaurant after surfing !!

This Udon restaurant is my favorite place because interior of this place is very good!!!
We can eat Udon at a Irori ( japanese style fireplace ) !!!

A lot of antique stuff inside restaurant!!

This is crab udon.
The scallop shell is used as spoon !!

This udon shop is near the Nabeta beach ( near the shimoda station )!!

Of course, taste is very good !!
I usually prefer soba to udon, but whenever I come to Izu, I always eat this Udon!!

Yasu

Date: May 8, 2009

I went to surfing again and droped by old city which near the Izukyu Shimoda station !!

There are so many good cafe and antique shop there.
My friend who came from Thailand bought a beautiful Kimono!!!

I like this scene, willow tree droops over the brook!!

If you have a chance to go to IZU, I highly recommend this place!!

YASU

Date: May 7, 2009

Today is Boy's day!!

Japanese display samurai armor inside house to hope that child will grow up strongly like a samurai !!

And people display carp streamer outside !!
It's a little difficult to find carp streamer in Tokyo recently , but you can enjoy carp streamer at a festival site!!

Yasu

Date: May 5, 2009

I went to Nikko and visited Toshogu which is designated as a world heritage.
The structures are majestic which are surrounded by many big cedar trees!!

You can go to there take train from ueno or asakusa station.

Nikko is listed on the Michelin sightseeing spot.
Toshogu is surely great spot but there are so many good view near the toshogu!!

Yasu

Date: April 30, 2009

I went to see kabiki !!
I took a picture of Kabiki theater because it will be taken down next year for renovation!!
So you might as well visit there to see Kabuki this year !!

If you don't have reservation for the Kabuki , you can buy a ticket directly at the spot!!
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　↓　　↓　　↓

Kabuki consists of several parts, but you can buy one part ticket!
Price for one part( about 2hours ) is 900yen, translation earphone is 400yen.

Inside Kabuki theater!
　　　↓　↓

Yasu

Date: April 26, 2009

I found a rare shop which deal with Japanese drum and Noh mask !!

These are good souvenir!! Why don't you display these drums and masks in your room?

You can find this shop near Oakhotel!!

Yasu

Date: April 24, 2009

This is a Budokan which is located in Kitanomaru park a couple of minutes walking distance from chidorigafuchi.

Many musicians long to hold a concert here!!
This place is well known because the Beatles performed here!!

This is a gate of Kitanomaru park.
How majestic!!

Yasu

Date: April 23, 2009

I went to Chidorigafuchi where is moat of Imperial palace.
I rented a row boat and took picture from it!!

I enjoyed a different scene for a change because I usually see this moat from upward!!
The wind was so nice!! This is the best place to take a lunch on the boat !!
Rent costs only 500yen for 30minute!!

Yasu

Date: April 22, 2009

I went to a park which called Inogashira-park near the Kichijoji-station.
Kichijoji is a very popular place among young people.

This park is a good place to ramble!!
There is a small zoo and temple inside park and you can also row a boat.

This is a cherry tree which blossomed few weeks ago!!

The season of fresh green has come!!
It looks like, Totoro is about to appear!!!

Actually, this park is quite near from Studio Ghibli !!

If you go to Studio Ghibli, why don't you drop by this park!!

Yasu

Date: April 21, 2009

Today I met a rickshaw man in Asakusa.
He is a great man, He loves in Asakusa, Japan culture !!

I was surprised, He pulled rickshaw and go to Disneyland where is a long way from Asakusa!!
Naturally,He was featured on TV!!

He is called super Saiyajin(Dragonball) of Asakusa!!

If you want to meet him, you can reserve his rickshaw at Oakhotel!!
And he will take you to Asakusa by rickshaw!!

Just try his rickshaw!! It will be a unforgettable memory!!!

Yasu

Date: April 20, 2009

The national treasure exhibition has taken place at a Tokyo kokuritu museum located in Ueno park.

These buddha are designated as national treasures.

This is a rare opportunity because these statues are usually exhibited at temples of Nara.

You can only see these statues at Ueno during this period (until 7th of June 2009 ) so If you have a plan going to Nara,You might as well visit this museum!!

Expression of Ashura is worth seeing!!

Yasu

Date: April 19, 2009

Many eat standing shops have shown up recently.

This is a sushi restaurant which is eat standing style.

Most tourist only know Kaiten-zushi( conveyor belt sushi ), but like this place is also worth your while to visit one time!!

Japanese is using the small space efficiently!!!!!

You can find this kind of shop around station.
Why don't you go to there for news of your trip!!

Yasu

Date: April 18, 2009

There are a lot of hot springs in Tokyo.

This is my favorite place which is used by many people without circumstance.

The cost is about 800yen.

Why don't you go to like this hot spring during your stay!!
You will be able to expert of Japan!!

Yasu

Date: April 17, 2009

Do you know this?

This is a underwear which is imaged samurai armor.

It's said that Japanese baseball team wore this during WBC.

Samurai era is already finished, but we have a lot of occasion to struggle today !!
We must spend every minute as if it were our last!!

Well, I'm just going to depart to the front!!

Yasu

Date: April 16, 2009

This is Odaiba park which is artificial beach.
This park is the nearest beach from center of tokyo also there are so many shopping place there.

Today was very hot weather as if summer!!

It will be the best season to visit there from now on.
I recommend visiting there especially sunset time, romantic siaside walk will attract you!!

This is Fuji TV headquarters which impress us with modern technology!!

Yasu

Date: April 15, 2009

There are so many funny toys in Japan.

I would like to introduce one of my favorite toy [mugen series] today!!

Mugen means infinity.

This is MUGEN-EDAMAME .

The reason called mugen-edamame( infinite soybeans ) is, you can push the beans inside the pod endlessly!!

Most Japanese like not only Edamame( green beans ) taste but also feeling of pushing the beans inside pad!!
This toy strike human psychology!!
If you are interested in this toy, It can be found at department store ( especially Tokyuhanzu ).

Get a infinite pleasure!!!

Yasu

Date: April 14, 2009

There is a wholesale store street near Oak hotel called Kappabashi.

These stores specialize in dishes, pots, pans, and cooking utensils.

You will also find wax food samples used by many restaurant in their show windows.

If you find a favorite Japanese food, why don't you buy wax sample for souvenir!!
You can remember Japanese life whenever you glimpse at!!

Yasu

Date: April 13, 2009

These are Japanese style bars!!

Peopel just drop by at these kinds of bars after finish work.

This place is near shinjyuku station which is called Omoide-yokochou.
There are so many different menu which you can choose.

When you come to Japan, why don't you visit this place!?
You can experience real Japanese style and the people who are there are so friendly!!

It will be unforgettable memory!!
Omoide means memory.
That's why this place is called Omoide-yokochou!!

Yasu

Date: April 12, 2009

I took this picture at IZU peninsula(irouzaki).

There are so many beautiful beach and mecca for surfing!!
I usually go surfing to there!!

A lot of japanese visit there, especially summer time!!
You can go to IZU by train from tokyo,It takes about 3hours.

If you want to experience beach side life,why don't you just go!!

Yasu

Date: April 11, 2009

Have you ever eaten loach?!

I found a restaurant which specialize in loach dish!!

I used to eat loach in my childhood !!

Yanagawanabe（柳川鍋） is the most famous dish which cooked with burdock, leek,egg and ginger.

If you have courage, why don't you try it !!
You can find this kind of restaurant in asakusa area.

Its taste is very good !!!

Yasu

Date: April 10, 2009

There are a lot of rape blossoms and big aloe inside Hamarikyu!!

Hamarikyu is a Japanese garden located in near Shiodome station.

It's a nice place to drop by when visit Tsukiji market.

As you can see, There are many modern buildings around this garden.
But, once you enter this garden,it was as if you trip to totally different place!!

Yasu

Date: April 9, 2009

I found a good old cheap sweet shop in the middle of urban today!!

It's difficult to find this kind of shop these days
I use to eat these sweets my childhood gathered aroud shop!!
These kinds of shops were social place for kids.
Now, I grow up and we usually gathere at bar.
A good old memory rushed into my mind !!

I hope, this shop remains forever!!

Yasu

Date: April 8, 2009

Whenever I give a casual look at town, I always find a good site and rare things!!

I went to near the Tokyo stock market today.
And I found a good site where I generally unnotice.

There are modern buildings at the back of historical statue.
It's a fusion of modern and old.

This statue looks like powerful!!

When the cherry blossom is blew by wind , it looks like snow!!
How beautiful !!

Yasu

Date: April 7, 2009