Japan - Shinjuku (part one)
I'm exhausted, so the commentary will be light on these (I know, I know...you're devastated. ;) This set is kinda random...
Considered the heart of Tokyo, Shinjuku is mostly known for its large entertainment, business and shopping areas surrounding Shinjuku Station, the busiest train station in the world for number of passengers. Shinjuku has the highest numbers of registered foreign nationals of any community in Tokyo which is a big deal and is seen by activists as evidence that Japan is slowly trying to reform its xenophobic immigration policies in response to international criticism.
On the grounds of the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
BW version. Not sure which I prefer...
There were several student musicians performing around the garden. I took a few photos of this group...they were having a lot of fun.
Shinjuku Street
Musicians outside the Flags mall (where there's a huuuuuuuuuge Tower Records. Even so, it pales in comparison to the largest TOWER RECORDS IN THE WORLD which is in Shibuya...more on that later. :) Yes, I'm going through Tower withdrawal... :(
EDIT: Thank god for high-res cameras and lenses! :) I was able to easily pull the urls off the photos. The band is Cure Rubbish. The adorable female singer is Yui Ibuki. I'm going to send them both these photos just cuz...
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Throughout Tokyo, shops of various kinds hire folks (mostly young women) to stand outside and screaaaaaaaam at the highest pitch possible the news about the wares inside.
In the skyscraper district, near the government building.
The famous Japanese vending machine. It's true that you can get almost anything from vending machines in Japan, except for munchies. The Japanese consider eating and walking to be tacky, so vending machines that dispense food items are extremely rare. What's more common are vending machines that sit outside small restaurants (like the one below) and issue meal tickets for a few hundred yen. You then take the ticket inside the restaurant and the staff whips up a tasty bowl of spicy tofu udon!
Considered the heart of Tokyo, Shinjuku is mostly known for its large entertainment, business and shopping areas surrounding Shinjuku Station, the busiest train station in the world for number of passengers. Shinjuku has the highest numbers of registered foreign nationals of any community in Tokyo which is a big deal and is seen by activists as evidence that Japan is slowly trying to reform its xenophobic immigration policies in response to international criticism.
On the grounds of the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
BW version. Not sure which I prefer...
There were several student musicians performing around the garden. I took a few photos of this group...they were having a lot of fun.
Shinjuku Street
Musicians outside the Flags mall (where there's a huuuuuuuuuge Tower Records. Even so, it pales in comparison to the largest TOWER RECORDS IN THE WORLD which is in Shibuya...more on that later. :) Yes, I'm going through Tower withdrawal... :(
EDIT: Thank god for high-res cameras and lenses! :) I was able to easily pull the urls off the photos. The band is Cure Rubbish. The adorable female singer is Yui Ibuki. I'm going to send them both these photos just cuz...
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Throughout Tokyo, shops of various kinds hire folks (mostly young women) to stand outside and screaaaaaaaam at the highest pitch possible the news about the wares inside.
In the skyscraper district, near the government building.
The famous Japanese vending machine. It's true that you can get almost anything from vending machines in Japan, except for munchies. The Japanese consider eating and walking to be tacky, so vending machines that dispense food items are extremely rare. What's more common are vending machines that sit outside small restaurants (like the one below) and issue meal tickets for a few hundred yen. You then take the ticket inside the restaurant and the staff whips up a tasty bowl of spicy tofu udon!