There are few structures in Tokyo that go back more than 60 years. In fact, many, if not most, of the buildings built after the war wiped Tokyo almost clean have been replaced in the past few decades. Nihonbashi is old. With a history of over 400 years, some of the names haven’t changed, even if the buildings have.

The Mitsui Main Building, in the foreground of the photo, was built in 1929 after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. It was built to last and did make it through the war. More than a decade ago the Mitsui Main Building became the first office building to be designated an important cultural asset in Japan. Just 5 years ago the Mitsui Tower was built behind it. The inside of both buildings are a spectacle. The Mitsui Memorial Museum inside is loaded with amazing works of art.

To the left of this photo is the Mitsukoshi Department Store (pictured on the left in this prior entry).

Posted on January 5th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: buildings, night photography, nihonbashi. Comments Off on Mitsui Main Building and Tower in Nihonbashi

Today’s entry has nothing to do with Japan. It does have a bit to do with travel, though, as I’m currently traveling. Tomorrow we head back to Oregon after nine days in Utah.

Pictured above is the nativity on water. Whenever I’m on Temple Square in Salt Lake City viewing this scene, I always expect to hear some little kid ask their parent if Jesus was born in a lake.

Posted on December 27th, 2010 under Other. Tags: buildings, christmas, night photography, utah. Comments: 1

The Japan Railways Nikko Station is a pretty sight in the snow. Although I’ve been to Nikko several times, I’ve never actually used this station. Why? Because the Tobu Line to Nikko is so much less expensive from Tokyo.

This station was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, or at least that is what the tourist guides say. The station began operations in 1890, which is before Wright had done much and long before he was famous. Maybe the current structure isn’t the original or maybe there wasn’t a structure until later?

Posted on December 22nd, 2010 under Japan. Tags: buildings, nikko, snow, trains. Comments: 1

The establishment in the background says “Karaoke and Party” (カラオケ & パーテイー). If you have seen “Lost in Translation” you may be familiar with these kinds of places. This particular カラオケ館 (they are all over Tokyo) is to the southeast of Ikebukuro Station.

Posted on November 23rd, 2010 under Japan. Tags: buildings, ikebukuro, night photography, people, signs. Comments Off on Karaoke and Party in Ikebukuro

Today’s photo is from Kansenen, the nice little park near our apartment in Shinjuku Ku. The building is Nishi Waseda Park Tower, a building that we saw daily out the window of our apartment even though we were on the ground floor. This residential tower is currently the 35th tallest building in Shinjuku Ku. 25 of the tallest 35 buildings in Shinjuku Ku were built since I left Japan in 1989. Needless to say, things look very different in Tokyo and will continue to change at a rapid pace I’m sure.

Nishi Waseda Park Tower is either on, or right next to, what was once Waseda University’s baseball stadium (Totsuka or Abe Kyujo, 戸塚球場, later called 安部球場). Most of the baseball field now has the library sitting on it.

While looking at an old map of the area, posted next to an old shrine, one day I noticed the stadium on the map and asked the lady who was chatting with me how long ago the stadium was there. She had fond memories of watching baseball games there in her early years. Now Waseda plays its baseball games at Jingu Stadium.

Posted on November 22nd, 2010 under Japan. Tags: buildings, nishi-waseda, 甘泉園公園. Comments Off on Nishi Waseda Park Tower