Photographs from a small group of islands
Coffee shops are plentiful in Tokyo, but the only trouble is, many of them are much the same. Big companies, selling colossal amounts of coffee, in comfy but ultimately characterless surroundings.
Not that there aren’t any independent shops of course, it’s just finding them. But when one does, they often offer a far more interesting look.
Not something that happens too often. And in Tokyo, it makes a nice change from all that neon. This, the beginning of a lunar eclipse:
He may not be one of us, but he certainly isn’t one of the 1% either. Quite the opposite in fact. So when Santa Claus says enough is enough and opts to walk away, then we really ought to start worrying.
It’s thirty-one years ago today that John Lennon died, but his face is still very visible in Japan. In fact, not just his face, but his distinctive facial wear too.
Now how many pairs they actually sell is anybody’s guess, but this shop appears to stock nothing but those instantly recognisable round glasses.
Imagine that.
Tokyo’s public transportation system is legendary. And quite rightly so too. I live minutes away from a monorail. The city’s train network is positively mindboggling, not to mention punctual. And then there’s the super fast and smooth shinkansen. Heck, even bus drivers are polite and wear nice hats.
Yet as convenient as all of the above are, in regards relaxation, none of them can compete with the old-worldly and wonderfully tranquil nature of Yagiri-no-watashi in Shibamata — Tokyo’s only man-powered ferry boat.
For a mere 100 yen one can have the pleasure of silently crossing the Edo River, then alighting in Chiba Prefecture on the other side.
Unfortunately it quickly becomes apparent that there’s absolutely nothing there except field after field of negi, although in some respects that’s a bonus, as it means the only option is to hop on board again and enjoy the ride back. And as it really is so peaceful.
That’s pretty much perfect.
