ShareThis 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 [...]
Posts Tagged tokyo travel
Tokyo 2010 – Top Hotels
Feb 15
473 viewsDeflation in Japan
Feb 12
215 viewsShareOne 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 [...]
Fresh Hitachi Train
Feb 10
192 viewsShareThese are some shots of the Fresh Hitachi Line train that traverses the JR Joban Line in Eastern Japan.
Underground at Ueno-Hirokoji Station
Feb 10
200 viewsSharePeople 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 [...]
100-yen Shop in Akihabara
Feb 10
610 viewsShareDay 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 [...]
Tonkatsu at Sueyoshi
Feb 10
226 viewsShareDay 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). [...]
Delay on JR
Feb 10
222 viewsShareDay 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 [...]
South Entrance/Exit at JR Shinjuku Station
Feb 1
692 viewsShareThis 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 [...]
Tsukiji Visit
Jan 16
629 viewsShareDay 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 [...]
JAL 001
Jan 15
215 viewsShareDay 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 [...]
Fresh Wasabi
Jul 13
437 viewsShareMost people have not seen fresh wasabi. It costs about US$21/lb wholesale so it’s not cheap. Here is a picture of some at the wholesale market in Tsukiji.
The Old Tokyo Station Hotel
Jul 13
309 viewsShareThe Tokyo Station hotel closed a few years ago for remodeling of the Marunouchi side of the station. I dug out some old pictures I had when I stayed there shortly before they closed.
Station Maps
Jun 29
369 viewsShareEvery train and subway station has large local neighborhood maps near the exit portals. In most areas in or near medium and large cities the maps are bilingual and very easy to read. Here is an example of those maps. In large station complexes these are very useful for determining which exit to use.
JAL Safety Promotion Center
Jun 17
455 viewsShareJAL operates their Safety Promotion Center near Haneda Airport. It is a solemn place, open to the public and by reservation only. Photographs are prohibited but JAL maintains a webpage with some photos of what’s inside.
The Real Hachiko
Jun 17
8,381 viewsShareMany people have seen the statue of Hachiko in Shibuya. What many people don’t know is that the real Hachiko is in the National Science Museum in Ueno.