名古屋

Please enjoy some photos of Nagoya, a city of 2.7mil people just over 150 miles from Tokyo.

Travelled there by night bus Sunday night, and returned by speedy Shinkansen Tuesday morning.

The city had such a different feel to Tokyo. It wasn't nearly as busy or crowded as Tokyo, and the buildings seem much older. Tokyo has very little remaining architecture that is over 100 years old, so Nagoya felt more traditionally Japanese. Nagoya Tower was pretty comparable to the Eiffel Tower.
Unfortunately Nagoya Castle is not the original 1525 structure as WWII bombings burned down the original. The two golden dolphins on the roof are ironically anti-fire symbols.

The bullet train back was so fast and smooth, and it's so refreshing to see the Japanese countryside and little towns nestled between the volcanic jagged landscape.The weather was clear so the commuters were treated to epic views of Mt Fuji.

Being only one of three native English speakers at the gig made it very easy to have a chat with the bands:

With Finch's frontman Nate and bassist Daniel

Bridgend band Funeral for a Friend- We spoke some Welsh :D

From Russia With ラブ

Last Monday I attended a Russian Folk Music concert at the Shinjuku Cultural Centre. Over 1,500 guests attended, and I'm pretty sure Jen and I were the only foreigners!
But we were welcomed; we sat next to a lovely old couple dressed in formal kimono who gave us ice cream ^_^
Japanese people are so kind :D

An AEON student of ours performed during the 'blanket dance', where they displayed supreme coordination making shapes and a flower from the blankets.
Finally the concert ended with an orchestra featuring an accordion and a Balalaika, a triangle-shaped acoustic guitar.

I particularly enjoyed the orchestra's rendition of the Tetris A Theme, and the 'audience' participation part where we sang a song in Japanese accampanied by the orchestra.

In stark contrast to the classical concert, I will be taking a day trip to Nagoya to see the heavy rock bands, Finch and Funeral for a Friend, play next weekend. I look forward to travelling on the Shinkansen (bullet train) just before rolling into work next Tuesday morning!

日本の秋 Autumn in Japan

Hikarigaoka's main pedestrian pathway is lined with Ginkgo trees. Although the fruit smells bad (somewhat like faeces in my opinion!), the colour of the leaves have suddenly changed to a striking, uniform yellow.

Observing and celebrating the seasons is a big part of the culture in Japan, and the changing of the leaves is a dramatic visual transition from Summer to Autumn. The three weeks or so while the coloured leaves remain on the trees is a busy time for tourism and events. Parks and popular tourist spots (e.g. Hakone, where I went two weeks ago) are extremely croweded as everyone wants to take a photo!

Today I visited Hikarigaoka kouen or Park. Being the weekend, it was bustling with a flea market, skaters, a tai-chi club, and with families enjoying the Autumn leaves together. The paths were scattered with fallen leaves; it was beautiful!

 

It was very hot (21 or 22 'C), so I played tennis in Hikarigaoka park with four students and with my colleague, Aki-Sensei.

My Neighbour, Fuji-san

 I really sound like my mum in the video!

And here are some pictures :) The one of Mt Fuji is from my front door on the third floor. I have only seen 'him' once since he is usually shrouded by cloud or haze. Mt Fuji lies around 60 miles South West from my flat.

Tokyo Central at night

It is getting chillier in Japan, but nothing like the UK. Christmas decorations are up, and some Christmas music can be heard in the supermarket, but it makes me feel a little homesick!

Hakone Autumn Leaves Viewing

Note: You can click on the photos to enlarge them

Simon, my colleague, Yuki, a student, and Simon's friends Yoko, Matt, Chris and I journeyed South-West of Tokyo to Hakone. Hakone is very close to the infamous volcano, Mt Fuji, and is a volcanically active region, with geothermal vents, hot springs and a beautiful lake.

To get around, we took a train named a RomanceCar, a cable car, a ropeway, pirate ship and a bus!

On the ropeway/cablecar, there were stunning views of the orange trees, the Tokyo metropolis in the far distance, and of Mt Fuji himself. 

富士山/ Mt. Fuji

Owakudani, home of the sulphur-spewing vents, is home to the 黒たまご. They are black eggs cooked by geothermal method and are said to add 7 years to your life for every egg. We partook of one each!

Ｗe traversed Lake Ashinoko by pirate ship and came across a Torii gate after walking through the Ancient Cedar Avenue- a muddy path through cedar trees planted in 1618 to shelter travellers from sun or snow..

  

Mt Fuji to the left, and the mini floating Torii on the right

Finally, we took a bus which followed a windy, dark path down the mountains to the Tenzan onsen (hot spring). The boys and girls separated for nude public bathing, taking respite from the 15C outside temperature in 40-or-so Centigrade hot spring water. The water only had a slight smell, was quite an opaque colour, and was very, very relaxing!

Hallow-Aeon Week

And the Dr Pepper can comes out- just like magic!

Here's one I conjured earlier..

Hermione lectures on the essentials of Aeon Hikarigaoka life.

 

• Here are some Hallowe'en-Christmas crossovers for your amusement:

Baskin Robbins has got a confused theme here..

"Happy Hallowe'en!" everyone from Captain Santa Candy!

Need I say more?!

The learning curve that is DisneySea >_<

Some DisneySea wisdom I'd like to share:

1. You can unwittingly wander into the belly of a whale

2. Fish are not allowed to smoke

3. Jafar has creepy hands; Xor is forever cursed by his touch

4. (See above)

 

5. Salt-flavoured ice cream is bearable

And after such a long day, we fell asleep on the train home like true Japanese commuters...

Tokyo Bay

The monorail to Tokyo Bay, while expensive, had some amazing views!!! We rode over the famous Rainbow Bridge and it really felt like a "ride"! Tokyo Bay is such a contrast to London's Thames Bay- Tokyo is so modern and clean and shiny! Last Sunday was fantastic weather and here are some photos:

Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower (the red spire, mid-left) and a Statue of Liberty!

But not The Statue of Liberty; I certainly didn't miraculously teleport to New York...

or did I....? Japan really is the future!!

Which is me and which is the Statue?! It's so hard to tell!

Andrew and Jen :)

Fuji TV Studios, a famous landmark.

And finally, to answer my Mum's question: yes, Tokyo does have a beach!!

Batten Down the Hatches!

I survived my first typhoon: Typhoon 18 aka Typhoon Melor!!


A week of non-stop rain and turning up to work soaked in my suit was definitely not fun!
Last night seeing sandbags put out to protect a shop made me very nervous, but the typhoon passed over during the night, and the only sign by morning were endless bicycles on their sides and a lot of leaves and branches on the pavements!

Elsewhere schools were closed, airlines suspended and some trains were down for the day.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

A Very Christian Day in Shinjuku

On Sunday I went to a Korean Church in Higashi-Nakano near Shinjuku with a student. It was very interesting. Singing the hyms took me back to School assemblys! I enjoyed the picnic afterwards. It was lucky it was the only non-rainy day the past week what with Typhoon 18!

Then I went shopping in Shinjuku..

Shinjuku is super, super busy on a Sunday!!!

I hope to get the internet installed in my apartment by the end of the month. I am waiting for a phone call.. which of course will be very straight forward with my immense Japanese skills!!