Tuesday part 6

Well we all remember Japanese vending machines, but I think I never saw one like this. There may be a good reason they are so rare, but regardless, here it is (especially for Ian) -- a machine that vends French fries and hotdogs?! I was too chicken to try it!

Tuesday part 5 - Architecture

Something old and something new here. No, no photo of the Prada Building, that is perhaps too familiar, but one of my favorite other buildings, the Audi showroom... and one old favorite, the incredibly-narrow octopus snackbar we all remember!

Tuesday part 4 - Park and Pup!

Okay, out and about again. First, a beautiful but slightly creepy in a Gothic sort of way local park... eerie trees! And then, especially for Natalie, a puppy checking me out from his pet store window. I asked if he wanted to go to Pittsburgh but he seems not to speak English. You can click on any of these photos to seem them larger.

Tuesday part 3

Okay, classic Japanese gizmo. What is this black block of plastic, next to my (not working in Japan) Blackberry, to show its size? A portable Wifi router! Yup, for $30 a week while I am here, this thing turns on and bingo! - instant Wifi node. I have used it already and it works flawlessly and fast. Should let me connect while on the bus to the plant tours. This exists in the USA, too, but I have not seen one so small and so cheap marketed there.

Tuesday part 2

Near the hotel is the controversial Yasakuni Shrine, Japan's foremost war memorial and, some would say, one that does not provide an accurate view of the country's responsibility in World War II. But the main gate, a gigantic steel torii, is very imposing.

Tuesday

Since on Wednesday I will be visiting car plants and on Thursday and Friday in all-day conferences, posts then may be quite boring! To make up for that in advance, I will post quite a few photos from my free time today. I got out and about a good bit, though mostly in light drizzle. But Spring is on the way here, earlier than in Cleveland, as this flowering plum (cherries are still a month away) and daffodils will attest!

Monday Night

Just a quick post to show the night-time view out my hotel window, classic Tokyo night-time skyline.