This is Tokyo

This video gives a great impression of Tokyo
"Shot with a Canon HV30 camera over four days between August 8th - 11th 2008.
Locations in Tokyo were: Shibuya, Harajuku, Roppongi, Ginza, Akihabara, and Shinjuku."

Tempels tempels tempels...

...maar daar gaan we jullie natuurlijk geen foto's van sturen, want dat is saai!
Wel zijn er foto's van:


vertraagde treinen (!!!)


Het uitzicht op hotel Chuo vanaf de voordeur van ons hotel


de hoofdattractie van alle schoolkinderen in Kyoto (beter bekend als Daan en Richtje, alias die lange en die nog iets langere)


en tot slot Little Paris aan het kanaal van het path of philosophy, inclusief Edith Piaf, maar dat zie je natuurlijk niet op een foto.

Kortom, het is hier heerlijk (weer).

Liefs,

Daan en Richtje

Hayaku: A time lapse journey through Japan

Hayaku: A time lapse journey through Japan  
by Brad Kremer

" Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. This is my Japan. This is one of the many reasons why I love Japan. I shot this in many locations around Japan in the summer of 2009. Some of the location include Tokyo, Matsuyama, Imabari, Nagano, Gifu, and Ishizushisan.

I started this as a personal project to try and capture the beauty that I see in Japan. It started as just that...

But now that I have finished, I see it only as a beginning. This video, along with SAIJO MATSURI www.vimeo.com/7458088 is just the start of a much larger project that I have now decided to do.

So I hope you enjoy this preview of what is to come in the future. "

"Hayaku" definition: Hurry up

Camera: Canon 5DMKII

Additional equipment: Mumford Moco

Music:

Royksopp - Triumphant

The Album Leaf - Window

Richtje en Daan in Tsumago

Hoi Familie!

We wilden graag onze tijd in Tsumago met jullie delen. We hebben heerlijk geslapen in een Ryokan, met uitzicht op de tuin met Koi-karpers en 's avonds een vijf-gangen diner (incl. wespenlarven). Tsumago was prachtig. Vandaag in Nara hertjes konten en honden zien bijten. Morgen naar Kyoto!

Kus,

Daan & Richtje

My sister following in my footsteps

My sister is in Japan now.After all my stories she and her boyfriend Daan just had to see it. (Well in all honesty I wasn't the only one to tell them, Daan's sister is in Japan for an intern ship, or something like that I think).
Today I got this brilliant picture in the mail, with the following Caption:
"Schijnen hier een goed metrostelsel te hebben! Niks van gemerkt..."
(Translated to English: "Apparently they have a good metro system here! Didn't notice any of it...")
:)

Have fun sis (you too Daan)!!!

In the background you can see Tokyo tower. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations. As to be expected from the Japanese, Tokyo Tower is 9 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower :D

Riding a bicycle in Tokyo, stay on the sidewalk though!
As for storing your bike:

'Nagoya newspaper' - The Conclusion

The newspaper arrived today:



"Enter the Nagoya Guesthouse

It's not a hotel, nor a ryokan (a Japanese style inn). A new cheap hostel/guest house has made it's way into the heard of Nagoya. A room with 2 beds is between 2-3,000 yen, beyond the cheapness the guests become friends and can exchange travel information. Next year is Nagoya's 400 year anniversary. Located between Tokyo and Kansai, Nagoya is often passed over. Will this be enough to encourage more travelers to stop in?

A 5 minute walk from Kanayamasogo Station, Hostel An is a 40 year old wooden building with 6 rooms and 2 floors. The ex-salesman from Yokohama, Ayano Kimishima (34) opened this establishment in October of this year (2009).

"I wanted to create a place as comfortable as a normal Japanese home." She said. In the room with a TV, computer, and manga foreign travelers relax and occasionally make travel-buddies. Eric Ras (30) from Holland said, "I found a kendo dojo when I was walking around, and the sensei let me in!" and proudly showed me his pictures! Over 80% of the customers here are foreigners.

Ms. Kimijima traveled around Southeast Asia 10 years ago and started to dream about opening her own guesthouse. Until last year she worked at the Chubu Airport while looking for a good place for her enterprise. She said, "As foreigners have a different sense of difference than Japanese people, I think Nagoya is a good place because Takayama and Himeiji are an easy day trip away."

There are guest houses like this in other countries and in Okinawa, but there weren't any in Nagoya. This year, the first guest house, Otohaya Besso opened (In the Nakamura ward near Nagoya Station South). It has a bar where than even non-guests can enjoy themselves. Now, they are re-designing it to allow for live performances. They also give local artists a chance to display their works.

"Travelers and locals can sit together and drink sake and go for one of Nagoya's famous huge "morning" breakfasts," said the owner. The ex-metalworker from Hiroshima, Takahiro Tange (38) said his goal was to create a "melting pot".

Nagoya is said to have very few travelers. In the French travel book Michelin, Takayama got the full 3 stars, however Nagyoa only got one star! It says, "There is not much to attract most travelers, but that doesn't mean there are no places to go and enjoy yourself."

Mr. Tange said, "I want travelers to not only go to big concrete museums, but also go to the places that only locals go, and enjoy the local food as well." Nagoya is different from Kyoto, as you can easily find things 'not on the map'". The key to getting more people interested in Nagoya is having the locals help create an atmosphere that captures their interest."

Thank you Levi and Miyuki for translating this!

(original posts: 1 & 2)

Back in NL

We've been back in The Netherlands for a week now.
For me, 'Excellent Adventures' was an understatement. Joost turned out to be one of the best travel companions one can ask for ( as long as he gets his caffeine shot ;p ) Japan has been so cool that I'm considering going for a year. I'm really happy with my job right now so no short term plans, but I'm looking in to getting some English degree or certificate to increase job opportunities.

Anyway, I thought I'd give you guys a few more pics to enjoy:
What would you like to order?:
McKroket eat your heart out:
Osaka supermarket:
Jellyfish (Wallpaper anyone?):
Maneki Kitty:
xmass:
xmass:
Nara Kōen:
Nara Kōen:
BYO Controler:
Nagano:
Not Nagano:
Ride with a view:



Nike flagship store:
Get in line for NYE:
They are in Japan too (en ook hier incl. bontkragen):
NYE = Big Buisness:
Happi Coat:
Last meal:
Last look:
Last Subway:
First signs of home! but still in Japan!?!:

For the stories behind them just ask me or Joost :)

Engrish

We weren't exactly on the lookout, but as you might expect we cam across some beauties.:




And this one, no Engrish here bus still pretty bizar:

Japanese manholes

Japan's manhole covers often include a symbol specific to an area or town as part of the overall design and vary depending on their purpose. Here are the ones we found on our trip:
(Himeji)

(Himeji)

(Himeji)

(Osaka)

(Nara)

(Nara)

(Kyoto)

(Kanazawa)

(Nagano)

(Matsumoto Castle town)

(Yamanouchi/Snow Monkey park)

(Tokyo)