Coin machine of cigarettes: Tokyo

London: 9USD
NYC: 7.5USD
Tokyo: 3USD

This is the price of cigarettes per one box. In Japan, cigarettes run up by 20JPY, about 0.2USD, last month, but still remain more reasonable than those in London or NYC.

Like this picture, there are many coin machine of cigarettes in Japan, and they can easily be available to minors without IC card.

Incredibly, some pharmacies install that machine in front of their stores. Do they regard the cigarette as a kind of medicine mentally?

Anyway, it is better for heavy smokers to move to Japan!!

in Tokyo

Lost in Orientation: Subway in Tokyo

Tokyo has 13 subway lines and 168 subway stations. The lines spread like a web in the ground.

Strangers at Tokyo will be a little hard to change trains. Going down to the underground, they will soon lose a sense of orientation and get lose, especially at a line-crossing station. Without any guide board, they are very hard to go to the platform they want.

By the way, Roppongi, famous for the entertainment spot for foreigners, Station of Oedo line is quite deep, and astonishingly at a depth of 42 meters. To go the station, people need to use escalators, or stairs for dieter. The station may be better for dieter!

at a subway entrance, Tokyo

Coin machine: Tokyo

This kind of coin machines are installed at every corner of Tokyo, and they might be much more than 24/7 convenience stores or traffic lights in Tokyo.

At night, the boxes are luminous and, together with tons of showy signboards and flashing of cars, make the scenery of Tokyo at night unique.

Like the machines, Tokyo contains lots of convenience stores. You don't need to speak at all to get what you want at the stores.

I hear Japan is quite inconvenient for the foreigner because most of them don't know English. But, thanks to tons of the machines and stores, it may be more convenient than you'd expected to travel in Japan.
at Tokyo

A old house: Tsukiji, Tokyo

The old house is near Tsukiji Fish Market. Its wall is covered with copper, and has turned light green because of the long-term exposure to the rain and wind. The change of color makes it quite tasteful.

By the way, the house was built before World War Two, more than 60 years ago. That kinds of old houses remains little in the middle of the capital, Tokyo.

In the 20th century, Tokyo had two devastating wipe-out, which is the catastrophic earthquake in 1923 and several attacks in 1945.

In 1923, more than a hundred thousand were killed and more than two millions were escaped to outside. In 1945, more than half the whole Tokyo were fired.

Fortunately the house was not attacked because near the house were the church and hospital built by the US. In Tsukiji, that kinds of several houses are exceptionally left.

A old house has a soft atmosphere, brought by the long-time passing.

In Tsukiji, Tokyo

Typical scenery in Tokyo: Ginza, Tokyo

Here is Ginza, one of the representative shopping areas, with a lot of cars and people.

Behind the cars and people, a big building with many lines of marked mullions is towering and a express way passes across. The building contains famous departments, Seibu and Hankyu, and many theathers.

In the back of high way, a building is under construction, which will be opened in 2007 as The Peninsula Hotel.

This is the typical modern scenery in Tokyo.

at Ginza, Tokyo

Tuna auction, Tsukiji Tokyo

This picture shows the fish market before auction for tuna, which daily held early moring. At the corner of the fish market, there are thousands of tuna, more than one meter in length. Before that auction, many buyer carefully check out the quality of tuna, using an small ax and a flashlight.

By the way, 3,000 pieces of tuna, 2,000 tons in weight, are traded in the market only per a day. The auction of tuna is held at 5:30 in the morning, and travelers can be free to see the auction.

at Tsukiji, Tokyo

Katsuo-bushi, boiled and dried bonito fish, Tsukiji Tokyo

This photo is katsuo-bishi, boiled and dried bonito fish, selling outside the Tsukiji Fish Market.

The following is how to make Katsuo-bushi:

1. cutting a whole bonito into three or four piece of fillets
2. boiling up them
3. getting out of them from the hot water
4. smoking and drying them

Katsuo-bushi is very familiar with Japanese, but we have little chance to eat them. Like Konbu, dried kelp, and Niboshi, dried sardine, Katuo-bushi is usually used as extracting the umami of Japanese cusine, called dashi, from it.

Katsuo-bushi is definitely indispensable to the Japanese cusine.

at Tsukiji, Tokyo

Big buddies on the vehicles, Tsukiji Tokyo

In the Tsukiji Fishing market, one of the largest markets in the world, big buddies on the small vehicle, called "tahrei", are often seen. On the vehicles are put some fish and vegetable in the box.

Despite the narrow path and lots of people, they steer it well at rather high speed. The scenery in the market nicely show the bustle and confusion in Asia, which hardly are left in Japan. Those who first come in the market will be puzzled about something kind of racing cars.

But a careful looking at the car passing by reveals them to drive safely and smoothly. They drive it, carefully looking around and watching the surrounding. They are just like a foot ball player.

at Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo

Not Abby Road, Ginza Tokyo

at Ginza, Tokyo

The green tunnel, Yaesu Tokyo

at Yaesu, Tokyo

Clouds in the Sky, Ueno Tokyo

at Ueno, Tokyo

A street, Ginza Tokyo

at Ginza, Tokyo

The fountain, Ueno Park Tokyo

at Ueno Park, Tokyo

Reflected lighting, Shiodome Tokyo

at Shiodome, Tokyo

Multiple axes, Shiodome Tokyo

at Shiodome, Tokyo

The waterfront, Tsukiji Tokyo

Near Tsukiji, Tokyo