Some of the train companies in Japan have built up stores, restaurants, etc. around their train stations. For instance, you can find Seibu Department Stores near some of the main Seibu train line stations. Odakyu is also in on the action with their line that runs from Shinjuku to Hakone (Odawara really) which I take a couple times a week. I don’t go all the way to Hakone (or Odawara), but that doesn’t matter if I want to enjoy Hakonesoba (箱根そば or Hakosoba as written on the door in romaji) since it is offered at nearly all of the stops along the way.

I have sampled their seasonal offerings a couple of times now. For December they are combining two of my favorites into one–sukiyaki and udon (牛すきうどん). This is what you see pictured above, complete with raw egg (which doesn’t stay raw very long in hot soup). It was good, but not as good as I was hoping. The broth tasted more like regular udon. I was hoping for something that tasted more like sukiyaki with udon thrown in. Oh well… Maybe they will feature that version as their seasonal specialty in January. 😉 I can’t complain since it was under 500 yen.

Posted on December 13th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: food, udon. Comments: 1

There are about 20 “original” Rodin (ロダン) “The Thinker” statues in the world (not counting those that are part of “The Gates of Hell”). I think I’ve seen five of them (Tokyo, Copenhagen, Paris, Palo Alto, San Francisco). This one was a couple weeks ago in Ueno Park outside the National Museum of Western Art. In fall, I think this one looks the best.

Posted on December 12th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: museums, ueno. Comments: 2

Some jizo (地蔵) hanging out in a garden at Hasedera (長谷寺) in Kamakura…

Posted on December 11th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, hasedera, jizo, kamakura. Comments: 1

Omotesando in Harajuku was quite beautiful in the morning on the last week of November. Few people were around, which is quite different from the norm. The trees were full of autumn color, and everything was generally “picture perfect.” However, I didn’t have my camera with me.

The next evening we visited again, this time with camera in hand. Lights were on the trees but they wouldn’t be turned on until the first Monday in December. Kiddy Land was tripped out for Christmas.

I spotted these two foreigners pretending to shop at Louis Vuitton.

And a wedding took place on Omotesando on this evening as well… You never know exactly what you will see on this street.

Posted on December 10th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: buildings, harajuku, night photography, people. Comments Off on Omotesando evening sightings

I walk through Kansenen Park at least a couple times a week on my way to Waseda University. The college students haven’t discovered it as this oasis is always empty or nearly so. The colors have changed now that we have reached December so it is more beautiful than ever. These photos may make it look like the place was deserted, but there were actually about a dozen kindergarteners playing “hide and seek” so the place was a bit noisy (in a good way).

I happened to be leaving at the same time as the kids. They all bowed to the park at the exit and said “また来るね” (which means something along the lines of, “we will visit you again”) which was my sentiment as well.

Posted on December 9th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: japanese maple, kids, 甘泉園公園. Comments: 1