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

Local Shopping Arcade at Akabane, Tokyo

Due to the rise of major supermarket chains and large shopping mall chains, local shopping streets have been declining for these several decades all over Japan. However, there are still many shopping streets supporting local people's usual life. Many of them are shopping arcades. Without having to worry about getting wet even on a rainy day, you can get ingredients for dinner, articles for daily use or something else there at reasonable prices.

Local Shopping Arcade at Akabane, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Sep. 5th, 2012

Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama

Itabashi Fireworks Festival and Todabashi Fireworks Festival take place across the Arakawa River, which divides Tokyo Metropolis and Saitama Prefecture, at the same time every summer. They are often treated as one festival and called 'Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival'. Over 10,000 colorful fireworks light up the summer night sky and about a half million people enjoy the spectacle every year. The scene of fireworks being set off from two sites across the river like a competition is truly a remarkable sight.

I used to go see this festival when I was a kid with my family and my aunt's family whose house was near the festival sites. Although I went to three fireworks festivals this summer and this one was not as large as Sumida River Fireworks Festival, out of the three, I liked this one the best. It is the one I am most familiar with since my childhood.

Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 4th, 2012

Finale of Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama

This video is the cutoff version which featured the finale of Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival. Long version video of the festival will be posted soon.

# The long version has been posted below.
Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama

Finale of Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 4th, 2012

Kochikame Statues at Kameari, Tokyo

Kochikame(*) is a long-running popular comedy manga and anime in Japan. The manga has been serialized since 1976 with over 1700 chapters. It is the longest-running manga series in history.

The story is set in Kameari, Katsushika Ward, Tokyo. Around Kameari Station, you can find several bronze statues of Kankichi Ryotsu, or Ryo-san, the main character of the story, and a few other supporting characters.

*The formal title of Kochikame is 'Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo' which literally means 'This is the police box in front of Kameari Park in Katsushika Ward', but it is usually called by the shortened name.

Kochikame Statues at Kameari, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 24th, 2012

Katsushika Fireworks Festival 2012 at Shibamata, Tokyo

In Japan, fireworks are a feature of summer. Hundreds of fireworks shows take place all over Japan during summer and millions of people go see them.

Katsushika Fireworks Festival, held at Shibamata, Katsushika, marked the beginning of the shows of this summer in Tokyo. Over 10,000 colorful fireworks lit up the summer night sky and over a half million people enjoyed the spectacle.

The fireworks season has just begun. Numerous shows are following this. Folks living in Japan, don't miss them!

Katsushika Fireworks Festival 2012 at Shibamata, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 24th, 2012

Views from a Footbridge at Oji, Tokyo

A half century ago, Tokyo had one of the largest tram networks in the world, but as car traffic increased, people began to claim that trams were causing traffic jams. This made tram lines go out of service one after another and only one line survived.

Nowadays a lot of cities all over the world are starting to focus on tram system as the keystone of easing traffic jams and a transport system with clean energy. However, Tokyo can no longer return to 'the city of trams'. It is absolutely impossible to build tram tracks again in this massive city bustling 24 hours 7 days a week. What a shame!

The Toden Arakawa Line, the tram line that survived, goes through Oji Station located in North Tokyo. There, you can see trams running on the street among cars. There is a footbridge over the large crossing in front of the station. It is one of my favorite places to watch trams, trains, cars and people passing by.

Views from a Footbridge at Oji, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 4th, 2012

Sumo Wrestlers Getting on a Packed Train in Tokyo

You may occasionally see sumo wrestlers in a city during your stay in Japan. If you visit a district where a lot of sumo stables are, you can often see them strolling around.

Sumo Wrestlers Getting on a Packed Train in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 23rd, 2012

Glow of Sunset on My Way Home

Crossing the Arakawa River and leaving Tokyo Metropolis, the train entered into Kawaguchi City where I live. From its window, I saw the evening sky glowing after a typhoon had passed.

Glow of Sunset on My Way Home [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 20th, 2012

Sugamo, Tokyo ~Grandma's Harajuku~

Sugamo, located in North Tokyo, is well-known as an area where the old gather. It is also called 'Grandma's Harajuku' after Harajuku, a hot spot among the young. At Sugamo, You can see what is hot among seniors. It looks like the most trendy thing now is 'Lucky Charm Red Underpants'.

The main attraction of the area is Koganji Temple, also called 'Togenuki Jizo' Temple, where a 'Jizo', or a Ksitigarbha statue, reputedly cures people by washing and scrubbing the part of the statue that corresponds your area that ails you.

On every 4th, 14th and 24th, there are more than the usual number of markets on the Jizo Shopping Street, the bustling street in front of Koganji Temple. On those days, you may find something that you cannot find elsewhere.

Sugamo, Tokyo ~Grandma's Harajuku~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 4th, 2012

Here is the video of 'original' Harajuku.
Takeshita Street, Harajuku ~The Fashion Center of Tokyo~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 11th, 2012

How Many Trains and Trams Do You See? ~Tokyo's Busy Train Schedules~

Rail transport is the keystone of urban transport in Japan. A total of over 22 billion people use railroads every year here. This figure ranks first in the world and there is a huge gap to second-place, India, with 8 billion people.

This video was taken at a weekday evening near Oji Station in North Tokyo. It was originally about 20 minutes in length, but cut down to less than 11 minutes. You can see how busy Tokyo's train schedules are on it. How many trains and trams do you see?

How Many Trains and Trams Do You See? ~Tokyo's Busy Train Schedules~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 4th, 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