Monthly Archives: June 2017

A Day In Utsunomiya (Tochigi Prefecture)

Posted on June 30, 2017 by tokyofox

  Mention the city of Utsunomiya to any Japanese person and the likely first response will be a remark about gyoza. This part of Tochigi prefecture is famed for these delectable  dumplings and so Neil and I felt obliged to … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Travel, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Live Basketball Play Off Final In Tokyo

Posted on June 27, 2017 by tokyofox

What I thought I knew about basketball before going to this live game could probably have been written on a very small piece of paper. However, as the game tipped off, I soon discovered that I knew more than I … Continue reading →

Posted in Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Tokyo Filming Locations #16 – Your Name (2016)

Posted on June 24, 2017 by tokyofox

This critically acclaimed animation from director Makoto Shinkai has been wowing audiences in Japan and around the world ever since it premiered last August. ‘Your Name‘ (original Japanese title: ‘Kimi No Na Wa‘) is a beautifully animated teen romance film with fantasy … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Filming Locations, Movie Locations | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Science Fiction Bar In Tokyo

Posted on June 21, 2017 by tokyofox

  A short time ago in a galaxy not so far away I went to this science fiction themed bar in the east of Tokyo. Apologies for that opening line but (not for the first time!) I couldn’t think of … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Drink, James Bond, Quirky Japan, Star Wars | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Interesting Japanese Playground Structures #4 – Beetle Slide

Posted on June 17, 2017 by tokyofox

Many of the parks and children’s playgrounds in Japan, particularly in Tokyo, are quite poor compared to other countries in terms of space, surroundings and a lack of grass. However, a handful of them do tend to possess extremely creative structures … Continue reading →

Posted in Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

Local Life In Itō

Posted on June 14, 2017 by tokyofox

The Japanese Golden Week holiday at the end of April and start of May might have looked like it was relentlessly busy based on the many recent posts compiled from various day trips and places visited. However, there was quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Life, Japan Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Banana Wani-En Gardens

Posted on June 11, 2017 by tokyofox

My parents-in-law bought a second home in Ito earlier this year and before my first couple of visits I asked a group of students about things to do on the Izu Peninsula. The first answer to come back was about … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Travel, Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Maboroshi Museum

Posted on June 8, 2017 by tokyofox

There was never really any plan to go to this museum directly after Usami Kannon-ji temple but as it was still early and I didn’t have to be home by midday I thought I’d take the train to Fudo station … Continue reading →

Posted in Hentai, Japan Travel, Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Usami Kannon-Ji Temple

Posted on June 5, 2017 by tokyofox

  As I took the train up the east coast of the Izu Peninsula towards Atami a few months ago I noticed a giant statue high up in the forest in the distance. My subsequent research told me that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Temple Of The Toilet God

Posted on June 1, 2017 by tokyofox

  Obviously the title gives it away but before asking my father-in-law to drive us all to Myotoku-ji temple (234 Ichiyama, Izu-shi) I wasn’t really sure why it was considered a quirky place. Over the last couple of years though … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Travel, Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments