Print Story "Tokyo Suburbia - August 1991"
Boredom
By lylehsaxon (Sun Aug 24, 2008 at 12:33:47 PM EST) (all tags)
One quiet August afternoon in Hibarigaoka, on the mid-western fringe of Tokyo, in suburbia, Lyle's camera flew of his bag, into his hands, and began recording....


It was a typical quiet afternoon - not what you might expect if you had only seen the same area in the morning frenzy of commuters rushing to the station to get to work on time.

In fact, this highlights a mystery of Japan - how people seem to have cast-iron ears at some times (shopkeepers shouting "Irasshaimase!" into customers' faces), and then are hyper-sensitive to noise at other times (a woman living next to a park complained to the city because she could hear the sound of small children playing in the park!).

In any case, the city is actually quite quiet - and certainly much more quiet than a lot of people seem to imagine it overseas.

Anyway - here's a view of August 1991 Tokyo suburbia:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XM8sYlhahPY

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/

< Nebraska | Diary >
"Tokyo Suburbia - August 1991" | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback
Travelling to Japan by Dr H0ffm4n (2.00 / 0) #1 Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 12:20:28 PM EST
My eldest midget has convinced me to take them both to Japan on holiday next summer. Are there any highlights that you would recommend for the first time visitor?

Would it be worth flying in one end./side and travelling overland to fly out somewhere else or better to choose a base such as Tokyo and make excursions from there?

Btw, the kids will be 11 and 14 when we go.




Sorry for the late reply! by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #2 Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 10:45:15 AM EST
I just noticed your post today (October 3rd).  When you say next summer, you are talking about 2009 though, right?  So I'm still in time to answer then.

There are a lot of options, but one general thing I usually recommend to people coming for a visit is to get a Japan Rail Pass.  They are only sold *outside* of Japan, so be sure to get one for each traveler *before* you come.  The pass will enable you travel everywhere in the country via JR (Japan Railways).  It even covers the Shinkansen super express trains (bullet trains), so it's definitely worth it.

Lyle


The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

"Tokyo Suburbia - August 1991" | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback