Osaka

I had to do it. There is no way I could say I truly lived in Japan without visiting Osaka and it's neighbor cities, Kobe and Himeji. Even though this is my last full week in Japan I still had to do it. It really shouldn't have taken me this long, but the earthquake did throw my schedule off a bit. As Japan's third largest city Osaka has a lot to do and see. Whether it's Osaka castle, the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, or Kaiyukan - one of the worlds largest aquariums - Osaka has a lot to offer.

Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshuu, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. Osaka is also the third largest city by population after Tokyo and Yokohama and one of the largest metropolitan areas highly ranked in the world, with nearly 18 million people

Getting to Osaka from Tokyo is fairly simple, just hop on the Shinkansen. From Shibuya station I traveled to Shinagawa via the JR Yamanote line then from Shinagawa I hopped the Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka station. Once in Osaka getting around is made convenient by the JR Loop line. Beware, however, that a single train doesn't necessarily go around the entire loop and you'll have to switch trains and tracks. Other than that it's a breeze.

We only had half a day in Osaka to see and do everything we could so we kept moving as much as possible. First is was off to Osaka castle which is by far the top attraction of the city. From there we made our way to Kaiyukan to check out the whale sharks and other giant fishes. Then finally we took a ride on the giant Tempozan Ferris where we were able to take some great shots of the city at night. If you make it to Kaiyukan there is a ferry that leaves from a port next to the aquarium which will take you directly to Universal Studios Japan, it's worth it and very convenient.

Osaka has a different feel than Tokyo. It's still very metropolitan and has its share of tall buildings, but it seems slower and a little more reserved than it's larger sister city. The people in Osaka were extremely friendly even by Japanese standards. We had a few people come up to us and start conversations, mainly to practice their English. There were also the few Chinese tourists who asked to take a picture with me. I'm used to it from my time in China. They really seem to love the idea of having a picture with a black person.

I have chronicled each attraction in it's own post so as to not create one extremely long blog entry. Take a look to get more information about Osaka. As always, here are some pics for you to enjoy

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Hakone Ropeway

Ariel lifts are cool, be it a ski lift at your favorite ski resort or a ride at disney. I've been on my share of vertical multipliers but the one that takes the cake, the one that is completely "above and beyond", the one that takes my breathe away is the Hakone ropeway. How is that for being "over the top"? Ok, I'll stop.

The Hakone ropeway is a scenic 4KM long ariel ropeway that spans from Togendai to Sounzan in Hakone, Japan. The highest point on the ropeway is at Owakundani and is 1K meters high.  Blessed by its wonderful natural environment, superb scenery and an abundance of natural hot springs, Hakone is one of the leading tourist attractions in Japan. The Hakone Ropeway service operates at approximately one-minute intervals, and the 30-minute journey from Sounzan Station to Togendai Station, which nestles on the shore of Lake Ashi, allows visitors to take in such spectacular views as the crystal-clear blue waters of Lake Ashi, the rising volcanic fumes of Owakudani and the grandeur of Mount Fuji on a fine, sunny day.

Floating over Owakundani, which is an active volcano, is pretty cool. You can see the sulfur pouring out of the top of mountain and smell it from high in the air. The bet part is the view of Mount Fuji from the ropeway car.

Japan is an incredibly wonderful dichotomy of ultra modern technology and superb natural beauty. It has some of the best kept natural treasures that you'll find anywhere in Asia and Hakone  is at the top of that list. The ariel ropeway allows you to enjoy Hakone from a vantage point that is second to know. I was blown away by the experience and I know that you will too. When in Tokyo, do yourself a favor and visit Hakone. I couldn't recommend it anymore.

Getting There:

• From Shibuya take the JR Yamanote line to Shinagawa (160 JPY). If you're already at Tokyo station then just take the Shinkansen from there.
• At Shinagawa transfer to the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara station (2940 JPY)
• At Odawara station take the Hakone-Tozan Line to Hakone-Yumoto station (300 JPY)
• At Hakone-Yumoto station you can take a bus to the Lake (1150 JPY). 
• You can also take a tram to Gora (350 JPY)
• Then transfer to the cable car to Soounzan at the top of the hill (425 JPY)
• Then take the Hakone ropeway, which I highly recommend, from Togendai to the lake (1490 JPY).

Note:

The transfers are time consuming and taking the tram, cable car, and ropeway takes about 2 hours longer than the bus but is totally worth the view from the ropeway - see my other post.

Enjoy!

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Lake Ashi, Hakone

Hakone is a beautiful place. The natural beauty is difficult to describe relative to other places I've visited around the world. It's peaceful, tranquil and seemingly not spoilt by being one of the major tourist attractions outside of Tokyo. I must admit that when I first heard of Hakone my major question was "what's there to do". Doing is not as important in Hakone as seeing, and there are a lot of things to see. If you enjoy nature and the simplistic yet magnificent beauty of the natural environment then Hakone is where it's at. In short, if you're a tree hugger then head to Hakone ASAP.

Lake Ashi, or Hakone Lake as it's also called, is probably the most beautiful lake I've ever seen. The beauty, again, is difficult to convey with words. It's a place where the demands of the modern world disappears and you get a glimpse of life as it must have been hundreds of years ago when the emphasis was on being one with nature. Rising in the distance is the towering Mt. Fuji in all it's majesty. The best time to go to the Lake is in the fall when the leaves are changing and the sky is completely clear. This will give you the best possibly views of the surrounding mountains and the foliage of the tress.

When at the lake there are a few cruise ships masquerading as pirate ships that take you from one end of the lake to the other. It's $10 but absolutely worth it. I spent most of my time on the top deck of the ship starring out at the panorama of trees and water. Pictures absolutely do now do this place justice, neither does vide. It's best to just go there and see for yourself. If you're in Tokyo and have a day to burn, then hop on a Shinkansen and head down to Hakone.

Getting There:

• From Shibuya take the JR Yamanote line to Shinagawa (160 JPY). If you're already at Tokyo station then just take the Shinkansen from there.
• At Shinagawa transfer to the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara station (2940 JPY)
• At Odawara station take the Hakone-Tozan Line to Hakone-Yumoto station (300 JPY)
• At Hakone-Yumoto station you can take a bus to the Lake (1150 JPY). 
• You can also take a tram to Gora (350 JPY)
• Then transfer to the cable car to Soounzan at the top of the hill (425 JPY)
• Then take the Hakone ropeway, which I highly recommend, from Togendai to the lake (1490 JPY).

Note:

The transfers are time consuming and taking the tram, cable car, and ropeway takes about 2 hours longer than the bus but is totally worth the view from the ropeway - see my other post.

Enjoy!

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Golfing in Singapore

I am not a big time golfer, I'll admit it. Though I can see the joy in hanging out with a bunch of friends whacking around a few tiny defenseless balls. Throw in a few drinks, a beautiful backdrop, and a cool breeze and you'll have yourself a wonderful time. I've been golfing a few times and thought the courses were ok, but none of them compared to the course at the Marina Bay Golf Course, Singapore.

Opened in November 2006, the Marina Bay Golf Course is Singapore’s first and only 18-hole golf course which is open to the public. Located strategically in the heart of town, the course offers golfers great accessibility and a picturesque view of the city skyline, be it day or night. I was in Singapore for a business conference on Sentosa. My flight didn't leave until midnight of my last day so we had some time to kill. A couple of coworkers and myself headed to the course for a round of golf and it was the best thing of the trip.



I must admit, golfing isn't a cheap recreational sport and golfing at the Marina Bay is on the expensive end of golf courses. After renting equipment and paying for 18 holes I was out about $300. Yep, that's expensive for a day of anything. I even had to fork out $100 for two box of balls. The balls weren't expensive by golf ball standards, but why pay that much for something that's gonna end up at the bottom of a fake lake in 1 hour.

The two guys I was with were both good golfers. When I wasn't hacking holes in the lawn I was spending my time taking tips from them and trying to imitate their swing. The hour spent on the course getting instruction from them really improved my game, but that's not saying much. I was horrible going in and a little less horrible coming out.

Despite the cost, which is a lot to put aside, golfing at the Marina Bay golf course is a great experience. If you have the time and are willing to pay then head over to the course and play a few rounds.

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Yokohama Landmark Tower

I've been to the top of many tall buildings so it's kinda old hat for me now. However, every now and then I get to the top of a building that's so tall that it reminds me of the awe and wonder I had the very first time I ascended a skyscraper. The Landmark Tower in Yokohama is the tallest building and third largest structure in Japan and the mother of all Japanese mega buildings standing 296.3 m (972 ft) high. It is located in the Minato Mirai 21 district of Yokohama city, right next to Yokohama Museum of Art. Work on the building was finished in 1993. It has the highest observation deck in Japan. Once at the top you cannot help but gaze and the tinny specs moving about below and the beautiful Japanese landscape disappearing in the distance.

The Landmark Tower is so tall that it dwarfs the other skyscrapers next to it and from the top of the Landmark Tower you can see the helipads of the surrounding skyscrapers. Inside the building is a bit stale and the decor is dated. However, I was able to get reservations for lunch at the Chinese restaurant on the 70th floor of the building. The food was wonderful, though pricey, and the view is incredible.

Yokohama city makes for a great day trip out of Tokyo and has a number of great attractions that Tokyo doesn't offer. If you're ever in Yokohama then consider a detour to the Landmark Tower, if for no other reason that to say you've been to the top of the tallest building in Japan.

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Kichijoji and Studio Ghibli Museum

When visiting Tokyo, if you ever get tired of the big city there are no shortage of lovely suburban neighborhoods to visit. These neighborhoods are mostly within a short one hour train ride from Tokyo city center and make for great day trips that round out the Tokyo experience. Kichijoji is a lovely little suburb west of Tokyo, less than 20 minutes on the express train from Shibuya station. Take the Inokashira Line from Shibuya station and get off at Kichijoji station in Kichijoji. 

The highlight is Inokashira Park, a large park with long walking paths surrounding a lake. The park is filled with both cherry trees and maples, making Inokashira Park an excellent choice for both flower viewing in the spring, and the autumn colors in the fall. Kichijōji once enjoyed a reputation as an artists' colony, and today it is filled with stores from little boutiques to the big department stores. 

The park was incredibly enjoyable and the highlight for me was the abundance of artisans and craftsmen in the park selling their creations. The crafts were incredibly well done and I found myself purchasing something at almost every other stall. There were also many performers in the part, from a group reenacting scenes from popular music videos, to a magician doing some very impressive card tricks with a digital pack of cards. 

In the West Garden of Inokashira Park, past the lawn tennis courts, is the Studio Ghibli museum, where you can admire the work of Hayao Miyazaki, the Japanese anime master behind Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro and other films. There's a big furry cat bus to play in, a giant robot on the roof, artist sketches and cels and a trippy zoetrope. The museum is geared toward kids, but Miyazaki fans of any age will enjoy it. The theater shows a short film that you can't see anywhere else.

Kichijoji was some of the most fun I've had outside of Tokyo since visiting Kamakura last year. If you have 4-6 hours and wanna do somethind outside of Tokyo I highly recommend a short trip to Kichijoji.

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One Love Jamaica Festival

I woke up this morning and smiled to the rising sun. Three little birds were pitched by my doorstep singing a sweet song, the melody was pure and true. Saying, go to the One Love Jamaica Festival in Yoyogi park today. So I did.

It was an absolutely lovely day in Tokyo. I find myself saying this a lot in my blog posts but the days here are truly beautiful. The sky is typically blue and clear with some clouds and a temperature of about 77 degrees. Today was no exception and so it was a perfect day to hit Yoyogi park.

Yoyogi Park is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, Japan located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya. What is now Yoyogi Park was the site of the first successful powered aircraft flight in Japan, on December 19, 1910, by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa, after which it became an army parade ground. During the post World War II occupation, it was the site of the Washington Heights residence for U.S. officers. It was later the site for the main Olympic athletes village of the 1964 Summer Olympics and the swimming, diving, and basketball venues. The distinctive Yoyogi National Gymnasium which hosted swimming, diving, and basketball was designed by Kenzo Tange for the Olympics, and is still in use, but most of the area north of the gymnasium complex and south of Meiji Shrine was turned into a city park in 1967.

Yoyogi is about a 25 minute walk from my apartment or a short 7 minute taxi ride. Since I didn't want to tire myself out before I got to the park I decided to take a cab and save my walking for the park. Today was the annual One Love Jamaica Festival which takes place in a huge parking lot at the side of the park. I've heard a lot about the festival and it's popular among Caribbean people living in Tokyo. I was certainly looking forward to experiencing it for myself. Luckily I had my HD recorder with me so I was able to capture some great video along with images. And since video is better than words I'll leave you with the video and a few thoughts.

This was the highlight of the festival for me and I couldn't stop laughing. The Japanese were truly entertained, though I think maybe for the same reasons as I was.




This stall had it all, and the name says it all too. :-)







Walking around the festival to give you a sense of the layout. This was some kinda ethnic dancing, though completely unrecognizable to me.






In summary the festival wasn't as big as I had imagine though it was certainly not small. I was also expecting more authenticity in the food, music, and arts but looking back it seems like too much to ask for in Tokyo. I enjoyed it, but if I had to grade the festival I'll give it a B. It's worth going to, but it's not something I'll go to every year. Here are a few pictures to end this post.

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When Rapture Comes

After extensive investigation I have managed to uncover the source of the rapture prophecy. In 2009 Terminator 'Salvation' was released on May 21st - starring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. The video trailer for that movie clearly states that on May 21st "the end begins". This, I believe, is the source of the confusion, problem solved.

Regardless, if rapture does come, can one of you heathens please walk my dog and water my plants while I am gone?

Thanks from heaven. :-)

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Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden

By now you should know that I am completely in love with Tokyo and Japan in general. One of the things that's most enjoyable is that there are seemingly endless numbers of parks, gardens, and temples that act as little oasis in one of the most metropolitan areas in the world. These parks provide much needed respite to the city dwellers and are always packed with locals enjoying a lazy day or retirees taking their daily walk.

Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden is one of the least visited gardens in Tokyo (by tourists) but equally as enjoyable as any of the major gardens or parks. Construction on the garden was started in 1629 by Tokugawa Yorifusa, the daimyo (feudal lord) of Mito han, and was completed by his successor, Tokugawa Mitsukuni. Mitsukuni named the garden "Kōraku-en" (Kōraku means "enjoying afterwards") after a Chinese proverb which states that "a governor should worry before people and enjoy after people". The garden still shows a strong Chinese influence in its design and is currently under improvement.

With 70,000-sq-metre of formal Japanese garden to explore, if you have the slightest interest in gardens you should make a beeline to Koishikawa. The garden is particularly well known for plum trees in February, irises in June and autumn colours. Of special note is the Engetsu-kyō (Full-Moon Bridge), which dates from the early Edo period. Kōrakuen means ‘the garden of later enjoyment’, which comes from a Chinese proverb about maintaining power first and enjoying it later – we assume this sounds better in Chinese.

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Lanterns Over Thailand

Paper lanterns come in various shapes and sizes, as well as various methods of construction. In their simplest form, they are simply a paper bag with a candle placed inside, although more complicated lanterns consist of a collapsible bamboo or metal frame of hoops covered with tough paper.




During dinner one night the hotel staff asked us if we'd like to release a lantern into the sky. I've never done this but that it was a pretty cool idea. After dinner the staff brought us a large paper lantern which they lit and gave to us. All we really had to do was let it fly. It was certainly memorable watching the lanterns float away in the distance. Enjoy the video.

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