Yanaka, Old Tokyo Town

In areas east of Tokyo, you would find several areas with many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines when you look at a Tokyo map. The areas are called 'shitamachi'. Although the word 'shitamachi' literally means 'downtown', they are not like Manhattan. It is more like a place dominated by small old residences, typical Japanese shops and narrow streets. In other words, they are old towns.

Yanaka, one of them, is located in the northwest of Ueno area. There, older buildings are being replaced with modern ones. However, you can still feel the distinctive atmosphere of old Tokyo.

Yanaka, Old Tokyo Town [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 30th, 2012

Sudden Shower, Kawaguchi, Saitama

Here in Japan, as in many other Asian countries, you often encounter sudden showers, especially in summer afternoons. The rains seem to be intensifying with climate change in recent years. Do not forget to check the weather forecast and take an umbrella with you when it is necessary during your stay in Japan.

Sudden Shower, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 28th, 2012

Small Festival at Local Shopping Street, Kawaguchi, Saitama

Sometimes you might come across a small festival held at a local shopping street on a weekend if you live in Japan. You can see there stalls serving fast foods and drinks, the shops beside the street selling things at reasonable prices, a flea market where local people are selling things, and some tiny shows presented.

I came across this local festival when I was going to central Tokyo to find something fun for a Sunday afternoon, but I changed my plan and ended up enjoying the festival.

Small Festival at Local Shopping Street, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 27th, 2012

Karate Performance at Local Shopping Street Festival, Kawaguchi, Saitama

A small festival was held at a local shopping street near my place on a sunny Sunday. A karate center beside the street presented this performance there. Watching them destroying boards, bats or something with their bare hands and foot, I was like "Ouch!"

Karate Performance at Local Shopping Street Festival, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 27th, 2012

Abandoned Factory Reused as Parking, Kawaguchi, Saitama

Kawaguchi City, my hometown, located in the north of Tokyo Metropolis, was once known as the center of casting industry, however the industry has been declining for several decades and the city is now serving as one of bedroom suburbs of Tokyo. Nowadays you can see the city filled with residences instead of foundries. A few factories are still operating, but hundreds of them were torn down, and some were abandoned. It probably costs a lot to tear down buildings.

I found this abandoned factory being reused as a monthly parking when strolling around my neighborhood. Going into the parking, I felt the atmosphere of my childhood there. It seemed that the parking's largest account was the post office. Some red post cars were parked there.

Abandoned Factory Reused as Parking, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot with an iPhone 4S on May 25th, 2012

Solamachi, Shopping Complex at the Foot of the Tokyo Sky Tree

The Tokyo Sky Tree, the tallest TV tower on the planet, and its related commercial facilities have finally opened on May 22nd, 2012. You need to have advance tickets to climb the tower's two observation decks, however, it is now difficult to get ones. But don't worry, you can at least enjoy the facilities without reservations.

Solamachi, one of the facilities, is a shopping complex which houses 312 shops and restaurants inside. You can get various things there including fancy souvenirs of the new landmark of the capital. Its English name, that means "Sky Town", should be "Soramachi" in the romaji method, the application of the Latin script to write Japanese. Why did they adopt the spelling "Solamachi" officially although we Japanese generally don't pronounce the sound of "L" correctly? Maybe it is a kind of pun. The letters "Solamachi" could remind you of the word "solar". The complex has solar panels to generate power on its roof, and the tower is like a giant tree rising to the sun.

Solamachi, Shopping Complex at the Foot of the Tokyo Sky Tree [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 23rd, 2012

Ameyoko, Market Street with Asian Atmosphere in Tokyo

If you would like to feel the distinctive atmosphere of Asia during your stay in Tokyo, Ameyoko, a market street along the Yamanote line tracks, would be the right place to visit. The street is dominated by small shops selling various Japanese foods and other Asian foods, clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. Diligent shopmen in their business sell things at reasonable prices there. The bustling scene would be what the word 'Asia' reminds you of. It was a place without morals when it was serving as a black market in the years following World War 2, but nowadays it is one of popular tourist attractions in Tokyo. No need to worry about being shot by a gun.

Ameyoko, Market Street with Asian Atmosphere in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Apr. 29th, 2012

People Watching the Annular Solar Eclipse

An annular solar eclipse was observed on the Pacific coast of Japan, including Tokyo area, on May 21st, 2012. It was Tokyo's first annular solar eclipse in 173 years. People in Tokyo area were able to watch the sun appearing as a ring of fire behind thin clouds. A lot of eclipse events were held all over Japan and people enjoyed the astronomical show.

People Watching the Annular Solar Eclipse of May 21st, 2012 in Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 21st, 2012

Twilight View from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, or Tokyo City Hall, has two panoramic observation decks. You can enjoy the panoramic view of Tokyo without paying any admission there. I have to say the views from other popular observation decks, like the ones at Roppongi Hills, the Tokyo Tower or the Tokyo Sky Tree, are more glorious, but you have to pay admission to climb them. It is worth visiting this public facility especially at dusk to enjoy Tokyo economically.

Twilight View from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 14th, 2012

Tokyo's Vending Machine Recommends You What to Drink

The cutting edge vending machines with facial recognition in Tokyo recommend you what to drink based on your age, gender or something. It would be a waste not to try it and see what you should drink when you visit a station in the metropolis. But what a machine at Shibuya Station recommended me to drink were... I ended up ignoring its suggestion and buying one with a cool bottle cap.

Tokyo's Vending Machine Recommends You What to Drink [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 17th, 2012

A Kitten Clasping His Friend's Head

I bumped into them cuddling when strolling around Shibuya, Tokyo.

A Kitten Clasping His Friend's Head [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S

Omoide Yokocho, or Piss Alley, Shinjuku, Tokyo

At the foot of the skyscrapers in West Shinjuku, there is a narrow street named Omoide Yokocho, or "Memory Alley", along which tiny restaurants and bars stand side by side. It is also called Shomben Yokocho, which means "Piss Alley".

Many years ago, when the street was serving as a black market after World War 2, there were no bathrooms there. People were forced to piss in the street. The name "Piss Alley" may have originated from this time period, however, times have changed. A lot of reasonable restaurants and bars were built there, also public lavatories.

Nowadays it is a middle-aged men's oasis. They enjoy eating and drinking without having to worry about where to piss.

Omoide Yokocho, or Piss Alley, Shinjuku, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 14th, 2012

Zoshigaya Kishibojin ~A Quiet Temple in Tokyo~

Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of Tokyo? It would be a good idea to visit a Buddhist temple or a Shinto shrine for relaxing your mind.

There are thousands of temples and shrines in the giant metropolis. Zoshigaya Kishibojin, one of them, is close to Ikebukuro area. You can feel the quiet atmosphere at the worship place located only 1 km away from the crowded town.

The surrounding old residential area is also calm. Strolling around there, you could feel nostalgic even if you had never lived there.

Zoshigaya Kishibojin ~A Quiet Temple in Tokyo~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 7th, 2012

Koinobori ~Japan's Children's Day~

The Chinese myth goes that brave carps could transform into dragons when they climbed up rapid falls. In Japan, based on the legend, we put up Koinobori, or carp-shaped streamers, in the sky from April to May 5th, Japan's Children's Day, hoping the children will rise like a dragon.

The spring sky was decorated with a lot of colorful carps even in urban areas like Tokyo when I was a kid, however, now you hardly see them swimming in the sky in cities filled with buildings. Fortunately, a Koinobori event takes place every year in my city, Kawaguchi. Nowadays a lot of cities hold this kind of event and fly Koinobori. You can enjoy them even if you don't have enough space to put them up in your garden.

Koinobori ~Japan's Children's Day~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 5th, 2012

Akihabara, Tokyo's Electric and Anime District

Akihabara, also called as Akiba, was an electric town when I was a kid. I remember that in those days my grandma called the town not Akihabara, but Akibahara. I didn't know the town was once called by a different name and I was like: 'Hey, grandma! Not Akibahara but Akihabara!'. Come to think of it, 秋葉原 (Akihabara in Kanji) can be pronounced in both ways, Akihabara and Akibahara. But I've digressed.

People used to visit there to get electronic parts, audio components, or home appliances at that time. It is still the largest electric town in Japan, but it is now more well-known as an "otaku town" and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tokyo. You can find everything about anime, manga, games and other "otaku" things there. Even if you are not interested in them, it could be still fun to feel the Akiba atmosphere and get electronic equipment at a reasonable price.

Akihabara, Tokyo's Electric and Anime District [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Apr. 29th, 2012