Ueno

Let it go
After Ameyoko, I walked over to Ueno Park, where I had been already a couple of days earlier with Brandon, Paul, Mike and Marco. This time I wanted to visit the National Museum of Western Art. Ok, it might be a bit weird to run into the one museum in Tokyo that has the exact […] Read More

Ameyoko Market

Let it go
Tokyo is perfect to just stroll and discover. When I wanted to visit the Museum of Western Art in Uemo Park, I ended up spending hours in Ameyoko Market. It’s full name is ameyayokocho, which means “candy shop alley”. However, today it is simply called ameyoko (アメ横). And it sells so much more than candy. Nestled under and […] Read More

Faded

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Beauty is only temporary… most of the cherry trees have lost the blossoms by now. It must have been quite a sight when they were in full bloom. I managed to get some pics one night at the canal. The lamps look beautiful. However, if you expect some millennia old Japanese wisdom… be warned: it’s advertisement. […] Read More

Imperially quiet

Let it go
I paid a visit to the Imperial gardens today, the closest you can get to the Imperial Palace. The park is huge, and it must have been even bigger in ancient times, as several massive walls and moats are today located in the city. You can only visit the Eastern part of the gardens, the […] Read More

Sky high

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Another trip up into the skies, this time on top of the Tokyo Sky Tree. Openend in 2012, it is the second tallest structure in the world, after the Burj Khalifa, coming in at 634 meters. It became necessary, as the Tokyo Tower, surrounded by numerous high buildings, could no longer transmit a full terrestrial […] Read More

Overwhelmed

Let it go
I’m slightly overwhelmed by the first days in Tokyo. The city is everything, and all at once. From my quiet, more residential neighborhood with its tiny streets without cars to the mega-pedestrian crossings of Shibuya, the mega-shopping streets to tiny pedestrian zones, shrines and parks, hanami parties, fertility festivals and Japanese weddings… I met up […] Read More

Tokyo by night

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Got a bit lost between the metro and the trains, and instead of going downtown Tokyo I decided I’ll pay a visit to the Tokyo Tower. Constructed in 1958, it’s reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower, even higher than its French counterpart with 333 meters. But somehow it looks smaller. Maybe because there are buildings around […] Read More

Hanami

Let it go
After the rain yesterday, Tokyo showed its most beautiful side today, with deep blue skies. Perfect to walk along the neighboring Meguro River, that runs through the neighborhood and gives it its name. The river is heavily landscaped, it looks more like a canal now, but has nice cherry tree lined promenades on each side. […] Read More

Tokyo in the rain

Let it go
The rain was really torrential. All day long. To a point where you really do not want to set foot outside. Even in a new city. I got TV, high speed internet, who cares, there’s lots to watch. But, curiosity won. At least I wanted to go see the Tokyo Metropolitain Museum of Photography, it […] Read More

Speechless

Let it go
Literally. I knew I was not going to understand much, but being faced with it is a different thing… I landed and it all went smooth through immigration and customs. My host Sugi had mailed me instructions for different ways to get into the city, as the airport is 60 km outside of Tokyo. I […] Read More

NZ99

Let it go
I had a great seat with extra legroom and a window… not for free, Air New Zealand makes you pay for that privilege, but I thought for an 11 hour flight, that’s worth it… The flight was good, even though we had to wear the seatbelt a lot flying through some ultra-high and grey clouds. […] Read More