Do a search on this blog for “ben ledi” and you’ll see the kind of view I’m used to. Then you’ll realise what a culture shock it is to wake up and see this …….
When I first looked out of the hotel window here in Ikebukuro I could only see the vastness of it all. And the fact that as far as I could see there were only buildings. But then I zoomed my camera in on some of the detail.
This is something you see a lot in Tokyo – an old building surrounded on all sides by tall new ones – like a wee oasis!
Parking must be a nightmare in Tokyo – can you make out the multi-storey parking lot? Do you think they park the cars sideways to get more in?
Can you see the tennis courts?
This building is right opposite my hotel. The little rail track running around the rim fascinates me. But I haven’t spotted any trains yet!
Heroes Not Zombies 
If you are still interested in what the little track on the roof might be for, it’s for running the cleaning devices, that is a little wagon is on the roof, to which the ropes are attached so that the gondola for the cleaners of the glass-surfaced windows could be let hanging down from it and the cleaners could do their job… But I guess you knew that?
Oh, I forgot to add that I am a homeopathic student – in the Misha Norland’s distance learning course, but I live in Fukuoka, it’s down south on the island of Kyushu – will you be visiting here? Your blog is simply wonderful with all the pictures! Thank you very much!
Thanks ez, yes I figured that was what it was for but it does look strange, doesn’t it? Do they keep the wagon on the roof somewhere?
I’ve visited Japan every year for a few years now but I’ve only been to Tokyo, Nara and Kyoto. Maybe next year I’ll explore a little further if I have time. I’ve been told Hokaido is very beautiful. What would you recommend if I only have a few days? North or South?
Concerning the cleaning devices, I think they lift them in an elevator, there is usually a little “house” around the center of the roof, so either it’s an entrance/exit to the elevator shaft, or where the wagon is kept… It does look strange, of course! What it makes me think about (but I’m of course rather prejudiced – as you would find many western people living here, there’s too much naivety and sloppiness that one has to face here, so one just cannot help feeling frustrated even to the extent of disregarding the good things, which are always present, of course) is that the Japanese firmly beleive that everything will turn out ust fine – ah, I’m not sure if you’ll see what I mean, they are not able – or deliberately choose not to – think about contingencies. You’ll note that the strangeness of the track is in the way it’s minutely fitted to the tiny surface of the roof, and the building is rather tall. I would immediately think what would happen to the wagon if an earthquake would happen at the moment the wagon is there with the people cleaning, it can derail easily, and it’s probably made of some light metal… But a Japanese person will assure you that everything is “rock solid” in the sense of being designed to meet all requirements of the Ministry etc etc – only there are just too many scams on many levels revealed recently in Japan, and my intuitive feeling of insecurity that I had from the start begins to “take on flesh”, and I often tell my husband “I told you so 10 years ago!” and he only shakes his head… You – or anyone, I think, would not beleive just how much it’s the matter of being able to tell what’s behind the appearances needed to survive – in Japan, and generally, of course, but it is so glaringly missing here!
But that’s only one side of the human aspect, there are others, and there are, of course, wonderful places to go here too, and genuine people you could meet at most unexpected places!
Hokkaido is very atypical for Japan, it’s more of a moderate climate landscape that you’ll see there (not that it is not pleasant to see it, but you can see more of it in Canada or drier parts of Northern Europe, maybe somewhere North of Petersburg in Russia would be quite similar) and advice about travelling in Japan depends very much on the time of the year you choose to do this. One of my friends said once a nice phrase: “Japan does not have a very inviting climate” – and this is very true. In summer it’s like Philippines, very hot and humid and everything gets moldy in half a day if you are not careful, – everywhere, except Hokkaido, which does not even have the rainy season. And in winter it’s quite dry, like in Korea actually, with the air from Siberia bringing a lot of chill. A very difficult climate to live in, but never mind. So if you travel in summer, Hokkaido is the nicest place to go in terms of climate, but you might also try the resort areas of Nikko and Karuizawa, which are a bit to the North of Tokyo and also a bit up in the mountains, there are very nice woods there, the hot springs, onsens, of course, so even in summer one can enjoy one’s stay. THe best seasons to travel here, however, are end of October/November in Autumn, and April/early May in Spring, during these periods you can travel and feel comfortable anywhere in Japan.
Okinawa islands have quite a different rythm of life there, it seems, so they maybe worth visiting, even in summer, after the rainy season is over.
THere is also a lot of difference between the Eastern coast of Japan and Western coast which faces the sea of Japan, they are separated by the mountain ridge and this brings about a significant difference in air currents that shape the climate, so the landscapes and flora are also quite different.
Kyushu, where we live, is not very interesting except for very specific Sulphuric hot springs in Beppu, and several volcanoes, the biggest one is Aso, there’s a great caldera, which you can see if you get to the central part, it’s quite amazing… But this is best in Autumn, not in summer, when it’s like having to move around in a hot Russian steam bath, if you have ever experienced that.
So, the gist of all the above is that if you only have several days in summer and want to see something typically Japanese in terms of nature, and of “old Japan”, really, real Japan, what it all started from, so to say, in terms of natural environment, Karuizawa or Nikko would be one of the best ideas – I have not been there myself yet, but all the descriptions I’ve seen so far really point to this, that’s my intuition, if you wish, that you’ll like it, at least, I hope so, and that’s where I intend to go as soon as I have time and money to travel with the children when they grow up enough.
And if you ever visit Kyushu and travel through Fukuoka, I’ll be there to greet you – the cheer team of homeopathy users!- if you would desire this, of course. It really does not look like we’ll (our family) move away from here any time soon, so just let us know if you wish.