Monthly Archives: June 2020

Discovering Some Local Delights During Tokyo’s “Soft” Lockdown

Japan’s “soft” lockdown began in early April and was more commonly referred to as a State of Emergency. It continued till the end of May and I was off from work for most of that time. Although it may have been … Continue reading

Posted in Cycling, Food & Drink, Japan Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Interesting Japanese Playground Structures #26 – Panda Toilet Block

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 , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Puppy Love: A Big Welcome To Our Little Addition To The Family!

2020 has brought about big changes for so many people but even before Covid-19 reared it’s ugly head, our lives had altered due to the arrival of a new little puppy. Our cream-coloured Chihuahua was born in mid-October last year and … Continue reading

Posted in Family, Japan Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Review: Films Set In Japan – Blood On The Sun (1945)

No pre-conceptions, judgement on merit and a positive attitude are three traits for reviewing films and so I followed that philosophy as I sat down to watch this old black and white film about exposing the Japanese government’s plan for world domination. Well … Continue reading

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Foxed In The Head: Cycling To All Inari Shrines In Tokyo’s 23 Wards – #1 Itabashi

#1. Itabashi Cycling may be something that I love to do but I’m not really one who goes for a ride without some kind of aim whether it be to a restaurant, a sight or just my workplace. With that … Continue reading

Posted in Cycling | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

TF Flashback – When The Ireland Rugby Team Played In Tokyo For The First Time (2005)

Last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan saw the hosts become the first Asian team to qualify for the knock-out rounds. After an expected opening win against Russia they then produced the shock of Shizuoka as they stunned Ireland. Samoa … Continue reading

Posted in Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

TF Top 10……Alternative Big Buddha Statues In Japan

When it comes to buddha statues, the bigger the better in my opinion. This list isn’t completely size-obsessed though as many of them are also notable for their quirkiness. Everyone knows about the famous ones in Kamakura and Nara but this post includes a … Continue reading

Posted in Japan Travel, Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

3 Hour Return Journey On My New Bicycle To Find The Mystery Drink Dispensing Vending Machine!

Meeting your girlfriend’s parents for the first time can be a memorable occasion and the journey there can be a nervy one for many. When it happened to me eight years ago though, my mind was perhaps over-consumed by the … Continue reading

Posted in Cycling, Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Tokyo Filming Locations #19 – Tokyo Pop (1988)

When director Fran Rubel Kuzui made ‘Tokyo Pop’ (1988) it was very much the height of the bubble era for the economy in Japan. It is a delightfully fluffy kitsch piece of ’80s nostalgia with a certain simple charm. Production took … Continue reading

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Tokyo Daytripper: Top 10 Ibaraki Sights

After the three surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama, the next closest one to Tokyo is Ibaraki and at just 45 minutes away by train from Tokyo, it’s main city Tsukuba is actually much closer than many people think. … Continue reading

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