Tokyo 2010 – Top Hotels

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This is an update to my post last year of the 2009 Tokyo hotel ratings in the Michelin Guide.  Notable changes are the Shangri-La displaced the Conrad for #5 in the top tier.  The Nikko moved up to four red (from four black).
I’ll repeat the same pitch I gave last year.   If you are a [...]

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Deflation in Japan

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One menacing characteristic (from a macroeconomic viewpoint) of the Japanese economy now is deflation. It’s evident at izakaya (watering holes) everywhere in Japan. Y300 plates (or less). Food has really come down in price since the heady Bubble years and it is really nice to enjoy a few beers and tapas for [...]

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Fresh Hitachi Train

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These are some shots of the Fresh Hitachi Line train that traverses the JR Joban Line in Eastern Japan.

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Underground at Ueno-Hirokoji Station

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People frequently ask me about navigating the trains and subways in Tokyo. It can be a daunting task. The important thing to do is to prepare properly. First, you should know the area you are interested in, you should know which train or subway lines are in the area and what the [...]

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Light Bar on Police Car

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This is something I have never seen before. It’s a light bar on top of a police car that extends upward for better visibility. I saw this in Ryogoku after a sumo tournament while I was walking back to the station.  Very clever, but I’m not sure how useful it might be.

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100-yen Shop in Akihabara

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Day 13 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
On day 13, my getaway day, I left my bags at Keisei Nippori and headed to Akihabara for lunch and some final omiyage (souvenir) shopping. In [...]

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Mountain Climbers in Yamanashi

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Day 12 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
On Day 12 I went to the family compound in Torisawa which is near Otsuki in Yamanashi Prefecture. Torisawa Station on the Chuo Line is a [...]

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Tonkatsu at Sueyoshi

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Day 11 PostNote: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
Seems like an annual event now but on day 11 I went to Akasaka to visit my second favorite tonkatsu restaurant in the world (Katsuretsu-an being my favorite).  [...]

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Delay on JR

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Day 10 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
I was headed to Yokohama on day 10 to visit a friend. The following message popped up on the display. Chuo Line “Delay” due to “clearing [...]

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F1 Car at Toyota Factory Tour

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Day 9 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
On Day 9 I went on the Toyota Factory Tour. Prior to the tour I went through the museum and found that they are still displaying last [...]

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Deer at Nara Park

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Day 8 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
On day 8 I made a side trip to Nara.  This entry focuses on the deer.  The Todaiji and the Buddha is pretty spectactular but the deer are [...]

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Osaka Castle Visit

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Day 7 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
On Day 7 I visited Osaka Castle. I didn’t pay to go up to the top because I was told it’s a concrete replica and not very [...]

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Kagoshima and Sakurajima

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Day 6 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
On day 6 I visited Kagoshima. The goal was to ride the Kyushu Shinkansen and to see Sakurajima. The day was a little hazy so the [...]

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South Entrance/Exit at JR Shinjuku Station

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This post is about the south entrance/exit at JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. This is the entrance sometimes referred to as “Lumine 2″

This is looking directly east with your back facing the station. The bridge on the right side is Koshu Kaido. The exact location of these first two shots is here.

This [...]

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Toyoko Inn Hakata Room

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Day 5 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
This was my room in Hakata (Chuo-eki 2). The previous room post was in Uguisudani in Tokyo. This one in Hakata is about 2-3 minutes from [...]

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Visit to Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya

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Day 4 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
I visited Gotokuji Temple with some friends today. This temple is famous for the origin of maneki neko (beckoning cat).

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Katsuretsu-an Tonkatsu in Yokohama

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Day 3 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
This may be my favorite restaurant in the world. Good, competent tonkatsu (pork cutlet) in Yokohama. Anyone from Yokohama knows about this restaurant. It’s been [...]

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Tsukiji Visit

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Day 2 Post
Note: This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip. They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
I awoke early on day 2 and went to the fish market. I never even thought to bring out my camera until I was well [...]

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JAL 001

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Day 0 Post
Note:  This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip.  They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
Flying to Japan from California takes a long time.  In this case it was about 12 hours due to delays and circling the airport in Japan for awhile [...]

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Toyoko Inn Single Room

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Day 1 Post
Note:  This is from a series of trip reports from my January 2010 Tokyo Trip.  They are random musings about whatever seems interesting for that day.
These shots are from a standard single room at Toyoko Inn.  Notice that while the bed fills up most of the room there is still adequate space to [...]

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