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I took today’s photo at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo because I thought the sign was ironic. It says not to climb on the Howitzer because doing so is dangerous.
The sign below it also struck me as odd.
I’ve been reading Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. Perhaps I’ll give it a review when I’ve finished. If nothing else it gives you something extra to think about when you visit a place like Yasukuni.
Just your average scene in modern Japan–shrines, cherry blossoms, and samurai. Believe it or not, turning around from where I took this picture (武田神社) resulted in a view of Mt. Fuji as well. Ho hum.
Graffiti in Japan is pretty rare (thank goodness!). When you do see it, though, it is usually pretty good. This one was under the overpass of a bridge going over the Tamagawa. It reminds me a bit of the critter I previously posted here.
On a bike ride around the Yanaka area of Tokyo I spotted this old style building. Yanaka was spared the fire bombings of WW2 so you do sometimes see buildings more than 60 years old, a rarity in Tokyo. I didn’t know if this was built before the war or just made to look old. Given the concrete base I figured the latter.
However, thanks to the sign on the front (吉田屋酒店) and with a little internet research, it turns out that this Yoshida Liquor Store was built in Yanaka in Meiji Jidai, Year 43 (1910). In the 1980s it was moved to its present location. You can check it out in person at this address: 〒110-0002 東京都 台東区 上野桜木2-10-6.
I love the little train stations out in the middle of nowhere in Japan. This one, like many out in the country, doesn’t even have an employee. The Yanagawa Station is quite a contrast to the stations I most frequently used (Takadanobaba, Shinjuku, etc.)
I arrived at this station at the end of my Mt. Kuratake hike. About 5 minutes before taking this photo a man approached me, and we had a nice conversation before he caught this train going in the direction opposite from Tokyo. He was from Kofu. Why do all the people from Kofu seem so nice?
I miss the quality, availability, and price of a Japanese bento. Sure you can find them in the US, but they aren’t quite right and usually cost $10 or more. I purchased the one above for 350 yen (under $4) near the Takadanobaba Station on my way to my previously mentioned Tama River walk. I need to finish that story someday.
This bento wasn’t well treated or it would look better. Instead of holding it upright, I tossed it my backpack and walked many miles with it on its side. It still tasted great though. I ate it at a shrine near the ruins of Takiyama Castle (Takiyamajoseki or 滝山城跡).