People Playing Pokemon GO in Ueno Park, Tokyo

Pokemon GO, which is dominating the smartphone app market all over the world, has been available for a couple of weeks here in Japan. Although the fever right after its release is gone, millions of people are still getting carried away with the world-changing game. Ueno Park, located in the middle of Tokyo and famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms and lotuses, is now being taken over by Pokemon trainers. You would see tons of people looking into their smartphones there. It doesn’t even seem like they are bothered by the loud cicada-symphony which usually annoys people living in Japan the whole summer. Hopefully they don’t forget it’s the lotus season. Me? I got enough Magikarps to make a Gyarados and some Dratinies while enjoying the stunning views. Still a long way to Dragonite though.

People Playing Pokemon GO in Ueno Park, Tokyo [iPhone 6 Plus]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 6 Plus on Aug. 3rd and 4th, 2016

Sanja Matsuri, or Sanja Festival, in Asakusa, Tokyo

Sanja Matsuri, the annual festival of Asakusa Shrine, is one of the largest Shinto festivals held in Tokyo. 1.5 million people visit Asakusa district for the festival every year. The shrine is located right next to Senso-ji Temple, which is known as the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, as well as a popular tourists destination. During the festival days, you can see the precincts of the shrine and the temple filled with numerous food stalls and entertainment stalls. The best part of the festival is mikoshi, or portable Shinto shrines. Three great mikoshi from Asakusa Shrine and 100 mikoshi from surrounding shrines parade down the whole district. It is indeed a spectacle.

Sanja Matsuri, or Sanja Festival, in Asakusa, Tokyo [iPhone 6 Plus]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 6 Plus on May 17th, 2015

Sakura, Cherry Blossoms, in Tokyo 2015 [iPhone 6 Plus]

This is why I recommend tourists to visit Japan during spring. You can see glorious sakura, or cherry blossoms, here and there. Under the trees, people stroll, sing, eat, drink, lie down, and get intoxicated by their beauty. The flowers' lives are short, but that could make them more beautiful.

Sakura, Cherry Blossoms, in Tokyo 2015 [iPhone 6 Plus]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 6 Plus on Apr. 2nd and 3rd, 2015

Mikoshi at Tatara Festival 2014, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]

Mikoshi at the largest annual festival in my city, Tatara Matsuri.

Mikoshi at Tatara Festival 2014, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 3rd, 2014

Horse Making Okonomiyaki [iPhone 4S/HD]

Bumped into this horse guy making okonomiyaki at the largest annual festival in my city. The okonomiyaki tasted good.

Horse Making Okonomiyaki [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 2nd, 2014

Sakura, Cherry Blossoms, in Tokyo 2014

Every spring, when sakura, or cherry blossoms, start to bloom is of the greatest interest to residents in Japan. People eagerly wait for the sakura zensen, or the cherry blossom front, which refers to the advance of cherry blossoms across Japan from south to north, arriving in their towns.

This year, the sakura zensen made an arrival in Tokyo on March 25th. Although people had been busy having parties and strolling under the glorious trees for the past week, I noticed the petals starting to fall on April 1st. Their lives are indeed short. All the more reason, people get exceedingly intoxicated by their beauty. This is the most precious week of the year.

Sakura, Cherry Blossoms, in Tokyo 2014 [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Apr. 1st, 2014

Glimpses of Tokyo 2012 - 2013

Enjoy the two-minute virtual Tokyo tour!

Glimpses of Tokyo 2012 - 2013 [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S from Mar. 2012 to Apr. 2013