Japan’s Cheapest “Beer” Cans, Family Cup Noodle Time, McShakes, Star Wars Day, Dogs & Dinosaurs!

Posted on June 30, 2021 by tokyofox

Back in early May it was the Japanese holiday season known as Golden Week and my wife and I (despite yet another State of Emergency in Tokyo!) decided to still head off as planned to the Izu Penisnula to spend a week at my parents-in-law`s house. The Odoriko Line train actually runs directly from Ikebukuro to Ito which is pretty much door-to-door for us. Sadly there is only one of these express-style trains each day from Ikebukuro so we ended up taking the Metro to Yokohama and then transferring to the Odoriko there.

And they say riding on transport`s dangerous during these coronavirus times!

It wasn`t always so friendly but the two dogs got on much better than on their first meeting. Back then it took a Continue reading →

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At One With Nature In Izu: The Jogaskai Coast, Mount Komuro, Mount Omuro & Ippeki Lake

Posted on June 27, 2021 by tokyofox

 

One of the most obvious and best things about going to Izu (Shizuoka Prefecture) every few months is the abundant nature in the vicinity of my parents-in-law`s home in Ito. It`s a world away from the city life we live in Tokyo, even more so during these Covid_19 times. The very picturesque and beautifully shaped volcano known as Omuro-yama is one of the most famous sights in the region Continue reading →

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Unstaffed Stations of Japan #4 – Yodo

Posted on June 24, 2021 by tokyofox

Think of train stations in Japan and the mighty Shinjuku station is sure to come to mind for many people. That is the world’s busiest train station, and Japan monopolises the top 50 list with only five of them not in this country. However, at the other end of the scale are some tiny stations which are usually unstaffed and used by very few commuters.

Station: Continue reading →

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This Is The Star Wars Pop-Up Shop In Tokyo I Was Looking For

Posted on June 21, 2021 by tokyofox

Since Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012 many of the subsequent movie releases have usually been preceded by pop-up shops appearing in Tokyo in the name of promotion. However, with no forthcoming Star Wars movie to promote, it really was an unexpected surprise to see this themed shop appear recently in Tokyo.

The store is located just outside the East Exit of Continue reading →

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Tokyo Filming Locations #20 – The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

Posted on June 18, 2021 by tokyofox

In anticipation of ‘Fast 9‘, the ninth film in the ‘Fast & the Furious‘ saga (or the tenth if you include the ‘Hobbs & Shaw‘ spin-off from last year!) I decided to re-watch them all as I really couldn’t remember much from the first four in particular. No sooner had I begun my mission and Coronavirus came along to put the release date back another year. Despite the postponement I decided to continue watching them all anyway.

The third instalment, known as ‘The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift‘ (2006), was quite possibly the first film I saw in this franchise as I watched it in 2011 for the long running films ‘set’ in Japan feature on this site. It may be the Continue reading →

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The Search For A Big Buddha Statue As Part Of The Izu 88 Temple Pilgrimage

Posted on June 15, 2021 by tokyofox

 

The 88 temples of Shikoku is a fairly well-known pilgrimage done by about 300,000 people each year but little did I know that there is a lesser one of similar nature in an area of Shizuoka Prefecture which has existed since the Edo Period (1603 – 1867) and is spread over 13 cities and towns.

Such pilgrimages are not really of interest to me right now (never say never though!) but it did bring a couple of notable places into my consciousness. One such example is Continue reading →

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Review: Films Set In Japan – Minamata (2020)

Posted on June 12, 2021 by tokyofox

Here`s Johnny …… and he`s back on top form in this truly heartfelt contemplative real-life social drama about war photographer William Eugene Smith who travels back to Japan to document the devastating effects of mercury poisoning in a coastal community of Kumamoto Prefecture.

Even though I`ve known about `Minamata` being in the works for a few years I never did any research as to what it meant or what it was about. Subsequently I had absolutely Continue reading →

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TF Top 10……Smallest Inari Shrines In Tokyo (Part 1)

Posted on June 9, 2021 by tokyofox

The idea of cycling around all the Inari shrines of Tokyo`s 23 wards came about during the first State of Emergency (a soft lockdown of sorts) in 2020 as a way of getting out on my new bike whilst keeping a safe distance from people as Coronavirus began to take effect on Japan.

Shrines are generally quiet places with very few people in them, and the tiny ones which interest me are barely capable of hosting more than a few people at a time, if that! At this moment in time, 12 out of the 23 wards in Tokyo have been published on Tokyo Fox so it is time for a compilation of the smallest Inari shrines I`ve encountered thus far.

1. Akatsuka Komagata Inari Shrine, Itabashi-ku. More details here

2. Inari Shrine, Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Japan Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Dining Out: Pizza Ramen – Don`t Turn Your Nose Up At The Idea Until You`ve Tried It!

Posted on June 6, 2021 by tokyofox

When it comes to ramen, there are many tastes and regional variations whether it be shio (salt), shoyu (soy sauce), tonkotsu (pork bone broth) in Kyushu or miso ramen which is served up in Hokkaido. On top of that come the crazy novelty ones which include things like cheese, coffee, ice-cream, tequila, kiwi, ham, lemon, pineapple, sake and so on. The kind of things that the true ramen masters would most definitely turn their nose up at!

Pizza and ramen is a pretty heavy lunch combo but this particular fusion cuisine thankfully allows you to enjoy both in one dish. Located on a quiet backstreet, Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Drink, Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Chillaxing At This Capybara Cafe Just Outside Of Tokyo

Posted on June 3, 2021 by tokyofox

Love or hate them, pet cafes have become popular places over the last decade or so. Much has been written and said about the various dog, cat, rabbit and owl cafes and one really should do their own research before visiting such places as there are plenty of dubious ones operating under poor and squalid conditions.

When I heard about a capybara cafe a couple of years ago my first thought was “What the hell is a capybara?!” as I’d never heard of them. After that I wondered if Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Travel, Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments