Hibiya Park
View of Hibiya Park near JR Yurakucho Station.
Tokyo Tower
Night view of Tokyo Tower near JR Hammamatsucho Station.
Hayao Miyazaki’s Nittele Nippon Terebi Clock
View of Hayao Miyazaki’s Nittele clock at the Nihon Terebi Headquarters in Shimbashi Itchome. This clock is the largest animated clock in the world.
Farewell Party
We held an official goodbye party for two of my dear friends on June 7th, 2008 at their apartment near JR Nippori Station. They will be missed.
Shiodome City Center Exterior (Tokyo, Japan)
View of Shiodome City Center from the Yurikamome Shinbashi Station. The Caretta Shiodome Building containing the Wicked Gekidanshiki Theatre is also visible in the distance. Shiodome City Center is a modern building which houses many corporate offices and restaurants. The view from the top-floor “sky” restaurants is exceptional.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku functions as Tokyo City Hall and also houses two free observatories for tourists. North and South observation decks are located on top two floors and provide a good free way to see much of the city while shopping for souvenirs at the observatories’ gift shops.
Ueno TGI Friday’s (Tokyo, Japan)
The interior of the Ueno TGI Friday’s in the Nagafuji Building near Ameyokocho and the edge of Ueno Park.
Nomura Building & Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower, Shinjuku (Tokyo, Japan)
Lighted trees decorate the entrance to the Nomura Building on the West side of Shinjuku Station. The Nomura Building is adjacent to the I-Land Shinjuku Building which houses the first of the new Burger King restaurants. Also pictured is the new Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower.
Symphony Tokyo Bay Cruise (Tokyo Harbor, Japan)
The Symphony Tokyo Bay Cruise is a dining cruise around Tokyo Harbor. Guests have their choice of French, Italian or buffet lunch, sunset or dinner courses. There is also a bar lounge course with appetizers and wine as well as a tea time course of cake or just coffee.
Another Korean Temple (Seoul, South Korea)
This last Korean temple was in downtown Seoul. If you can identify its name, please comment or send me a message.
Korean Temple Interior (Seoul, South Korea)
Interior of a Korean temple close to Namdaemun Market.
Korean Temple (Seoul, South Korea)
This Korean temple was close to Namdaemun Market, but I couldn’t read the characters on the temple or around it to tell what it was called.
Gyeongbok Palace Courtyard (Seoul, South Korea)
Gyeongbok Palace Gate (Seoul, South Korea)
Geunjeong-jeon – Gyeongbok Palace Throne Hall (Seoul, South Korea)
Geunjeong-jeon or
Dora Observatory (DMZ, South Korea)
Dora observatory is located in South Korea on the edge of the DMZ. From the observatory, tourists can view the Demilitarized Zone and North Korea through binoculars. Those who want to take photography are required to do so behind a yellow “Photo Line.”
Dorasan Train Station Exterior (DMZ, South Korea)
Dorasan Train Station, just south of the border between North and South Korea, will someday reunite the two halves of the country if and when passenger trains begin running between them. In December 2007, freight trains began running from Dorasan Station into North Korea. The trains transport materials to Kaesong and return with finished goods.
Dorasan Train Station (DMZ, South Korea)
Dorasan Train Station, just south of the border between North and South Korea, will someday reunite the two halves of the country if and when passenger trains begin running between them. In December 2007, freight trains began running from Dorasan Station into North Korea. The trains transport materials to Kaesong and return with finished goods.
Namdaemun Open-air Market (Seoul, South Korea)
Namdaemun is a large, 600-year-old open-air market in Seoul, South Korea. It was named Namdaemun after the nearby “Great South Gate” and is Korea’s largest traditional market. Almost anything – textiles, food, accessories, cosmetics, etc. – can be purchased at the market. Namdaemun is open 24 hours every day except Sunday with the best discounts after midnight. Namchang-dong (Jung-gu, downtown, Hoehyon Station Line 4), Seoul. Phone 2128-7800.
Odaiba Valentine Panorama
This is a Tokyo Harbor panorama taken from Odaiba the rainy day before Valentine’s Day. The Statue of Liberty wasn’t red as in previous years, but Tokyo Tower was pink.
Old Shinbashi Station
Old Shinbashi Station, or Shimbashi station, opened on October 10, 1872 and was closed in 1939 when two train lines were merged forming the Tokyo Metro Ginza line. Part of the original building and platform was reconstruted in 2003 behind City Center near the Yurikamome Shiodome Station.