Doing The Star Wars Tokyo Metro Stamp Rally In One Day……By Bicycle!

Posted on November 2, 2019 by tokyofox

 

When I went to the Star Wars Identities interactive exhibition on it’s opening day in August I picked up a booklet in the station for a stamp rally. I didn’t even look at it for a couple of weeks but when I did I began to formulate a plan.

Stamp rallies are quite common and popular in Japan and I have to say that, even though I have no interest in the stamps part, I do like the idea of going round a load of stations on a mission of sorts. They are not postage stamps by the way but are the ones where you put the stamp handle thing into an ink pad and then print it onto your paper of choice.

I could easily have done this Star Wars one by train but that didn’t really appeal too much and would’ve cost me money as the stamping booths were outside the ticket barriers. The solution Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Star Wars | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Tokyo Daytripper: Big Golden Buddha & Sandy Red Monkey Temples Plus A Non-Scandalous Watergate!

Posted on October 30, 2019 by tokyofox

Pretty much no stone has been unturned in Tokyo by the many, many YouTubers (and some bloggers too!) who either live in the capital or come to visit from further afield. Bordering prefectures have been covered far less though, especially Saitama to the north which gets something of a bad rep and is often called DaSai-tama which is a blending of the word for dull (dasai) and the place name itself.

Tokyo Fox is always keen to share (vaguely) interesting places from those prefectures and this post profiles a few largely unknown sights. Before taking in the Rugby World Cup warm-up match between Japan and South Africa in Kumagaya, I spent the daytime in some places just south of there. First up was Konosu Station which is just 50 minutes north of Ikebukuro. Outside the station I hopped on to a bus and took a 15 minute ride to find a golden god statue (3443-1 Kamitanadare, Kazo-Shi) which seemed like some kind of extension of the seven gods of Saitama trail I did a year ago.

After disembarking from the bus there was still the matter of a kilometre to walk on what was a hot day. The rear of it eventually came into sight and I wondered if it was even open to the public as it just looked like it was someone’s home in this peaceful rural area.

  

I couldn’t find a path leading to the temple so ended up Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Travel, Quirky Japan, Tokyo Daytripper: | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Interesting Japanese Playground Structures #22 – Devil Park

Posted on October 27, 2019 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: Devil Park

Location: Nishiki Continue reading →

Posted in Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Cycling In Izu #3 – A Giant Kannon Structure In The Mountains & A Religious Cult Building

Posted on October 24, 2019 by tokyofox

My bicycle was taken on this trip to Izu with the idea in mind of doing some rides on future weekends but I was quite keen to get this particular one out of the way in the knowledge that I’d have a couple of recovery days afterwards. Plus I didn’t quite know when I would next be in town.

An interesting exterior for a very dull place!

Whilst my other two major cycle rides on this trip had started by heading south, this one was going northwards. Route 135 took me to Continue reading →

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

Cycling In Izu #2 – Route 135 Sights In Ito City

Posted on October 21, 2019 by tokyofox

A few days after I’d done the ‘Cycling In Izu #1‘ ride and I was itching to get out on my bike again. This post is all about what can be found along a particular stretch of Route 135, the main road which runs down the east coast of the Izu Peninsula. Of course I could have just gone straight down this road and then come back up but that’d be a bit boring so I turned off at the same point that I did for going to the Jogasaki Coast.

This time though I didn’t quite go as far as there but could just enjoy a quiet country road with hardly any other vehicles in sight. At the junction for Route 135 the plan was to basically turn right and just work my way back towards my in-law’s house stopping at points of note along the way.

However, there was a quick two kilometre detour in the other direction first. When travelling by car up and down this road I had noticed a tall kannon statue but had no idea where it was. I managed to locate it using Google Maps, and as it wasn’t too far beyond my original starting point I decided to head down to see it.

 

It’s called Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Japan Travel, Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cycling In Izu #1 – The Stunning Jogasaki Coast Plus Teddy Bear & Cat Museums

Posted on October 18, 2019 by tokyofox

Having made such an effort to get my bicycle to my parents-in-law’s house via local trains I was keen to get out on it at some point. The weather forecast for almost every day of the holiday in August was stormy and rainy though there would always be some sunshine too. It was just very unpredictable and one had to just take something of a risk when going out. My thought was that if I got rained on at some point then so be it.

The main focal point for this particular afternoon was to be Jogasaki Kaigan Coast which I had actually visited before but on that occasion it was quite overcast. This time it turned out to be a glorious day and getting to my first port of call was fairly simple. There was even a nice green cycling path for much of it that was clearly separated from the road. There were also some lovely Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling, Japan Travel, Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Australia Filming Locations #9 – Ghost Rider (2007)

Posted on October 15, 2019 by tokyofox

Popular comic book character Ghost Rider was given the big screen treatment in early 2007 with Nicholas Cage cast as the flaming-skull-headed biker. Cage already had a tattoo of the anti-hero on his arm but had to cover it up for filming as it would be pretty weird to have a tattoo of yourself wouldn’t it!!

It would be natural to assume that it was filmed in the States (or Canada) but it was pretty much all shot in and around Melbourne. None of the locations featured here are easily noticeable as being in the Australian city. It’s rather apt that the first filming location is now known as the Marvel Stadium although at the time of filming it went by a different name. Since it opened in the Docklands area in 2000 it has been called Colonial Stadium, Telstra Dome and the Etihad Stadium.

 

On screen it’s called the SoBe Dome and it is where Cage’s character Johnny Blaze performs a Continue reading →

Posted in Australasia Travel, Movie Locations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

In Loving Memory Of “Momiji”: A Tribute To Our Beloved Family Dog (Video)

Posted on October 11, 2019 by tokyofox

“She’s the glue that binds the family together”

That quote above is something I said a few years back as she really did do so much to heal and bring the family together. Some people will probably roll their eyes at such statements but those who have or have had pets will understand the sentiment behind this post.

My wife has long credited Momiji as saving her family. Continue reading →

Posted in Family | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Over 5 Hours Of Local Train Travel To Shizuoka Stadium For South Africa vs Italy At The Rugby World Cup

Posted on October 7, 2019 by tokyofox

Having failed to win any tickets in the ballots for matches in Tokyo or Yokohama I had no choice but to look further afield for matches that would fit in with my working schedule. Shizuoka was my first choice as I had never been to Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa. I’m slowly visiting every stadium used at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and this particular one hosted three matches in that tournament; Cameroon vs Germany, Belgium vs Russia and the quarter final match between England and Brazil which was decided by Ronaldinho lobbing Seaman from 40 yards.

When thinking of South Africa it is the Clint Eastwood-directed film ‘Invictus‘ (2009) which sadly comes to my mind first. (*) It tells the story of South Africa’s historical World Cup win on home soil in 1995 which helped President Nelson Mandela unite a previously divided nation. It has to be said though that some of the match-action shots are awful and ridden with mistakes.

South Africa against Italy was a match that stuck out on my list of possible games to attend although to be honest it probably was something of a Continue reading →

Posted in Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

#ForceFridayIII – The Journey Towards ‘The Rise Of Skywalker’ Has Begun

Posted on October 4, 2019 by tokyofox

 

The story of a generation comes to an end this December. The final film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy will bring the curtain down on the Skywalker saga which has enthralled fans ever since 1977.  Mind you, I did think it was the end in 2005 and in the mid eighties too so who knows if it will ever be continued!

Toys ‘R’ Us (Yes, these stores do still exist in Japan!) in Ikebukuro had a midnight event again and Tokyo Fox was there to see the launch of the new products for episode IX. As ever on such occasions, my friend Ben was by my side for an event that has been heavily hyped in the Star Wars community. This one was actually a Continue reading →

Posted in Star Wars | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments