Japan’s Largest Lion-Dog Watches Over This Park

Posted on March 3, 2019 by tokyofox

Two years ago I came across the truly unique Namba Yasaka Shrine in Osaka which is basically a shrine with a huge lion-dog head containing a stage inside it’s mouth. The creatures eyes light up and there’s a speaker in its nose too! That mythical beast is in the west of Japan but there is another gigantic one to be seen over in the eastern part of the country.

Nearly 600 kilometres east in Ibaraki prefecture is a lovely, vast park that bizarrely features a huge Japanese lion-dog head on its lawn. What’s more, it looks over a children’s recreational area! Maybe that’s to intimidate the kids and scare them in to behaving better!

Such creatures were introduced to Japan from Continue reading →

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Going Underground – Touring Tokyo’s Abandoned Stations

Posted on February 28, 2019 by tokyofox

My trip to the virtually-abandoned station in Yokohama last Autumn was something of an eye-opener for me as it resulted in me scouring the internet for any other abandoned stations in and around Tokyo. I found a fantastic site called Tokyobling’s Blog which detailed two places. Admittedly they didn’t get me overly excited as the remains were just a few building exteriors but just a few weeks after that I read that one of them was going to be open to the public to snoop round for a limited time period.

 

The old Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen Station in Ueno Park closed in 1997 but has been open for free to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for three months from the end of Continue reading →

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An Old Style Public Onsen All To Ourselves

Posted on February 25, 2019 by tokyofox

It took me a while to really appreciate them but there’s something special about taking an onsen (hot spring bath) in Japan. The downside for me is of course that you have to share the waters with a load of other people! The dream then is to find one which you have all to yourself, and that is pretty much what happened to me in Izu recently.

My father-in-law asked me one afternoon if I wanted to go to an onsen. I accepted his proposal of course and said that I’d prefer an old style one as they generally have more charm and character than the brand spanking new complex style ones. The result was a trip to place called Fujiyoshi Onsen (1305-8 Futo, Itō-shi, Shizuoka-ken) which took a while to find by car. Even when we got to this place it wasn’t so obvious where the baths were. Having found them, he then disappeared somewhere to pay for them and make sure it was ok to use them. Later research tells me that it cost ¥1500 per person!

With sunset approaching we began together at the place below where the water was covered but scorching hot once we’d removed them. The views from here were the best with a nice panorama of the sea not too far away in the distance.

 

I’d have been happy with just that place but my father-in-law said there were Continue reading →

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Japan’s Only Temple Devoted To The Russo-Japanese War

Posted on February 22, 2019 by tokyofox

 

Prior to last years FIFA World Cup in Russia, I started searching for things in Japan related to the worlds biggest country. Not surprisingly the majority of the suggestions were Russian restaurants, there was also the Russian cathedral in Tokyo and way, way down the list was this interesting little temple tucked away in the middle of nowhere in Shizuoka prefecture.

Early on Boxing Day (December 26th) morning I departed the Tokyo Fox Global Operations Centre and made my way over to Shizuoka prefecture for a few days at my parents-in-law’s house whilst my wife was working back in Tokyo. Rather than heading south at Atami I took a bit of a detour and continued on west to Continue reading →

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Hidden Treasures Along The Keio Line #6 – Inter-University Seminar House

Posted on February 19, 2019 by tokyofox

The Keio Line principally connects Shinjuku to the western side of Tokyo with seven different lines running through to the likes of suburban city Hachiōji and the mountainous area at Takaosanguchi. All of it’s stations actually lie within the boundaries of Tokyo and, thanks to regular free tickets, Tokyo Fox has dug deep to come up with a few places worthy of visit beyond perennial favourites like Mount Takao and Tama Zoo……

#6 – Inter-University Seminar house @ 1987-1 Continue reading →

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Interesting Japanese Playground Structures #16 – Octopus Slide

Posted on February 16, 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: Octopus Slide

Location:  Continue reading →

Posted in Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

Dining Out: Chocolate Ramen – The Ideal Japanese Valentines Meal!

Posted on February 13, 2019 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, pizza, sake, pineapple and so on. The kind of things that the true ramen masters would most definitely turn their nose up at!

Surely chocolate ramen is surely a step too far isn’t it? Only one way to find out! I came by this restaurant chain in Continue reading →

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How To Make A Garbage Incinerator In Osaka Look More Interesting!

Posted on February 10, 2019 by tokyofox

The phrase “only in Japan” is often bandied about willy nilly for all kinds of unique thing in this country but it’s very apt when it comes to this “sight” in Osaka. What other country would even think to decorate such factories relating to waste matter!

  

It had already been an early start for me that morning and, after a minor detour to a bizarre big head temple in Kobe, I found myself at Nishikujo Station where I then took a bus (#81) along Hokuko-dori Street to the bizarrely-titled Continue reading →

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Around The World In An Hour Or Two At This Quirky Park In Hyōgo Prefecture

Posted on February 7, 2019 by tokyofox

  

The world is full of many wonders but time and money restraints mean it’s not so easy to just fly off to the likes of China, Egypt, Mexico, France, Belgium or Easter Island. None of that is necessary though as you can see the whole lot (and more!) at this slightly strange park in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan.

Having begun the day in Tottori, I ventured south (via a stop to see the turtle-shaped station) to Okayama and then on to Himeji. I’d actually spent Continue reading →

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A Turtle-y Awesome Looking Station In Okayama Prefecture

Posted on February 4, 2019 by tokyofox

It seems that Japan has a fair few strangely unique train stations. Last August I went to a couple of really interesting-looking ones up in Aomori and Akita prefectures and this is one to rival them.

Having left Tottori in the early hours of the morning I was keen to get to Himeji (via Okayama Station) as soon as possible but when I knew I’d be passing through this unique looking station I just had to Continue reading →

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