A wonderfully nostalgic video from JR Tokai celebrating 60 years of the Shinkansen and the memories it made for everyone that rode it.
It’s been a busy time at work. More posts forthcoming.
How to tell the Americans are back in Japan
So I returned to Japan with Bon in tow last March when the USD-JPY exchange rate was 151.50. That made puttering around in Japan cheap for us. And made delicious meals even cheaper!
For many tourists, the first stop after arriving is Tokyo Station where there’s a Ramen Street in the basement mall. Delicious!
For us, this was our last meal in Tokyo as we were there to catch the Narita Express on our first leg back to SFO. So sad!!
The bowl I had was 1190 yen or 7.91 USD!!
Do you see the big sign above in English that is posted on top of the ticket machine? It’s in English I’m guessing because enough stupid Americans were asking if their char siu had pork in it. They don’t have a “our ramen is not vegan” sign yet though. Ha!
How Tokyo was, from my memory.
One of the great joys denied to travelers now is the simple act of wandering around Tokyo and soaking it all in. Like this from a previous visit in a Tokyo Metro station…
…or attending a matsuri while you’re in town. This is from the Koenji Awaodori which happens in late August…
…or looking west from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck and seeing Fuji-San on a clear day. I miss doing these things and exploring Tokyo.
Commercials you WANT to watch
Great commercials (how often do I say that?) from Japan.
How to behave in Gion
These are the rules for behaviour in Gion (Kyoto).
I’m not sure who these rules are targeting. Begpackers? Mainlanders?
No touching the geiko/maiko, no loitering.
No smoking, eating, littering or selfie sticks.
Kanazawa Higashi Chayagai
On a rainy Monday evening, where only a few places were open.
Yoshinoya Gyudon
It’s beef with onions and sauce over rice. Gyudon! Om nom nom…
The Star Wars R2-D2 jet!
Here’s the plane that the Rolls Royce Trent engine was attached to. Way cool!
Boeing 787 Dreamliner! And the Star Wars theme didn’t end at the outside of the plane. In Business, there was a Yoda. In Economy, we got similarly attired headrests and CAs.
Rolls Royce Trent
Shot while boarding the ANA Star Wars jet at NRT via airstairs.
Moxy Tokyo
Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho is a new (opened November 2017), cheap and cheerful hotel in Sumida, Tokyo. It’s reasonably priced (for Tokyo), stylish and in a very local neighborhood. It’s not in a usual tourist spot, so the room rate is about half of what you’d expect to pay for a western chain hotel. It’s 10 minutes away from Tokyo Station via JR Sobu Line Rapid (Kinshicho Station).
The theme of the rooms is “wood”. Wood floor and walls. It’s good the rooms are decorated nicely because they are small. If you are familiar with business hotels in Japan, the Moxy’s rooms will feel like an old friend with new clothes. The rooms are comfortable for one; tight for two. Nice firm beds and comfortably warm duvet. The hotel was built from a former office building so the rooms were designed specifically for the Moxy. Despite being part of the Marriott empire, this is not a full service hotel. They do have a nice lounge area and check in/out is handled at the bar. Also, if you’re feeling peckish, there’s a Mini Stop across the street and local izakayas and eateries up the block.
Unlike a typical business hotel, it has a real bathroom, not one of those injected plastic things.
All the furniture in the room and the TV are hung on one long wall. As are your clothes. There’s no closet. You either have the choice of setting up the table or opening up your luggage. There’s not enough room to do both unless you put the luggage on the table. Despite the lack of room in the room, I like this place. And with SPG merging with Marriott Rewards next year, the Moxy will probably be my go to hotel in future visits to Tokyo. Or at least until the Muji Hotel opens…
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