Japan Adventures

The 2003-2004 Japan adventure began 10/24/2003.
I commuted to Japan through July 2004. This was the first of 9 trips. Saw Mt. Fuji from the plane, in the sunset.
Trip 2 departure: 12/5/03. Saw Alaska's Mt. Mckinley from the plane.
Trip 3 departure: 1/10/04. Skied Zao Mountain and Yonezawa Ski Park in Japan.
Trip 4 departure: 1/31/04. Skied Tengendai in Japan.
Trip 5 departure: 3/6/04. Skied Zao, Tengendai, and Yonezawa Ski Park again.
Trip 6 departure 4/2/04. Went to Kyoto this trip.
Trip 7 departure 5/6/04. Project go-live this trip. Side trips to Hiroshima and China. Beijing, Great Wall, Forbidden Palace, Temple of Heaven. Mark married Alecia on safari in Africa!
Trip 8 departure 6/19/04. Mt. Fuji hike - Summited Mt Fuji 7-1-2004.
Trip 9 departure 7/10/04. Last trip! Made NWA platinum this trip! Visited Nikko, the Ueno Zoo, Sin City, and the big guy at Kamakura.
Trip 10: The mystery trip in December!

Many flights to Japan arrive in late afternoon. Sometimes it is possible to see Mt. Fuji from the plane. It is most striking near sunset. Mt. Fuji from the airplane.
Reflecting pool in central Tokyo, near the Imperial Palace. Reflecting pool in Tokyo, near the Imperial Palace.
Entrance to the Imperial Palace. If you saw the movie "Last Samarii", you may remember this scene. Entrance to the Imperial Palace.
The Oriental Bazaar in Harajuku. The Oriental Bazaar in Harajuku.
Zojoji Temple near the base of the Tokyo Tower.
Tokyo Tower at Night.		 Zojoji Temple near the base of the Tokyo Tower. Tokyo Tower at Night.
Koban in Chiba. A Koban is a police box, or community police station.
"Watching you."		 Koban in Chiba.
Perhaps because of the often overcast skies, even roads are colorful in Japan. Colorful roads in Japan.
Colorful trucks in Japan. Colorful trucks in Japan.
Motor scooters can have cabs. Motor scooter with cab.
A steam engine at Ueno Park. Ueno is a northern suburb of Tokyo, and is noted for its excellent parks, museums, and zoo. There are Pandas. Steam Engine at Ueno Park.
Notice the whale fluke architectural feature. Whale fluke architectural feature..
Trojan Horse in Shinjuku for the showing of the movie "Troy". Trojan Horse in Shinjuku for the showing of 'Troy'.
Yamagata city in Yamagata prefecture:
A western house in Yamagata Park, circa 1880.		 A western house in Yamagata Park, circa 1880.
Yamagata castle restoration in progress, December 2004. Yamagata castle restoration.
Yamagata castle, with unusual double moat. Yamagata castle, with unusual double moat.
Yamagata Castle: Japanese knew how to make serious gate doors. Serious gate doors.
Ape statue in Omagari. Ape statue in Omagari.
Japanese Zero aircraft in the Tokyo Edo Museum. Japanese Zero in the Tokyo Edo Museum.
Outside walk tile near Tokyo Edo Museum. Many sidewalks in Japan are constructed with decorative stone or tile, rather than just concrete. Outside walk tile near Tokyo Edo Museum.
Rice paddies flooded after planting. Rice paddies just after planting.
Near Fukushima. The only rainbow I saw in Japan. Rainbow near Fukushima.
Tradition. A lot of grounds keeping is still done with the round straw broom. Traditional round straw broom.
Tokyo: A flowering shrub in July in Yoyogi Park. Tokyo: A flowering shrub in July in Yoyogi Park.
Tokyo: Autumn colors in December 2004 in Yoyogi Park. Tokyo: Autumn colors in December 2004 in Yoyogi Park.
Tokyo: A green wall in Yoyogi Park. Tokyo: A green wall in Yoyogi Park.
Tree monster in the southeastern US. While this is not Japan, the Kudzu plant was introduced from Japan to control erosion, and has gotten out of control. Kudzu in the US.

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