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. | ![]() |
Reflecting pool in central Tokyo, near the Imperial Palace. | ![]() |
Entrance to the Imperial Palace. If you saw the movie "Last Samarii", you may remember this scene. | ![]() |
The Oriental Bazaar in Harajuku. | ![]() |
Zojoji Temple near the base of the Tokyo Tower. Tokyo Tower at Night. |
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Koban in Chiba. A Koban is a police box, or community police station. "Watching you." |
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Perhaps because of the often overcast skies, even roads are colorful in Japan. | ![]() |
Colorful trucks in Japan. | ![]() |
Motor scooters can have cabs. | ![]() |
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. | ![]() |
Notice the whale fluke architectural feature. | ![]() |
Trojan Horse in Shinjuku for the showing of the movie "Troy". | ![]() |
Yamagata city in Yamagata prefecture: A western house in Yamagata Park, circa 1880. |
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Yamagata castle restoration in progress, December 2004. |
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Yamagata castle, with unusual double moat. | ![]() |
Yamagata Castle: Japanese knew how to make serious gate doors. | ![]() |
Ape statue in Omagari. | ![]() |
Japanese Zero aircraft 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. | ![]() |
Rice paddies flooded after planting. | ![]() |
Near Fukushima. The only rainbow I saw in Japan. | ![]() |
Tradition. A lot of grounds keeping is still done with the round straw broom. | ![]() |
Tokyo: A flowering shrub in July in Yoyogi Park. | ![]() |
Tokyo: Autumn colors in December 2004 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. | ![]() |
Japan Country Information
- The CIA World Fact Book - Japan
- The Economist Country Briefings - Japan
- Japanese Prime Minister & Cabinet
- Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Bank of Japan (English)
Newspapers
Tourist Stuff
- Japan National Tourist Organization
- Schauwecker's Guide to Japan
- Yahoo Japan
- Snow Japan
- Outdoor Japan - Magazine
- Shinkansen Routes (Bullet Train)
- Toyoko Inn
Copyright © 2003 - Dale Stenseth. All rights reserved. These pages may be freely linked to, but may not be duplicated in any manner without the author's express consent.