I'm Going To Japan

[bmwracer]

WhiteHawk wrote:

The counter was staffed, as is often the case in Tokyo, by a really cute young woman. I said to her (in Japanese), "You're very cute. And you work in a chocolate store. Will you marry me?" She politely declined, and we all had a good laugh. Whew, that was close!

LOL.

"Don't to the crime if you can't do the time..."

[gaijinmark]

I just noticed today that the yen to dollar exchange rate is about 95 yen to the dollar. Somebody's doing something right, that's almost back to 2008 levels!!

[WhiteHawk]

gaijinmark wrote:

I just noticed today that the yen to dollar exchange rate is about 95 yen to the dollar. Somebody's doing something right, that's almost back to 2008 levels!!

YES! This will definitely make my next trip easier. Might even buy a nice Japan-only Seiko or Citizen this time! Now if we could just convince our own Fed to stop printing money by the billions for Wall Street...

[WhiteHawk]

Now that I'm FINALLY done with my taxes, I have a bit of time to start posting again. Getting into the car/bike stuff, so I'll just post highlights, instead of loading the thread up with show cars and race bikes.

[bmwracer]

WhiteHawk wrote:

Now that I'm FINALLY done with my taxes, I have a bit of time to start posting again. Getting into the car/bike stuff, so I'll just post highlights, instead of loading the thread up with show cars and race bikes.

You can always flood the Cars thread with pics.

[WhiteHawk]

bmwracer wrote:

You can always flood the Cars thread with pics.

Good idea.

So I'll skip the Tsukuba Circuit pics for now, and get on with the more touristy Tokyo stuff.

You know, like matsuri.

A very, very old (and quite small) temple we stopped for a moment of prayer. As always, I prayed for the health and happiness of my friends back home. Completely oblivious to what one of my old girlfriends was going through.

[WhiteHawk]

Took a break in one of the many shops in the Yanaka shotengai (setting for the recent drama Itsuka Hi no Ataru Basho de) for a sweet dessert.

And then back to the matsuri action.

My friend says that I always find the cute girl in the matsuri.

[WhiteHawk]

I have to say, I enjoyed the Yanaka shotengai very much during my many visits there. It may seem unusual that an American would feel so at home in one of the oldest shotengai in Tokyo. I can't explain why. Perhaps because it's one of those parts of Japan and its culture that exemplified why I wanted to visit the country in the first place. And I can't wait to return.

[WhiteHawk]

Now it's time for the matsuri in the neighborhood where I was living, Adachi-ku. Forgive me if I took too many pictures here.

[WhiteHawk]

Big beer/snack break in a local park before heading to the temple.

[WhiteHawk]

Time to get back on the road. You'll notice I avoided carrying the shrine this time.

My friend stopped to ask an older policeman for directions. It had been a few years since she participated in the matsuri, and couldn't remember exactly where the temple was located.

[WhiteHawk]

So we scoped it out a bit early, since the shrine wouldn't be back until later that night.

As it turned out, this was the only day of the year that the inner temple was open to the public.

And even I, a non-Shinto American was allowed to venture inside.

I was moved and humbled by the rare experience. And very grateful to the priests.

[WhiteHawk]

Love the lanterns. My friend sent me a few for Christmas.

I couldn't resist taking a picture. Sure, we have gun stores in most states in the U.S., but I never thought I would see one in Japan. Yes, I know there's a difference.

Thanks to a shortcut, we caught up with the parade on its tour through Adachi-ku.

[WhiteHawk]

Another matsuri parade, another cute girl in the crowd under the shrine.

Such beautiful yukata on display.

I shot a lot of video during this part of the parade. Mainly for Mom back home.

[WhiteHawk]

Back at the temple. The place really looks different at night, huh?

These folks sure know how to throw a party!

That's one very heavy work of art.

The lanterns again, in all their glory.

[WhiteHawk]

Full of beer, sake, and festival food, everybody heads home.

But wait, what do we have here?

Ah yes. Beautiful young women, enjoying the matsuri, life, and each other's friendship. I love pictures like this.

[WhiteHawk]

The next morning, we met my friend's sister and niece at Ryogoku station, next to the Rygoku Kokugikan. After introductions were made, my friend and her sister started discussing (in Japanese) what to do first, and her sister said she could use a beer. My friend then turned to me and asked in English, "Do you want to get a beer?" I looked at my watch and said, "Beer?!? It's barely 11 o'clock in the morn-oh what the hell. Sure." I had to remember that I was in Japan, and didn't have to drive anywhere. So there I was, having beer and lunch at 11:05 in the morning, in the company of a 6-year-old.

After that, it was time to tour the Edo-Tokyo Museum.

Tourist shot!

The museum has many scale diorama of Edo life. This is actually one of the simpler ones. All were fascinating.

[WhiteHawk]

Very glad I never had to carry this shrine in a matsuri parade.

See what I mean about the diorama? Fantastic.

There was a sign saying that this old Datsun/Nissan truck had been running up until 2007. The museum where I work houses the American portion of the Nissan Heritage Collection, and they have a truck from the same series, and one even older than that. And they both still run.

[WhiteHawk]

After another bite, it was on to one of the main sites I've been wanting to see all of my life: The Tokyo Tower.

As with the Rainbow Bridge, the timing was perfect, walking up to the tower as the lights were coming on for the evening.

I'm a lucky, lucky man.

[WhiteHawk]

Although the gray skies outside gave us a rainy view of Tokyo once we were inside.

How many episodes of Taiho Shichauzo (You're Under Arrest) were set around the Tokyo Tower or the Rainbow Bridge? I never counted, but it was a bunch.