Kabukicho (歌舞伎町)
Tokyo's Kabukicho in Shinjuku
At a loss for something to do in Tokyo? Head over to Kabukicho where the possibilities are endless. Personally, I’d head up to the fourth floor for some Shabu Shabu (しゃぶしゃぶうどんすき).
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Japanese ladies and the Sugamo Togenuki Jizo (巣鴨とげ抜き地蔵)
巣鴨とげ抜き地蔵
Sugamo (巣鴨) is famous for being the old ladies’ Harajuku. However, when I captured this image of the well known and popular statue which cures ailments, it was young ladies looking for a little supernatural help.
Midtown Christmas
Each year Tokyo Midtown puts on an illumination’s display. The moon was trying to get in on the action on this evening.
Oji Inari Jinja (王子稲荷神社)
王子稲荷神社
If you are in Tokyo for New Year’s Eve you may find the festivities to be rather tame as most people stay home and watch TV. However, there are several places where there is some action and this shrine is one of them. Oji Inari Jinja is the head Inari shrine of the eight provinces of the Kanto region (greater Tokyo area). On New Year’s Eve, foxes, who are considered to be the guardians and messengers of the god Inari, gather here from all over the Kanto region. There is an annual Oji Fox Parade on New Year’s Eve to honor the foxes that gather here on this night. Everyone dresses up, and it is said to be quite the affair. I haven’t actually been there on New Year’s Eve myself.
I have been in the Tokyo area on two New Year’s Eves. For the first (in 1988) I went to Kawasaki Daishi (川崎大師). For the second (in 2009) we celebrated the new year at Zojoji (増上寺). I would recommend either of those places as well.
Tokyo and Mt. Fuji (from the air)
Aerial shot of Tokyo with Mt. Fuji in the distance
A minute or two before taking this photo of Mt. Fuji I was able to capture today’s pic of part of Tokyo with Mt. Fuji as the background.
Momijiya (もみじや) on Mt. Takao
Momijiya shop on Mt. Takao
One thing about Japan that is very different from anywhere else in the world I’ve hiked is that you frequently don’t have to be very careful with your provisioning. That said, the Japanese themselves usually go way overboard on their own provisioning while hiking. It isn’t uncommon to see someone out for a day hike of a few hours with enough in their backpack to last them for a week.
For instance, if you were to climb Mt. Takao (高尾山), Mt. Mitake, or even Mt. Fuji (all fairly close to Tokyo) you will find shops along the hiking route (and at the top!) selling various food stuffs, water, souvenirs, etc. On your way down a different route it’s the same thing. I guess that isn’t too surprising given how convenient everything is in Japan’s cities. You can’t walk more than about 50 steps in most of Tokyo without passing at least one convenience store.
Today’s photo is of one such shop I encountered on my way down Mt. Takao. Momiji means Japanese Maple so I’m guessing this place looks great right about now and for the past couple weeks with the fall foliage. This photo was taken in January though. January is a great time to hike up Mt. Takao as the crowds aren’t so bad and the odds of a great view of Mt. Fuji from the top are much better in winter.
Some items I can see in this picture that you could possible consume are oden, dango, and nikuman. Maybe you aren’t hungry, but you want something to drink? Well, there are at least three vending machines in the far left of this image loaded with Pocari Sweat (ポカリスエット) along with other beverages. How many mountains in the USA (or anywhere else in the world outside of Japan) do you know of that have vending machines on or near the top?