Tokyo Tower at Night

(Updated: June 15, 2013 with high resolution photos)

On January 20, 2006, me and my fellow Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) exchange student friends decided to visit Tokyo Tower. We decided to go during the night time so that we could see the night view.

Arriving at Tokyo Tower.

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Lunar New Year 2006 in Yokohama Chinatown

(Updated: May 24, 2013 with high resolution photos and better descriptions)

Today (January 30, 2006) was the first day of the new year on the lunar calendar. Because of this the Chinatown in Yokohama had a parade and celebrations. I went with fellow exchange student Ning, from Hong Kong and her Japanese friend whose name I can’t remember now. At Chinatown, we saw many of our foreign exchange classmates there as well. There were so much people that at one point you were just moving with the crowds. Also on this day there were lots of restaurants offering all you can eat, tabehoudai 食べ放題, for around 2000 yen.

The parade was organized by the Yokohama Chinese School (I saw the banners as they passed by) and only consisted of their dragon/lion dance teams. As a result, the parade was pretty short. At least here they don’t try to make it into some kind of “multicultural” event unlike in Vancouver where you have police, native Indians, Indians, firefighters etc.

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Tokyo Odaiba on January 5, 2006

(Updated: June 15, 2013 with high resolution photos)

Odaiba is a man made island in Tokyo with more shopping malls and amusement areas, like arcades and a ferris wheel. On January 5, 2006, the day that I went, there was not much people. Also its expensive to go to Odaiba by train even though its so close to Tokyo.

Also coming here the 2nd time doesn't seem that impressive to me anymore, just more of the same woman's clothing shops and arcades.

Although there is a Toyota Showroom "Mega Web".

The Rainbow Bridge, the main access point to the island.

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First Snowfall of 2006 in Tokyo

(Updated: June 14, 2013 with high resolution photos and new descriptions)

On January 22, 2006, I experienced the first snowfall in Tokyo and in 2006. Because of this, instead of staying indoors in the dormitory, my friends and I decided to go out and explore what Tokyo looked like in the snow.

Starting out from our Tokyo University of Foreign Studies dormitory in Arakawa-ku in Tokyo.

The main square in front of our dormitory.

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Pictures from Nagoya Toyota Museums

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