Photos © Ruud Leeuw

TOKYO

We enjoyed an excellent hotel for an acceptable price in the quiet Hanzomon part of Tokyo

Hotel Monterey, Hanzoman, Tokyo
We had no need this time (as we had in Kyoto at first) for the complimentary use of a smartphone. The water bottles
were replenished each day and were much appreciated (still warm mid-October). I had been warned that hotel beds had
hard matrasses and found this to be true in each hotel we stayed in, but I was very pleased by their comfort.
I regretted to note that all four hotels we stayed in had no western tv (news) channels, only Japanese channels.
The breakfast buffet here was expensive too so we had breakfast at Starbucks, located on a 5 minute walk.
The hotel had subway entrance/exit right across the street, so travel across town was simple.

There were few restaurants near our hotel, more a residential area. But we had a simple diner next to the hotel
offering an excellent curry (popular in Japan, it seems), right, and an Indian restaurant further down the road (left).

JCII CAMERA MUSEUM

My 2nd SLR camera was an Olympus OM-1 (top, 2nd from left), followed later by the OM-2 (center, left) and OM-4Ti.

This enlarger also brings back memories, good memories.

Now this is fun!

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Yasukuni Shrine

I visited this shrine for a Zero WW2 fighter plane supposedly on display here, but did not find it. Several spots and structures were fenced off, probably for restoration purposes. Maybe this Zero was removed for the same purpose.
I did see a peculiar tree.. And of course no statue big enough for a bird to sit on top and shit on the imposing character.

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We crossed the road, into a park.

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Out on the street there is plenty to be amazed about.

Amazing to see the wooden traditional houses among the modern (but rather bland) architecture.

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BOOK DISTRICT

I can't really make out what these were...

theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/a-book-lovers-guide-to-tokyos-jimbocho-district

I spotted a very nice Billy Collins (poetry) book, in English, for only 300 JPY (less than 3 euro)!

Sanseido’s flagship bookstore proudly stands in Jimbocho and is a landmark of the area. One can find English books on
the 5th floor. The store is open 10 AM to 8 PM daily. Adress: Sanseido 1-1 Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

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McDonald's is not my favourite food but at least they offer seating, which cannot be said for so many Japanese
eating places. We had a pretty good lunch and our feet had a good rest.

A constant bombardment on the retina...

The only boot polisher I came across this trip. Probably a vanishing occupation even here in Japan,
an antiquated society in certain aspects. Japanese office-workers tend to dress quite formally and identical,
polished shoes probably are a definite requirement. But I think they have vanished completely in my country, decades ago.

No words needed, I'd say..

Nearby, a completely different streetscene. On the left one sees 'Big Echo', the biggest karaoke shop chain in Japan (according to their website). "At BIG ECHO, all age customers can enjoy singing in the individual room with wonderful
décor and comfortable atmosphere. We have a lot of famous animation songs, with many languages such as English,
Chinese and Korean." Popular with the Asians, but it holds not attraction for me.

Island Gallery

The Island Gallery in Kyobashi, near Tokyo Central Station, was mentioned as a place to have photos on display.
It was small, photography was not allowed and they had no books for sale (they had a 2019 calender for sale).
Plus the staff did not speak English.

They do have an interesting website, http://islandgallery.jp/, but only in Japanese. Pity.
A disappointing visit, although some of the photos on display (and no doubt for sale) were excellent.
My quest for a photobook of a Japanese photographer would continue..
We also looked for the 'Zeit Gallery' but Google Maps misdirected me and we gave up on it.
Visiting photo exhibitions this trip did not work out so well.

'Street Kart Tour'

Caught napping

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Yaesu Book Center is located near Tokyo station, or a short walk down Sotobori Avenue from Ginza Station.
It is a huge 8 floors affair with the foreign language books situated on the 8th floor.
en.japantravel.com/tokyo/yaesu-book-centre-and-maruzen/

BIC Camera is a huge warehouse for cameras and other electronics, plus households appliances and other stuff (I did
not explore). Prices were the same as at home, so no bargain hunting here for me.

The subway system is impressive and extensive. In spite of the travelator (automated escalator) be prepared to walk substantial distances for your departure track or one of the many exits to street level.

"When talking on trains, please be mindful not to disturb the people around you.
Or voices may be loader than we realize, so let's all be careful whe we talk."

SHINJUKU

Although outside, smoking is only allowed in a designated area!

The only remarkable architecture I saw during this entire trip.

I noticed 3 persons sleeping with a police officer approaching. However he shook them, they remained unresponsive.
Weird.

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Don Quijote is a popular discount chain store that has over 160 locations throughout Japan, plus 3 stores in Hawaii and
2 in Singapore (branded as Don Don Donki). It carries a wide range of products, from basic groceries to electronics
to clothing. Upon our visit products for Halloween were dominant. Been there, done that, bought a t-shirt!

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Kabukicho Sakura-dori Street
Kabukicho is the red-light district of Tokyo, where you can 'buy' girls on an iPad, watch robots perform or spend the
night in a love hotel.. One will find bars, restaurants and pachinko parlors as well as touts and hustlers.
Except I was completely unaware of this 'red light district' while passing through! Probably because
it was around noon, in the middle of the day..? Or maybe I am a tad naïve..

Remarkable shop front and what would 'shit' signify here..?

Hello Kitty..

It appeared to me that many of the Japanes cyclists do not know how to properly adjust & maintain their bicycles!
Often I saw them crouched like this and many a tyre was almost flat.
But at least she cycles on the road, not on the footpath.

Protest in front of the Uniqlo store
Uniqlo is a clothing store, claiming "... clothes are simple and essential yet universal, so people can freely combine
them with their own unique styles, in any way they choose, every day of the year." They have stores in Europe too.

KOREANTOWN

The girls waiting here: anything to do with K-pop?!

A nice place for lunch

Café de Riche

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By accident we came across a small alley lined with bars, in Shin-Okubo I think, heading back to main Shinjuku area.
This is the socalled Shinjuku Golden Gai area, which has over 270 tiny drinking dens, crammed into 7 ramshackle streets. www.timeout.com/tokyo/bars-and-pubs/shinjuku-golden-gai

Probably nicer at night time. A bit early for us to start on the booze.

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Typical manga-style advertisements

Street festival in progress

Adult entertainment, in the immediate area of the Shinjuku Toho Cinema, on Kabukicho Ichibangai.

"Welcome, Foreigner"

In case you are wondering, we watched The Equalizer 2, a moderately satisfying action movie starring Denzel Washington.
There were a limited number of films in English.
Google Translate app on my phone was of relative use: reading film titles provided complete nonsense.

One could order complete meals here in the cinema.

Often I was surprised by a (young) couple on an obvious date, dressed for it, with one wearing an unattractive mask..
Little did I know that in 2020/2021 we'd all be wearing masks, all over the world, for the Covid-19 pandemic!

SHINJUKU AFTER SUNSET

When we found dining opportunities it often presented itself in such uncomfortable setting. This is eating, not dining.

Yasukuni Dori and its glorious neon advertisements.

The remarkable Kabukicho Gate at the entrance of Kabukicho Ichibangai is the entrance to an entertainment and
red- light district in Shinjuku. Kabukicho is the location of many host and hostess clubs, love hotels, shops,
restaurants and nightclubs.

Shinjuku definitely is the place to visit after sunset!

We went to Akihabara Station.
Akihabara is a common name for the area around Akihabara Station, in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo.

#ubidaycosplay

I stumbled here on my first 'cosplay'!
Cosplay is a combination of the words 'costume' and 'play'. It is a performance art in which participants called
cosplayers wear self-made costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character.
Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture. Fun!

The term "cosplay" was coined in Japan in 1984.

The term 'cosplay' is a Japanese portmanteau of the English terms costume and play.The term was coined by Nobuyuki Takahashi of Studio Hard after he attended the 1984 World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) in Los Angeles
and saw costumed fans, which he later wrote about in an article for the Japanese magazine, 'My Anime'.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosplay

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Yodobashi-Akiba.
At least 6 traffic wardens regulate cars going in and out the parking garage! Only in Japan...

ASAKUSHABASHI

Kanda River, @Asakushabashi

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Kannon Doori, Kaminarimon Street

It seems one can take a guided tour on a rickshaw (jinrikisha, literally "man powered vehicle"). That would be
a 30 minute tour which for two persons would costs around 9000 yen. Shorter and longer courses are also available.
I am not sure if one can barter..?
www.japan-guide.com

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NAKAMISE MARKET

This area is also a good place to see people wear Yukata and Kimono dress; the difference is explained below.

Publicity for the nearby Owl café (near Sensoji Temple). On Shinnakamise Dori (2F), Asakusa.
owlnomori.net

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SENSO-JI TEMPLE

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From Asakusa we went to the Ginza district

On Harumi Dori we found this Kabukiza Theatre and managed to buy a ticket for a single act (30 minutes).
Google Maps provided a different adress: Ginza 4-12-15, Chuo-ku.
Alas, our tickets, a few remaining, was standing room only. And strictly, STRICTLY no photography!!! www.kabukiweb.net/theatres/kabukiza/information/

I did find somewhere some illustrations of Kabuki play, it will have to do.

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I am not a great Starbucks aficionado, but here in Japan I was verypleased with its presence; mainly for being able
to sit down as well as welcoming coffee break. The (portable) wifi we carried in our rucksack.

A revisit to the (Yeasu Book Center); it showed markings of its 40th anniversary, a good sign.
There were automated stairs to the 4th floor, from there we had to take the elevator (to the 8F for Foreign Books).

KAMAKURA

I actually find this sort of photo more satisfying than the actual subject of visit, although that has to be recorded too.

An impressive guard (left) and (right) the statue of Amida Buddha at Kōtoku-in.

It was quite a challenge to photograph the Big Buddha without too many people.

Serene..

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KOSOKUJI TEMPLE

The attractive garden is peaceful, but has a drawback...

For some reason this temple was a haven for spiders!
The webs were removed at the height of the average Japanese, but a taller westerner had (at least) to bow the head!

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By local bus back to the train station

The idea is to take a ticket while boarding and while approach the stop the display will show the price.
Payment is cash only in the exact amount. Some busses offer a change machine providing coins.
The driver does not handle money. Japan is still very much a cash country.

We only walked the local 'High Street' in search of some food. I am afraid we soon tired of Kamakura.

On the train, back to Tokyo

Glad to 'score' another photo of someone reading a book in public. For my collection.
Soon after departing Kamakura we saw this huge icon: the Ōfuna Kannon Temple. Impressive!

The Art of Reading.
I know of three (famous) photographers who have published books on reading in public:
André Kertész ('On Reading'), Steve McCurry ('On Reading') and Lawrence Schwartzwald ('The Art of Reading')
And myself, Ruud Leeuw : 'On Reading' (Amazon.com)

I never travelled on so many trains in my life!

From Kamakura we traveled again on the Yokosuka Line and changed to the Yamanote Circle Line for Shibuya Station.

SHIBUYA

This area is also known as one of the fashion centers of Japan, particularly for young people and as a major nightlife area. And again, we had the greatest difficulty in finding a decent Japanese restaurant! We saw a TGI Friday and several other western franchises but a satisfying sit down restaurant took some walking and searching, even using the apps on the phone.

Standing room won't do for me..

Fortunately we did find a nice restaurant to conclude our last day in Japan with a fine Japanese meal

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Outside Shibuya Station

Bye, bye Japan, it has been interesting!

Enjoy the informative & funny Abroad in Japan videos on YouTube!

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