Last additions - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

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Last additions - TOKYO 東京都

Near Gate G, a large, fresco mosaic wall mural of Nomi no Sukune, a legendary sumo wrestler posing as a victor. By pioneering artist Hasegawa Roka (長谷川路可 1897–1967). This was preserved and moved here from the old National Stadium. So this work dates from 1964. 「野見宿禰」Jan 04, 2020

Gate G, Aoyama GateJan 04, 2020

Jan 04, 2020

Line to enter Gate H.Jan 04, 2020

Each gate had a bag checkpoint.Jan 04, 2020

I walked completely around the stadium on the ground level outside.Jan 04, 2020

It was the first time the stadium saw this many people.Jan 04, 2020

Long line for the women's restroom on the ground floor. There are men's and women's restrooms on each floor. If the line is too long, just look for another one.
Jan 04, 2020

This shows how far each train/subway station is.Jan 04, 2020

The stadium grounds has four gates (Sendagaya Gate, Gaien Gate, etc.) from the direction of train/subway stations. This map shows how far each train/subway station is.The closest is JR Sendagaya Station (440 meters) and Kokuritsu Kyogijo subway station (130 meters).
The stadium itself has eight main entrances from A to H. These main entrances further branch off into smaller entrances such as A1, A2, etc., leading to different floors and seating blocks.
The stadium seating sections are labeled Main Stand, Back Stand, North Stand, and South Stand. Each stand comprise three inclined tiers of seating. The Main Stand is the prime section. Gate F is nearest to the Japan Olympic Museum where the Olympic rings are.Jan 04, 2020

Stadium gates opened at 2 pm, stadium seating opened at 4:30 pm, and the program started at 6:30 pm. Cold, overcast day, but fortunately, it didn't rain.Jan 04, 2020

Approaching the Olympic Stadium. The white tent is where we had to show our tickets.Jan 04, 2020

The new Olympic Stadium or "National Stadium" (Kokuritsu Kyogijo) was completed in Nov. 2019 and an opening event for the public called "Hello, Our Stadium" was held on Dec. 21, 2019.From Sendagaya Station, we could take a short cut past this Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium to the stadium.Jan 04, 2020

Jul 01, 2019

The last race is the main attraction when the "Eight" is held with eight collegiate rowers on each boat racing on the river upstream for 3,750 meters. Waseda is the yellow boat, and Keio is dark blue.
Jul 01, 2019

Jul 01, 2019

Waseda and Keio are also fierce rivals in other sports like baseball, soccer, and rugbJul 01, 2019

Keio's cheerleaders. Jul 01, 2019

Jul 01, 2019

The winning crew acknowledge cheers from the crowd.Jul 01, 2019

Waseda cheerleaders saying "Otsukare!" (Good job!)Jul 01, 2019

Waseda's cox (who controls the rudder) raising his arms in victory. They were crying, knowing how much pride and honor they have bestowed to their school.Jul 01, 2019

After 12 min. 49.64 sec., Waseda squeaked by Keio to win. Here they are after winning. Jul 01, 2019

The cheering section had a large video monitor showing the status of the two boats with 8 crew each. People here were cheering loudly non-stop during the entire race.Jul 01, 2019

For last and main race of the day, Waseda and Keio's best collegiate rowers raced 3,750 meters upstream on Sumida River. Both cheering sections got very loud. (This is Waseda which also has male cheerleaders.)
Jul 01, 2019

The finish line was at Sakura Bridge near Asakusa. Elderly alumni spectators on Sakura Bridge sang the school song spontaneously. Jul 01, 2019

Jul 01, 2019

In Japan, rowing is still a niche sport and not a popular spectator sport. It doesn't get much national press coverage. These are alumni rowers.Jul 01, 2019

Jul 01, 2019

Waseda's cheer squad performed in front of Keio, and vice versa. Jul 01, 2019

Next to Sakura Bridge was the main cheering section for both Waseda (left) and Keio on the right. Surprised to see them sitting together, but it later made sense.Jul 01, 2019

Jul 01, 2019

Saw the Waseda-Keio Regatta for the first time on April 14, 2019. It lasts almost all day with numerous men's and women's rowing categories and age groups ranging from jr. high school to senior citizen alumni rowers.Jul 01, 2019

Waseda-Keio Regatta is Japan's most famous collegiate rival regatta, similar to Oxford vs. Cambridge (The Boat Race) in the UK. Waseda and Keio (pronounced "Kay-oh") in Tokyo are two of Japan's most prestigious private universities and a few of their rowers make it to Japan's Olympic rowing team. Jul 01, 2019

Tokyo Skytree is the backdrop for Sumida River, Tokyo's most famous and storied river. This part of the river is near Asakusa. In mid-April, longtime rivals Waseda University and Keio University hold their annual Sokei Regatta (早慶レガッタ).Sokei Regatta (早慶レガッタ) is the Waseda-Keio Regatta held here on Sumida River. (At Keio University, it's usually called the "Keio-Waseda Regatta.")Jul 01, 2019

Mt. Fuji and Mt. Asama（富士や浅間）. Solo dance by a geisha named Mari（万り）.Jan 05, 2019

It wasn't exactly what we had planned for lunch, but it was good and healthy. At least we ate in Toyosu.Dec 28, 2018

On a street corner near Toyosu Station is where 7-11's first store in Japan opened in 1974. It's still operating here in the same building. Toyosu is quite a new, modern town. Lots of construction still going on. It's turning out quite well.Dec 28, 2018

Inside Cafe Haus near Toyosu Station.Dec 28, 2018

Near Toyosu Station is a restaurant called Cafe Haus. It's a good restaurant.Dec 28, 2018

Inside the Yurikamome Line train. Since we couldn't eat sushi at Toyosu Market, we took the train to Toyosu Station two stops away and had a late lunch there instead.Dec 28, 2018

Across the water from Toyosu is the Tokyo Olympic Village under construction.Dec 28, 2018

The vegetable market's biggest item is cabbage, then daikon.Dec 28, 2018

The fruit market's biggest item is mikan (tangerines), then citrus.Dec 28, 2018

Dec 28, 2018

Not much action in the fruit and vegetable market since it was in the afternoon.Dec 28, 2018

At the end of the corridor, there's this big observation deck where you can see the wholesale section of the fruit and vegetable market.Dec 28, 2018

Hauling green onions.Dec 28, 2018

Better view of the fruit/vegetable market toward the end of the corridor.Dec 28, 2018

Corridor wall also had panels explaining the history of the food and vegetable market in Tokyo.Dec 28, 2018

Not much of a view though.Dec 28, 2018

Each observation window was color-coded and named after a fruit or vegetable. A nice touch.Dec 28, 2018

The observation corridor for tourists inside the fruit and vegetable market. Lots of windows, but they don't show much.Dec 28, 2018

Entrance to the fruit and vegetable market.Dec 28, 2018

Lastly, this is the fruit and vegetable market, Block 5.Dec 28, 2018

Many of the shops had congratulatory flowers for their grand opening.Dec 28, 2018

Map of Uogashi Yokocho Market in Block 6. Lots of little shops.Dec 28, 2018

Cutlery shop in Uogashi Yokocho Market.Dec 28, 2018

Block 6's upper floor has a section of shops called Uogashi Yokocho Market. (This section is not indicated on the official map.) These are small shops catering mainly to market workers. They also sell to the public. However, by 2:00 pm most of the stores were closing.Dec 28, 2018

Block 6 has many windows for tourists, but you can hardly see anything. We can see just a small slit of the market floor. Just a pathway for the people and turret trucks, you don't see the sellers. However, I was later told that there is also a viewing deck on the first floor where there is a better view.Dec 28, 2018

Also in the corridor, bilingual explanatory panels for identifying fish.Dec 28, 2018

Anybody could get on the turret truck and pose for photos.Dec 28, 2018

Block 6's market entry hall had two turret trucks on display.Dec 28, 2018

After seeing the Block 6 restaurants, we walked along this long corridor and entered the market part of the building.Dec 28, 2018

Only this coffee shop was not crowded. So we gave up having a sushi lunch at Toyosu Market. There are plans to build larger restaurant facilities in buildings adjacent to the market. However, they won't open until 2023.Dec 28, 2018

Long lines everywhere for sushi. The restaurants usually sell out by 2 pm, then they close. The huge crowd is either here for the novelty of a new attraction or they may be a strong sign of Toyosu Market's massive popularity.

I'm afraid the Tsukiji Outer Market will soon be marginalized by Toyosu Market. The market is the heart and soul, and it's now in Toyosu. The fishmongers in Toyosu are very gung-ho now and really want the Toyosu brand to exceed the old Tsukiji brand.
Dec 28, 2018

Block 6's restaurant section is the larger one at Toyosu Market. However, all the restaurants were totally crowded with people by 1:30 pm. Many restaurants that were at Tsukiji moved here or opened a branch here. Wanna wait 1 to 2 hours for sushi?? Nope, but these people don't seem to mind.

If you want sushi and don't want to wait in line, go to the Tsukiji Outer Market instead.Dec 28, 2018

Block 6 has this small entrance to the restaurant section.Dec 28, 2018

Next is Block 6 where the fish is carved up and sold to sushi restaurants and supermarkets. This is the largest building of the three.Dec 28, 2018

Block 7 has a restaurant section (not indicated on the official map). All crowded.Dec 28, 2018

Dec 28, 2018

Hand signals to indicate numbers at auctions.Dec 28, 2018

Nice bilingual (Japanese and English) explanatory panels in the corridors. At 2 am, they unload the tuna here. At 4 am, buyers examine the tuna and assess the bid price. At 4:30 am, auction starts. At 7 am, the buyers are busy hauling away the tuna.Dec 28, 2018

View of the tuna floor in Block 7. The floor was painted green for better contrast with the tuna's red flesh to assess the quality. We visited around 2 pm, so nobody was here. You have to come here by 6 am or 7 am to see some action.Dec 28, 2018

Block 7's tourist corridor with glass windows to see the tuna floor.Dec 28, 2018

Another crowd-pleasing tuna display in Block 7. Life-size model of the biggest tuna ever sold at Tsukiji fish market in April 1986. 2.88 meters long, 496 kg. Didn't say how much it sold for.Dec 28, 2018

Information desk in Block 7's exhibition room. Lots of questions from foreigners to staff who couldn't really speak English.Dec 28, 2018

Toyosu Market's official mascot: Itchi-no.Dec 28, 2018

Tuna display in the small exhibition room in Block 7.Dec 28, 2018

Exhibition room in Block 7.Dec 28, 2018

Block 7 has this small exhibition room with photos of the old Tsukiji fish market and other things.Dec 28, 2018

The official website provides this very basic map of Toyosu Market. There are three blocks/buildings all connected to each other and to Shijo-mae Station via pedestrian overpasses.The red lines on this map show the pedestrian overpass to each block. All three buildings have a long tourist corridor with picture windows to see inside the market.

When the market is open (closed on Sun.), tourists can tour the three Toyosu Market buildings from 5 am to 5 pm. However, there's not much market action after late morning.

Besides the markets, there are sushi restaurants. The problem with this map is that it doesn't show where the restaurants are. They are in Blocks 6 and 7. Very crowded though.

Block 7 is where the tuna auctions are held, but the public won't be able to see the auction area until next Jan. But if you come here by 6 am or so, you should be able to see some tuna being hauled away on the floor. This block also has some restaurants.

Block 6 is the largest building of the three. This is where the sold tuna is carved up. This building also has a large sushi restaurant area that is not indicated on this map. The upper floor also has little shops (Uogashi Yokocho Market) for people who work at the market. They sell knives, tea, etc., and also sell to the public, but the shops close by 2 pm or so.

Block 5 is the fruit and vegetable market. Least crowded. No restaurants inside.Dec 28, 2018

Directional signs for tourists are in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.Dec 28, 2018

This is Block 7 where the tuna auctions are held. Let's enter here first. Notice the pedestrian overpass going into the building.Dec 28, 2018

Toyosu Market is proving to be massively popular among the curious and sushi lovers. Toyosu Market is near Shijo-mae Station (seen on the left here) on the Yurikamome Line that runs between Shimbashi and Toyosu Stations.Dec 28, 2018

Shijo-mae Station is connected directly to convenient pedestrian overpasses leading to the three Toyosu Market buildings/blocks. (That's Block 6 in the distance.)Dec 28, 2018

Tokyo Tower and Somon Gate, the front gate of the Taitoku-in mausoleum (lost in World War II air raids) for Tokugawa Hidetada. 台徳院霊廟惣門Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower in its Diamond Veil illumination.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower lit up as seen from Shiba Park at night.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

A mysterious baseball was found on the top of Tokyo Tower.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Near the elevators on the 1st floor is this exhibition space.Oct 07, 2018

1st floor elevator.Oct 07, 2018

End of the line on the Main Deck for the Down elevator.Oct 07, 2018

Restaurant on the Main Deck.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018.Oct 07, 2018

Long line for the down elevators.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tourists loved to pose with the projection mapping imagery.Oct 07, 2018

Main Deck at Tokyo Tower. Despite the opening of Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower is still holding its own with innovative attractions.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Main Deck had a cherry blossom-theme projection mapping on the windows.Oct 07, 2018

Inside the elevator.Oct 07, 2018

It wasn't a long wait for the elevator.Oct 07, 2018

Ticket for the Main Deck.Oct 07, 2018

Elevator for the Main Deck.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

A real crowd pleaser. Beautiful and photogenic.Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

In early May for Children's Day, Tokyo Tower was festooned with colorful koinobori carp streamers.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Tokyo Tower has a number of evening illumination themes. This is the "Diamond Veil" illumination.Oct 07, 2018

The tower is 333 meters high, with two observatories. The lower one, called the Main Deck, is 150 meters high. The higher one, the Top Deck, is 250 meters up.Oct 07, 2018