Kama kama kama kama kama Kamakura

Kamakura is a very special place—not only for the Japanese, but also for M-san and Fawnda. Not only was it their first destination together outside of Tokyo’s limits 5 years ago, it was also the last place they visited before Fawnda left. Incidentally, the little coastal town is home to the world’s largest outdoor seated Daibutsu (Buddha). It’s also features lots of tiny Buddhas, caves, an island the serves squished octopus, and many other delights. Please enjoy these scenes from Andrew and Fawnda’s last day trip outside the big big city…

As you can see the giant Buddha is quite the tourist attraction.

Which is why we had to snap this shot.

And this one. Isn’t he lovely. Please also note the stylish moustache.

Hasedera Temple was up the mountainside and after the trek it was time for a quick smoke to help catch our breath.

As with most temples the detail work was astounding.

And so was the view of Sagami Bay (?).

It’s nice.

Hasedera Temple is also known for its popular bamboo grove.

That kept us entertained for hours — well for a while anyway.

Not all the Buddhas in Kamakura are large.

But what these guys lack in size they make up for in numbers.

Maybe they will grow if worshipers keep watering them.

They even keep a few of these little guys tucked away in the cave of mystery.

Just watch your head.

And mind the bats. Or maybe the bats were just in our mind. That happens sometimes.

After Hasedera we made our way across the bridge to Inoshima Island for a bite

Of pressed octopus.

And it was everything we dreamt it would be.

FYI: this is what you’re supposed to do incase of an earthquake or a tsunami. Write it down.

To finish off the night we made one last stop at Hachimangu Shrine before heading back to homebase.

The Ultimate Land of Cute

One of the most profitable entertainment industries in Japan has to be Disney—in the land of all things cutesy, it’s no wonder that there’s more than one of the famed amusement parks within Tokyo. Being more “adult,” we decided to spend an evening at DisneySea (the Land with less kiddies and more booze). Basically, it’s got all the same attractions as California’s Disney Land, it’s just all in Japanese. Imagine Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones shouting at you in Japanese from the Temple of the Crystal Skull and you’ll start to get a picture… Of course we couldn’t snap too many shots on the actual rides, but we can tell you that the view of Tokyo from the top in the Tower of Terror is magnificent—even if it’s only visible two or three seconds before you free-fall 8 storeys into the pitch black tower to your assumed doom. Terrrah!

The DisneySea Halloween advertising campaign was just too colourful to resist.

So we rounded up the troops (M&K-san, with Satomi and Taichi in tow)

It was kinda Halloweeny…

We’re not exactly sure why “renaissance masquerade” is Halloweeny, though.

The wait times for the rides were proof that we’d come on a busy day (really, you don’t get much else in Tokyo)

To wait, we all posed in front of the massive harbour

…and posed

This is Fawnda’s Stitch impersonation—the Japanese love Stitch, he’s very “kimu kawaii” (so heinous he’s cute)

More posing in Jules Verne Land—you can see the 20 000 Leagues attraction behind Ken and M-san.

…and in front of the very girly Mermaid’s Lagoon

Our first ride, and one with no line, was the carousel in the Arabian Nights area.

…slow enough for more and more posing!

Though the lines are long, they do have ways to keep you entertained.

Especially with cute story boards along the walls.

Fortunately, you can smoke in DisneySea (not in Disney Land, ha!)

After much toiling and waiting, we felt it was a good time for an old fashioned human sacrifice.

But instead, we went on a gondola ride around the park. So lovely!

“This magpie/crow/vulture thing is about the size of my torso”

The people in Japan might be small, but the bugs and other beasts certainly aren’t. Here’s a few photos of typical Japanese wildlife. Please refrain from feeding the animals as they may pluck out your eyes.

A swan at the Imperial Palacein Tokyo.

We found this praying mantis in Nara.

And of course, the map-eating deer as well.

Turtles in Nara.

A crane fishing for baby turtles and other tasty bits in Nara.

This crane was perched atop the A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima.

Giant koi in Kichijoji.

Tsukiji fishmarket fare.

This raven beast’s hooked beak is about four inches long. Perfect for snatching eye balls.

Tragically we think that’s exactly what happened to this racoon-looking creature in Kamakura. It was missing an eye.

Feral cats are everywhere.

Which is no suprise considering the locals like to feed them scraps—particularly in Gotanda.

A (thankfully) dead cicada. The live ones make terrible noise. Ken-san almost brought this one home.

These spiders in Inari are fist-size.

They eat babies.

Freaks and Geeks … But Mostly Freaks

Every Sunday Tokyo’s “cosplay” fanatics (essentially, it’s Japanese goth culture) offer up a mixture of gothic and doll-like fashions—these are the “Harajuku Girls” that Gwen Stefani likes to keep as pets. All frillied up, the freaks gather at the entrance to Yoyogi Park to strut their stuff and pose for photos with tourists. We even managed to catch a live filming of a Japanese music video. Please enjoy.

I left my heart in a Love Hotel

A must-see on every tourist’s list for Tokyo is a love hotel. These motel-like establishments offer a short “rest” (up to 4 hours) or an overnight “stay”—and are incredibly cheap (compared to “real” hotels in Tokyo, anyway). We hear these places are mostly used by salarymen having lunch-hour affairs and college students who need to get away from crowded dorms. To sate our curiosity, we visited the Love Hotel Hill near Shibuya station. As you go further up the hill, things just get stranger….

From the exotic

To the downright confusing

The Shibuya love hotel district will cater to your every desire. Party room anyone?

Costume rental services are available in many of the hotels.

We’ve even been told that hostesess dressed as Japanese schoolgirls will deliver your fantasy garb straight to your door

You’ll also find a wide selection of lubes and contraceptives from in-room vending machines

And of course all come with standard pixelated Japanese porn. We wonder what exactly is the point of pixelated porn…

Just make sure to be polite to the local vice squad for the duration of your stay.

The day after Tokyo stood still

Just hours after Typhoon Melor hit, the sky was blue and the sun was strong. Winds were still high, but that didn’t stop us from exploring Tokyo’s swanky business district (Shinjuku), and topping the day off with a quick voyage to Kichijoji—the olde hippie town in Tokyo’s far west end.

The following day it was back to work for everyone, including us documentarians.

Though some of the trains were still delayed by high winds from Melor’s downdraft.

While we waited for the Chuo line to get up and running, we perused the skyrises of Shinjuku

…in all their horizontal glory.

Funny thing is, we couldn’t get an entire building in any single shot.

This one only shows floors 180 through 216.

We stumbled upon a rather nice park to ease the kinks in our necks.

Complete with soothing water features.

Public art oddities

And of course, homeless. Andrew just couldn’t help himself.

Time to head back for the train!

But first, some cheesy posing.

Kichijoji’s Inakoshira park is heavenly

and rife with wildlife of all types.

Like hillbillies!

And regal swan sailboats.

Of course, as fun junkies we both couldn’t possibly pass those up.

Return to Asakusa

With typhoon Melor fast approaching we decided to visit Senso Ji Temple (one of Tokyo’s most ancient) to ask for good fortune. However …

After purchasing our fortunes for 100 Yen we found to our dismay

That the both of us were shit out of luck.

So what could two gaijin down on their luck do?

Pray for dear life of course.

Otherwise this fellow might have his way with us

And that would be no good. Just ask this dude under his foot.

So we inhaled the sacred incense

Lit a candle

And paid our dues in the temple

Before visiting a Buddha

Or two

We felt good afterward and enjoyed the art on the temple ceiling

They brought some peace to our troubled souls

And so did the Heineken on the train ride home.

Melor hit that night, and we can only assume our prayers were answered

As the next day was bright and beautiful.

Gubbernatorials

Along with every single junior high school in Tokyo, we visited the Tokyo Diet Building—home of the Japanese Diet (think of it like Canada’s Senate). Though we weren’t allowed too many pictures inside, we still got away with murder. As there was a typhoon approaching, conditions for picture-taking were less than optimal. Nonetheless, we marched around half of old Tokyo—through Hibiya Park, the Imperial Palace grounds, and later on around Roppongi Hills—in the sopping sogginess.

The boys on the train, awaiting all the political delights.

Inside the Diet, we were met with traditional government activities.

And many, many Japanese schoolchildren.

Outside the Diet, the weather was misty.

But we soldiered on to Hibiya Park (one of Tokyo’s oldest)

Even in an oncoming typhoon, the civic workers continue to toil

“You’re not Romulus sucking on the teats of the mother wolf!”

Eventually, we found our way through Nihombashi to the Imperial Palace.

Which was, of course, closed to visitors. But notice the lovely park! And Tokyo Tower in the background.

We finished the rainy day near Yasukuni Shrine—the infamous house of Japan’s war criminals (and heroes, for sure. But the criminals make the news way more often)

Later that night, we were attacked by spiders in Roppongi

…and enjoyed the lights of Tokyo Tower up close and personal this time.

Mmm … Fooood

The food has easily been one of the top highlights of our trip. Whether it’s udon, Korean barbecue, curry or a piping hot rice bowl from a vending machine—we just couldn’t stop eating.

Shabu shabu in Gotanda (homebase).

More kick-ass oysters in Miyajima (this time in ponzu sauce).

The second culinary highlight of Miyajima: okonomiyaki.

Kick-ass oysters in Miyajima.

Good natured sushi chefs in Hiroshima.

That delicious sushi has to come from somewhere. Tsukiji fish market is one of those places.

According to Metropolis Magazine (Tokyo’s English alt weekly) of the 60,000 tons of top grade tuna caught worldwide, 80 per cent of it is consumed in Japan.

All you can eat/drink (in 90 minutes) Korean barbecue. Five stars bitches!

Vegetarian udon in Kamakura.

Meals from vending machines. Tempura, curry or soba oh my!

Tokyo style okonomiyaki in Yoyogi.

The smallest chicken wings in the world.

And of course nothing beats a home cooked meal. Especially M-san and Ken’s Persian delights.

Up In Smoke In Tokyo

Japan has quite a different view on smoking. After a while one gets the impression that the Japanese might be stuck in 1950s America where salary-men wear suits everyday and chain smoke in afterhours izakayas, all while upholding the traditional values of the perfect nuclear family. After all: in Japan you’re allowed to puff away in restaurants, hospitals, on the train, in airports and even in Tokyo Disney (well DisneySea anyway, but more on that later). What you’re not allowed to do is smoke while you’re walking in public. In fact the local government has gone to the trouble of posting anti-smoking haikus on public ashtrays. Please enjoy: