V2's lucky star'd pilgrimage to tokyo!

[JQ]

Wow! Simply Wow! Great pics.

I'm jealous that you already went to Japan V2. Going there is also one of my dreams. I wish it won't stay that way. ;D

Hopefully, by the time I'll be going there, you're still around so that I can ask a lot of tips from you. hehe...

[V2]

jq: thanks. you can definitely go too as everyone can. just pursue the dream with a good will and optimistic mind. there may setback but think of them as challenges instead.

[Lotur]

many thanks for sharing these tokyo photos pre. just from viewing your pics ive felt as if had the made the tour myself

is it easy to get around tokyo for people who doesnt know any japanese? and what if you get lost or something is there anyone readily accessible to talk to in english?

congrats on such a great trip!

[qb]

Wow, I just got to read this now. Beautiful shots of the Land of the Rising Sun! Congratulations on getting the opportunity to visit the "Holy Land of Mecha and Anime." Just once in my lifetime, hopefully during the part where I can still build gunpla with steady hands, I'd be able to visit Japan one day.

Thanks for sharing V2! Have a great trip! ;D

[Majingaa Zetto™ 12·03·72]

Hey, Congratz on your trip, V2! that was nice of you to share some info, tips, and photo's during your visit in Japan. That's also one of my fav car, Skyline.... Oh, how I envy you dude.....


Psssst....... when are you going to share some KAWAII "High School" Girls you have SECRETLY taken shots of..... a PM will do just fine....... HEHEHEH.......

[V2]

lotur: eventually the people there are fairly knowledgable in english in the sense they know some phrases like "no stock", "toilet", "price" and such. transportation-wise they're much more knowledgable. i had a conversation with a taxi driver who mistook me for someone from hk. he also knew places in the philippines like davao, manila and "abu sayaf" (!!?!?). in some train stations, there are hot chicks (VERY HOT) very knowledgable in english that help foreigners know their way around .

zetto: we're getting there! i just need to sort out stuff since they're quite a lot.

[V2]

TOKYO TOWER

for more pics, click here.

zokuji temple which is near the tower - its got a nice atmosphere:



and just behind the temple is tokyo tower itself:


a photoshoot of some very pretty girl (i think she's one of them idols)in a traditional japanese yukata dress:


love the sakura blossoms:


shaider's tokyo tower outpost:


and finally, TOKYO TOWER!!!


it may look small from afar, but heck its HUGE when you're near it!


a wax museum:


there's also a guiness world records exhibit as well:

small, tall...


and BIG BIG!


other "records":


a 3-d something whatever:


gotta love the engrish:


the viewing deck of the tower. there's a viewing deck thats much higher but it was closed due to the high winds:


and the views are pretty impressive. you can actually see the areas of all parts of tokyo (and mount fuji) from this point.



that idol's photoshoot from afar:


TV TOKYO?!?!?


a "look down" window - and its really high!


there's a lower deck wherein people can take rides and amusements and such. i was the only one around because its pretty cold and windy (like a signal no.3!).


i just had to take pics of the engineering of such a massive structure!:


there's also an aquarion exhibit that has some pretty nice displays (although somehow i pity the fishes since they look pretty crowded):










the lobby:


a monkey show:



remon fart-powered concept pedicycle or something (one ride costs 400 yen):

[RainerO]

Thx for the other info regarding the "b" word, I guess for being green minded & fantastic shots you got there!

[Majingaa Zetto™ 12·03·72]

Thanks, but I was only kidding about the cute girls picture..... ;D

[mykeleleng]

..but i was looking forward for that kawaii girls pictures..

[V2]

odaiba marine park:
for more pics, click here.

on my way i noticed this "knife shop". man they look pretty sharp... reminds me of a scene in rurouni kenshin.


to get to odaiba marine pack, you have to get on the yurikamome line - which gives a pretty nice view around the seaport areas of tokyo:



a view of the tv building (forgot which it was):


as i disembarked the station i saw the local shaider-mobile:


odaiba marine park turns out to be an actual park-beach type (i was expecting an aquarium or something). the place is VERY clean and the sand is pretty smooth.

i dont think you can swim around though.






kawaii neko (but very masungit!):


the people there doing their thing (playing, collecting shells, etc.):


tokyo bridge something (its a "suspended type" i think) and lights up pretty good at night:


some shrine in the middle of the river:


boat ride around the water area is available:


more shaiders on patrol:


a "dog shop" where one can bring their dogs to be pampered (note the menu).


captain santa apparel!?!:


a replica of the statue of liberty:


hotel nikko:









a stainless masterpiece! very remarkable craftsmanship!:


some tv station whatsisname building. note the globe dome thing:


shaolin shoujo movie ad (gotta watch this one!):


tokyo big sight:


the train ride back to the yurikamome station:




ginza:
next to shibuya, roponggi and shinjuku that are fashion-related areas due to the many malls within that area. i kinda find it boring though, as i only checked out the sony building showroom to canvas on a particular remote control for a car radio (unfortunately, there's stock of it but it will be delivered AFTER my flight schedule... oh well.) there's also a yodobashi camera branch here as well. i'd like to try out the classy restaurants just for kicks but i was tired so i settled for some sashimi-don instead.





well, i would say its not completely boring. i found this "sex shop" somewhere near ginza 8.

nope, i didnt enter since i didnt think anyone would want a sex-toy as a gift (as far as i know, that is).

[V2]

nakano broadway

as zero quoted "if akihabara is the mecca then nakano is the medina".

my adaptation based from my experience - "if the akihabara is the "greenhills of collectors", then nakano broadway would have to be the "divisoria of collectors"".

more pics here.

to get to nakano broadway, one has to go to nakano sun mall, which is just by nakano station (the first station of the tozai line - designated as "T01"):


eventually when you get there the surrounding area has a somewhat "provincial subhurb" feel.



a shot from the inside of nakano sun mall:

- there are a variety of shops here ranging from shoes (very cheap), clothes and such... it really gives me a "divisoria" feel.

an idol shop - seems to carry all ages:


games workshop for rpg fans:


a massage shop (no, not that kind of "massage"):


this particular shop carries a variety of rare figures - from magazine only, mail-order exclusives even to wonderfest-released items:



note the shunya lacus clyne (for a whopping 23k yen!):


very tempting, but its just not articulated enough:


locker-type displays - a seller can "lease" the space and display his for sale items. prospective buyers can then select which and get it from the shop caretaker (with a percentage of the sale, of course):


the elusive (well supposedly in manila) clayz saber:


mandarake nakano branch - known for selling rare and vintage items, as well as 2nd hand stuff as well:





game & watches:


rare books:


cosplay suits for sale:




anime cels:


havikoro toy - great shop for gashapons:


whoa. i didnt know this even existed:


the local arcade where a "tournament" is being held:


a seifuku (japanese school uniform) shop:

which makes me wonder - why a seifuku shop in a location known that has shops for collectors?! perhaps some collectors are into seifukus?!

a buy-back shop that "buys back" your item according to value and repackaged as a 2nd hand item for sale:


some guy doing a public protest/announcement or something:

[V2]

ROPPONGI HILLS

side note: i went here before opening hours hence it wasnt crowded.

the direct subway exit:


this place gives me the impression of "trinoma to the nth power":








tv asahi's building exhibit showcasing their 50th's anniversary celebration:



a land rover showroom:



SHINJUKU
like ginza, the place is known more for its fashion malls and the like. of course, i kinda find it somewhat boring so i went to the next location...

[V2]

SHIBUYA

all i can say is, shibuya is the melting pot of japanese chicks.

concentrate on what cannot lie - the evidence:






promo girls galore:



some garu girl doing a photoshoot:


advertising is at its finest:


the next pics is a shot of a popular crossing near a JR railway station.
when the green light is on, EVERYBODY makes a dash for it. its pure, unadulterated chick madness as they come from anywhere:










goth-goth, loli-loli:


just what is with gothic japanese girls and stockings?!


because they're perfect grades - note the intricate details.


an artist or something?!?



shibuya 109 - a popular building known for its fashion and such.

[V2]

HARAJUKU

i've received reports that on sundays, harajuku is "infested" with goth-loli girls and cosplayers. i had to see for myself and this is what i found.

KONA-CHAAAAAAN! (familiar, isnt she?!)





caucasian cosplayers = cool.


free hugs (yaoi powered!):


pretty:


sexaaay:


and now the goth-lolis:






filipinas - reminds me of home:


there's some sort of concert or convention by gothic band and these goths are waiting and hanging around - some were even having lunch on the spot:




this is not goth anymore. its horror:


on the other side near the park, these "grease-esque" (i dont know a more proper term, since they remind me of john travolta's movie) people are hanging out:





and check out this guy's hair as he proves the galactic holding power of spray-net:



a mini-greaser??


some singer: