Dining Out: The 100 Yen Burger Vending Machine Restaurant

Posted on November 12, 2020 by tokyofox

There was a time when this ‘Dining Out’ feature included normal restaurants but in recent years it’s just become a trawl through some of the least glamorous places in Japan, with a particular fondness for vending machines which dispense food. I first heard of this one about a decade ago, and actually planned to do a cycle ride to it with a friend back then. That never happened though and I promptly forgot all about it until a few months ago.

I was looking forward to posting this but then YouTuber EricSurf6 uploaded this video 10 days later on the same place. You snooze you lose I guess! Two different platforms too so probably Continue reading →

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Foxed In The Head: Cycling To All Inari Shrines In Tokyo’s 23 Wards – #6 Kōtō

Posted on November 9, 2020 by tokyofox

#6. Kōtō

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 in mind, and desperate to get out on my new bike, I decided to cycle round ALL the Inari Shrines in Tokyo taking each of the 23 wards one at a time.

Inspired by recent interest in tiny shrines, this idea seemed like a good way of Continue reading →

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The Ewoks Cartoon Challenge – Binge Watching The 1985 Star Wars Cartoon For As Long As Possible!

Posted on November 6, 2020 by tokyofox

Think of the Ewoks and most people will (quite rightly) think of ‘Return Of The Jedi‘ (1983) where their appearance in the Battle of Endor scenes was quite divisive amongst Star Wars fans. What is less known is that the mid-eighties heralded something of a spurt in other Ewok-related content by way of two made-for-TV movies and a cartoon series.

As part of ‘The Ewoks and Droids Adventure Hour‘ on weekend morning TV in America, the former lasted two years and the latter ran for one season of 13 episodes plus an hour long special in 1986. These characters were naturally chosen for their appeal to Continue reading →

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Tokyo Modern Architecture #7

Posted on November 3, 2020 by tokyofox

For all its good points, Tokyo ain’t half one ugly looking city with buildings pretty much erected (and pulled down) willy nilly without any thought to the environment around it. However, amid all the chaos of such a concrete jungle there are a fair few examples of modern architecture which I am ever keen to photograph. Now, I am certainly no expert on such a topic but have enjoyed going around capturing the interesting and weird designs of some of these buildings.

That’s the generic opener out of the way and it should be noted that all these photographs were taken over five years ago so who knows if these buildings are even around!! 50+ examples have already been covered in this series and here, in no particular order, is the next volume of interesting looking Japanese buildings including the addresses:

1. NHK Symphony Orchestra, 2-16-49 Takanawa, Minato-ku.

2. Shinjuku Continue reading →

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Interesting Japanese Playground Structures #30 – Octopus Slide

Posted on October 31, 2020 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 and they will be explored in this series.

Nickname: Octopus Park 

Location: Senju Continue reading →

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Dining Out: Mexican Food In Tokyo + The Day Of The Dead Festival, Tijuana Trip Flashback & Mexico ’86 World Cup Memories!

Posted on October 28, 2020 by tokyofox

Back in the day, Mexico really was the country that seemed so exotic and amazing to this Primary School kid thanks to a school project on the country but mainly down to the Mexico ’86 World Cup being my first tournament. Even now, it’s still a place that interests me and even though I’ve been very near I’ve never (properly *) been to this ecologically mega-diverse country.

 

The Day of the Dead Festival (Día de Muertos) is arguably Mexico’s most famous festival, and two fairly recent films have featured it in some way. Firstly, Continue reading →

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London Filming Locations: Kingsman The Secret Service (2014)

Posted on October 25, 2020 by tokyofox

Never judge a film by it’s title was certainly true for this one. I was aware of this movie for a few years but knew absolutely nothing about it other than it’s dull title! Consequently, I scrolled by it each and every time I was looking for something to stream. Sadly I can’t remember what changed my mind and made me investigate it a bit further but I’m glad I did as it turned out to be a very good movie albeit a rather silly one!

 

The 1970s-style council estate house where Eggsy (Taron Eggerton) lives with his mum and abusive stepdad is first shown on Continue reading →

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Dark Tourist (Japan Special) Vol. 01

Posted on October 22, 2020 by tokyofox

The 2018 Netflix series ‘Dark Tourist‘ featured New Zealand journalist David Farrier visiting eight different countries (including Japan) on a mission to visit all manner of places relating to humans suffering in some sort of way whether it be victims of crime, tragic events or natural disasters. Of course, this kind of morbid traversing is nothing new, and people have been visiting these places for many decades but this TV show did help promote the idea of such tourism.

Having visited some famous dark historical sights in the likes of Poland, Germany, Australia, England and Cambodia (to name a few), I have to admit that I am slightly fascinated by such tourism. Japan has a fair number of places historically associated with death and tragedy, and Tokyo Fox has collated them into a series. Each volume will show a mix of relatively unknown places alongside the far more famous (or infamous in some cases!) ones.

1. Vivid reminders of the tragedy of the Battle of Continue reading →

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Tokyo Daytripper: Japan’s Deepest Underground Station Is Probably It’s Creepiest Too!

Posted on October 18, 2020 by tokyofox

A couple of years ago I visited the virtually-abandoned station just over the border from Tokyo but this one is a step up from that. Or rather it is 462 steps down as this creepy underground station in Gunma Prefecture is located deep beneath the surface.

Ever since I came across a video from Lisa Sometimes (Watch it here) a few years ago I have wanted to visit Continue reading →

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TF Flashback: Universal Studios Hollywood Tour (2002)

Posted on October 15, 2020 by tokyofox

This year is the 35th anniversary of ‘Back To The Future‘ (1985) and to celebrate the greatest movie, Tokyo Fox goes way back in time to…… 2002! In early May of that year I visited America for the first time and, as a huge fan of the franchise, I was determined to go on the Universal Studios tour……not that I knew at that time what was there or what it was even about! I really don’t think I knew beforehand that it was a theme park!

A VIP ticket fortunately took my friend Alvin (from Holland) and I past the waiting queues and straight into the grounds of the studios where a Continue reading →

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