Cycling To Lake Tama And Back!

Posted on December 17, 2016 by tokyofox

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Many years ago whilst searching for cycling ideas in Tokyo and the surrounding area I came across this wonderful link which was about a bicycle ride one guy took around this area in Saitama prefecture. From that moment my heart was set on completing a similar ride one day but I thought it best to wait for either the cherry blossom or Autumn leave seasons which are both quite short windows of opportunity.

With a couple of days holiday at the end of last month the chance of doing this cycle ride was finally there and, a day after hiking up Mount Takao, I hopped on my bike and left the Tokyo Fox Global Operations Centre in Itabashi ward at 9am with Continue reading →

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Cosplaying At Tokyo ComicCon 2016

Posted on December 14, 2016 by tokyofox

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Over the years of convention going I’ve realised that these events are as much about the people and the other fans you meet throughout the day as they are the special guests and the other exclusive content. That is all further heightened when you dress up in character and wander round the exhibition hall taking Continue reading →

Posted in Quirky Japan, Star Wars | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The 1st Official Tokyo ComicCon Takes Place (2016)

Posted on December 11, 2016 by tokyofox

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From the moment it was announced last year, I was very much looking forward to this event and my mind was working overtime with the possible guests that I hoped might be in attendance. Sadly none of them were realised, and as the months rolled by this year there were still no real guests that I was desperate to meet whilst parting with some considerable Continue reading →

Posted in Star Wars | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

TF Flashback: John Lennon Museum (2005)

Posted on December 8, 2016 by tokyofox

Although I really like many tunes by The Beatles and John Lennon I’m probably not what could be classed as a fan as I have never really listened to their music by choice. Despite this claim, I did visit the John Lennon Museum up in Saitama prefecture eleven years ago.

It was located on the fourth and fifth floors of the Saitama Super Arena which is next to Saitama Shintoshin station. One has to wonder why the museum was in Omiya rather than Liverpool, London, New York or Hamburg which all played significant roles in the Beatles story. Lennon never even went to Omiya but Continue reading →

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Tokyo Daytripper: Climbing Mount Takao Yet Again!

Posted on December 5, 2016 by tokyofox

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You could be forgiven for thinking that Tokyo Fox has contractual obligations to include Mount Takao related posts each and every year. With that in mind, 2016 is a bumper year as this is the third post following on from the trip my wife and I made out that way in March to experience one of Japan’s quirkier festivals and to climb the mountain too.

The reason for my visit last week was more about just using up some free Keio Line tickets before their expiry date, getting some exercise and seeing the Autumn leaves was a bonus. I had a day off work last Monday and arrived at the foot of the mountain just before 10:30 am where I was surprised to see Continue reading →

Posted in Action & Adventure, Japan Life, Tokyo Daytripper: | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Dining Out: Vending Machine Stand

Posted on December 2, 2016 by tokyofox

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Japan possesses a ridiculous number of ‘jihanki‘ (vending machines) equating to one for about 22 people or something like that. The majority of them sell drinks and cigarettes but other things are available such as newspapers, flowers, condoms, bananas, ice-cream, tissues, toys, rice, snacks, apples, eggs and perhaps the most famous story overseas is of used schoolgirl undies being sold in these vending machines but I think that may just be Continue reading →

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A Day At The Races For The Japan Cup

Posted on November 29, 2016 by tokyofox

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The Japan Cup may be one of the most prestigious horse races in Japan but I had never really heard of it until quite recently when I saw adverts for it plastered all over the Keio Inohashira Line in Shibuya station. It’s not really any surprise I was unaware of it though as horse racing really isn’t a sport that interests me. Having said all that, I was up for a day at the races to experience Continue reading →

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Mimi Rabbit Cafe In Ikebukuro

Posted on November 26, 2016 by tokyofox

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Around a decade ago there was a trend for Maid Cafe’s in Tokyo but in the last few years the craze has been for animal themed cafe’s. I’ve only been to a dog cafe (back in 2013) but there are also cafes devoted to cats, rabbits, owls, reptiles, penguins, hedgehogs, sheep and probably a few more unbeknown to me.

Wondering how we’d spend our day off together last Sunday my wife said she’d research cinemas which show two fairly recent (but not brand new) movies as part of a cheap double billing but then she came back minutes later saying she wanted to go to a rabbit cafe in Ikebukuro. How that transition Continue reading →

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Tokyo Daytripper: Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

Posted on November 23, 2016 by tokyofox

As it is, Tokyo is an ever-changing city with buildings seemingly going up and coming down regularly and on top of that shops, restaurants, cafes and bars help constantly change the landscape. None of this is new to the Japanese capital though as even when it was known as Edo it changed a fair bit due to fires, floods, earthquakes and warfare.

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This vast open-air museum (400 yen entry), located in Koganei-koen Park, is a collection of culturally valuable historical buildings which have been relocated, reconstructed and preserved for future generations. My wife and I took the 25 minute walk on a recent Sunday from Hana-Koganei Station on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line. It is divided into three zones with the most interesting one for me being the Continue reading →

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Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown – Japan (Kanazawa)

Posted on November 20, 2016 by tokyofox

Ever since the Shinkansen (bullet train) route between Tokyo and Kanazawa opened last year, reducing the travel time from five hours to two, tourists have been descending on the city in their droves to eat the many local delicacies and see such places like Kenroku-en which, alongside Kairaku-en (Mito) and Koraku-en (Okayama), are the three most famous gardens in Japan. Sightseeing spots have never really been Bourdain’s forte and it’s no surprise that this particular one doesn’t feature here.

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Season eight episode six of this CNN show is not exactly a typical guide to the capital city of Ishikawa prefecture but just Continue reading →

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