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Astro in Japan

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    • Astro in Japan

      Day 1
      In Japan for two weeks for my middle son's wedding. I had been walking at least miles a day leading up to this, so I thought share some of the interesting things I see in my walks here. Today didn't get the chance to actually get out for a walk. But got a lot of steps pushing/pulling suitcases around. We flew in yesterday to Tokyo and took the monorail and local trains until we got to the eventual Bullet Train to Sendai.

      Staying at Royal Park Hotel. Had tea with his brides family and my son and his wife surprised us showing up in traditional Japanese clothing. One of my son's said all he was missing was a sword.
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      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General

    • Day 2
      Just started walking until I ran into some neighborhoods and parks. Lots of baseball fields. Lots of interesting signs I could tell what they meant by the picture.

      When I saw the Knots and Camp Frontier I went in for a closer look. Camp Frontier was not open, but the Knots ended up being like a community center.
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      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General

    • Day 2 (cont.)
      Georgia coffee appears to be popular in the vending machines. Time magazine once wrote an article about my cousin being the King of Honky, but I believe this is different (a hair salon).

      Children can pick up the green flags when they cross the steet. The cars "Always" back into a parking space. Probably why Japanese auto manufacturers led the way in rear view caameras and parking navigation.

      You can see the mountain in the background and they must get quite a bit of snow in Sendai.
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      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General

    • Cool! Our eldest daughter and son in law, love Japan.

      My parents were world travels for a time. My dad, being retired USAF, kept trying to get mom to the orient. They always enjoyed Europe, going often. It helped that dad was friends with a 4-star general in the RAF...... Who also had a "Sir" attached to his titles....and was super down to earth. Anyway, dad had been in Nam so had been in Hong Kong, Japan, he lived in Thailand (on an airbase) for 6 months. He finally got mom to Japan and Hong Kong and she fell in love! The incredibly nice people, the lands, the service.....

      Enjoy your trip, family and time there.
      Pirating – Corporate Takeover without the paperwork

    • Astro wrote:

      At Tokyo Dome as Giants hosts Hanshin Tigers.

      Not like any MLB game I have ever seen. And they haven't thrown the first pitch yet. :)
      How different? Besides the national anthem.....

      We (mom, wife and I) went to the new Texas Rangers stadium this spring. Wonderful experience. I was surprised when they opened the roof about 30 minutes before first pitch, with people already in. I was surprised that only beer and margarita's were being sold by roaming vendors, you use the MBL App to order food to be delivered, or get up and walk to the concourse which looks like a mall food court.
      I was happy with the pitch clock. The game moved much better and there wasn't any issues with it. The players had fun yet the game moved.
      Pirating – Corporate Takeover without the paperwork

    • rhjanes wrote:

      Astro wrote:

      At Tokyo Dome as Giants hosts Hanshin Tigers.

      Not like any MLB game I have ever seen. And they haven't thrown the first pitch yet. :)
      How different? Besides the national anthem.....
      We (mom, wife and I) went to the new Texas Rangers stadium this spring. Wonderful experience. I was surprised when they opened the roof about 30 minutes before first pitch, with people already in. I was surprised that only beer and margarita's were being sold by roaming vendors, you use the MBL App to order food to be delivered, or get up and walk to the concourse which looks like a mall food court.
      I was happy with the pitch clock. The game moved much better and there wasn't any issues with it. The players had fun yet the game moved.
      Like a cross between a circus and a college football game. I will load some pictures later.
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General

    • Day 3
      Big day with Wedding ceremony. No grooms men or bridesmaids. Focus just on bride, groom and their parents. My wife and bride's mother wore kimonos.

      Other than 7 course meal, most impressive thing was bride riding in to garden on horse drawn white carriage, and leaving on it with groom after reception.

      Morning walk took me to golf course and some different neighborhoods. Based on the roofs they must get a lot of snow here (remined me of Inn at Long Trail).
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      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General

    • Day 3 cont.
      Noon wedding, so in the evening went to malls and grabbed a Freshness Burger and found a book store with outdoors / camping section. Interesting that they read books magazines right to left.

      Also had Montbell and Columbia stores.
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      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General

    • Day 4
      Bride's father took us on tour (rented bus and boat) of one of the three most beautiful areas in Japan, Matsushima. Unfortunately I was holding my granddaughter most of the time while my wife was taking pictures. It was her birthday and she loved how we traced the travels of the poet Matsuo Basho.
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      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General

    • Day 4 cont.
      From my walk earlier in the day. A local university (not for why staues a naked little boys with gold bracelets). Green houses, rice, and more interesting signs.
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      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General

    • Astro,

      I am planning two weeks with my daughter sometime in January. She is stationed in South Korea. Since she already gets to see a bit of Korea on the weekends, she wants us to meet somewhere else. I would love to go to Japan, but I am thinking January may not be the best time. For that reason, this trip may end up somewhere further south (like Vietnam and Cambodia).

      I do have a question, though. How prevalent is masking still in Japan? I understand it is not required, but if I went there I still would not want to go against their cultural norms. And wearing a face mask is not my idea of a vacation.

      Scott
      “Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
      the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”

      John Greenleaf Whittier

    • IMScotty wrote:

      Astro,

      I am planning two weeks with my daughter sometime in January. She is stationed in South Korea. Since she already gets to see a bit of Korea on the weekends, she wants us to meet somewhere else. I would love to go to Japan, but I am thinking January may not be the best time. For that reason, this trip may end up somewhere further south (like Vietnam and Cambodia).

      I do have a question, though. How prevalent is masking still in Japan? I understand it is not required, but if I went there I still would not want to go against their cultural norms. And wearing a face mask is not my idea of a vacation.

      Scott
      No tourist. 5% locals normally and perhaps 25% on public transportation. So I would not worry about it. As for weather Tokyo and south are warmer in Winter.
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General