Dark Tourist (Japan Special) Vol. 03

Posted on April 2, 2021 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. The rabbit island with a history so contrasting to it’s cuteness appeal. Continue reading →

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Tokyo Modern Architecture #8

Posted on March 30, 2021 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. Here, in no particular order, is the next volume of interesting looking Japanese buildings including the addresses:

1. Nicolas G. Hayek Center, 7-9 Ginza, Chūō-ku.

2. Tokyu Continue reading →

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TF Flashback: Seoul Olympic Stadium

Posted on March 27, 2021 by tokyofox

Research and preparation before any overseas trip is something I have long done but it hasn’t always been that way. My first overseas trip whilst based in Japan was to South Korea in the early days of January 2006. Along with my friend and colleague Asif we headed off to Seoul for a four night trip with very little knowledge of the capital city and no plan at all.

These were very different times (a pre wi-fi and smart phone era!) and I didn’t have a guide book so when discussing what to do I came up with the idea of going to the Olympic Park as all I really knew about the country was that Seoul had Continue reading →

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Review: Films Set In Japan – Destination Tokyo (1943)

Posted on March 24, 2021 by tokyofox

Just when I thought I had covered the majority of films set in Japan from the 1940s another load suddenly emerged from the depths of nowhere such as this submarine adventure. Those who have read all of these reviews will no doubt be aware that I’m not really a fan of such old movies but will this one be any different?

‘Destination Tokyo‘ is a black and white movie known as the granddaddy of submarine films. It stars Cary Grant (Captain Cassidy) and John Garfield (Wolf) and would not be the former’s only film set in Japan as he would return to the country over two decades later in Continue reading →

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Tokyo Daytripper: The Big Stone Buddha Face, Beautiful Landscape Gardens, A Free Buffet & Another Platform Zero!

Posted on March 21, 2021 by tokyofox

Gunma was admittedly one of those prefectures I always thought was a little bit boring but it’s good to have been proved wrong following a fair few day trips there in recent years. In these travel-restricted times I haven’t really been anywhere else, and just a couple of days after this most recent trip in the early days of January the soft lockdown (known as State of Emergency in Japan) kicked in again.

From Ikebukuro, the Shonan-Shinjuku line took me up to Takasaki which turned out to be far more than just a transit station as it was home to a platform zero, and fortunately it was located on the Jōshin Line which was what I needed to use.

There’s something slightly mystical and Harry Potter-like about Continue reading →

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London Filming Locations: Fast And Furious 6 (2013)

Posted on March 17, 2021 by tokyofox

‘Fast 5‘ (2011) was the film that really got me (rather belatedly!) into the franchise and ‘Fast & Furious 6‘ (2013) was a strong follow up albeit one very far removed from its street racing origins! This sixth instalment is set in the Canary Islands, Moscow, London, Los Angeles and Lusitania (Spain) but in reality it was mostly filmed in Glasgow and London. 

After just four minutes it’s Russia on screen as US Diplomatic Security Service Agents Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and his new partner Riley Hicks (Gina Carano) check out the destruction of a Russian military convoy. The wreckage of all this is not really Moscow but Lambeth Bridge (below) at Millbank on the River Thames in London.

 

The Interpol Headquarters in Moscow is shown on five minutes but Continue reading →

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Two Great Spots For Capturing The Classic Bullet Train & Mount Fuji Shot!

Posted on March 14, 2021 by tokyofox

 

Sit in the right place on the Shinkansen (bullet train) en-route to Osaka or Kyoto from Tokyo (or vice versa) and the majestic Mount Fuji can be seen as you whizz by at 300+ kilometres per hour. Sadly, it’s not a view I’ve seen too often as I’ve either been on the wrong side of the train, pre-occupied, asleep or not actually on the Shinkansen as I have more often than not used cheaper, alternative transportation.

That view from on board the Shinkansen is great but it’s a lot better if you actually Continue reading →

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Foxed In The Head: Cycling To All Inari Shrines In Tokyo’s 23 Wards – #10 Bunkyo

Posted on March 11, 2021 by tokyofox

#10. Bunkyo

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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Interesting Japanese Playground Structures #32 – Dinosaur Space

Posted on March 8, 2021 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: Dinosaur Space

Location: Komuroyama Park, 1260-1 Continue reading →

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Dining Out: The Buffet Which Is Completely Free To Everyone

Posted on March 5, 2021 by tokyofox

There are plenty of good value buffets to be enjoyed in Japan but none of them come as low in price as this one as it costs absolutely nothing! You might protest by saying that some hotel buffets are free but they’re included in your night stay unless you’re one of those people who sneak into such places pretending to be a guest! You only need to watch YouTube to know such people exist! Anyway, this place does offer a free buffet and there really is no catch!

 

Well maybe it’s location is! It’s located a couple of hours north of Tokyo in Continue reading →

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