Everyday Life in Japan - 5

Tags: japan, life, photography

Still hot here in Japan, well it's August then... Last article of this series has been really popular : seen something between 35000 and 50000 times depending of the tracking tools... Thanks to stumbleupon.com for that! And thanks to people who left comments!

So, what do we have this month? (apart from earthquakes...)

Finally tested this ramen restaurant in Yokohama, I always wondered why so many people were queuing outside for it.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Now I know! Awesome taste, big bowls, great ramen and meat that tastes meat!

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


An other kind of cuisine : this castle under the rainbow is a restaurant that belongs to famous French cook "Joël Robuchon", an other world... (in Ebisu)

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


From time to time I stumble on this kind of apartment : not even 2m width... Thing is, this one is not even surrounded by other buildings o_O

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


We were on our way with wifey to this shop selling old furnitures and antiques.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


I particularly liked the tea pots, been a heavy tea drinker.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Also looking for some green to put in the house, found this cool place just next the antique shop.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


People often imagine Tokyo as a Blade Runner type of city (I did) but really if you just go away from Shinjuku and walk in the residential area it's more like this :

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Peaceful neighborhoods where people try to grow some plants on every inches of ground they can find or simply in pot they let in their street.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Of course there are some big malls but still the local shops are numerous. Tokyo is a kind of collection/agglomeration of villages...

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


The wheel of Fortune!

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


PSP, Nitendo DS and Ipod are the kind of items we can win, not bad (if we can actually win...)

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Once in a while I eat from the conbini, yes, not the best food in the world, but here I could eat "not that bad" for about 800 yen.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Weird shop window, not sure about the concept, Mad Max, Rock n Roll and Darth Vader (is it the old suit that Danny Choo used from time to time?)

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Talking about Danny, I was recently invited to his Tokyo Figure Show that took place at the beginning of August.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


It was at the top of the H&M store in Harajuku.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


I could not stay long and took few shots.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


The concept was to display the figures as art in an unusual environment (I think) Harajuku being a fashion aera and not an "Otaku"'s one.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


But the main event for Danny was the release of his mascot character Mirai Chan : quite amazing the job Danny's doing, he is really passionated by what he does and that makes him successful. Inspiring...

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Let's go to Yokohama, in front of the station, some brand promoting their drinks.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Young staff distributing the cans and bottles whereas the managers check if all is ok in the back!

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


What about the drink itself? Nothing new really : a simple lemonade, same recipe as the 50's one I guess ^_^

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


I forgot where it was, someone with a lot of money and few ideas... Why two?

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Or is it a club?

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


This is the cheapest JidôHanbaiKi (自動販売機 = automatic vending machine), I've encounter, usually it's 120/130 and sometimes 100 yens.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Summer, season of the matsuri : an endless source of photos for the gaijin blogging about Japan (me included *_*)

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


I tried to shoot a short movie, but for now I am not satisfied with the sound (weak point on the Nikon D5000 so I would have to use my MD recorder for good result).

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Traditional dance and sometimes... Hula : Hawaiian dance is huge in Japan as everything coming from Hawaii.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Every generation can dance.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Some in Kimono some in Jeans! That doesn't matter.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Men also wear the Yukata (there is an other word but I can't remember it now...), less than the women though.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


I happened to wear it one time in Tottori, I first felt ashamed but nobody cared actually!

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Apart from local Matsuri there is also the Hanabi (firework), they can be as long as one hour.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


And you must be early to secure a good seat. Back from the Minato Mirai Hanabi,

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


(Just realized I took almost the same shot at day time)

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


The big wheel near the Landmark tower.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


At the foot of the tower is an old dry dock (place to fix the boat).

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


They did a good job to re invent it. Lights near the steps are coming from restaurants.

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


Coming back home near the station, some Asian women mixing the Japanese Yukata with their traditional veil (I don't know the name), It was quite surprising for everyone to see. Japan's melting pot?!

Everyday Life in Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama


And to finish with, the KitKat of the month! Cookie taste and 2 times less calories, yes Madam! (they were tiny and the box much too big...).

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