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Nov 12 2009 4 Comments

Abandoned mining houses #2: Ramshackleness and rooms

After a look in part one at the insides of some abandoned miner’s houses, along with the possessions left behind by the people who once lived there, the buildings themselves vary from the relatively grand, at least gate-wise,

Japanese haikyo/urban exploration

to the rather more ramshackle.

Japanese haikyo/urban exploration

With such tell-tale signs of age particularly apparent when it comes to technology.

Japanese haikyo/urban exploration

Not that such hints are really needed of course, as the decidedly dilapidated state of the domiciles clearly indicate that they are well past their prime.

Japanese haikyo/urban exploration

Especially so when the long-closed curtains are carefully prised opened, revealing at least one room that hasn’t been touched for a terrifically long time.

Japanese haikyo/urban exploration

And yet at the same time rather bizarrely looks like it could have been lived in until not long ago.

Japanese haikyo/urban exploration

Something that certainly can’t be said about the futon, which is not only rancid, but covered in rodent faeces.

Japanese haikyo/urban exploration

Not unlike the kitchen, which we’ll have a nosey at next time

Japanese haikyo/urban exploration

Yet regardless of all the rubbish, there’d be no point in trying to call somebody to make a complaint, as the connection has long since been cut.

Japanese haikyo/urban exploration

In the third and final part, I take a look at the decidedly forlorn facilities, including the aforementioned kitchen, and a not exactly comfortable commode. All of which can be seen here.

Categorized: Haikyo, Photography

Nov 11 2009 1 Comment

Mildly menacing foreign mannequins?

Regardless of how charming this kid’s cat may be,

Japanese mannequins

the little foreign fella and his father are decidedly more disturbing than delightful.

Japanese mannequins

Categorized: General

Nov 10 2009 4 Comments

Tranquil time out #62

After probably working for way too long, or at least way too much, it’s now finally time for this old fella to do what he really wants to on a weekday.

Japanese artist

Categorized: Photography, Tranquil time out

Nov 09 2009 4 Comments

Karuizawa karma

The popular tourist town of Karuizawa is tremendously well known in its own right, and, being in the mountains, it’s especially busy in the summer months, as it makes the muggy weather much more manageable.

karuizawa

However, that said, several seasons spent there by a certain singer in the late 1970s has forever linked the location with Lennon.

John Lennon in karuizawa

And yet, rather ironically, the town owes all its success to another foreigner, a Canadian missionary named Alexander Croft Shaw, who, after first visiting in 1886, enthusiastically introduced the area to other expatriates and missionaries, setting in motion Karuizawa’s transformation into a summer retreat and tourist town.

Now though, there are only a few monuments and mostly just memories of the past, but there is — not that it has any connection to missionaries or the mega famous — an absolutely marvellous amount of moss.

karuizawa

More in fact than even the most ardent moss admirer could ever imagine.

karuizawa

Along with fantastically off-kilter constructions.

karuizawa

And the only remaining wooden and western designed hotel in the country.

karuizawa

A building that sadly ceased being accommodation in 1970, quite possibly due to its limited opening opportunities, as even at this time of year it is uncomfortably cold to say the least.

karuizawa

Although thankfully nearby there are warming wonders of nature,

karuizawa

and walks up to waterfalls.

karuizawa

Which once again brings us back to that well-known Western warbler.

John Lennon in karuizawa

(John Lennon images from here and here)

Categorized: Music, Photography

Nov 06 2009 2 Comments

Pensioners and pets

Maybe it’s because they already have a naturally cosy coat, or canines in kimonos are a conspicuously odd combination, but dressing up dogs just seems daft.

And yet somehow there’s something strangely pleasing about this pensioner and his painstakingly attired pooch.

Japanese pet

Categorized: Photography

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