Ueno Zoo and the Grutt Pass – Part 1
on Nov 7, 2009 in Japan grutt pass museums Tokyo ueno We recently purchased a couple of Grutt Passes (ぐるっとパス or gurutto pasu in Japanese). Included with the pass is free admission to the Ueno Zoo. The Ueno Zoo is wonderfully peaceful on a Sunday morning. On a Sunday afternoon it turns into w...

An evening stroll through Ginza (銀座)
on Nov 6, 2009 in Japan buildings night photography Tokyo Last week we had our names selected from a drawing that we entered to attend the “Ginza International Jazz Festival.” The day before we got hit with the edge of a typhoon so the sky was particularly clear. The weather is never better in T...

Hakuba – Part 2
on Nov 5, 2009 in Japan hakuba Nagano nature 紅葉 I can’t imagine Lake Aoki (青木湖) being any more beautiful than it is in October. That said, October is when the fewest people are there. The lake was empty when we weren’t on it. We took a break on the banks and skipped some rocks. W...

I love Shinsei Bank (新生銀行)
on Nov 5, 2009 in Japan getting the best rate to change convert USD into yen I previously mentioned how enjoyable the experience was of opening an account at Shinsei Bank. I recently found three more reasons to love the place. 1) Their exchange rates are better than anywhere else. Other places will charge you at least 1%, and...

2009 World Series MVP
on Nov 4, 2009 in Japan baseball It’s only the third inning of Game 6, but can there be any question as to who will win the MVP award? I don’t think so… Hideki Matsui (aka, 松井 秀喜 or Godzilla) is going to make Japan very happy in a few minutes here. Relate...

Waseda University – Part 2
on Nov 4, 2009 in Japan night photography nishi-waseda shinjuku signs Tokyo waseda university My last post on Waseda University was so popular, and one person who responded wanted more, that today I will offer a part two. This first photo, above, is the view from my Friday night class in Building 11. Waseda University is in Shinjuku-Ku but i...

That’s a wrap on 2009 Halloween
on Nov 3, 2009 in Japan halloween people If you are sick of my Halloween shots then I have good news. Today I will finish the Halloween series. Related posts:Kawasaki Halloween Parade 2009 川崎 ハロウィン パレードKawasaki Halloween Parade 2009 – Part 2Halloween Festiv...

Halloween Festival in Japan – Part 3
on Nov 2, 2009 in Japan halloween people video Some more scenes from the Kawasaki Halloween Parade 2009 today… Actually, this second pic is not from the parade. Instead it shows how Halloween fever has taken hold of an ordinary Baskin-Robbins ice cream store. Everything goes Halloween in t...

Slayer @ Loudpark – Part 2
on Nov 1, 2009 in Japan loudpark metal slayer video More Slayer photos and video can be found in my prior entry. The above picture is obviously a mistake. I must have been hit at the moment I took it. But I like the results. A photo like this conveys Slayer more clearly than a sharp image. Dave Lomb...

Kawasaki Halloween Parade 2009 – Part 2
on Nov 1, 2009 in Japan halloween kids people video The little, Japanese girl on the right, dressed as a witch, looked to be taking off when the wind caught her cape. Ms. Krueger tried to take off my son’s face. The “Up” movie float started the parade. There were two large nets of...