Author Archives: tokyofox

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About tokyofox

A Leicester City fan teaching English in Japan

Tokyo Filming Locations #16 – Your Name (2016)

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 , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Science Fiction Bar In Tokyo

  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 , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Interesting Japanese Playground Structures #4 – Beetle Slide

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 , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Local Life In Itō

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

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 , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Quirkiness Aplenty At This Strange Retro Museum In Shizuoka

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 , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Japan’s Largest Sitting Kannon Statue Has A Great View In The Mountains

  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 , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Temple Of The Toilet God

  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 , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Journey To The Centre Of The Izu Peninsula

The pungent root that is wasabi is one that divides many people. Haters often demand  sushi chefs leave it out of their dishes for a number of reasons such as fear of it getting up their noses, making their eyes water and of … Continue reading

Posted in Japan Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Super Sunday Soccer At Shimizu S-Pulse In Shizuoka

There are four J-League teams based in Shizuoka prefecture and they were all playing at home on the last weekend in April. J3 side Fujieda MYFC were the only team to play on the Saturday so that was a given. … Continue reading

Posted in Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments