Curious, Odd, Interesting | Japan Musings

2009 Japan Trip Photo Gallery

Jun

2009

I acquired a new full frame camera and requisite glass last year and took quite a few pictures, uploaded them to my personal gallery to share with anyone who is interested. The gallery is self-explanatory. I’ll be publishing separate blog articles for each of the gallery folders when I get a chance.

Route 246, Sotobori – I don’t get it

May

2009

Years ago, prior to the commercialization of the world wide web and the ubiquitous nature of the Internet I acquired the domain sotobori.com. Why sotobori.com? I wanted something with a Tokyo theme but everything I could think of that was easy to say and spell was already taken. Drat! I had worked for a company ...

Homes in Koyasu 2

May

2009

These pictures are from an old article I posted on the original sotobori.com website. These homes are sandwiched between the Keikyu and JR tracks in Koyasu.

Tokyo Kur Onsen Under Tokyo Station 1

May

2009

Many people don’t realize this but there used to be an onsen under Tokyo Station. It was called Tokyo Kur, open to men only and offered baths, shiatsu and akasuri massage. Sadly, it has closed. Excerpted from the Japan Times, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2001: Tokyo Kur by Tokyo Onsen — This sauna-spa is for men ...

Cement Trucks in Tokyo

May

2009

One of the things that becomes very obvious to any long-time residents or frequent visitors to Japan is the presence of concrete. It’s everywhere, even out in the most remote countryside towns, funded mostly by the Ministry of Construction. You will see ferro-concrete buildings, concrete and steel overhead expressways, concrete-lined rivers and streams. Here is ...

Homes Under Keio Line Tracks

May

2009

There are some homes adjacent to Keio Takao Station that are built directly under the Keio Line railroad tracks. These homes absorb quite a bit or rumble and shaking when a train passes overhead. This is a truly stunning example of how precious land can be in Tokyo.

Women Only Train Cars

May

2009

A friend of mine asked me the other day about Women Only cars on trains in Japan. He found it to be quite unbelievable and surprising given his preconceived notions of the behavior of Japanese people. I told him I would dig up some pictures to show him. These are from the Tokyo-bound Chuo Line ...