Boaring… :It’s Just Differen...

AWWWWWK, AWWWWK, AWWWWWWWWK – a high-pitched screeching blast of sound broke our hurried silence as we were rushing to get to the theater for the Kamo-odori.   I looked around to see that someone was taking their “pet” out for a “walk”.  Apparently wild boars are all the fashion – regardless of the fact that your apartment is the dead center of a busy city.   Here’s a shot that I managed to get as she tried to steer her wild boar down the street by shuffling it between her legs.  Frankly, the boar was getting away from her,...

Clear Instructions: It’s Just Diff...

We like to tell our clients that they will be able to find signs in English in most of the train stations in the central part of Japan.  And, for the most part, that’s true.   What we can’t promise is that the English will be very useful in finding your train…

Crocs vs. Geta: It’s Just Differen...

Then again, maybe it’s not THAT different.   We spotted this accommodating father while touring at Hachiman-gu Shrine in Kamakura on a beautiful autumn day.   Lots of families get fully decked out – the women and girls in their kimono and geta, the men in their best suits.  Lots of family shots were being taken.  We sure hope this young lady remembered to change her shoes before they started taking the pictures…

Hanging On: It’s Just Different He...

Maybe this happens all the time in cities with subways… but in Tokyo, the trains run on time. That means they leave the station with the doors closed, regardless of what’s hanging outside the door. In this case, the young lady’s handbag, which she clung to for the ride between stations.

Everything including the Kitchen Sink: I...

OK, so I know there’s been a lot of concern about H1N1 throughout the world.  Hand sanitizer as a hotel guest welcome sign is the new “in”.  However, we never thought the Japanese would take it to such lengths.  This interesting platform necessity was spotted in Matsumoto JR train station.   We really couldn’t figure out who would use it and when.

A Little Trashy: It’s Just Differe...

I can hardly write this one up without going into paroxysms of laughter.   In a hotel to be unnamed, we encountered the world’s smallest trashcans, if they weren’t so entirely useless, they’d be cute.  These were on the floor and I think may have held a Q-tip or two, but not much more.