Nothing But Words

In My Next Life, I Want To Be a Japanese Buddhist Monk

Topic: Japan, TV, Movies, & Music

Two years ago I said I wanted to be a Japanese construction worker in my next life, but I’ve changed my mind. I now want to be a Japanese Buddhist monk. There are a variety of sects with different practices, but generally speaking, they’re not burdened with vows of poverty or celibacy. However, their numbers are declining, and many are trying to do something about it:

…with the rise in funeral parlors in Japan cutting into what had been a Buddhist monopoly, coupled with decreasing interest in Buddhism in general, Buddhist monks are worried about their future. Each year, lack of financial support shutters about 1,000 of Japan’s 80,000 Buddhist temples, some of them with vibrant histories stretching back centuries.

To counter this trend, Buddhist monks have taken to the airwaves, the stage and even to the club scene in an advertising effort that is as cutting-edge as it is astonishing.

That quote is from an article about a monk who raps (click the link above to see a video of him). The monk who got my attention the most, however, is Strong Machine 1. He’s a break dancer, and has trained his daughter – Strong Machine 2 – to form a father-daughter team. Here they are at the Anime Matsuri festival earlier this year:

Strong Machine 2’s career has taken off. She’s been in several music videos and TV commercials in Japan. If you want to see more, she’s the girl wearing the randoseru in this Polysics video (good dancing, irritating music).

Here’s a Buddhist monk with a couple of great custom cars (the first two in the video are his – see English translations of the highlights at Pink Tentacle):

In the past, some Buddhist monks in northern Japan figured out a grueling procedure to mummify themselves while still alive. Of course, the end result was death. That’s not the kind of monk I want to come back as though. I’d rather come back as an accomplished break dancer or have a mind boggling custom car .

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Wings of Defeat Screening at Villanova

Topic: Family and Friends, Japan

Poster for the movie "Wings of Defeat"

Poster for the movie "Wings of Defeat"

Maria has been working hard organizing this year’s conference for the Mid-Atlantic Region Association for Asian Studies, which is being hosted at Villanova. This includes a special screening of Wings of Defeat, hosted by the director Risa Morimoto, as well as a panel of World War II veterans, who will discuss the film and their experiences fighting in the Pacific.

Wings of Defeat brings viewers behind the scenes of World War II’s Pacific theater to reveal the truth about the Kamikaze—the “suicide bombers” of their day. Interviews with surviving kamikaze, rare battle footage and Japanese propaganda reveal a side of WWII never before shown on film. American vets from the greatest generation tell harrowing tales of how they survived attacks. Wings of Defeat shatters the myth of the fanatical kamikaze to reveal a generation of men forced to pay for an empire’s pride with their lives.

The screening is Sunday, November 1 at 3:30 PM, at Villanova’s Connelly Center Cinema (campus map and directions). Admission is free with any valid student ID (not just Villanova) – all others $5.

Here is the trailer (alternate link):

When we were in Japan 2 years ago, we met Master sushi chef Shigeo Mori. He had trained as a kamikaze pilot. He was scheduled to fly near the very end of the war, but a B-29 blew up his plane on the runaway before he got in it. Since the Japanese had such a shortage of planes and supplies at this point, there were no planes left for him to fly. He said he was incredibly relieved, as he definitely did not want to go.

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The Defeat of Japan’s LDP

Topic: Japan, Politics 2009

A former student of Maria’s took this picture in Shinjuku. It’s Taro Aso, the Prime Minister of the recently defeated LDP05-Sep-2009 13:58EASTMAN KODAK COMPAN KODAK EASYSHARE M320, 3.2, 7.1mm, 0.0080 sec, ISO 80

One of Maria’s former students, now in Tokyo, took this picture in Shinjuku. It depicts Taro Aso, who in the wake of the LDP’s defeat, is now the outgoing Prime Minister of Japan.

The cover art for the Economist’s Sept 5th issue: Dokkaan means “explosion”

The Economist’s articles about the election are good – see this week’s Leader article and their more detailed Briefing article. Maria’s the expert on Japanese politics, not me, but she pointed out to me an aspect of the story that’s been missing from the Western press. Koizumi won a big victory for the LDP in 2005, partly because of his promise to privatize the postal saving system (a particular area of interest for Maria). The Western press depicted the 2005 election as a call for “reform” from the Japanese people, but it also represented a political maneuver by Koizumi to undermine the old guard of his own party, which opposed him on many issues and relied upon the patronage politics of the postal savings system. So while the DPJ’s landslide victory last week was certainly a resounding call for change, it’s also partly the result of the intra-party fight Koizumi started in the LDP several years earlier, which had the effect of weakening the party overall.

The Katakana word on the Economist’s cover is “Dokkaan” which is an onomatopoeia word for “explosion.”

Something I haven’t found any news on yet is how the Happiness Realization Party fared in the election. It’s the political arm of the “Happy Science” cult. The closest analogy to the US would be if there was a political party based on Scientology. They’re known for their wealthy members, they require large sums of money or expensive gifts from their followers to reach successive stages of enlightenment, and their leader claims “…he is the incarnation of El Cantare, a 9th degree spirit who was originally sent to the Earth from Venus 600 million years ago.” They claim to have 10 million followers, and they managed to field candidates in all of Japan’s 300 single-seat electoral districts.

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Gundam are Way Cooler Than Transformers

Topic: 2007: Living in Tokyo

With the new Transformers movie opening today, I feel the need to let all the kids know that Gundam are way cooler than Transformers. There’s one simple reason for this: Gundam are real. They’re not just toys or computer generated images – here are the pictures to prove it .

Gundam statue in Odaiba, from pinktentacle.com Gundam statue in Odaiba, from pinktentacle.com12-Jun-2009 19:40Canon Canon EOS Kiss X2, 10, 24mm, 10 sec, ISO 100

Gundam statue in Odaiba, from pinktentacle.com Gundam statue in Odaiba, from pinktentacle.com12-Jun-2009 18:30Canon Canon EOS Kiss X2, 8, 46mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200

Kai with a giant Gundam, at a toy store in Ebisu, Tokyo

Kai with a giant Gundam, at a toy store in Ebisu, Tokyo17-Feb-2007 03:17Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,

These are photos of the recently completed Gundam statue, measuring 60 feet tall and weighing 35 tons. It’s in Odaiba, one of my favorite places in Tokyo. When we were living in Tokyo, Kai was crazy for Gundam, along with at least half of Japan’s male population. We spent many evenings building and gluing model Gundam sets, and we filled a suitcase with them for our trip home. Japanese toy stores – as well as electronics stores like Yodabashi Camera – typically have multiple aisles dedicated to Gundam merchandise.

Many toys and anime from Japan have been successful in the US. It surprises me that the massive, decades-long popularity of Gundam in Japan has not spilled over to the US at all.

The photos above are from this Pink Tentacle post. They also have pictures from last month, partway through its construction.

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The Institute for Nature Study in Tokyo

Topic: Tokyo Parks

The grounds at the Tokyo Institute for Nature Study15-May-2007 10:18Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.008 sec,	The grounds at the Tokyo Institute for Nature Study15-May-2007 10:15Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,
The grounds at the Tokyo Institute for Nature Study23-May-2007 16:20Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.05 sec,	The grounds at the Tokyo Institute for Nature Study15-May-2007 10:21Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.008 sec,
The grounds at the Tokyo Institute for Nature Study15-May-2007 10:22Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.00625 sec,	Kai doing his best to look like a dufus, at the Tokyo Institute for Nature Study23-May-2007 16:30Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,
Kai and Maria at the Tokyo Institute for Nature Study23-May-2007 16:30Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,	Eidan and Maria at the Tokyo Institute for Nature Study23-May-2007 16:43Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,

The grounds at the Institute for Nature Study, near Meguro station in Tokyo, are unlike any other koen (park) or gyoen (garden) in the city. “It occupies a 200,000 square meter area with various original habitats of the Tokyo area, such as forest, marsh and ponds.”

The area around Meguro station is uneventful, but it’s worth the trip to visit the Institute’s grounds. Take even just a short walk from the entrance, and you’ll be immersed in a natural environment, with beautiful trees, marshes, turtles, and a variety of birds and other creatures. There’s one area with a large information board about the various birds and their songs, but unfortunately, they’re generally drowned out by the crows. Crows have been a major problem in Japan in recent years:

Blackouts are just one of the problems caused by an explosion in Japan’s population of crows, which have grown so numerous that they seem to compete with humans for space in this crowded nation [they often nest on electric poles]. Communities are scrambling to find ways to relocate or reduce their crow populations, as ever larger flocks of loud, ominous birds have taken over parks and nature reserves, frightening away residents.

It is a scourge straight out of Hitchcock, and the crows here look and act the part. With wing spans up to a yard and intimidating black beaks and sharp claws, Japan’s crows are bigger, more aggressive and downright scarier than those usually seen in North America.

Aside from the occasional crow calls, it’s a wonderfully peaceful place. The boys enjoyed it simply because it’s Nature: it’s a living, breathing, sometimes messy place, with various critters scurrying around. This makes it quite different from a place like the perfectly manicured Shinjuku Gyoen.

Visit the English page on the official site for location, hours, etc.

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A Clash of Buildings in Tokyo

Topic: 2007: Living in Tokyo

A clash of buildings, near Tamachi station

A clash of buildings, near Tamachi station17-Mar-2007 09:28Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.008 sec,

This picture shows the only run down shack I ever saw anywhere in Tokyo. It was a few blocks from our apartment, roughly halfway between the Shinagawa and Tamachi stations on the Yamanote Line. It’s most likely owned by some old-timer who refused to sell at any price. I imagine that over the years, he (or she) has watched all the concrete, steel, and glass buildings spring up around him.

It reminded me of a news story from just a few weeks before I took the picture. A man in Tokyo took several rifle shots at a new apartment building that was blocking the sunlight from reaching his house (no one was hurt).

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Kai’s 1st Grade Experience in Tokyo

Topic: Kai & Eidan: 2007, Kai's School

Kai on his way to 1st grade, with his randoseru (Japanese backpack) Kai on his way to 1st grade, with his randoseru (Japanese backpack)09-Apr-2007 08:05Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,

A notice we received when Kai started 1st grade, for a seminar to make parents comfortable with their kids walking to school without them A notice we received when Kai started 1st grade, for a seminar to make parents comfortable with their kids walking to school without them

While we were living in Tokyo I wrote a number of posts about all the fun Kai was having in the Japanese public school kindergarten. I never had a chance to write about the time he spent in 1st grade. Kids in Japan go to school year-round, and their school year starts in April, with only a 2 week break after finishing the previous grade.

The week before Kai started 1st grade, we got a notice in the mail from the school, inviting us to attend a seminar for parents on their children’s safety while going back and forth from home to school (a scan of the notice is above). This was the exact opposite of what such a seminar would cover in the US: they tell the parents that while it was fine for you to walk your children to school in kindergarten, you have to let them walk to school on their own in 1st grade. They patiently explain that your kids are growing up, and its time to let them start feeling independent (Tokyo is densely populated and every neighborhood has its own elementary school, so no one rides a bus). They emphasize that the streets are very safe and you will only embarrass your child if you’re seen taking him or her to school. For the walk home in the afternoon, the kids are organized into groups of about a dozen each, based on which kids live near each other, and they walk each other home. Kai’s school was only two blocks away from our apartment, so we got through it without too much anxiety .

Walking home with their classmates is a part of Japanese kids’ socialization. The schools begin emphasizing the importance of social groups as soon as they leave kindergarten. At Kai’s kindergarten graduation, the local district superintendent gave a speech explaining to them it was time to start relying more on their friends and less on their parents.

After having a great time in kindergarten, Kai was very excited to start 1st grade. The first task for us was investing (and I do mean investing) in his randoseru:

A randoseru is a firm-sided backpack made of stitched firm leather… The randoseru is the most universal and recognizable feature of the Japanese school uniform and is considered symbolic of the virtues necessary to obtain a good education—unity, discipline, hard work and dedication. Traditionally, the randoseru is red in colour for girls, black for boys… Traditionally given to a child upon beginning their first year at school, the randoseru’s materials and workmanship are designed to allow the backpack to endure the child’s entire elementary education (six years)… The randoseru’s durability and significance is reflected in its cost: a new randoseru made of genuine leather can carry a pricetag of over 30,000 yen, almost 300 US dollars…

The incoming 2nd grade class performing at the ceremony marking the start of the school year

The incoming 2nd grade class performing at the ceremony marking the start of the school year06-Apr-2007 14:08

The ceremony marking the start of the school year was fun. The video clip on the right is the incoming 2nd grade class playing their pianicas. I was impressed at how well they played – they’re only 7 years old. Kai still has his pianica, and he and Eidan occasionally fool around with it.

Unfortunately, Kai’s excitement turned to misery after just a few days in 1st grade. American elementary schools gradually increase the academic rigor from grade to grade. In Japan, everything is fun and games through kindergarten, and then they bring the hammer down in 1st grade. While kindergarten was mainly focused on fun arts and crafts, in 1st grade Kai was stuck behind a desk all day, listening to a teacher talk in a language he didn’t understand. It was an especially tough transition for him because, while he had two friends in kindergarten who spoke English, no one in his 1st grade class knew any English. The school was supposed to assign him a Japanese tutor, but for some reason they had trouble finding someone. The one bright spot for him was English class, which had an American teacher he liked, and it was the one place he felt like he knew what was going on.

His misery in 1st grade was one of the reasons I came back to the US with the boys about a month earlier than planned (the other reason was that Maria was going to be traveling a lot for her work). That meant Kai was able to re-join his old kindergarten class here for the last few weeks of the American school year. So he’s the proud owner of two kindergarten diplomas from two different countries.

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Tokyo Station

Topic: 2007: Living in Tokyo

Tokyo station at night

Tokyo station at night14-May-2007 18:56Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 3.5, 9.28125mm, 0.125 sec,

Tokyo has over 450 subway and rail stations, so for one to bear the name “Tokyo Station,” it has to be something special. Tokyo station is one of the oldest in the city, and with over 3,000 trains passing through it every day, it’s the busiest rail station in the country (in terms of trains, not passengers – that distinction belongs to Shinjuku station, with an average of over 3.6 million passengers per day). It’s located near the Imperial Palace and the busy Ginza district.

A small JAXA museum in the Marunouchi Oazo center across from Tokyo station14-May-2007 17:35Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,

Kai in the Tokyo JAXA museum14-May-2007 17:31Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,

When we were living in Tokyo, Maria’s office was a short walk from Tokyo station. The boys and I would occasionally meet her there for dinner, in one of the many restaurants in the endless, sprawling underground complex below the station, or in the Marunouchi Oazo shopping center across the street (home of Com Pho, which I wrote about a while back). JAXA (Japan’s space agency) maintains a small, free museum in Marunouchi Oazo. It was a favorite hangout for the boys and I whenever we had to wait for Maria.

Tokyo station’s western facade, pictured above, is one of just a precious few significant pre-war structures still standing in Tokyo:

Tokyo Station opened on December 18, 1914… In 1921, Prime Minister Hara Takashi was assassinated at the south gates… Much of the station was destroyed in two B-29 firebombings on May 25 and June 25, 1945. These bombings shattered the impressive glass domes. The station was quickly rebuilt within the year, but simple angular roofs were built in place of the domes, and the restored building was only two stories tall instead of three… The main station facade on the western side of the station is brick-built, surviving from the time when the station opened… It is the main intercity rail terminal in Tokyo, the busiest station in Japan in terms of number of trains per day (over 3,000), and the eighth-busiest in Japan in terms of passenger throughput…The whole complex is linked by an extensive system of underground passageways which merge with surrounding commercial buildings and shopping centres.

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One Day in Tokyo: Asakusa, and a River Cruise to Odaiba

Topic: 2007: Living in Tokyo

This post includes pictures from each of my 3 visits to Japan, in 1999, 2004, and 2007.

Spring time in Odaiba

Spring time in Odaiba21-May-2007 15:55Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.005 sec,

If you have the misfortune of visiting Tokyo for only a few days, you’ll find it hard to decide where to spend your time in a city that has so many amazing things to see and do. A good way to get a sense of the traditional, slower-paced Tokyo, as well as the modern, fast-paced Tokyo in a single day is to venture to the northeastern district of Asakusa in the morning, with its temples and buildings dating back to the 1950s (Tokyo was essentially leveled in the WWII fire-bombings, so the 50s is considered old for Tokyo architecture). Then take a cruise south on the Sumida river, which will take you under about a dozen architecturally distinct bridges. The cruise ends on the man-made island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay, which offers endless attractions for modern shopping and hi-tech fun, and even a sandy beach. At the end of the day (or night), head back to the mainland on the Yurikamone line, which does an entirely gratuitous 360° loop as it crosses the river, giving you a panoramic view of eastern Tokyo.

Asakusa

The Hozomon Gate at Sensoji	Mike at the Hozomon Gate	Asakusa’s famous Senso-ji – a Buddhist temple22-May-2004 21:41Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.0015625 sec,	Maria at Sensoji’s 5 story pagoda	At the steps of Senso-ji22-May-2004 21:43Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.0125 sec,
Atsuko and Maria at Senso-ji22-May-2004 21:41Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.003125 sec,	The Nakamise – a shopping street leading to the Hozomon (Senso-ji’s second entrance gate)31-Mar-2007 11:03Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.00625 sec,	One of the main streets in Asakusa – it’s one of the oldest districts of Tokyo26-Jun-2004 02:46Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.002 sec,	The Funky Duck ride at the aging Asakusa Hanayashiki Amusement Park26-Jun-2004 02:41Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.005 sec,	Cherry blossoms on the waterfront in Asakusa. The first nice weekend after the blossoms come out is a traditional time for the Japanese to picnic under the cherry trees.31-Mar-2007 13:09Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.00625 sec,

Asakusa is a well known part of Tokyo, and many others have written about it, so I’ll just give you a summary from Wikipedia:

Asakusa is… most famous for the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. There are several more temples in Asakusa, as well as various festivals… For most of the twentieth century, Asakusa was the major entertainment district in Tokyo… In its role as a pleasure district, it has now been surpassed by Shinjuku and other colorful areas of the city… It is central to the area colloquially referred to as Shitamachi (not an official designation), which literally means “low city,” referring to the low elevation of this old part of Tokyo, on the banks of the Sumida River. As the name suggests, the area has a less frenetic and more traditionally Japanese atmosphere than some other neighborhoods of Tokyo… In keeping with a peculiarly Tokyo tradition, Asakusa hosts a major cluster of domestic kitchenware stores on Kappabashi-dori, which is visited by many Tokyoites for essential supplies. Next to the Sensō-ji temple grounds is a small carnival complex with rides, booths, and games, called Hanayashiki. The neighborhood theaters specialize in showing classic Japanese films, as many of the tourists are elderly Japanese.

Asakusa is a part of Tokyo whose glory days are behind it, but still has a lot of old city charm, and continues to draw tourists as well as Tokyoites looking to spend some time away from the fast-paced modernity that defines most of Tokyo. If you visit during cherry blossom season, the park along the river will be packed with people having picnics to celebrate the start of Spring.

Sumida River Cruise

If you’re lucky the Himiko water taxi, with its unususal design, will be available to take you down the Sumida River14-Apr-2007 13:10Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 10, 10.8125mm, 0.008 sec,

At the start of the cruise, you’ll see the Asahi beer buildings, designed by Phillipe Starck. The one on the right is supposed to look like a head of foam on a beer, but has been nickname the golden turd.26-Jun-2004 01:51Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.003125 sec,

A rare sighting in Tokyo – a homeless encampment along the Sumida river26-Jun-2004 01:38Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 4, 10.8125mm, 0.01 sec,

One of about a dozen bridges you’ll pass along the cruise – each is small but architecturally distinctive26-Jun-2004 01:33Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 10, 10.8125mm, 0.008 sec,

The river cruise boats depart from the Asakusa wharf. Don’t be shy about asking someone where it is. Plenty of people speak English, and if you’re not too far from it, someone may even walk you right to it. There are multiple destinations so make sure you’re getting on a boat headed to Odaiba! The cruise lasts about an hour, and takes you along the eastern side of Tokyo, so you’ll see a lot of interesting buildings and bridges. About.com has a helpful guide.

Odaiba

The Aqua City shopping center at Odaiba, with the Fuji TV building behind it15-Feb-2007 01:38Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.003125 sec,	The Fuji TV building in Odaiba12-Feb-2007 02:19Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 4, 10.8125mm, 0.002 sec,	Yamaha’s Electric Commuter EC-02, on display near Aqua City31-Mar-2007 18:40Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.03333333 sec,	The Ashes and Snow photography exhibition at Odaiba, housed in a temporary structure made from shipping containers24-Mar-2007 15:31Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.005 sec,	Entrance to the Ashes and Snow exhibition24-Mar-2007 15:26Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.0125 sec,	Spring time in Odaiba21-May-2007 15:55Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.005 sec,
Odaiba’s “Palette Town” giant ferris wheel – one of the largest in the world24-Mar-2007 15:29Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.002 sec,	Odaiba’s ferris wheel at night24-Mar-2007 18:28Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,	The Toyota Megaweb showroom in Odaiba’s Palette Town21-May-2007 17:12Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,	Maria with her favorite car in the Megaweb showroom25-Jun-2004 20:32Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,	Eidan and Kai sharing an ice cream in the Megaweb cafe	Eidan enjoying the toddler section of Palette Town’s game center24-Mar-2007 16:51Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,
Kai at the Studio Ghibli store in Odaiba25-Jun-2004 22:13Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 2.8, 5.40625mm, 0.01666666 sec,	The Flame of Liberty statue in Odaiba10-Apr-2007 14:51Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 9, 9.28125mm, 0.003125 sec,	The Odaiba Maritime Museum10-Apr-2007 14:57Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.0015625 sec,	A giant play structure shaped like a boat, in Odaiba’s Shiokaze Park10-Apr-2007 15:09Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.00625 sec,	Odaiba’s Shiokaze Park10-Apr-2007 15:11Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 7.1, 5.40625mm, 0.00625 sec,	View of Minato, from the Yurikamone line as it approaches Odaiba15-Feb-2007 01:37Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 9, 7.96875mm, 0.005 sec,

Odaiba is a cross between Disney World and Las Vegas: it has all the lights and dazzle of both, but is more family-friendly than Vegas, and has a lot more fun activities for adults than Disney World. Japan-guide.com has a good overview of Odaiba’s multitude of attractions. It was a frequent destination for the boys and I. From where we lived in Shinagawa, Odaiba was only one stop away on the Rinkai Line. The boys especially loved the Toyota MegaWeb complex, the Palette Town video arcade, and the parks and beaches.

The Yurikamone Line is an attraction itself, and is definitely the way you should depart Odaiba. It’s fully automated – there is no one driving the train – and the tracks run in a loop on the eastern edge of the river, giving you a spectacular view of the city.

I’ve visited Odaiba about 20 times, and I still haven’t seen all of it (although that’s partly because the boys always wanted to do the same things every time we went). I’m recommending it for just a half day visit though, because it really will give you sensory overload. It’s worth a second half-day visit if you have time.

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Return to LaLaport

Topic: 2007: Living in Tokyo

The Toyosu Theater ticket counter, providing the swankiest movie ticket purchasing experience anywhere

The Toyosu Theater ticket counter, providing the swankiest movie ticket purchasing experience anywhere06-Apr-2007 20:46Canon Canon PowerShot S230, 3.5, 9.28125mm, 0.1 sec,

As part of my current effort to finally finish blogging about our time living in Japan two years ago, I just added several cool pictures to my post about the dazzling LaLaport mall in Tokyo - take a look. (I’m not re-publishing it with a new date like I did with my last post, because I wrote it right after we visited there, so I shouldn’t change the date on it.)

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