BootsnAll Travel Network



Torii Gate

September 10th, 2009

I headed out from Tokyo by train into the mountains.  The Japanese Alps in Winter were a sight to behold.  There was so much snow!  I’ve never seen so much in all my life.  The people were very diligent about clearing it away, though; the public paths were regularly cleared each morning, and people were happily shovelling snow of their roofs (a public requirement).  This picture is of a Japanese Torii Gate – the traditional entrance to a Shinto shrine – in Takayama.  It straddles one end of a bridge marking the entrance into the old centre of town.

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Ginza Skyscrapers

September 10th, 2009

Speaking of which (in the last post), here are the Ginza skyscrapers themselves!  It’s really impressive walking around the business district.  As you might expect, things are so organised, and it’s spotlessly clean.  There’s no rubbish on the roads, not even cigarette butts; there’s a fine if you get caught lobbing rubbish… of course, it’s not just the fine that deters the Japanese from doing such things.  It’s the social responsibility they have as well as the fear of shame brought onto themselves and their family name if they get caught doing things.  This kind of social structure keeps Japan a safe and prosperous place.  The business district is not the most exciting of tourist spots to hang around in, but it needs to be seen!

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Tsukiji Fish Market

September 10th, 2009

This proud fish merchant is posing for my photo in front of a delectable selection of seafood!  I asked him in Japanese, and he understood on the secod attempt… Tsukiji is a great alternative tourist sight.  Right next to the metallic skyscrapers of Ginza full of overworked Japanese businessmen and “office ladies” is this busy working-class market with an incredible selection of seafood – alive and dead!  Get there early though – a good place to go if you have jetlag and can’t sleep – cause the later you go, the deader it will be!

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Kimi Ryokan

September 10th, 2009

Kimi Ryokan was my home in Tokyo.  Rather than choose a generic backpacker hostel, I decided to go for a traditional Japanese inn, also known as a ryokan.  Kimi Ryokan had been recommended to me by a friend as an accessible place to stay and also experience Japanese traditions.  The owners understood a little English, and supplied me with slippers to wear around (no shoes inside!), a yukata to wear in the communal areas (basically a checkered dressing gown – I didn’t wear it!) and other little Japanese niceities.  Highly recommended for a newcomer to Tokyo to immerse yourself into the culture!

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Colourful Shinjuku

September 10th, 2009

This was pretty much my first view of Tokyo!  Emerging out of the train station, I was swamped by the colours and cartoony adverts of Tokyo as well as the unfamiliar Japanese characters – but noticing the global brands and the fairly liberal use of the Roman alphabet too – as I would later fin, often incorrectly, with hilarious consequences! 😀

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A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words…

September 10th, 2009

…which is a stroke of luck, as words don’t come easy to me!

I’m well aware that travel photoblogs have been done to death, but that’s not going to stop me from adding another to the pile currently on the internet!  The following will be a pictorial journey through my travels to Japan, one photo per day with a brief explanation about what the story behind it is.

I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures!

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