Tokyo Daytripper: Top 10 Ibaraki Sights

Posted on June 2, 2020 by tokyofox

After the three surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama, the next closest one to Tokyo is Ibaraki and at just 45 minutes away by train from Tokyo, it’s main city Tsukuba is actually much closer than many people think. This list contains both famous and some alternative “sights” you may not have heard of. The prefecture possesses a few of Japan’s biggest things. Here, in no particular order, are the TF Top 10……Ibaraki sights.

1. Ushiku Daibutsu – The world’s third tallest statue has no religious or historical meaning but was simply built to be in the Guinness Book of Records. It’s an impressive sight at 120 metres tall (including its 10 metre base). More details here

2. Hitachi Seaside Park – Splendid hillside of Continue reading →

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Is That Another Castle In Chiba? All Is Not Quite What It Seems!

Posted on May 30, 2020 by tokyofox

Whilst travelling through Chiba a few months ago on the Tsukuba Line I was looking at my maps app and checking out what places were nearby and by some miraculous chance I came across what looked like a picturesque castle. To have stumbled upon it was quite unlikely given how difficult it’s since been to locate it again, including for this post!

The only castle I’ve been to in Chiba (not including Cinderella’s Castle at Tokyo Disneyland which is actually located in Chiba Prefecture!) is Continue reading →

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Interesting Japanese Playground Structures #25 – Dinosaur Park

Posted on May 27, 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: Dinosaur Slide

Location: 21-21 Continue reading →

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The Lion, The Bridge & The Watergate – A Cycle Ride Up Into Saitama Prefecture

Posted on May 24, 2020 by tokyofox

“What the hell was that?!” were my thoughts as my train sped its way up into Saitama last year as I went to watch Urawa Reds Ladies play a home game one Sunday. There was a giant statue of something that caught my eye very briefly before becoming lost amongst all the grey, concrete buildings. Earlier this year I noticed it again and made sure to make a note (using my maps) of where it was on my return journey.

It turned out that the statue was a Continue reading →

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TF Top 10……Fox Shrines in Japan (On the Fox Trail Special)

Posted on May 21, 2020 by tokyofox

 

The surprisingly successful ‘On The Fox Trail…’ series is pretty much on it’s last legs. Sad times indeed but there’s still a few more places I want to check out. However, they’re mostly in Kyushu so with travel restrictions at the moment it might be a while until that trip is realised. Luckily, there’s always time for a compilation post or two so here are the best fox-related shrines in Japan that I’ve been to thus far…

10. Anamori Inari Shrine @ Haneda, Continue reading →

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Tokyo Modern Architecture #6

Posted on May 18, 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. Cartier, 5-3-2 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku.

2. Prada Aoyama Building, Continue reading →

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TF Top 20……Films Set In Japan From The 2000s

Posted on May 15, 2020 by tokyofox

 

In terms of the total number of films ‘set’ in Japan, the decade 2000-2009 was the most productive by far and one that included some very famous movies. Hopefully, I’ve been fairly extensive and have reviewed every one of them from that era but no doubt one or two have slipped my attention! Let me know! The tension is probably killing you so lets get started as we count down to the all-important number one at the bottom of this post…

20. Monster (2008) – Read the review here

19. Enter The Void (2009) – Read the review here

18. Rain Fall (2009) – Read the review here

17. Jackass The Movie (2002) Continue reading →

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Tokyo Daytripper: A Tremendous Trio Of Temples In Tochigi

Posted on May 12, 2020 by tokyofox

The majority of Tokyoites usually head on up to Tochigi Prefectures to see the majestic temples of Nikko, the onsen at Kinagawa or to eat gyoza in Utsunomiya. Over the last few years I’ve been off the beaten track a bit more when dipping in and out of the area and this time I explored a few places south-east of Utsunomiya.

The Mōka Railway is a small private rail line (17 stops) connecting Shimodate to Motegi and so back in early March (a few weeks before the State of Emergency began in Japan) I headed up that way to see some places of interest. It was a very early start as I left the Tokyo Fox Global Operations Centre at 6:30 am to cycle to Akabane for the 7:10 train to Shimodate via Oyama. From there it was a local line to Mashiko Station where I handed my ticket to the station attendant as I disembarked at 9:36 from the deserted single-car train.

 

There was no time to hang about in this pottery town as I needed to return to Continue reading →

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The Japanese Railway Station That Looks Like A Train!

Posted on May 9, 2020 by tokyofox

The train is always standing by for you at this station.

Waiting for a train can often be a nervy situation for many albeit less so in Japan where they often run on time to the second. Such precision means many people time their trips meticulously without too much leeway for any slight delays. As a British guy, I grew up wondering how late the train would be rather than expecting or hoping it’d be on time.

None of that is a problem though at  Continue reading →

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Review: Films Set In Japan – Tokyo Pop (1988)

Posted on May 6, 2020 by tokyofox

Many people think of “Lost In Translation‘ (2003) as being the pioneer of the modern day film set in Japan but for people of a certain age it is this one from 15 years earlier which perhaps better encapsulates “the real Tokyo”!

When Fran Rubel Kuzui made ‘Tokyo Pop’ it was very much the height of the bubble era for the economy in Japan. It is a delightfully fluffy kitsch piece of ’80s nostalgia with a certain simple charm. On the face of it, it may seem like Continue reading →

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