Koshu Kaido Walk(1) Nihonbashi-Takaido: Sept.29, 2012

Five major routes connected Edo (Tokyo) and Japan’s main regions in the Edo period. They were:

*Tokaido (Edo-Kyoto via coastal area) 53 stations (shukuba)
*Nakasendo (Edo-Kyoto through mountain area) 69 stations
*Koshu Kaido (Edo-Kofu-Suwa) 38 stations
*Nikko Kaido (Edo-Nikko) 21 stations
*Oshu Kaido (edo-Tohoku area) 27 stations

I am walking Tokaido in last two years (I passed 28 stations). Today, I started to walk Koshu Kaido.

The route, as well as other four major routes, begins Nihonbashi, downtown Tokyo. It is now a busy commercial area.

The route goes through Tokyo railway station. The station will have a renewal open on October 1st. (A special display event was held on September 22nd. See “Tokyo Station Vision”). Many people were taking photos of the building.

The route goes along the moats of the Imperial Palace. Skyscrapers were built along the route. I saw many joggers and cyclists.

Apart from the palace, I headed for Shinjuku through Yotsuya. The part is now called Shinjuku-Dori Street. The street is always busy and noisy.

Shinjuku was the first station (shukuba) of Koshu Kaido. The area is, needless to say, the busiest commercial area in Tokyo. I passed Shinjuku 3chome corner, one of the most crowded corners in Shinjuku. It was almost impossible to move quickly as there were so many people. Isetan department store and other famous shops are there.

I walked through JR Shinjuku station. 3 to 3.5 million people use the station every day and the number is the largest in the world’s railway stations.

Koshu Kaido goes to west from Shinjuku. Current name of the street is also Koshu Kaido. Motor highways are built over the street.


I walked through 54 story Tokyo Opera City building in Hatsudai and arrived at Shimotakaido, the 2nd shukuba station.

Tokyo Station Vision: Sept 22, 2012

“New opening” of Tokyo Station is planned in October 1st. The station originally opened in 1914, but was destroyed in the World War 2. In 2007, the construction works to restore the buildings in original design stared and it is almost finished.

A special event titled “Tokyo Station Vision” was held today. It was an audio and visual show displayed in the walls of the red brick station.

Appearance of the station in various colors as well as railway-related images, abstract designs and nature scenes were displayed in about 10 minutes show.

46 projectors were used to compose pictures in about 200 meter-wide screen. The station is about 320 meter wide.

Thousands of people gathered in front of the station. Applause rippled after the show.

Hibiya Park and Imperial Palace: Sept 22, 2012

It was Autumnal Equinox Day today.

We had a very hot and long summer this year. The temperature went up over 30 degrees until mid September. We at last felt the change of the season this week.


I visited central Tokyo to feel the capital’s autumn.

I walked around Hibiya Park. The park lies south of the Imperial Palace. The other directions are surrounded by the government offices in Kasumigaseki and business and commercial buildings in Hibiya.

There are Japanese gardens, ponds, and western flower gardens in the park. The singing of insects was heard. Tokyo people as well as foreign tourist were enjoying the season.

I also walked around the Imperial Palace along its moats. The banks of the palace were green and swans and other water birs were swimming elegantly.


I met joggers every 30 seconds in my about an hour walk. Jogging was said to be a boom ten years ago. Now It is becoming a part of daily lived for many Tokyo people.

Fujinomiya (off off Tokyo): Sept.17, 2012

I visited Fujinomiya City in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The city locates at the foot of Mr. Fuji and we can enjoy close scene of the mountain when the weather is good. It was unfortunately rainy and I could not see it.

The city is also famous for Sengen Shrine (official name is Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha). The shrine is the head of about 1300 Sengen of Asama shrines in Japan. The shrines worship Mt. Fuji and other volcanos.

There locates Wakutamaike pond in the shrine. Fresh water from Mr. Fuji comes out from the ground here and composes a pond. The water is said to be one of the most clean waters in the region.


I saw many water birds swimming.

Sri Lanka Festival@ Yoyogi Park: Spt. 8, 2012

It is still hot in Tokyo, but the season is changing into autumn.

The sun moves lower now than summer. The leaves of some trees started to fall. The cicada sounds are not so laud as summer days.

I visited Yoyogi Park to see Sri Lanka Festival. Tens of curry restaurant as well as tea, pepper and fork craft shops were open.

There were thousands of Japanese, but I also found many Sri Lankan as well as Indians (and maybe Pakistanis and Bangladeshis) there.

Indian (and Sri Lankan, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) foods are becoming more and more popular in Japan.

I usually do not pay attention to the difference between Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani and Bangladeshi restaurant.

Today, I recognized it is Sri Lankan.

The taste was modified so as to fit Japanese people. I enjoyed it.

Local dance and other performances were played. A PR balloon was floating over the festival site.

Dubai Airport (off off Tokyo): Sept. 2, 2012

I felt as if I was walking in a shopping mall when I was in Dubai International Airport.

It was my first time to stay in Terminal 3, which opened in 2008. There are 14 shops, 24 restaurants, Prayer rooms, medical centers and other facilities in the departure (third) floor.　I walked around a few hours.

The airport was in full operation even midnight (I arrived there around 23:00). Thousands of tourists were walking up and down.

Many tourists were sleeping in sleeping chairs.

The selection in the shops and other facilities shows the popularity (or competitiveness) of goods. My finding included:

Smart phones: Apple, Samsung
Digital screens (Airport facility): Samsung, LG
Digital cameras: Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm
Sport goods: Nike, Adidas, Puma

Watch: Omega Swatch, Seiko

Toilet: Toto

Coffee shop: Starbucks, Costa

Rio: Favela and town (off off Tokyo): April 28, 2012

I enjoyed walking in the beach last time I was in Rio de Janeiro (about a month ago). I also walked downtown Rio this time.

We find favela in many places in Rio. I saw a big favela just behind the Central Station. Another favela was beside the highway from the airport to the central.

It is reported that -- There are about 600 favelas in the city: More than 20% of Rio’s 7 million people live in favelas. Almost all electricity is stolen in favela. Many crimes are reported. The governments and police are eager to clean up the areas.

The central city was busy and messy. People sold foods and daily necessities in the sideways of Av. Presidente Vargas and Av. Rio Branco, the city’s main streets. There were some businesspeople in business suits, but most people wore casuals. The face of modern city and the mess of the developing country coexisted there.

Corcovade’s huge Christ is seen from many places in the city.

Subway was crowded. But it was safe enough and convenient.