Hanami in Philly

Check this out: http://jasgp.org/cherryblossomfestival/

Planning Brief Trip to Kyoto

Next Monday night I'll be in Kyoto with many people (including my parents who will be visiting) to experience some tourism and see famous cherry-blossom viewing places.
The bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto covers 513 km (318.7 mi) in 2 hrs. and 11 min - thus I'll be zooming along at an average speed of 147mph (of course, this isn't taking the occasional stop into account), so should be a fun, albeit short, time!

Sakura

It's cherry blossom time here in Tokyo. Not in full bloom yet, but I was happy to see a few while walking around on a crappy-weather day.
I am told that "hanami" (cherry blossom viewing parties) are pretty ridiculous and I should expect to see all kinds of people drinking in the parks & generally going nutty. It sounds like tailgating without an event!

Anyway, enjoy the photos.

St. Patrick's Parade

A few images from the parade day (Sunday the 16th) and celebration afterwards!

Tokyo Dome

On Tuesday, I felt some real springtime weather & went for a walk. It's 20 min from my place to Tokyo Dome (aside from being the "home of the Yomiuri Giants", it also is next to a large retail area & a mini amusement park.



My apologies for this being difficult to read -- allow me to transcribe some of the sign of "Vicky's", a burger place within the Tokyo Dome complex. Unfortunately, I will trail off when I can't remember/decipher the image -- better quality to follow on my next visit there.

"It is the soft and juice handmade hamburg bun which shut up the taste of beef.
Since you place an order, it is the hamburg Steak of the best ........"



And, this kind of makes me feel like I'm back up in Oneonta, NY... although I live closer to this National Baseball Hall of Fame than I ever did to Cooperstown.

Spring is Here

It's Springtime in Tokyo.
This means I'll soon be a typical tourist taking loads of pictures of the cherry blossoms.

Until (and before) then, I hope you're all anxiously awaiting to hear about the Tokyo St. Patrick's Day Parade which will be held on Sunday, March 16th!

To the Future!

Here's a poster that I pass every day on the short walk from my place to the Subway station.
Join the JSDF (Japan Self-Defense Force).... To the future!

Scenes of Nerima

Today I taught in "Nerima", a working-class area in Northwest Tokyo.
Despite being in an unfamiliar area (only my 2nd time there, and my 1st full day there), behold the benefits of teaching the locals -- a map that a student drew for me on the whiteboard with directions to a recommended local Italian Restaurant.



As I was blessed with an extended lunch break, I savored it with a big Kirin beer. The spaghetti w. eggplant & bacon was awesome too. Many Italian restaurants are all over Tokyo.


Perhaps I should have chosen this instead, although I think I made the healthier decision. Ironically, the restaurant advertising this is named "Freshness Burger"!

(on second thought, perhaps Spam is never "not fresh". Also, I direct you all to notice the delicious-looking egg on top of the patty)