City in decline
21 October 2016
The Nagano branch of the Tokyu department store
I am convinced, Nagano is a city in serious decline. Perhaps this is the future for much of Japan, with a declining population, a reluctance to al....
It happened again
21 October 2016
Hiking the hills behind Zenkoji
I really only intended to visit the big Temple. The Zenkoji temple is the main attraction in Nagano, so I thought I had better go take a look at t....
Still just a station
20 October 2016
Eating pasta at the Nagano Shinkansen station
I have checked google, websites, google maps which these days shows you which areas of cities to find shops and restaurants by conveniently color ....
Not too early for color
20 October 2016
Taking the bus from Nagano to Togakushi
Apparently the colorful leaf season hysteria does not start for weeks. No one told the place I went to today. Because of colorful leaves, lots of ....
Public convenience
19 October 2016
Exploring the covered shopping streets of Nagano
Nagano is very quiet. I think everything is concentrated around the station, I walked a few loops away from it but always ended up coming back. Th....
Naga-no-yes
19 October 2016
Taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano
Yes, I am now in Nagano. You may remember this as the city which hosted the 1998 winter olympics. Except no one remembers the winter olympics. Who....
Used and Organic
18 October 2016
Exploring the trendy streets of Shimokitazawa
This evening despite my tired legs, I went on the hunt for Japanese curry and failed. A place I have not been to before, Shimokitazawa is very pop....
I saw it!
18 October 2016
Hiking Shimoyama from Mitsutoge to Kawaguchiko
Today was long, I got lost, but I got to see Mount Fuji. I have never seen it before. I did not climb it, if I tried I would be arrested and depor....
Green motorbike birth place
17 October 2016
Taking a trip to Kawasaki from Tokyo for dinner
I went somewhere I have never been before, apparently the major industrial area of Tokyo, and a city in its own right, Kawasaki. I presume this is....