Not really a grid city
Most streets in central Sapporo are laid out in a grid pattern. It is a functional and rational urban design that makes the entire city look like one giant …
Ginza at night
Several railroad lines, including the Shinkansen bullet train, and the Metropolitan Expressway, cross through the center of Ginza. It is one of the main …
Haneda before dawn
I arrived at Haneda Airport at 5:45 a.m. to board an early morning flight. In January, it is still before sunrise. The sky is jet black and the airport …
Creative washoku restaurant
What exactly is sosaku washoku (meaning “creative Japanese cuisine”)? Even after 20 years living in Japan, I’m not sure if I’ve ever had it. …
Backstreet izakaya
If you’re visiting Japan and wondering where to go out for dinner, I recommend you find a random small establishment like this izakaya …
Polaris and Sirius
In addition to cars that retain a retro atmosphere, Sapporo City Trams run the latest models introduced after 2014. These cars …
Rad red scooter
I find that parked two-wheel vehicles, whether a motorcycle, a moped, a bicycle, or a scooter, often make excellent subjects for street photography. …
Ichiban scooter
Outside the Ichiban pub I see a Scoopy and a Jog, if I’m reading the labels on these two scooters correctly. I can understand how Jog could work as a name …
Unattended moped
It’s perfectly common for delivery people to leave their work vehicles running while they hop off to hand over a package. It’s also not uncommon to see …
Golden torii gate
Most Shinto shrines look pretty similar to each other, but Mikane Shrine in downtown Kyoto stands out for the golden torii gate. Visitors come to pray …
Cheap downtown parking
One of the many wonderful things about doing night photography is the much cheaper parking. At this particular spot, after 10 p.m. it’s 100 yen an hour …
Reflections of Time
As the sun sets over Tokyo, the iconic Tokyo Tower is reflected in the glass walls of the Mori JP Tower in Azabudai Hills. The steel tower was completed …