On hot, sunny days, caves with tables and chairs are lovely spots for a quiet little break. But for proper relaxation, it appears that soft drinks and cigarettes also need to be part of the equation.
Photographs from a small group of islands
On hot, sunny days, caves with tables and chairs are lovely spots for a quiet little break. But for proper relaxation, it appears that soft drinks and cigarettes also need to be part of the equation.
Linda says
Where the heck is that?
Lee says
It’s up in Utsunomiya. Part of an old quarry that is now a tourist attraction of sorts.
John says
Very cool. Literally! 🙂
Lee says
It was indeed. Very welcome on a very hot day too.
ex-expat says
Someone, with more time on their hands than is good for them, ought to try to calculate how many square meters vending machines take up throughout Japan. I’m betting the total would be close to the area of a large Japanese city.
Lee says
It wouldn’t be so far off, would it? With more and more convenience stores in operation, you’d think vending machine numbers would start to decline, but it doesn’t seem that way.
john says
A sort of cool cave cafe where you can cool down and enjoy the sparse beauty, sort of? I wonder if there is at least wi-fi so you can tune in to your favourite online ‘zen garden’ and not quite notice the plastic chairs.
Lee says
It was to be honest. A unique little spot. And as it was something of a scorcher, the cool element was absolutely lovely.
No wifi as is customary (although to be fair that is slowly changing), but with most people here on unlimited data contracts, a zen-like state could still attempted!
cdilla says
It looks like the entrance to a fallout shelter.
I took quite a few photos of banks of vending machines, especially up little side streets beside a garage or something.
I saw one fascinating documentary that spent three days beside one 40 year old vending machine chatting to people who used it at all times of day and night. (http://tinyurl.com/zns5uh2).
Of course, in the UK, any outdoor vending machine would be broken into, emptied, dismantled and turned to scrap withing days.
Lee says
That does sound fascinating. I’ll definitely try and get hold of a copy of it. Don’t think I’ve heard or seen anything quite like that before.
Yeah, sad that things like that happen back home. Japan has many problems, but thankfully the willful damage or theft of stuff generally isn’t an issue.
Lee says
Cheers for the video link. Just watched it. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Genuinely moving at times too. A great idea very well done.
MrSatyre says
In spite of being only minutes ahead of the slavering hoard of reeking zombies, Mr. Aizawa firmly believed that he deserved a cold, refreshing drink.
Lee says
Haha, that’s so very true. He’d probably even sneak in a cheeky cigarette as well.