A Tour of Three Prefectures - Japan 2015 (Day 5 is up!)

[Dac_Xint]

So, several months ago the girlfriend and I were planning our up-coming vacation. Having been to just about every major city in South East Asia, we were once again struck with the dilemma of going to our 1st and favourite destination - Thailand, or 2nd, some place new and exciting. We decided it should be the 2nd, and it was going to be Japan.

Now, we've been to this amazing country on a number of trips, but this was going to be our last trip to Japan in a long time, so we wanted to visit some place special. We expected it to be a tightly packed trip, and we may end up being more exhausted than before the journey begins, but we were ready for an unforgettable tour. Let's just say I had a few more destinations in mind than she could ever imagine.

Now that the trip is over, and I'm sitting here with post holiday depression, editing the holiday photos and reminiscing those few wonderful, magical days. I thought I would share my experience with you guys, because some of these places are, as I'm sure, exactly the kind of things and places people here would also be VERY interested in seeing. Rest assure, there will be LOTS of cars. I hope you'll enjoy the posts, and please feel free to comment and question.

Direct Links to each update:

15 November, day 1 (Tokyo, Kanagawa)
Part 1/4 - Arrival
Part 2/4 - The Streets of Yokohama
Part 3/4 - Lunch, and A View of Mount Fuji
Part 4/4 - Evening in Tokyo & a Very Pretty Silvia

16 November, day 2 (Kanagawa)
Part 1/2 - Blue Skies & Personal Cup Noodle
Part 2/2 - Cars, Street Photography & Ichira

17 November, day 3 (Kanagawa, Tokyo)
Part 1/9 - Tsukiji & Showa Memorial Park
Part 2/9 - Prelude
Part 3/9 - Nissan Heritage Collection - Arrival
Part 4/9 - Nissan Heritage Collection - The Classics
Part 5/9 - Nissan Heritage Collection - The Start of Something Special
Part 6/9 - Nissan Heritage Collection - Nissan Prototype Racing History
Part 7/9 - Nissan Heritage Collection - Nissan Rally & Racing History
Part 8/9 - Nissan Heritage Collection - Nissan GT Racing History
Part 9/9 - Day's End

18 November, day 4 (Tokyo, Kanagawa)
Part 1 - A Slow Morning
Part 2 - A Japanese Giant
Part 3 - Another Japanese Giant

***For those who wants to visit the Nissan Heritage Collection at Zama, you can book a tour at this LINK

19 November, day 5 (Kanagawa, Gunma)

Part 1 - Leaving Kanagawa

To Be Continued...

 

[Dac_Xint]

15 November, day 1 (Tokyo, Kanagawa)

Part 1/4 - Arrival



Plane landed early on this overcast morning at Narita Airport, feeling tired and excited in equal measure. You know you're in Japan when everything, and I mean everything around you is spotless, neat, and looked like a designer actually placed it there after painstakingly measuring it. Even the layout and choice of furnishing inside this restroom showed a great deal of care and thoughtfulness behind the choices and position of each element.



Yes, that was a restroom, I promise there are no more restrooms. Moving on...



This long hallway leading to the main building of Narita Airport was lined with large glass with minimal seams. You really can appreciate the view outside, even on this gloomy, wet morning.

After an hour's nap on the JR (subway/rail) we arrived at our destination - Yokohama. The view outside did not look promising... oh well, let's get checked in at our hotel first.

 

[Dac_Xint]

15 November, day 1 (Tokyo, Kanagawa)

Part 2/4 - The Streets of Yokohama

"What do you mean check-in is at 3pm?"

Welcome to Japan, where check-out is at 11am and check in is at 3pm. Remember this, new travellers.



The day was still drizzling with rain, and depressing as hell. We were getting quite tired even before the day has properly begun... so we went to get a few doses of caffeine to keep us awake, and some amazing bakery before shops open.





Japanese bread is quite brilliant. Not quite the same as the west, but really tasty in their own way. You can really appreciate the quality in their ingredients.



And guess what, before we knew it, the rain stopped, the clouds cleared. And we were welcomed to this amazing vista around us.


This means, the lady can go shop browsing, and I can go street browsing:

Lexus IS-F by Paul Li, on Flickr
First spot, not bad at all!

Toyota GT-86 by Paul Li, on Flickr
Driving to work

Toyota Prius by Paul Li, on Flickr
Notice the fancy rims


Honda N-Box Slash by Paul Li, on Flickr
And the funky rides


Suzuki Every by Paul Li, on Flickr
Don't forget Kei Cars!



Autumn is all around us...



In this dazzling metropolis...

Toyota Hiace by Paul Li, on Flickr
Where even workers gets to have some fun.


Toyota GT-86 by Paul Li, on Flickr
Another GT-86

An MG! an MGA!


MG MGA by Paul Li, on Flickr


MG MGA by Paul Li, on Flickr


MG MGA by Paul Li, on Flickr
Fantastic condition, driver even has a pair of leather gloves on the dashboard to properly enjoy driving this classic lightweight British coupé.

AND BEHOLD!


Mazda Cosmo by Paul Li, on Flickr

A Mazda Cosmo!

I don't remember what happened next...

 

[Cano]

YES.

More. Like now.

Also loads of envy.

 

[Dac_Xint]

15 November, day 1 (Tokyo, Kanagawa)

Part 3/4 - Lunch, and A View of Mount Fuji

I was absolutely stunned. Never have I thought I would one day be fortunate enough to even glimpse a Mazda Cosmo with my own eyes. It sounded indescribable, with that unique rotary hum and a somewhat vintage sounding exhaust note. Watch it for yourself from this Japanese road test video:



Anyway, when I came to, I quickly held up my camera and snapped before it was swallowed up by traffic again. The terrible photo doesn't do the car justice, but at least I got proof of witnessing this unicorn. We still had a bit of time to kill and we wanted to look for a place to have lunch, so we continued our walk while I snapped away...

The new Copen look fun as hell to drive


Suzuki Copen by Paul Li, on Flickr

And no trip to Japan is complete without seeing an Impreza


Subaru Impreza WRX STi by Paul Li, on Flickr

A Stagea? I almost forgot these exist! This particular one is built on the V35 platform, which is what the G35 Skyline and 350Z Fairlady is built on. Available in RWD or 4WD, really amazing car under the somewhat tame styling.


Nissan Stagea by Paul Li, on Flickr

More Kei cars


Suzuki Wagon R by Paul Li, on Flickr

Beautiful weather, and so many food choices down this road behind our hotel



Another Stagea

Nissan Stagea by Paul Li, on Flickr

A Nissan March Nismo, I wish this was an option as rental car, I got the standard 1.4 model.

Nissan March Nismo by Paul Li, on Flickr

And my very first sighting of the ND MX-5, quirky design, I think it will grow on me.


Mazda Roadster by Paul Li, on Flickr

Now too hungry for some deliciousness, we found a popular street side Soba place (Japanese wheat noodle)



The weather was good and a lot of people were eating standing outside the restaurant on high benches. We followed suit. Yup, tasted as good as they looked.



Just a few minutes to go before our room is ready, note the massive digital clock on the Ferris wheel, 2:52pm.



After that, it was time to get checked it. We stayed at the New Otani Inn Yokohama hotel, it's very reasonably priced and the rooms were quite spacious for Japanese standards. I'd recommend it to anyone. Again, extremely clean and well equiped.



Want to know how insane the Japanese is when it comes to design? The bathroom mirror has hot water pipe running behind it so when you take a shower or bath, the steam in the bathroom won't fog up the mirror. That's how far they go.



It's autumn in Japan, and the sun sets early. The sky there is spectacular, and even more so as the afternoon light winds down. The view from our room faces the sunset directly..



and on a clear day like today, when the sun sets behind the mountain ranges, we can see the silhouette of Mount Fuji from our window!





Till next post, where we show you some Japanese meat and muscle.

 

[VXR]

I'm not sure what I'm more impressed with, the cars you're seeing or the incidental photography, which is superb quality.

Can't wait to see more.

 

[Dac_Xint]

15 November, day 1 (Kanagawa, Tokyo)

Part 4/4 - Evening in Tokyo & A Very Pretty Silvia

Ask, and ye shall have more...

So after we got freshened up, finally feeling like humans again amongst the civilised locals, we embarked on a trip across town to pick up our rental car.

It's almost 5pm, and the sky is a mesmerizing hue of pink and blue. The coastline along Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture) is famous for its beauty, and you can really believe it at this hour.



Once again we got on the JR, heading towards Haneda airport (it's closer to the city centre, and that's where we're picking up the rental car)



A Nissan Car Rental driver picked us up from the airport terminal and drove us to the rental office nearby.



After we picked up the car, we headed for a big mall called Diver City Tokyo Plaza, some of you may have heard of it because of the massive 1 to 1 scale Gundam mech standing in front of the building. We didn't want to spend too much time there as we had another destination in mind after this, so we left the Gundam for another day and parked out car to get some dinner in the mall...

Till I saw another IS-F, can't just let it slip now, can I?


Lexus IS-F by Paul Li, on Flickr

For those who's interested, we had some Japanese styled BBQ. It was a little bit on the pricy side, but fairly delicious and well worth it. You can find a number of restaurants on the 7th floor.



We got a plater of beef, pork belly and chicken and some salad leaves. Came to about $70 USD.



After we got our bellies filled, we headed for the last spot of our first day - Daiba Park. It's a tiny little park surrounded by water off the bay of Tokyo, where you can get an amazing view of the famous Rainbow Bridge that is featured in many Japanese movies and shows. It's spectacular to see at night, and the cityscape behind it isn't too shabby either.

We parked under the bridge, and I got a shot of our little companion.


Nissan March Rental Car by Paul Li, on Flickr

And some photos of the bridge





And the beautiful coastline



But something was missing, I haven't had my fix on car spotting yet. Surely my first day can't just end like this...

BAM!


Nissan S15 Silvia Dorifto Machine by Paul Li, on Flickr

After I picked up my jaw from the ground, I grabbed my tripod and began shooting


Nissan S15 Silvia Dorifto Machine by Paul Li, on Flickr

over

Nissan S15 Silvia Dorifto Machine by Paul Li, on Flickr

and over


Nissan S15 Silvia Dorifto Machine by Paul Li, on Flickr

this thing was mean!


Nissan S15 Silvia Dorifto Machine by Paul Li, on Flickr

Check out the interior, this thing isn't just for show...


Nissan S15 Silvia Dorifto Machine by Paul Li, on Flickr

But it is so well put together, like a demo car...


Nissan S15 Silvia Dorifto Machine by Paul Li, on Flickr

Not 2 weeks later, guess what was featured on SpeedHunters?

Is This Japan’s Most Insane S15?

This car was shipped all the way from Hokkaido to attend the StanceNation event in Tokyo, and I happened to come across it when the owner decided to visit the same park I was at.

Now, knowing nothing can possibly top this, feeling quite fulfilled and good about my luck, and very much exhausted. We drove back to Yokohama, we have an early day tomorrow.

No, not yet, just 1 more car to shoot before walking back to our hotel.


Mercedes Benz CLK 63 AMG Black by Paul Li, on Flickr

Mercedes Benz CLK 63 AMG Black by Paul Li, on Flickr


Mercedes Benz CLK 63 AMG Black by Paul Li, on Flickr

Now I can sleep...

 

[Dac_Xint]

16 November, day 2 (Kanagawa)

Part 1/2 - Blue Skies & Personal Cup Noodle

We awoke next morning like animals coming out of hibernation. However, not wanting to waste the splendid weather, we dragged ourselves out of bed, downed 2 cups of coffee and headed out. When we finally got to the elevators 40 minutes later we were rewarded with this magnificent view out the window of our floor.



Quite the motivation, I'd say. That island with the Ferris wheel is where we will be heading first.

We crossed the road to the bay side, and followed the bridge across the water (right side of the above image) to a big mall called Yokohama World Porters



The scenery around the bridge is especially delightful on a day like this, with soft, cheery music being played on speakers along the bridge, it couldn't have been more Japanese.



The sky really is that blue...



Many locals were out for a stroll on this beautiful morning



We walked past a group of elderlies painting along the water front on small stools and canvases, young families enjoying the day out with kids, people walking their dogs, and some office workers brought their lunch here to eat under the shades of trees.



And some just came to admire the view and get some time alone to think.



Seriously... the whole place looks like something out of a glorious, sci-fy utopian city

After a nice stroll around the place, we needed to get some quality food. It's time for sushi!



In Japan, it's hard to go wrong. This particular restaurant had impressed us most with the following:


Tuna


Grilled eel


And sea urchin, not even the slightest bit bitter, very refreshing and a tat sweet. If you have tried this in the past and it tasted bitter, it's not the real deal.

After we satisfied our taste buds, we headed for our next destination. This is a multi story cube shaped building dedicated to commemorating one very significant Japanese invention... no, not the Toshiba Magic Wand you dirty animals.

The Cup Noodle Museum! <not my photo, image changed due to privacy reasons>



The girlfriend was quite curious about this place, and rightfully so, because aside from all the history you can learn about this invention, you can also make your very own, unique cup of... cup noodle!

First you have to pay for a Cup (300JPY), and of course it's sold from a vending machine.

<not my photo, image changed due to privacy reasons>

Then you join everyone in a big hall to decorate your cups with marker pens provided, notice how many adults are here



Guess which one is mine



After you finish decorating, you need to bring it to the back of the hall where someone will help you fill up your empty cup with contents of your choosing



Then, each cup is wrap sealed just like the ones you get from stores



If you think "that's it, you got your cup, now bugger off", then you're wrong. This is Japan, nothing is just "done". Every thing is thought through carefully and provided to give you the best possible experience and result. This place is no less true. You are given a special plastic bag to store your unique Cup Noodle in. Take this bag to an allocated bench near by, there you will find a pump, which allows you to blow up the bag into a air cushion after you've placed your cup noodle inside. This will keep the cup well protected so it doesn't get crushed on your journey it home. It's been 3 weeks since, and the bags are still as puffy as the day we made them. Japanese design, you win.



Of course, a photo with the mascot and our souvenir

Now, I know what you're all waiting for, it will come, I just wanted to share these little fun things you can do with your family and friends should you visit one day. Alright, cars in the next update!

 

[SPhilli911]

This is great thanks for sharing, the pictures are wonderful! Japan looks like a really nice place to visit.

One of my biggest passions is traveling with my camera, and my friend and I were supposed to go to Japan at about this time, but we've put it off until April or May. I feel sad that we've delayed the trip after seeing these pictures.

 

[Dac_Xint]

16 November, day 2 (Kanagawa)

Part 2/2 - Cars, Street Photography & Ichiran

As we left the museum behind us, we looked up and saw the clouds drifting over us, the magnificent blue sky had all but gone...



But not the cars, in a matter of minutes, these beauties drove by


Nissan Fairlady Z33 by Paul Li, on Flickr


Mazda RX-7 FD3S by Paul Li, on Flickr

The next destination was of my choosing, and I picked on something car enthusiasts would crave for. So we headed in that direction. I managed to snap a nice panning shot of another Renault, too bad it isn't one of the performance models

Renault Megane by Paul Li, on Flickr

We walked past a bicycle rental bay and Nissan EV charging / rental bay


20151116-DSCF04256.jpg by Paul Li, on Flickr

As well as a MASSIVE Nissan dealership, and when I say dealership I mean a humongous lot outdoor, with easily over 3 hundred new and used cars lined up ready to be sold.

I quickly walked over and browsed for any special models, although there weren't any GT-Rs around, I was not the least bit disappointed:


Nissan Z34 Fairlady Nismo by Paul Li, on Flickr


Nissan Z34 Fairlady Nismo by Paul Li, on Flickr


Nissan Z34 Fairlady Nismo by Paul Li, on Flickr


Nissan Z34 Fairlady Nismo by Paul Li, on Flickr


Nissan Z34 Fairlady Nismo by Paul Li, on Flickr


Nissan Z34 Fairlady Nismo by Paul Li, on Flickr

First time seeing this in person, very good looking car indeed. The body kit definitely complements the car in a way that doesn't feel cheap.

Anyway, not to get totally side tracked, I had to let it go and move on. Because the next place is car heaven:


Super Autobacs by Paul Li, on Flickr

This is one of the most popular stores for car enthusiasts in Japan. You can buy literally EVERYTHING to do with cars here. I was walking around in a daze, utterly speechless at what I found, it was like a fat kid in a candy store with delights everywhere within arm's reach. I didn't want to draw too much attention with my camera so I didn't snap a lot of pictures, but I hope these will be enough proof.


Super Autobacs by Paul Li, on Flickr


Super Autobacs by Paul Li, on Flickr


Super Autobacs by Paul Li, on Flickr

Yup, these authentic rims were sold like cereal boxes off shelves. And their customers weren't just obnoxious young kids driving around in crappy modified 10 year old Civics either, here's what I found in the parking lot:

Proper track-ready cars

Mazda RX-8 by Paul Li, on Flickr


Mazda RX-8 by Paul Li, on Flickr

New cars with tasteful mods

Toyota GT-86 by Paul Li, on Flickr

And of course, there are slightly questionable modifications
Honda Fit by Paul Li, on Flickr

But also expensive newer models, HOLY CRAP Batman it's a Japanese Batmobile (RC-F)! With real carbon bonnet/hood and boot/trunk

Lexus RC F by Paul Li, on Flickr


Lexus RC F by Paul Li, on Flickr


Lexus RC F by Paul Li, on Flickr

And of course, you're going to find some wacky JDM cars as well

Suzuki Hustler by Paul Li, on Flickr

I was still quite unprepared for what I saw in the shop, and I actually hadn't prepared a shopping list before I went in. I'm glad though, any moment longer and I may have walked out with a new oil filter, oil, car battery, clutch, tools and way too many gadgets than I can fit into my suitcase... I left empty handed, but still thoroughly fulfilled. Next time, I'll be bringing a shipping container.

We went shopping at a supermarket next before returning to the hotel with our arms full of beer and snacks for our road trip the following day. The sky had turned dark by the time we headed out again for a walk before dinner. White collar workers were commuting home



Blue collar workers still pulling their late shifts



And the back streets where bars and restaurants were located are slowing coming to life



I found the camera shop I was looking for, and tested a few second hand lenses



Even let me take the lens outside to test low light performance, very lovely sharpness and bokeh.



I ended up getting this lens brand new at another shop, but not without going through a lot of trouble and panic. That's another story for later.

We left the shop with some small goodies to fill my camera bag, and wondered around letting my girlfriend do some shopping while I snapped more pictures.









For dinner, we went to one of our favourite ramen place, Ichiran. You place your order on a machine at the front of the restaurant, which dispenses a ticket for you to bring to your table, which is a tiny cubical like area. If you're going with friends, you can open the partition that separates your table space. It's a good place if you are travelling alone, but equally fascinating if you go with friends.



You have to mark on a sheet of paper HOW you like your bowl of ramen, with options for strength of flavour, spiciness, spring onions, pork, extra ramen etc. Once completed you hand this form in with your ticket, and your noodle will be made fresh.



(Im)patiently waiting while watching the customers across enjoying theirs...



The soft boiled egg arrived, but where's my ramen!?



There it is, once your order has arrived, they lower the blinds and let you eat in peace. The ramen isn't packed with lots of ingredients like a lot of other ramen places, but the soup and flavour is really top notch, it's a simple ramen for a very reasonable price of under $7USD per bowl.

After dinner, we strolled back to the hotel for an early night, because the next day is packed with truly PHENOMENAL stuff...



I hope you've enjoyed it so far, till next post, soon...

 

[Dac_Xint]

This is great thanks for sharing, the pictures are wonderful! Japan looks like a really nice place to visit.

One of my biggest passions is traveling with my camera, and my friend and I were supposed to go to Japan at about this time, but we've put it off until April or May. I feel sad that we've delayed the trip after seeing these pictures.

I'm glad you're enjoying it. It really is a great place to visit, I don't know about living or working here, but as a holiday destination you can't really go wrong. There's something here for everyone, if you like photography or are a Subaru fanatic, you'll find yourself right at home.

 

[JrDarknes]

Defiantly have to go here once I finish school. It looks so amazing.

I've always wanted to try out the Japanese style BBQ

 

[VXR]

It just looks like the most photogenic place with every thing so architecturally on point. This has to be the coolest thread on here right now.

 

[Ken]

Great thread. I can't wait to see more!

 

[SPhilli911]

I'm glad you're enjoying it. It really is a great place to visit, I don't know about living here and working here, but as a holiday destination you can't really go wrong. There's something here for everyone, if you like photography or are a Subaru fanatic, you'll find yourself right at home.

For sure, I'd love to see some of the Subarus that we don't get in the US (although, I got my fix at a car show in Australia last year ) experiencing Japanese car culture would be really nice. I'm a little nervous about the language and cultural barrier of Japan, though I hear it's not as difficult as I think especially with just a short trip. I can't wait to go.

Anyways, I'm not going to hijack your thread, nice pictures and write up! I'll be keeping an eye on this for updates.

 

[Dac_Xint]

It just looks like the most photogenic place with every thing so architecturally on point. This has to be the coolest thread on here right now.

You're absolutely on point. If you cared to look, you can find careful thought and design in mind everywhere here. I'll be showing more examples of that later. Thanks for the appreciation, there are a lot more to come.

 

[Dac_Xint]

Great thread. I can't wait to see more!

Glad you like it, I will post more in the coming days. There are still a lot to cover.

 

[Dac_Xint]

For sure, I'd love to see some of the Subarus that we don't get in the US (although, I got my fix at a car show in Australia last year ) experiencing Japanese car culture would be really nice. I'm a little nervous about the language and cultural barrier of Japan, though I hear it's not as difficult as I think especially with just a short trip. I can't wait to go.

Anyways, I'm not going to hijack your thread, nice pictures and write up! I'll be keeping an eye on this for updates.

I don't speak any Japanese other than the usual "thank you", you will manage with speaking only English in the big cities, politeness and keeping a keen eye on respecting their culture will get you far in the smaller towns. Older people tend to be weary of foreigners only because they can't communicate with you. Get yourself a travellers' SIM card, with Google Maps and Translate at your finger tips, you will be just fine. Let me know if you have any questions when you visit in the future. I'd be happy to pass on what little tips I have.

Also, please keep the comments coming, it's good to know people are finding these random stuff besides cars interesting.

 

[Dac_Xint]

Defiantly have to go here once I finish school. It looks so amazing.

I've always wanted to try out the Japanese style BBQ

It's quite tasty, although I personally find Korean BBQ to be just as amazing, if not better. You're from the US, visit a BBQ restaurant in a Korean town nearby next time. I hear they're quite authentic, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Ameer67]

Looks like a car guy/gal's heaven pretty much with all the pluses of Japan as bonus. Great photos too!

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Quite frankly, I am extremely glad that we can see what other users like in the News Feed (thanks @Ameer67 cough cough), because otherwise I would have missed this simply amazing thread. There is nothing that I hate in this, bar perhaps the vomit-inducing Honda Fit with pink rims, that is just tragic. (laughs)

But joke aside, this thread is filled with great ingredients; a great text, great scenery and the incredible pictures that come with said scenary. With all due honesty, your pictures would not look out of place in a professional travel guide for Japan, their quality is that good in my eyes. For someone who dreams of Japan as a travel destination, such as myself, your thread is the next best thing after actually travelling to the country yourself. It's not just the anime or the cars that define Japan, it's also the culture and sheer dedication of its citizens that keep the country alive and rich in personality.

By all means, please keep posting here. The way you describe everything in your journey is more than worth the price of admission... 👍

 

[Dac_Xint]

Looks like a car guy/gal's heaven pretty much with all the pluses of Japan as bonus. Great photos too!

Thank you for the complement! Japan's got an amazing array of car collections on the road. Although shorter in comparison to the west, their car culture is no less rich or vibrant. Being a small country means you tend to see these special cars a lot more often than other countries.

 

[Dac_Xint]

Quite frankly, I am extremely glad that we can see what other users like in the News Feed (thanks @Ameer67 cough cough), because otherwise I would have missed this simply amazing thread. There is nothing that I hate in this, bar perhaps the vomit-inducing Honda Fit with pink rims, that is just tragic. (laughs)

But joke aside, this thread is filled with great ingredients; a great text, great scenery and the incredible pictures that come with said scenary. With all due honesty, your pictures would not look out of place in a professional travel guide for Japan, their quality is that good in my eyes. For someone who dreams of Japan as a travel destination, such as myself, your thread is the next best thing after actually travelling to the country yourself. It's not just the anime or the cars that define Japan, it's also the culture and sheer dedication of its citizens that keep the country alive and rich in personality.

By all means, please keep posting here. The way you describe everything in your journey is more than worth the price of admission... 👍

I'm really flattered by your appreciation, and yes, that Honda Fit is indeed quite rancid, the original colour was a shade of puke yellow/brown/green. I just had to tune it slightly to bring out the yellow. But the Rays TE-37 wheels, damn pity. I'm very happy to know there are people who enjoy the non-cars related content here, so I'll continue to share these random snippets.

 

[Cano]

I'm very happy to know there are people who enjoy the non-cars related content here, so I'll continue to share these random snippets.

I actually could care less about the cars. I mean it's cool and all but I'd still be crying green if it was just the place pictures.

Also, your eye has gotten immensely better. This:

is incredibly good.

 

[Rue]

Brilliant photos and great narrative, Paul! A real treat. As you know, I was lucky enough to go to Japan twice in quick succession this year and I loved every single second of being there. You should compile a little coffee table books of your photos, they're fantastic.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

I'm really flattered by your appreciation, and yes, that Honda Fit is indeed quite rancid, the original colour was a shade of puke yellow/brown/green. I just had to tune it slightly to bring out the yellow. But the Rays TE-37 wheels, damn pity. I'm very happy to know there are people who enjoy the non-cars related content here, so I'll continue to share these random snippets.

So the yellow was even more dull in terms of brightness? Well that will definitely not work when you see it in the metal, I can only imagine how dim the paintjob looked when you spotted it. And yes, it is a shame that a combination with so much potential to look good ends up being ruined by a ghastly choice of colors. A clear waste of nice TE-37 rims...

And to be honest, while I greatly admire the JDM car world, it would not be the only thing that I would look for if I was in Japan. The food and general architecture also interest me, and you have already presented great exemples in those categories; the Cup Ramen Museum's method of preserving the cups bought by visitors, using a air-puffed plastic bag to prevent the cups being crushed on their way home... I have to admit, I was in awe at such a thorough solution just for the sake of food preservation, Japanese design has truly won in that aspect. Then there are the restaurants, like Ichiran Ramen and its "individual serving" layout, which can still be transformed to accomodate group meets over a nice hot bowl of ramen without great hassle. I've eaten noodles and yakisoba in different formats, but I have yet to experience ramen in its full glory. Do you think that Ichiran is a good place to start if you go to Japan? And as an extra food question, have you eaten yakitori either during this trip or before?

Those snippets are far from being "random", because they serve to show how many different identities Japan has within its borders. People wouldn't praise its cultural variety otherwise...

 

[Dac_Xint]

So the yellow was even more dull in terms of brightness? Well that will definitely not work when you see it in the metal, I can only imagine how dim the paintjob looked when you spotted it. And yes, it is a shame that a combination with so much potential to look good ends up being ruined by a ghastly choice of colors. A clear waste of nice TE-37 rims...

And to be honest, while I greatly admire the JDM car world, it would not be the only thing that I would look for if I was in Japan. The food and general architecture also interest me, and you have already presented great exemples in those categories; the Cup Ramen Museum's method of preserving the cups bought by visitors, using a air-puffed plastic bag to prevent the cups being crushed on their way home... I have to admit, I was in awe at such a thorough solution just for the sake of food preservation, Japanese design has truly won in that aspect. Then there are the restaurants, like Ichiran Ramen and its "individual serving" layout, which can still be transformed to accomodate group meets over a nice hot bowl of ramen without great hassle. I've eaten noodles and yakisoba in different formats, but I have yet to experience ramen in its full glory. Do you think that Ichiran is a good place to start if you go to Japan? And as an extra food question, have you eaten yakitori either during this trip or before?

Those snippets are far from being "random", because they serve to show how many different identities Japan has within its borders. People wouldn't praise its cultural variety otherwise...

See the original photo for yourself. It's horrific.

Since you mentioned it, here's more about food and design. At Ichiran, because it's designed for people to eat alone, without the need of any waiter/waitress. Each cubicle has its own water tap, and a small stack of cups above it for you to fill. Excessive? maybe. Useful? definitely.



Where else do you see something similar to this? Sushi places of course. They do it because they believe it will increase efficiency, and reduce manpower to only doing jobs where manual labour cannot be replaced. All without affect the effectiveness of their service to the customers.

Sushi restaurants with iPads on each table hooked up to their system, so you can order right at your table. How is the food delivered? From a point to point conveyor belt. I will show you photos of this towards the end of my trip.

Anyway, I highly recommend Ichiran because it's quite cheap, has great quality noodles (I tend to order the slightly firm "al dente" noodle, which I recommend), and it's open 24/7 throughout their branches. You can find a number of them in Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka, all within walking distance from rail stations.

I've had some yakitori over beer on one evening, sadly I was too hungry and didn't take photos of the skewers. Let me see if the girl friend took any food photos. We can always count on the ladies for that XD

 

[Dac_Xint]

I actually could care less about the cars. I mean it's cool and all but I'd still be crying green if it was just the place pictures.

Also, your eye has gotten immensely better. This:

is incredibly good.

Thanks Cano! When you visit some place new, you're suddenly met with a great desire to photograph everything because it's all fresh to your eyes, so I really value these opportunities where I'm not distracted by work. I somehow manage to be more and more busy with work though, I really don't get out as much as I wish to take photos.

 

[Dac_Xint]

Brilliant photos and great narrative, Paul! A real treat. As you know, I was lucky enough to go to Japan twice in quick succession this year and I loved every single second of being there. You should compile a little coffee table books of your photos, they're fantastic.

Hi Rue! Thanks for dropping by, and the complements! Every should check out Rue's photos from his two trip, he covered some amazing cars over those two occasions at race tracks.

And for everyone else, I gave Rue a challenge, where he must photograph certain cars while in Japan. One of which is the Subaru Forester STi, as they are incredibly rare. His luck had almost ran out until the very last night, where he came * across one in a parking lot near his hotel.

I have evidence of this grown man publicly displaying an embarrassing amount of affection towards said car, but I think you should coax ** him into letting me share it.

*,** pun intended

I did see some pretty good deals on printing and binding coffee table photo albums at e-print. I might do that!

 

[Niku Driver HC]

See the original photo for yourself. It's horrific.

Good lord, it's as if someone had given Pikachu a pair of pink shoes and forced him to wear them while being ill... Can't tell which color is worse, honesty. They both look bad on their own, but together they are a horrendous force to be reckoned with. Again, great parts do not make a great car if you use them in the wrong way...

Since you mentioned it, here's more about food and design. At Ichiran, because it's designed for people to eat alone, without the need of any waiter/waitress. Each cubicle has its own water tap, and a small stack of cups above it for you fill. Excessive? maybe. Useful? definitely.



Where else do you see something similar to this? Sushi places of course. They do it because they believe it will increase efficiency, and reduce manpower to only doing jobs where manual labour cannot be replaced. All without affect the effectiveness of their service to the customers.

Sushi restaurants with iPads on each table hooked up to their system, so you can order right at your table. How is the food delivered? From a point to point conveyor belt. I will show you photos of this towards the end of my trip.

Anyway, I highly recommend Ichiran because it's quite cheap, has great quality noodles (I tend to order the slightly firm "al dente" noodle, which I recommend), and it's open 24/7 throughout their branches. You can find a number of them in Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka, all within walking distance from rail stations.

I've had some yakitori over beer on one evening, sadly I was too hungry and didn't take photos of the skewers. Let me see if the girl friend took any food photos. We can always count on the ladies for that XD

Well I'll be darned, that is very impressive. Overkill for its purpose, but impressive nonetheless; Japan does like to have able assistance from machines, but not in a way where they replace the painstaking effort done by the chefs, instead serving as "time management tools" to cut time where machines can appear without taking over the kitchen entirely. I was not aware that sushi restaurants have begun to use iPads though, guess that is another time management tool that can aid in a speedy service alongside the already well-known conveyor belts... Looking foward to see how does such a system work in that context.

As for the recommendation, thanks for suggesting Ichiran and clarifying why it is a good choice, much appreciated. 👍 With a plentiful amount of branches, it won't be difficult to find a place to suit your location and/or taste, which is always a nice thing to have. Especially when they are within walking distance of most Japanese rail stations...

And I didn't know that you could use girlfriends for gastromic picture-takiing, I should keep that in mind. Joke aside, I'm sure there's something to be found about that, if anything you can always share your own thoughts on the dish.