Tom's Japan travling Journal.

[riderV3]

Well folks here we go, I was absented from the forum for over three weeks but I bet most of you didn’t realize.

Anyway that doesn’t matter; just here to share some pics I took back from the far away land of Japan, I had hell of a good time there.

I wanted to go through as many famous spots as possible in this trip and I did go to quite a few like Osaka Castle and Kinkaku- temple.

Also since I travel alone I will not be presented in most of the pictures.

Well, I suppose the photo will lead you guys through my journey.

So started out from DFW airport after 13 hours of flying I landed in Japan Narita airport, here’s some pretty cool duty free shops in this airport, this one is the most elaborated and crowded one.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00525.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00527.jpg

Some dried stuff.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00528.jpg

[riderV3]

Well it’s early afternoon when I arrived so instead of checking in with the hotel I caught a train to the downtown Tokyo, the hotel is in the down town anyway…

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00570.jpg

The people here wouldn’t yield their seat unless you’re a real real old/sick man or a pregnant woman. It’s just an interesting part of their culture; they don’t get much sleep so every second on the subway/train counts.
They rush to a seat, get their butt on it and start sleeping. The only three things that Japanese would do on subway are sleeping, playing with cell phone and reading.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00596.jpg

This is a food ticket machine, Japanese people are pretty damn busy that they don’t even want to order stuff no more, buy a ticket, hand it to the cook and you get your food.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00600.jpg

[riderV3]

Being a comic geek/dork there’s that one place that I have to visit, Akihabara in Tokyo, the sanctuary of otaku.
This place is absolutely filled with anime stuff, from collectible stores to massive amount of…porn…mostly Dojin (fan art).
None of the stores are photo-ok so I have to be careful and if they find me taking pics I just run away.

Arrived!
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00621.jpg

Here’s where everything started, the Gamers:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00604.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00602.jpg

[riderV3]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00609.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00608.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00619.jpg


Here’s the Indy piece by Koto, not very interesting in person, very small.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00614.jpg

[riderV3]

A Lapuda set up in koto hobby shop.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00613.jpg


http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00618.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00617.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00616.jpg

[riderV3]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00610.jpg


There’s this life-size Old Snake statue outside of a video game store made by studio Oxmox, the likeness/details isn’t perfect but still quite an interesting a piece.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00607.jpg

Got this soft-shelled crab meal for my dinner:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00545.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00547.jpg

[riderV3]

I took this pic on my way back to hotel, most of the eatery here down in subway station don’t have chairs, apparently people don’t care to waste too much time sit on their butts and enjoy their meal.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00966.jpg


Woke up in the morning and took off to Nakano as planned, there’s a little department store building there full of toy/collectible shops.

What you’re looking at here is where most Japanese women do their grocery shopping, Shotenguy (Street of shops), very literal, this is a little street with roof top and filled with all kinds of shop. You can see shotenguy all over Japan, very interesting.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00626.jpg


an weird billboard on a building:
Make me think of emma frost:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00568.jpg

A salmon head I found in a seafood store:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00538.jpg

[riderV3]

Well to the end of this street is where the toy building lays, the Nakano Sun mall.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00632.jpg

Found an awesome piece of Cyborg 009 art:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00633.jpg

This store is full of costumes, all kinds of cosplay stuff
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00634.jpg

Sailor Moon costumes:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00635.jpg

[riderV3]

Japan has the most vending machines in the world, even novel vending machine.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00623.jpg

Here’s where I take care of my lunch, a little ramen store.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00627.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00630.jpg

[riderV3]

Now heading to Shinjuku, one of the most prosperous area in Tokyo:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00644.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00648.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00645.jpg

An interesting band on the street, spare some cash if you like their performance:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00652.jpg

[riderV3]

Get my dinner taken care of, fired pork chop:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00556.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00557.jpg

Now I’m pretty much done with Kanto (east side of Japan) area, there’re lot more places but big cities are pretty much the same.
But Kansai (west side of Japan) is a different story; they got all kinds of cultural stuff there in Osaka and Kyoto.

I planned to take the express train but only to find the ticket is too damn expensive, even higher than their in-state flight, and it takes longer.
After some information gathering I decided to take their in-state planes.

An hour and half of fly time isn’t too bad and I took an airport-connecting bust to the nearby subway station.
Now this is a typical Kansai stuff, crazy customed car, sorry about the pic but the bus was moving fast
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00664.jpg

Passing through some of kind of agricultural planting:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00669.jpg

[riderV3]

This is the biggest station in Kyoto and the construction is simply breath taking:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00745.jpg

And see what I found in the station, an Osamu Tezuka store!
He’s like the Jack Kirby In Japan; as Americans call Kirby the king of comics, in Japan people call Tezuka the God of comics. There’s no denial the whole manga industry is built on the foundation he set after WWII.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00744.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00776.jpg

[riderV3]

Some close-to-life-size piece outside of the store:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00767.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00769.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00768.jpg


A student was submitting her work at the art competition held by the Tezuka store.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00775.jpg

[riderV3]

An easy lunch at the nearby eatery:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00675.jpg


Now heading to Kinkaku Temple, the temple is significantly representational and iconic as Mt. Fuji and Osaka Castle.
The top part of the building is completely gold plated with golden foiled, pure gold right there and it looks extremely luxurious and beautiful.
It was used to feast the guest of emperor back then.

This is the entrance of Kinkaku temple
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00688.jpg

Cool-lookinh ticket:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00716.jpg

Some kind of door way, don’t know where it leads to:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00690.jpg

[riderV3]

Now the kinkaku temple, bunch of people there already but still managed to took a few shots:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00693.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00707.jpg

On tip of the roof is a phoenix:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00711.jpg

[riderV3]

The natural environment is very well preserved.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00717.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00721.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00714.jpg

A tea place where you can rest your feet.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00729.jpg

['Nuff]

Keep going Tom...Very informative....:buttrock:

[riderV3]

Dinner is don’t know how to call it but it’s a hot pot filled with goodies.
This restaurant is quite famous, a favorite place of Sumo fighters.
One Sumo who won the champion gave the store his pants as gift.
There’re also other few eatery around the street.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00794.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00796.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00795.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00792.jpg

[riderV3]

Raw sweet shrimp as appetizer:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00791.jpg

This is the pants, it’s HUUUUUUUGE.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00793.jpg



That’s about it for Kinkaku temple and let’s takes a look at Osaka Castle.

This place isolated in the middle of modern architectures, surrounded by a park.

The huge front door.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00868.jpg

Me trying to take some souvenir
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00872.jpg

[riderV3]

Osaka castle:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00887.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00890.jpg

The classic fish decoration on the edge to the roof:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00889.jpg

Sitting under a tree by the castle:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00897.jpg

[riderV3]

An Udon noodle lunch:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00876.jpg


All right, time to hit the best place in Osaka: Dotonbori!

This place is full of eatery, large exaggerated 3-D billboards and all kinds of fun, no doubt the most essence of Osaka.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00908.jpg

The first thing to get your attention is this big mofo crab, it moves and it’s huge!
The store is Kani Douraku (crab’s shack), a classic crab restaurant.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00906.jpg

Some crab sushi I bought:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00950.jpg

[riderV3]

Now let’s see what they got here:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00910.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00924.jpg

We gotta thank this guy, he is the first ever moving advertisement of this area, before him there was nothing, on duty for decades he has become the symbol of Osaka.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00919.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00918.jpg

[ansel39]

Raw sweet shrimp as appetizer:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00791.jpg

This is the pants, it’s HUUUUUUUGE.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00793.jpg



That’s about it for Kinkaku temple and let’s takes a look at Osaka Castle.

This place isolated in the middle of modern architectures, surrounded by a park.

The huge front door.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00868.jpg

Me trying to take some souvenir
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00872.jpg

did you just give your camera to a stranger.

[riderV3]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00916.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00952.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00915.jpg

[riderV3]

A restaurant that sells puffer meals:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00926.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00942.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00929.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00925.jpg

[riderV3]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00944.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00959.jpg


A pretty lady on the bench waiting for somebody in a typical Kansai girl outfit.
The girls in west Japan tend to dress up in a more elaborated and weird fashion, men are pretty much the same.
You can see bunch of young dudes with crazy outfit and bleached hair which you don’t see in Tokyo.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00911.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00914.jpg

[riderV3]

Another typical Kansai girl, she’s a cutie but the hat keeps get in the way.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00943.jpg

And now this is what I’m taking about!
She’s THE most beautiful lady I saw in Japan, an OL quite apparently.
The photo doesn’t do her justice; she’s as sweet as a woman can be…OMG…
She noticed me staring at her with a camera, she smiled and shy away, damn I bet she likes me, swear I almost ask her to come back to Texas with me…

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00949.jpg


Talk about Osaka you can’t leave without having some of their famous TakoYaki, the octopus ball.
This little store is famous for using the largest chunk of octopus and special sauce.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00931.jpg

those are some real large octopus chunk, no joking:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00930.jpg

[boondocksaint]

great pics!

[ansel39]

An Udon noodle lunch:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00876.jpg


All right, time to hit the best place in Osaka: Dotonbori!

This place is full of eatery, large exaggerated 3-D billboards and all kinds of fun, no doubt the most essence of Osaka.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00908.jpg

The first thing to get your attention is this big mofo crab, it’s moves and it’s huge!
The store is Kani Douraku (crab’s shack), a classic crab restaurant.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00906.jpg

Some crab sushi I bought:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00950.jpg

love that soy sauce holder

[riderV3]

Yum yum!

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00937.jpg


the octopus ball soup, not as good as they advertised:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00941.jpg

That’s about it for the Dotonbori.

Okay the next target is of course the toy/collectible store in Osaka. You don’t see as many of them here as in Tokyo.

But this is something Tokyo doesn’t have, the Volks Showroom!

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00976.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00977.jpg

[riderV3]

It’s a building of 5 stories. 2 out of 5 are used as rental space for local sellers and start from the third floor is their own items and stuff from other companies.
There’s a themed display case on every floor, huge and got all kinds of cool stuff, but not for sell….

Here’s a few interesting robot stuff:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00978.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00979.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00981.jpg

[riderV3]

This store is the Hero’s. Quite literal as the store is concentrated on all sort of hero stuff, very little Marvel, mostly Japanese Mask Rider, Ultraman etc...

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00993.jpg

Posing with the huge Masked Rider outside of the store:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00985.jpg

What caught my eyes is this thing:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00986.jpg

Take a closer look only to find that it’s THE helmet wore by Toby Mcguire in Spiderman 2!
You can tell it’s the real thing, the ripped pizza shop sticker and all, very interesting.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00987.jpg

[riderV3]

And the Gundam’s, this store of course sells everything Gundam.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00995.jpg

Dinner is Japanese fish fries
.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00561.jpg

Life size predator:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC01010.jpg

Bubba Gump shrimp resturant?!

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC01007.jpg

[riderV3]

Some deserts:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC01014.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC01013.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC01012.jpg

The Soy Sauce Ramen I ate the other night:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00983.jpg




Well folks this pretty much round up my trip, as I have more stuff to clean up I’ll shut up right here and let you guys look over the photos.

[ansel39]

And now this is what I’m taking about!
She’s THE most beautiful lady I saw in Japan, an OL quite apparently.
The photo doesn’t do her justice; she’s as sweet as a woman can be…OMG…
She noticed me staring at her with a camera, she smiled and shy away, damn I bet she likes me, swear I almost ask her to come back to Texas with me…

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00949.jpg





there you go Tom just ask :thumbs2:

[riderV3]

there you go Tom just ask :thumbs2:

I seriously want to...

[riderV3]

did you just give your camera to a stranger.

That's why there's very few photos with me in there, they don't have the guts to take my camera and run though.

[Daredevil]

great pics! Now I want to go to Japan!

[patrickwm68]

Awesome Pics Rider!

I noticed you were gone. :D

[riderV3]

Awesome Pics Rider!

I noticed you were gone. :D

Haha!

[ansel39]

That's why there's only very few photos with me in there, they don't have the guts to take my camera and run though.

well here is some help

"don't try this at home":thumbs2:

[VinReaper]

Dinner is don’t know how to call it but it’s a hot pot filled with goodies.
This restaurant is quite famous, a favorite place of Sumo fighters.
One Sumo who won the champion gave the store his pants as gift.
There’re also other few eatery around the street.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/riderV3/DSC00794.jpg

The dish is called Chankonabe!

One of my favorites. I have a few Sumo friends in Japan and enjoy the dish with them after a hard day of training.

You are making me miss being over in Japan. I am not Japanese, but go there every year for a few weeks and it feels like home now.


Glad you enjoyed yourself! The memory of it will effect you the rest of your life. A really great culture!


VR

[riderV3]

Thanks for the clarification!
You got Sumo friends?! Damn that's cool!

And it's actually my thrid trip to Japan, but first time with a digital camera.:D

Like you said that place is addictive, hell I even want to get a wife there if possible.

The dish is called Chankonabe!

One of my favorites. I have a few Sumo friends in Japan and enjoy the dish with them after a hard day of training.

You are making me miss being over in Japan. I am not Japanese, but go there every year for a few weeks and it feels like home now.


Glad you enjoyed yourself! The memory of it will effect you the rest of your life. A really great culture!


VR

[ansel39]

Thanks for the clarification!
You got Sumo friends?! Damn that's cool!

And it's actually my thrid trip to Japan, but first time with a digital camera.:D

Like you said that place is addictive, hell I even want to get a wife there if possible.

maybe you could get a wife out of one of those vending machines. there are more vending machines in japan than anywhere else in the world :thumbs2:

[VinReaper]

Thanks for the clarification!
You got Sumo friends?! Damn that's cool!

And it's actually my thrid trip to Japan, but first time with a digital camera.:D

Like you said that place is addictive, hell I even want to get a wife there if possible.

Be careful what you ask for! LOL!

It is an amazing place and you will find yourself wanting to go back again and again.

And after 10 times you will realize that you still know nothing about the place. So old and different and intriguing. A feast for the eyes, heart, mind and spirit!

VR

[VinReaper]

maybe you could get a wife out of one of those vending machines. there are more vending machines in japan than anywhere else in the world :thumbs2:

Don't laugh! They have that! It is like a computer dating service vending machine tat will set you up with a lunch date!


Funny but true!!

VR

[ansel39]

Be careful what you ask for! LOL!

It is an amazing place and you will find yourself wanting to go back again and again.

And after 10 times you will realize that you still know nothing about the place. So old and different and intriguing. A feast for the eyes, heart, mind and spirit!

VR

one of my fantasy destinations that and austrailia:buttrock:

[ansel39]

Don't laugh! They have that! It is like a computer dating service vending machine tat will set you up with a lunch date!


Funny but true!!

VR

vending hookers:confused2

[VinReaper]

vending hookers:confused2

PM me if you want to know where those machines are before you go! :confused2







:laugh:
VR

[ansel39]

PM me if you want to know where those machines are before you go! :confused2







:laugh:
VR

i am suremy wife would go withme. so not really gonna get to enjoy that part of the culture.

[riderV3]

most of the people there don't speak English...at all...

Some can lend me info with simple words and some got scared and literally run away like I'm some sort of disease....

I met one who speaks perfect English though, he was a god-sent, I need to reach a tiny rural place around mt. Fuji and he helped my with the ticket and all, I'd give him a big hug if he's not a guy.

[ansel39]

most of the people there don't speak English...at all...

Some can lend me info with simple words and some got scared and literally run away like I'm some sort of disease....

I met one who speaks perfect English though, he was a god-sent, I need to reach a tiny rural place around mt. Fuji and he helped my with the ticket and all, I'd give him a big hug if he's not a guy.

be secure hug a man does not mean you want to dip your pen in his ink.

[VinReaper]

most of the people there don't speak English...at all...

Some can lend me info with simple words and some literally got scared and literally run away like I'm some sort of disease....

I met one who speaks perfect English though, he was a god-sent, I need to reach a tiny rural place around mt. Fuji and he helped my with the ticket and all, I'd give him a big hug if he's not a guy.

Yeah I know how people there can be!

I train with a Karate style there. So every time I go I always have members of the Japanese team with me and they translate what I can't understand. But after so many trips and many Japanese friends, I have a working knowledge of the language. Granted I probably sound like a children's book, but it gets me to where I need to go and beers! :D


I am also a big guy, so all the school kids want to take pictures with me and use me as a Jungle gym in them. LOL! Makes the commute in the mornings that much longer!


VR

[riderV3]

Damn to sound like a children's book is good enough, I sounded like an infant probably.

Yeah I know how people there can be!

I train with a Karate style there. So every time I go I always have members of the Japanese team with me and they translate what I can't understand. But after so many trips and many Japanese friends, I have a working knowledge of the language. Granted I probably sound like a children's book, but it gets me to where I need to go and beers! :D


I am also a big guy, so all the school kids want to take pictures with me and use me as a Jungle gym in them. LOL! Makes the commute in the mornings that much longer!


VR

[Kirk Durfey]

Great pics, Tom - Thanks for sharing! You gave a good taste of a trip to Japan. I've always wanted to go and hunt for Godzilla stuff myself... :buttrock:

[CocoPUFF]

so Tom....Did you nail a Japanese chick?! I hope so! You come off as a little creepy though taking pics of them..they probably think you're a stalker/pervert!

[endsongjen]

omg!!!! those pics were amazing, beautiful. im glad u had a blast, shoulda brought home the lady, and im sorry about your hamster... again :(

thank you for my souvenirs btw. ur sweet :)

[AsOneDead]

Great pics and thanks for sharing! Damn, those Jap chicks that dress up are hot, you don't even have to persuade these girls to dress up or be kinky.

[HoldyourfireAl]

Thank you so much for the pics! I dreamed my whole life of seeing stores that carry Godzilla, Ultraman, and Shogun Warrior-type items. I'm guessing that stuff is before your time?

[riderV3]

Great pics, Tom - Thanks for sharing! You gave a good taste of a trip to Japan. I've always wanted to go and hunt for Godzilla stuff myself...

Thank KD, I tried to balance the trip between the cultral stuff, entertainment stuff and their food.

so Tom....Did you nail a Japanese chick?! I hope so! You come off as a little creepy though taking pics of them..they probably think you're a stalker/pervert!

Oh I wish CP, I'd kill for a Jp chick but that didn't happen so yes, I walk around with my 10X zoom camera and taking pic of those girls like a perv, that's exactly what happened...:banghead:

Thank you so much for the pics! I dreamed my whole life of seeing stores that carry Godzilla, Ultraman, and Shogun Warrior-type items. I'm guessing that stuff is before your time?

Of course those are before my time, but you can't beat something old and cheesy.

omg!!!! those pics were amazing, beautiful. im glad u had a blast, shoulda brought home the lady, and im sorry about your hamster... again :(

thank you for my souvenirs btw. ur sweet :)

Don't worry about the hamster, it really is nothing.

Me and sweet don't go together so as long as you like those I'm fine with it.:)

[JLM]

Superb pictures Tom, especially the food. I'm hungry just looking at them.

Seems like you had a blast!

[carbo-fation]

Thanks for sharing, Tom. Great pictures and it seems like you had a blast! :rock Visiting Japan is one of the things I'd like to do in the near future.

[Alex655321]

Tom glad you had a great time !

And thanks for taking the time to post all the great pics and documentary !

I feel like I was there :thumbs2:

[Juggernaut]

I hope to come to Japan someday.

I want to learn japanese first though.

[Vince-Vell]

Man those are some sweet pictures! I would be a kid in a candy store with all those anime PVC figures. I love them and would collect more but way to expensive! All tho there is still key figures i am always on the hunt for!

Looks like you had a great time thanks for sharing!

[Juggernaut]

Hey Patrick Do you speak japanese?

[superdoug]

I grew up (from 5 till 11, through grammar school) in Japan, and all these pics made me equally hungry/homesick/nostalgic/sad/happy. All those dishes and restaurant types that I remember. That bowl of actual ramen house ramen got my mouth just watering. :thumbs2:

I remember the field trip to see the castle and Kanakura Temple. Very, very cool. I would love to go back as an adult, now that I can appreciate some of the cultural aspects a bit more.

Great thread, Tom! Glad you're enjoying your trip!


Oh, and that agricultural planting you put a pic up of looks like modern-day rice patties to me. Since the water level is so high on the plants. :D

[VinReaper]

Hey Patrick Do you speak japanese?

No! I am functional to get around and communicate for the things I need. And all my training is only done in Japanese, but as for all the nuances and gramatics I am still in the learning stages. So in essence, I can travel around Japan on my own and read basic Hiragana and Katakana and a few Kanji, but to sit and have an in depth conversation about politics, not happening. At least not for now! :D

VR

[VinReaper]

I grew up (from 5 till 11, through grammar school) in Japan, and all these pics made me equally hungry/homesick/nostalgic/sad/happy. All those dishes and restaurant types that I remember. That bowl of actual ramen house ramen got my mouth just watering. :thumbs2:

I remember the field trip to see the castle and Kanakura Temple. Very, very cool. I would love to go back as an adult, now that I can appreciate some of the cultural aspects a bit more.

Great thread, Tom! Glad you're enjoying your trip!


Oh, and that agricultural planting you put a pic up of looks like modern-day rice patties to me. Since the water level is so high on the plants. :D

That must of been and awesome growing up experience. Now you know you must return!


VR

[superdoug]

It was! I was attacked by my first rooster there! LOL. (I learned that those chickens people keep in their fancy gardens over there are -not- pets. :laugh:)

There's just something about growing up over there...anyone who I've talked to that was a military brat over there seems to be a different sort of person. Maybe it's the non-American mindset, or just growing up around all those flashing lights. :laugh:

But I do want to go back. If the money's ever right, I fully intend to. (I've told Jim that they have American restaurants over there, because I don't think he'd be very adventurous in the meal department, and he can't live on tempura chicken the whole time. :laugh:)

It's cool that you train over there, and get to go so often. I'm super jealous!

[moon_knight1971]

Everyone should post pics with a nice little explanation like you did Tom. I felt like I was practically there. Hope you had fun! Great pics!

[Babytoxie]

WOW! Beautiful pics, thanks for posting them!

[insomniac]

Great pics Tom. Thanks for sharing the photos and the stories. The food looks great. I heard Japanese sushi is almost as good as the sushi we get in Vancouver. :) My wife and I plan on taking a trip to Japan soon.

[spawngod1]

Hey Tom,

Thank you very much for the pics.
They were very fun and interesting
to look at and see a much different culture
I have always wanted to visit Japan.
Can I go with you on your next trip?:thumbs2:

Take care,

spawngod1

[albeeman]

dang... Japan looks super fun!

But sensory overload!! Ill fall asleep from being over whelmed! LOL

Ramon

[riderV3]

Thanks a bunch folks!:thumbs2:

As for those for express their interest of going together next time as long as you pay for your own expenses I really don't mind.:)

[Force101]

Wow, incredible photos rider! They're great. Man, I would go crazy in the toy shops with all the sexy anime figs haha. I would love to go to Japan.

[armitage]

Wow!
I'd love to go to Japan some day. You got some great pics there man. Glad you had a great time.
That octopus makes me salivate..mmmm.
You gotta talk to the little Japanese hotties though, you mighta got lucky.:thumbs2: